"Yesterday at Palmerston North's cathedral Cardinal John Dew described opposition to the Pope as vitriol. In doing so he did a disservice to unity in the Church."
So saith one Matthew Walton. He continues:
"Much of what I read on the net about Pope Francis is well-researched, by Catholic journalists, editors, professors, philosophers and teachers - and cardinals, bishops and priests. Their critique is founded in Sacred Tradition, true Doctrine and the Gospel. When our Cardinal speaks as he did, albeit briefly, he loses moral support.
"As to vitriol, a book has been published of insults uttered by this Pope to his fellow Catholics (The Pope Francis Little Book of Insults).
"Overall, the effects of the Cardinal's public words and visit was essentially to make us in the PN Diocese feel better, by approving Monsignor Walsh's leadership and giving an exhortation based on the Gospel. Nothing to close the issues referred to in Mons Walsh's public call (Welcom, November) to 'go forward together seeking unity' and be positive.
"If you can't bring the issues out in public and call them what they are, the priests of this Diocese are going to continue to face antipathy and loss of credibility. Unity is not built on papering over the cracks. Unity is founded on Truth and goodness. If one is lacking, there is no 'unity'.
"Thus we will continue to flounder and may likely wind up with a new bishop who is very divisive. All because the leaders didn't take on board the lessons they were being taught!"
Another 'Anonymous', not to be outdone, adds in regard to Cardinal Dew's remarks at the cathedral about being amazed, when speaking to Pope Francis about Bishop Charles Drennan's resignation and the severe criticism of the Amazonian Synod, at how calm and at peace the Pope was. Cardinal Dew reported that the Pope had 'great peace' and had said Cardinal Dew should also be at peace.
Anonymous Mark II says the peace referred to by Pope and Cardinal is a false peace, a pseudo psychological peace, not a spiritual peace, because they are outside God's Holy Divine Will.
"Jesus is our peace!"
Sharon Crooks says:
I too was at the Cathedral for the
Mass with +Dew on Tuesday and thought the propaganda machine was working
overtime.
+Dew did emphasise Pope Francis’s degree of ‘peace’ and in
doing so undermined his own credibility, in light of the sheer number of videos
that speak volumes to there being quite a different side to the Pope’s
character!
Aside from the video evidence, wouldn’t you think a man of
great peace, devoid therefore of inner turmoil, and open to the well-being of
his entire flock, would act in ways that illumined these characteristics, as
opposed to his treating some with silence and a cold shoulder (eg Dubia and
Manifesto), whilst showing little concern for shutting some out altogether,
conveying his indifference to schism?
In my opinion, these are not even
the hallmarks of someone with psychological peace, much less supernatural peace.
Perhaps Pope Francis' exhortation to Cardinal Dew 'to be at peace' was more likely the concern of a kindly father trying to settle his frenetic enthusiastic son, who was clearly over-excited and seemed a tad conflicted having tried to please the Holy Father by delivering his wayward confrere's head on a plate.
ReplyDeleteI am fairly certain that Pope Francis, having ruled since 2013 is experienced enough to know the smell of his senior sheep and perhaps found himself vapourised once more by the whiff of ambition.
Vitriol...fathers who squander their children's inheritance receive vitriol. We only have to look at the wrecking ball of what passes for our local Church to know this has happened. Active participation was the aim and on its own terms is a failure.