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| Thunder strikes the Vatican as pope quits |
By Jonathan Ekene Ifeanyi
Confused Catholics around the world are asking
Francis I to reaffirm traditional Church teaching on marriage
and family at the Synod in Rome next month. A coalition of 58 pro-family groups is promoting a worldwide petition
called ‘Filial Appeal to His Holiness Pope Francis on the Future of the
Family.’ So far the petition has been signed by
8 cardinals, 170 bishops and more than 625,000 concerned Catholics from a total
of 160 countries.
"Catholics in general are deeply
perplexed," said HIRH Prince Bertrand of Orleans-Braganza, one of the
prominent petition signers. "As the sexual revolution continues
to claim the innocence of our children and rip the family apart, we find
shepherds within the sacred walls of Holy Mother Church who issue statements
that contradict and undermine 2,000 years of sound Church teaching."
It should be recalled that life and family leaders worldwide have
been alarmed by a list the
Vatican released on Tuesday, September 15, containing the names
of those who will participate in the upcoming Synod on the Family, including a
special list of 45 prelates handpicked by Francis I, many of whom publicly
support positions contrary to the teaching or practice of the Catholic Church.
Most of the prelates slated to attend the unfortunate Synod
have openly challenged Church moral doctrine. For example, in a
recent interview with La Civilta Cattolica, a Jesuit
periodical, the apostate Cardinal Christoph Schönborn of Vienna spoke
approvingly of homosexual unions. “We can and we must respect the
decision to form a union with a person of the same sex," he said,
"[and] to seek means under civil law to protect their living together with
laws to ensure such protection.”
However, many high-ranking Church leaders disagree
with Cardinal Schönborn, a delegate at the upcoming Synod.
Cardinal Raymond Burke declared in a video
interview released by Polonia Cristiana that, "It is
heresy to teach that homosexual relations...are not disordered, to teach that
they have positive elements."
In the same documentary video, Archbishop Jan Pawel
Lenga added: "... if we believe that homosexuals brought something into
the Church, it is nothing but debauchery and licentiousness. ... The Holy
Scripture beautifully says that such people will not get into Heaven."
Meanwhile, concerned Christian families—as well as
some Protestants—who signed the so-called Filial Appeal petition
are praying that “Pope” Francis will set the record straight, dispel the
confusion, and reaffirm the Church's unwavering fidelity to divine and natural
law.
"In times like these, we must recall God's
promise to Saint Peter, 'That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build
my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it' (Matt.
16:18). It is our duty to remain faithful, knowing that God has
already won against the forces of darkness," Prince Bertrand of
Orleans-Braganza concluded.
On September 29, the feast of Saint Michael the
Archangel, the worldwide pro-family petition to Francis I will be officially
presented in the Vatican.
While we laud the courage of those taking the
present action, we cannot fail, however, to point out their ignorance. “Pope”
Francis, the man expected to “reaffirm” Church traditional teaching on marriage
and the family, is the same number one man among all the brains behind the
current revolution! For now, we cannot say much on this, but to conclude with
the following letter received by someone
from a devout Catholic who wants to be well-disposed toward “Pope” Francis, but
is challenged by current events:
“You are aware of my thoughts and feelings about
the current Holy Father. Much of what he says and does disturbs me. He has
caused and continues to cause much confusion, division, dismay, and damage to
the Body of Christ.”
Note: On our stand
that Jorge Bergoglio is not the pope of the Catholic Church, see Father Paul
Kramer’s piece: THE CASE OF THE DUAL PAPACY -- "DEUX PAPES
VERMOULU":
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