POLICE V THE P M V THE NZ BISHOPS

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"Catastrophe" in the Vatican in Rome, catastrophe in the Beehive in Wellington.

The “religious and moral crisis” that followed Vatican II was a worse chastisement than the two world wars and led logically to the “catastrophe” of Pope Francis’ pontificate, says Italian historian and author Roberto de Mattei.

Professor Roberto de Mattei

"I hold, with all respect for the office which he holds, that the pontificate of Pope Francis has proven to be a catastrophe for the Church," Professor de Mattei said during a question-and-answer session on day two of the virtual Rome Life Forum.

Meanwhile, here in Godzone as it was once called, back in the innocent '50s, we have the catastrophe of eight weeks or whatever without Holy Mass and the Sacraments of the Catholic Church. 

That is "a worse chastisement" for New Zealand than even the Abortion Legislation Act which was hustled into our history on the Vigil of the Feast of the Annunciation. 

And Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's make-believe 'pandemic' horror story of COVID-19 pales into insignificance in comparison with both - but perhaps not so, the fall-out of same which in economic and social terms remains to be seen. 

Of course you must have faith in God to see things quite that way. In the words of Father Palko SSPX in his Ascension Thursday sermon,  "If you be raised up and resurrected with Jesus Christ, keep your minds on the things of Heaven" (Col 3:1).

Faith in "the things which are above" seems to be conspicuously lacking. Our bishops (pictured, on a Vatican junket, aka an ad limina meeting) seem to be keeping their minds on the things of this world, seeing "a significant challenge" in limiting Mass numbers to fewer than 100. They "would not wish to ask faith leaders to hold more services, overburdening those that already put unceasing energy into providing pastoral support to their communities."

Oh, spare me. Hands up anyone who's witnessed 'unceasing energy' from their PPs lately. Just what have they been doing? And if they do indeed have 'unceasing energy' then it won't run out while taking bookings for Mass. In my own parish, the first Mass in over eight weeks last Thursday was attended by just five people and one of those was from out of town. 

In the Beehive, in Parliament in Wellington we have a Prime Minister who flatly contradicts her own police force over the interpretation of this rushed, wrong, evil  law.

"Police confirmed they would be approaching potential breaches of Alert Level 2 in places of worship with "empathy and sensitivity".

While gatherings of more than 10 people were not allowed, religious worship can now include larger congregations as long as groups of 10 or less remained 2 metres apart from others. Appropriate contact tracing systems were also required."

That's Mr Plod's story. His employer the Prime Minister and her side-kicks Bloomfield and Robertson have other ideas. (By the way, can anyone identify the comic character that Robertson looks like? I can't and it bothers me.)

"We do not want gatherings of more than 10 people. Most churches and religious organisations wouldn't be able to fulfil any requirement [for that]." (Robertson). Director-general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield reminded people the maximum group number was 10 for now - and this included church and faith-based gatherings."

Our bishops daringly "urge you (the PM) to consider raising the number allowed to gather for faith services to at least 100. We were disappointed with the earlier decision that this was limited to 10, considering the lack of similar restrictions on restaurants, bars, clubs and brothels, which operate under circumstances somewhat more difficult for contact tracing and distancing" (what exquisite tact!)

"We do recognise however that faith communities have certainly had time to prepare and consider how to hold services that meet health guidelines." 

But no can do. Too hard. "Less than 100 people would pose a significant challenge to our large, diverse communities where there is certainly space for 100 people or more with distancing. Limits of 20 or 50 people would mean turning even more people away ... 

"Further, we would not wish to ask faith leaders to hold more services, overburdening those that already put unceasing energy into providing pastoral support to their communities."

Then the Bishops grow bold. "We note today conflicting guidance from the NZ Police and the Ministry of Health. The Police at 8.25 am issued guidelines dated 20 May, which say a church service is not a “gathering” if groups of 10 are seated more than 2m apart from each other. 

"The Ministry issued a statement at 1pm reiterating advice that gatherings are limited to 10 people. We urge the government to ensure advice is clear and consistent in order that our leadership may be the same." 

The Bishops are too modest. Their leadership has been clearly and consistently non-existent. 

The upshot of this is, for just one example, in Taupo a priest refuses to give Communion even to just a few faithful parishioners. And why not, you ask? Because if anyone caught 'the virus' he would be arrested. Faithful parishioners said no one needed to know and Father said "that would be dishonest". 

To refuse the Body of Christ to the faithful for fear of arrest is simply cowardly. Countless saints, including Ss Peter and Paul, obeyed "God rather than man" and were arrested for it. What an honour!

And to give Holy Communion without anyone else knowing is not 'dishonest'; in this persecution it would simply be prudent. 

In 2000 years, how many times have the faithful been given Communion secretly? This priest, and his bishops, needs to be reminded of the Irish Rock Masses, and of priests hidden in holes in the wall during the terrible Elizabethan persecution so that 'no one would know' they were there, and of the underground Catholics in China betrayed by this pope who can't always openly receive Communion - or of Bishop Athanasius Schneider as a boy in the Soviet Union, when his family left town in the dark every Sunday morning to go 100 miles by train to receive Communion, returning home once again under cover of darkness.

The same Taupo priest then tried the 'Amazon' trick used as a pretext for female deacons, the old saw of 'the days when people lived in remote places and never saw a priest for months'.

People then didn't see a priest for months because there weren't any to see. Come to think of it, there aren't any to see now. They're there all right, but they're not to be seen.

As a reader of this blog comments: "I can see that should the government stick to allowing small increments of up to 50 people only, that the NZ Church will not be allowing any Masses simply because bishops would deem priests to be over-worked or that the process of arranging Masses under these restrictions would not be worthwhile.

"At least Brian Tamaki's fine effort motivated the bishops to make some effort at the last minute before Monday."

John-Henry Westen, co-founder and editor in chief of LifeSiteNews also referred to the confusion caused by Pope Francis when asked at the Rome Life Forum if he wasn’t afraid of being condemned by God for speaking out against the current pontiff.

“I would be afraid of condemnation by God if I didn't speak my concerns about the pope,” replied Westen, adding that Canon 212 in the Code of Canon Law says the faithful have the right and even the duty to tell pastors their opinions on matters pertaining to the good of the Church.

“And I do this with love for the faith, and indeed love for the pope, whom I pray for every single day. And it’s out of concern for the pope’s own soul,” said Westen, who gave a talk on “The Pontificate of Pope Francis: why should we expect a divine intervention today.”

Westen related how the “confusing and even erroneous public statements of Pope Francis” have caused the older of his eight children suffering, citing as an example his daughter calling him from college when the Holy Father’s statement that “cohabitation is real marriage and has the grace of real marriage due to fidelity” went viral in 2016.

“I’m duty-bound as a father to correct the pope when he says things that are contrary to the faith publicly,” said Westen. “Or was I supposed to lie to my daughter? Or was I supposed to distort the truth? That’s impossible.”

Westen believes the coronavirus is a chastisement that has the loss of public Mass as its “essence” and that it will “get quite a bit worse before it gets better” so that people, particularly in the Church, “may recognize the need for repentance.”

“There is a grave need for the faithful to rediscover reverence at Mass with proper disposition for Holy Communion. There are today countless sacrilegious receptions of Holy Communion,” he said.

Our Lady at Fatima warned “entire nations will be annihilated,” and “we have to pray earnestly it doesn’t come to that,” Westen added.

De Mattei expressed similar thoughts, noting in response to questions that “as with all of the punishments of God,” the pandemic is, “in my opinion, a great act of mercy.”

“The thing to fear above all is a situation of even greater confusion within the Church, in which even the best Catholics will risk losing their balance,” he said. “I believe we must make an effort to raise our gaze to God rather than lose ourselves in the labyrinth of the tactics of men.”

It is God “and not a man who will save the Church,” but Catholics can “collaborate” with Him by forming a “Catholic army” that is “small, humble, but faithful” and “distinguishes itself for the integrity of the faith and the purity of virtue,” de Mattei said.

“Whatever happens is willed or permitted by God. So we must always welcome His will with joy without ever renouncing the fight for His honour,” he added.

“Our joy is in the fight.”

Therefore, if you be risen with Christ, seek the things that are above; where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God: Col 3:1