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Maybe Pope Leo XIV doesn't know that the Vatican once employed its own executioner. Otherwise, would he have made the devastating faux pas of stating that support for the death penalty is "not pro-life"? Quite likely, yes. Because the hermeneutic of rupture between the Catholic Church (and all her popes who taught that the death penalty is admissable) and the post-Vatican II revolution becomes clearer by the day.
+Leo seemed to say that God who prescribed the death penalty Himself, in Scripture, is "not pro-life". And what he calls ‘inhumane treatment of immigrants’ (presumably deportations, without distinguishing between those who are legal and the millions who aren't) is "not pro-life" either. But he went along with Cardinal Blase Cupich's 'Lifetime Achievement' award to American Senator Dick Durbin, a supposed Catholic infamous for enabling infanticide (and denied Communion for that by his bishop), which is most certainly "not pro-life".
Most incredible is +Leo's claim that ‘nobody has all the truth’ on these issues. As the elected Vicar of Christ on earth, +Leo himself possesses all the truth as proclaimed by Christ Who is Truth, through His Church, down through the centuries.
But we have two Churches now. The trad model is One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic. The new one is Synodal, schismatic and non-Catholic as it lacks the Church's indelible mark of unity, and therefore her infallibility and indefectibility. Leo has created a furore by equating the just and few executions of hardened criminals with the selfish slaughter of millions of innocent lives in the womb, when the urgent issue for the Leonine papacy is cleansing the Church of the vile sin and stench of sodomy.
For faithful Catholics who have to front up to Protestant, bible-believing friends, the furore is humiliating. But "humiliation is good for the soul" (St Teresa of Avila". And the cloud has a silver lining: +Leo was trying to avoid humiliation for his friend +Cupich but faced with the refreshing clamour of objection from assorted US bishops, Durbin has declined his award. So +Cupich has copped it anyway.
Antipope Francis spewed forth interviews, off-the-cuff comments and bumff to disastrous effect, suggesting he had no time to pray as a pope must. So faithful Catholics must pray for +Leo, for the Petrine grace to pray like his saintly predecessor, Pius X, "in daily adoration and visits to the Blessed Sacrament, the practice which is the fountainhead of all devotional works."
(LifeSiteNews) — Pope Leo XIV did not rebuke Cardinal Blase Cupich for honoring pro-abortion Senator Dick Durbin with a lifetime achievement award, and said that those who support the death penalty are “not really pro-life.”
On September 30, a journalist from EWTN asked Leo what he thinks about Illinois Sen. Durbin being set to receive an award from Cupich despite his support for abortion.
Leo gave a long-winded answer that appeared to imply he did not have a problem with Durbin receiving the award.
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+Leo's "way forward as Church" is painfully obvious. It's the conciliar, Novus Ordo, post-Bergoglian Synodal way forward.
“I think that it is very important to look at the overall work that a senator has done during … 40 years of service in the United States Senate,” he stated. “I understand the difficulty and the tensions but I think, as I myself have spoken to in the past, it is important to look at many issues that are related to what is the teaching of the Church.”
“Someone who says I’m against abortion but says I’m in favor of the death penalty is not really pro-life,” the Pope said. “Someone who says I’m against abortion but I’m in agreement with the inhuman treatment of immigrants in the United States, I don’t know if that’s pro-life.”
“So, they are very complex issues, I don’t know if anyone has all the truth on them, but I would ask first and foremost that there would be greater respect for one another and that we search together both as humans beings, in that case as American citizens or citizens of the state of Illinois, as well as Catholics to say we really need to look closely at all these ethical issues and to find the way forward as Church.”
“The Church teaching on each one of these issues is very clear,” he added.
Well, it was - until Bergoglio muddied the waters by contradicting centuries of Church teaching in disallowing the death penalty.
Leo’s answer caused controversy among Catholics and other Christians online, as the Pope seemed to draw moral equivalence between the murder of millions of innocent unborn children each year with the execution of convicted criminals and the deportation of illegal migrants.
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LifeSiteNews CEO John-Henry Westen wrote on X:
Memo to @Pontifex: Cardinal Ratzinger (later Pope Benedict XVI) wrote in his 2004 memo on Communion and pro-abortion politicians: “Not all moral issues have the same moral weight as abortion and euthanasia.… There may be a legitimate diversity of opinion even among Catholics about waging war and applying the death penalty, but not however with regard to abortion and euthanasia.”
With his Tuesday evening statement, Pope Leo appeared to affirm Pope Francis’ erroneous teaching that the death penalty is intrinsically wrong, in opposition to perennial Church teaching and Tradition.
Catholic philosophy professor Edward Feser, who co-authored a book defending the traditional Catholic teaching on the liceity of the death penalty, wrote that the Pope’s remarks are “manifestly false.”
“To cite just a few names among many, sainted doctors of the Church such as Thomas Aquinas, Alphonsus Liguori, and John Henry Newman were against abortion and for the death penalty, as were sainted popes such as Innocent I, Pius V, and Pius X. I imagine Leo would not dare to suggest these great heroes of the Catholic faith were ‘not really pro-life,’” Feser stated.
On the same day Leo defended Sen. Durbin receiving the lifetime award from Cupich, the pro-abortion politician announced that he will decline the award from the Archdiocese of Chicago after facing a strong backlash, including criticisms from several U.S. bishops.https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/pope-leo-says-support-for-death-penalty-is-not-pro-life-defends-awarding-pro-abortion-durb
ReplyDeleteMaybe we shouldn’t hang on every word the Pope utters when he is caught off guard by a journalist in the street as ex cathedra teaching. Such extreme hyperpapalism is not healthy.
DeleteLee Labosky Catholics ought to be able to listen to what the pope says and follow. Let's call the modern errors what they are, instead of trying to hand-wave them away.
And being caught "off guard" is no excuse. I don't turn into a heretic if someone catches me off guard, and certainly neither should the pope. If he is so unsure of his words, he ought to hold his tongue.
But the truth is, the "he was caught off guard" excuse is nonsense, these errors are what he actually believes.
No one would accept a man saying "I only said I didn't love my wife because someone caught me off guard in the street!"
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DeleteBen Andrew No doubt he could have just said “I don’t know” and walked away. But the Roman Catholic obsession with every word that is uttered from the Pope’s lips as if it is Ex Cathedra teaching is unhealthy.
ReplyDeleteThe catechism is clear n this point. No death penalty. Either follow or leave.
DeleteMichael Bode this is false, the church always supported the death penalty, especially when it prevents further sinning which could damn the soul of the person.
DeleteDave Irby catechism 2259 et seq . You may not like it, or protest it like Luther, but it’s there.
DeleteMichael Bode Read your Old Testament. Especially Leviticus.
DeleteNancy Llewellyn I’m a Roman Catholic. I follow the deposit of faith
DeleteMichael Bode understand that only parts of the CCC is dogmatic, the rest changes like the jimmy martin....aaaah the wind blows...not obligated to follow or believe in most CCC. the CCC has NOT been declared from the seat of Peter.
DeleteAnonymous member 248 faith is the belief that the Church teaches the truth. If you don’t agree that the catechism is the truth, then you have many “good opinions” but you do not have faith. On the Rosary, first bead after the Pater Noster is for this faith, that what God revealed and the Church teaches is true.
DeleteMichael Bode The modern catechism, yes. That's why it's such a disaster. The church has taught for 2000 years that Capital Punishment is a morally allowable (and sometimes even good) thing to do, but JPII comes along and upends it all.
Reject unjust orders, reject evil documents like the modern catechism.
DeleteBen Andrew I thought we had a Pope and a Magesterium so that we could know the truth. Is every man his own pope? Did you read the catechism 2259 and following and find it false?
ReplyDeleteWe don't have two churches. There is only one Church - that of Christ, of which the Pope is the visible head on Earth. We ought to pray for the Pope so that he doesn't err.
DeleteMarek Kuczyński He already has err'd though, by rejecting capital punishment. that's the problem.
ReplyDeletethe Peruvian is a modernist heretic following in the footsteps of dead Jorge.
ReplyDeleteYou are so stupid and a liar. Leo didnt drag God into the abortion pro life issue. God is not subject to the prolife or anti life debate bcs he is the author of life. And Leo didnt say that to question God's authority. This post is putting words into Leo's mouth. What a liar. Typical TLMer
DeleteMichael Moros, I thought the Pope’s response was to give a politically correct one! The seamless garment theory of Cdl Bernadin of Chicago. Point blank his response should have been it’s wrong to give an award to a Catholic politician that blatantly supported the killing of the innocent babies in the womb.” Period!
ReplyDelete"It's a pity Bilbo didn't kill Gollum when he had the chance.
Gandalf: 'Pity? It's a pity that stayed Bilbo's hand. Many that live deserve death. Some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them, Frodo? Do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment. Even the very wise cannot see all ends."
ReplyDeletePope Leo's quoted pro-life views are not controversial outside the United States. What is controversial and seen as contradictory outside the United States is the connection between being pro life and pro capital punishment.
ReplyDelete✝️"Roma Lacuta; causa finita est."✝️
St. Augustine
ReplyDelete✝️"Roma Lacuta; causa finita est."✝️
St. Augustine
VATICAN COUNCIL I
✝️Decrees of the 1st Vatican Council✝️
Council Fathers - 1868 A.D.
✝️IV. ON FAITH AND REASON
13. For the 'Doctrine of the Faith' which God has 'revealed' is put forward 'not' as some philosophical discovery 'capable' of being 'perfected' by 'human intelligence,' but as a 'Divine Deposit' committed to the 'Spouse' of Christ to be 'faithfully protected' and 'infallibly promulgated.'
14. Hence, too,that 'meaning' of the 'Sacred Dogmas' is ever to be 'maintained' which has 'once' been 'declared' by 'Holy Mother Church,' and there must 'never' be any 'abandonment' of this 'sense' under the 'pretext' or in the name of a 'more profound' understanding.
✝️IV. ON FAITH AND REASON 'CANONS'
3. If 'anyone' says that it is 'possible' that at some time, given the 'advancement of knowledge,' a sense may be 'assigned' to the 'dogmas' propounded by the church which is 'different' from that which the Church has 'understood' and 'understands:'
Let him be 'anathema.'
https://www.papalencyclicals.net/councils/ecum20.htm
ReplyDeleteI heard it a bit differently. It was a loaded question that requires more time to answer and he stayed focused on the differences in reasoning for Cupich's selection of Durbin, not that his selection was right or even in line with Church teachings. Durbin has since declined the award which is good.
Pope Leo's comments on pro-life pretty much defend love for one's enemies in the church's stance on the death penalty being in line with charitable forgiveness, sincere reconciliation and God's grace being sufficient in the healing of any sinner.
The immigration statement I agree needed more content as illegal immigration has taken its toll on the rightful benefits of life, liberty and benefits of American citizens as well as the good-willed migrants who have been wrongfully prompted towards human trafficking, rape, murder, political corruption and nondisclosure of their intentions due to poor governance and surveillance.
No doubt Pope Leo has to address these questions in their entirety to eliminate our doubts of any disloyalty to Truth. I believe the media will try its best to suffer God's church by interpreting anything Leo says to the secular world's benefit....something he will hopefully outwit in due time.
Leona Garzelli love for one's enemies in relation to the death penalty doesn't require forgiveness for unrepented sin. A murderer who doesn't repent cuts him/herself off from God's grace and is beyond healing. However a death sentence gives a salutary shock and opportunity for repentance.
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ReplyDeleteIs he really comparing abortion to the death penalty, and then twisting that into illegal immigration? Three very different concepts. One is murdering of extreme innocent life, one is exacting (fore known) justice for one’s conscious actions, and one is nothing more than a political non-sequitur.
Although I’m not for the death penalty, it is our laws, in which we are to follow. Jesus never condemned the Jews for their death penalty on Him; who was truly innocent. It was the law of the times. Treat each topic with its due attention and stop sowing confusion by combining them.
David Maloney I believe it was +Leo who combined them - to shocking effect.
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ReplyDeleteQuite a quandary? When you contradict portions of the catechism for whatever reason, you lose your faith that the Catholic Church teaches, and has taught the truth through its deposit of faith. Where will you go?
DeleteMichael Bode the tragic fact of the matter is that when Francis claimed the death penalty is inadmissable he himself contradicted the catechism and Church teaching.
ReplyDeleteCausing all sorts of confusion...not good!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this post. Sadly, Pope Leo, like his predecessor, is sewing confusion with off-the-cuff comments, such as this. When this first happened with Pope Francis, I felt it was his personality to do so, and that he would clarify later. When that wasn’t done, I realized that such seemingly off-the-cuff comments that sew confusion is a strategy for casting dispersions on the truth. A strategy to cast doubt on the beauty of truth. I see the continuation of that strategy with Pope Leo. Such moral relativism is insidious.
ReplyDeleteI will follow Council of Trent Teachings. I will obey God not men.
ReplyDeleteA heretic can not be a priest/bishop/pope, can not be accepted in seminary. Anybody who has heresy in his heart, known only to God, even when elected in a valid conclave is not the true pope. I remember reading these.... can't give link/source .
ReplyDeleteWow?!Terrible!
ReplyDeleteJulia du Fresne I understand what you're saying yet it's obvious that not all human minds comprehend sin or what repentance even means. Admitting one's sin is paramount for healing and the acceptance of God's grace. Especially in a world where our younger generation has been reformed in believing that abortion has been socially accepted/practiced without consequences, not to mention how millions of adults have sponsored that carnage in the defense of sexual revolution and self justification.
"To lose" in competition became a shameful lesson instead of building integrity and overcoming life's challenges. Not to mention how God has been defined as an over reach of religious freedom in many educational programs.
An example to examine is the young man who assassinated Charlie Kirk as shown in court. He stands tall. He remains quiet. He listens intently and he admits he killed. He does not smile. He rarely changes his body stance nor does he interrupt. His control does not justify his sin...for it was most tragic suffering. My point is that only God has full comprehension of the why's and formation of any person's choice to end another's life and repentance involves awareness and comprehension of what sin is and a full acceptance of God's grace to govern one's senses and subdue all unruly passions. How does any human know the full measurement of another's reconciliation and what lessons God is teaching them during their time of judgement?