The French diocese of Périgueux-Sarlat is reportedly lending some of its parishes to Anglican 'clergy' (heretics with absolutely no authority or power playing dress-up) to "minister" to some of their "faithful". Although it's certainly not the first time we've heard of such scandalous actions, should it ever fail to shock faithful Catholics when authorities of the Catholic Church aid & abet heresy?
Have officials in the French diocese forgotten that...?
* Anglican 'orders' are invalid - therefore the Anglican "church" does NOT have a valid Eucharist. Should they worship their bread wafer, they would be committing idolatry. Will they allow this in a Catholic parish?
* Anglicans are (objectively speaking) heretics who reject the papacy & other infallible doctrines of the Church - As Holy Scripture says:
"After a first and second warning, break off contact with a heretic, realizing that such a person is perverted and sinful and stands self-condemned." (St. Paul, Ti. 3:10-11)
"If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him in your house or even greet him; for whoever greets him shares in his evil works." (St. John, 2 Jn. 1:10-11)
"Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me." (Our Lord Jesus Christ, regarding those He sent, Lk. 10:16)
"Do not be yoked with those who are different, with unbelievers. For what partnership do righteousness and lawlessness have? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? What accord has Christ with Beliar? Or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said: 'I will live with them and move among them, and I will be their God and they shall be my people. Therefore, come forth from them and be separate,' says the Lord, 'and touch nothing unclean; then I will receive you and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.'" (St. Paul, 2 Cor. 6:14-18)
* Anglicans parade their false clergy around as if they had legitimate authority and power - and their false clergy even includes open homosexuals and women despite the fact that Holy Scripture calls homosexual acts an abomination (Lev. 18:22) & St. Paul forbids women from speaking in Church as "a commandment of the Lord" (1 Cor. 14:32-37)
This French diocese is scandalously promoting religious indifferentism, enabling heresy, neglecting their duty to warn Anglicans of their grave situation, and allowing God's holy temple to be profaned. In earlier ages excommunications may have been issued for such activities, but now one may fear that if complaints were made, the diocese would cite a certain directory published in 1993. However, even that ("utterly shocking!") ecumenical document refers to the necessity of taking "special measures to overcome the dangers of indifferentism".
Given the bad example from their leaders, it's no wonder why large sectors of the population in France seem to have long ago forgotten what it means to be Catholic - most of today's French 'Catholics' fail to attend Mass & the majority of them reject the Church's teaching on various sins (earlier story here). If only the faithful ancestors of today's French Catholics could return to protest the profanation of God's holy temples - both the physical churches & the living temples (the souls of so many lost French 'Catholics'), maybe the Church's "eldest daughter" would get back on track.
St. Louis IX, King of France, pray for us!
[8/3]
A sampling of some of our recent news links highlights an alarming problem with the Vatican newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano. For example, consider these recent items:
* Unbelievable: Vatican newspaper gives mixed review to 'Angels and Demons' film; Calls anti-Catholic movie "gripping", with "splendid" camera work, and "dynamic and alluring" direction [5/6]
* Most "pro-abortion president in history" is not pro-abortion according to editor of Vatican newspaper [5/21] [previous news brief here]
* Vatican newspaper stirs it up again: Recently deceased "pop music legend" who was not known for promoting Christian values is praised by L'Osservatore Romano [6/27]
* Here we go again: Vatican newspaper praises arch-heretic John Calvin; Calls him "extraordinary" and a "Christian" [7/3] [Reality checks: (1) Heresy costs souls (click here for more information), and (2) Protestants are not rightly called Christian ("The very tradition, teaching, and faith of the Catholic Church from the beginning, which the Lord gave, was preached by the apostles and was preserved by the Fathers. On this was the Church founded, and if anyone departs from this, he neither is, nor any longer ought to be called, a Christian." - St. Athanasius, Doctor of the Church]
* Vatican newspaper does it again: L'Osservatore Romano praises new Harry Potter film which contains witchcraft [7/14] [Reality checks: (1) "Behind Harry Potter hides the signature of the king of the darkness, the devil" (Father Gabriele Amorth, Chief Exorcist of Rome), (2) "It is good, that you enlighten people about Harry Potter, because those are subtle seductions, which act unnoticed and by this deeply distort Christianity in the soul, before it can grow properly" (Cardinal Ratzinger, the future Pope Benedict XVI), (3) "Neither let there be found among you any one that shall...consulteth soothsayers, or observeth dreams and omens, neither let there be any wizard, nor charmer...For the Lord abhorreth all these things" (Deut. 18:10-12), (4) "Every form of sorcery is practiced with indirect or direct recourse to Satan" (TIA article). Also, remember that the more witchcraft is portrayed "positively", the more dangerous it is.]
What is going on over there? At this rate, it seems reasonable to fear that we'll soon see the paper publish praise for Satan himself. It's really not that much of a stretch when one considers that the publication has already lauded an anti-Catholic film, a pro-abortion president, a cr*tch-grabbing pop-star whose works include the albums "Bad" & "Dangerous", an arch-heretic, and now a film containing witchcraft. Really, at this point, such praise is but a very short step. [7/14]
Once again, we witness the sad results of Catholics' loss of the sensus Catholicus - this time in the dispute in Texas. Parishioners at the remote parish are unhappy because the diocese wants to demolish their hurricane-damaged church. They believe the building can be repaired and have taken the matter to (civil) court where a judge issued a restraining order on their behalf. In the meantime, rather than arrange appropriate accommodations, some parishioners took it upon themselves to schedule a Mass at a Methodist 'church'. Fortunately, the diocese apparently ordered the priest to stay away from the event (unfortunately, it is not clear if it was for the most essential reason - some claim it was "in retribution"). Sadly, the parishioners went ahead with their own priestless "service" at the aforementioned 'temple of heresy', a Methodist 'church', led by heretical "ministers".
Why these Catholics would voluntarily choose to adore God at a place erected solely for the purpose of heretical worship boggles the mind. We know that holy persons of the past would have chosen martyrdom rather than step foot on such unholy ground.
It seems even more evidence that decades of ecumenism have destroyed the sensus Catholicus. Don't these people realize that...?
* This 'temple of heresy' is a profane place that Catholics should not enter. It exists for the sole purpose of heretical "worship" by those in a false, man-made religion which is set up in opposition to the one true Church of Christ. Keep in mind that false religions deny the hierarchical nature of Church, papal supremacy, papal infallibility, the Immaculate Conception, Christ's true Flesh and Blood in the Holy Eucharist, etc. They advocate false doctrines, reject and distort parts of the Bible & they may tolerate or promote sins such as contraception, euthanasia, abortion, divorce, etc.
* If there is a so-called 'altar' there, it would be a great offense to lay the Holy Eucharist on this unblessed & profane place used to conduct false worship.
* Despite numerous warnings in scripture, these people have willingly "opened their ears" to false clergy, listened to 'scripture' which was (presumably) from a corrupt - heretical - translation, and allowed themselves to be led in prayer by "wolves" (false preachers).
In the past, the penalty for such actions would have been excommunication: "None must either pray or sing psalms with heretics; and whomsoever shall communicate with those who are cut off from the Communion of the Church, whether clergymen or laic, let him be excommunicated." (Council of Carthage, 398 A.D.)
Even the Second Vatican Council has said "Common participation in worship (communicatio in sacris) which harms the unity of the Church or involves formal acceptance of error or the danger of aberration in the faith, of scandal and indifferentism, is forbidden by divine law."
These people apparently are somehow unaware - or don't care - that their actions are an offense to almighty God and cause scandal. They also appear to be contemptuous of the diocese (one story reads: "Parishioners vow to have the service if only to send a message of their displeasure to the archdiocese").
If only they would take a lesson from Scripture...
"After a first and second warning, break off contact with a heretic, realizing that such a person is perverted and sinful and stands self-condemned." (St. Paul, Ti. 3:10-11)
"If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him in your house or even greet him; for whoever greets him shares in his evil works." (St. John, 2 Jn. 1:10-11)
"Do not be yoked with those who are different, with unbelievers. For what partnership do righteousness and lawlessness have? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? What accord has Christ with Beliar? Or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said: 'I will live with them and move among them, and I will be their God and they shall be my people. Therefore, come forth from them and be separate,' says the Lord, 'and touch nothing unclean; then I will receive you and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.'" (St. Paul, 2 Cor. 6:14-18)
A little history lesson might also be of assistance...
* St. John the Apostle wouldn't so much as remain in the same building (a secular edifice) with a heretic ["Everyone knows that John himself, the Apostle of love, who seems in his Gospel to have revealed the secrets of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and who never ceased to impress upon the memory of his disciples the new commandment 'to love one another', nevertheless strictly forbade any intercourse with those who professed a mutilated and corrupt form of Christ's teaching: 'If any man comes to you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into the house, nor say to him, God speed you.' (2 John 1:10)" (Pope Pius XI, "Mortalium Animos", 1928 A.D.)
* A disciple of the St. John the Apostle referred to a heretic as "the first-born of Satan ["Irenaeus himself relates with regard to his master Polycarp {who was a disciple of St. John the Apostle}, how, when being asked by the heretic Marcion if he knew him, he replied: 'I know thee to be the first-born of Satan.' He also tells us that St. John {the Apostle} hearing that Cerinthus was in the same public edifice into which he had just entered, fled precipitately, for fear, as he said, that because of this enemy of truth the walls of the building would crumble down upon them all: 'so great,' remarks the bishop of Lyons, 'was the fear the apostles and their disciples had of communicating, even by word, with any one of those who altered truth.'" (Liturgical Year)]
* Another disciple of St. John the Apostle said those who listen to heretics will be dammed ["Do not err, my brethren: the corrupters of families will not inherit the kingdom of God. And if they who do these things according to the flesh suffer death, how much more if a man corrupt by evil teaching the faith of God, for the sake of which Jesus Christ was crucified? A man become so foul will depart into unquenchable fire; and so also will anyone who listens to him." (St. Ignatius of Antioch, a hearer of St. John the Apostle, c. 110 A.D.)]
* Throughout history, popes, councils, and numerous saints warned of the danger of associating with heretics. We know also that saints would give up their lives rather than partake part in 'worship' with heretics or enter heretical 'churches' - "temples of Satan". As St. Ephraem the Syrian, Doctor of the Church has said, "Fly from them and from their doctrines; do not go near them, for you know that whoever is found in a place where outrage has been offered to the king has to come into court to be questioned according to law. Even if he can prove he was not guilty he will be condemned for want of zeal. Do not sit with heretics nor associate with apostates."
Frankly, their use of this facility makes as much sense asking one's avowed mortal enemy to borrow his house to celebrate your birthday. These parishioners would probably know better than to do that, but somehow they didn't know better than to use such unholy ground to "worship" God? Do they actually think God is pleased that they have used this "temple of Satan" for "worship"? Will anyone tell these poor, misguided people to get to confession; that they have - objectively speaking - betrayed the Catholic faith, and God? As one participant in the "worship service" said, "This is not about being Catholic." At least there's one thing they got right.
[6/15]
Speculation is that the 'famous' FL priest who betrayed his vows and left the Church to join a heretical sect soon will 'marry' the 'divorced' woman. The reprehensible behavior displayed is obviously lamentable & scandalous, but it also presents an opportunity to pause for some serious thought.
For example:
* He will now be preaching in a false 'church' that espouses heresy - Will he change his doctrine? Was his doctrine Catholic in the first place? If so, how can this sect accept him unless he changes his theology? Does he not care that his sect is set up in opposition to Christ? "Do they actually think that Christ is with them in their gatherings, when they gather outside the Church of Christ?" (St. Cyprian of Carthage)
* Will he be effecting a valid (although illicit) consecration in their 'temples of heresy'? Although his sect does not have the powers of the priesthood (click here for decree on Anglican orders), his personal priestly powers still remain. Therefore, he can confect a valid Eucharist if he uses the proper form & matter and has the proper intention.
* Does this former teacher of Catholic souls somehow fail to realize that he cannot be validly married to this woman if her husband is still alive and she was validly married to him? (click here) Unless his formation was incredibly deficient, he would have to know this. Yet he intends to go through with this mock "marriage" anyhow? What does this say about his supposed 'faith'? How could a man with such apparently shallow faith have been made a priest?
* Given his sudden betrayal of the Catholic Church for a heretical sect, one may wonder if this former leader of Catholics ever adhered to the infallible Catholic doctrine regarding No Salvation Outside the Church (click here). And, if he failed to hold this doctrine, was he not already under the Church's anathema? [For example: Pope Pelagius II, c. 585 A.D.: "If anyone, however, either suggests or believes or presumes to teach contrary to this faith, let him know that he is condemned and also anathematized according to the opinion of the same Fathers... Consider (therefore) the fact that whoever has not been in the peace and unity of the Church, cannot have the Lord (Gal. 3:7)" And, Lateran Council, 649 A.D.: "If any one does not profess, in accordance with the holy Fathers, properly and truthfully all that has been handed down and taught publicly to the holy, Catholic, and apostolic Church of God, both by the same holy Fathers and the five approved universal councils, to the last detail in word and intention: let him be condemned."]
* How could a man who has been ordained a Catholic priest simply stop caring about the Church or the souls he was placed over? How could he so easily betray them? Worse yet, how could he so easily abandon Christ for whom he solemnly promised to serve? Shouldn't someone have noticed his shortcomings? Remember, if he hadn't been caught, he'd probably still be a priest cavorting with this woman. Sadly, before he was exposed, this priest laid his adulterous hands on the Holy Eucharist time and again.
* How can it be thought that he actually "loves" the woman with whom he is about to enter a mock sacrament to commit adultery? We know the punishment for those unrepentant of the mortal sin of adultery is eternal hellfire. How is that love? Also, does he not care about this woman's offspring? How could he be said to care about them if he is willing to betray God, espouse heresy, cause their mother to live in adultery...?
Also worthy of serious thought is the fact that this former Catholic shepherd appears entirely devoid of fear of the Lord. His list of public sins is mounting rapidly: breaking of vows, adultery, heresy...
As Scripture tells us:
"[Jesus said,] I shall show you whom to fear. Be afraid of the one who after killing has the power to cast into Gehenna; yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one." (Lk. 12-5)
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; prudent are all who live by it." (Ps. 111:10)
"Give honor to all, love the community, fear God, honor the king." (St. Peter, 1 Pt. 2:17)
"So then, my beloved, obedient as you have always been, not only when I am present but all the more now when I am absent, work out your salvation with fear and trembling." (St. Paul, Phil. 2:12)
Does this former Catholic shepherd not fear hell? Did he therefore also fail to inspire his former parishioners with a fear of hell? And this was a "good priest" a "model priest"? One worthy to be on television and radio?
As St. Augustine says, "If, then, the Lord inspired fear, and inspired it strongly, and doubled it by repeating the threat, I ask you, is it wrong of you to fear? I would not say that. Fear openly, there is nothing better for you than fear; there is nothing you ought to fear more."
Should not Catholics be extremely troubled that a Catholic priest has apparently no fear of the Lord?
In fact, this former Catholic shepherd's recent behavior gives reason to question his entire body of past teaching. Was it truly orthodox? Is this simply a case of his not practicing what he preached? If so, how could he have taught Catholic doctrine correctly yet suddenly go against this doctrine? Did he really hold Catholic doctrine to begin with? Did his Catholic faith really mean so little to him or does he see little difference between it and the heretical sect he has joined? Ether way, the answer is frightening. Remember he was a CATHOLIC PRIEST placed over CATHOLIC SOULS. And a "famous" Catholic priest at that.
Now that he seems to have no qualms about joining a false 'church' and "marrying" a divorced woman in a 'temple of heresy', we see he is clearly lacking in the sensus Catholicus. Therefore, how could he have been ordained in the first place? How could he have been made "famous" on Catholic radio and television? How did the deceived masses - or his superiors - not notice his lack of faith or sanctity? God help us.
Final note: Is it not ironic that he has chosen to abandon the Church for a sect traced to Henry VIII, another former Catholic whose libido led to his destruction?
[Note: Previous story here] [6/13]
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