I have had to accept the fact that Pope Francis is a bad pope who desperately needs our prayers. There is little doubt that he is causing great confusion. Another very dark day for the faithful.
As this is a matter of Faith and Morals, this just further confirms what many Catholics already suspect: Benedict never fully resigned the Munus and therefore the See was never vacant and Francis has been an Antipope from day one.
Now that Francis Bergoglio has publicly advocated moral heresy I can openly state that I believe he is an anti-pope and that Pope Benedict VI still reigns.
Not only that this will lead to the persecution of orthodox Catholics who hold firm on traditional teaching & who are perhaps now a minority in the Church. No wonder the Pope promotes people like Fr Martin. The divide is ever wider today.
I would hold your horses on that one -- We await the Cardinals and Bishops to investigate and declare that he has erred in matters of faith and morals. That might not happen anytime soon.
I wonder if this poor Holy Father is more advanced in senility than any of us could imagine. How could he be one minute signing up to a brotherhood with muslims who would kill these homosexuals if they got their hands on them. And the next minute proposing to legitimise sodomy. The poor Pope is gone doo lally. God help him. Keep Watch and Pray.
Unfortunately lay Catholics are in no such position to make such a declaration. Only the Church can. What we can do is pray and fast for Pope Francis’ repentance and conversion, and perseverance in sanctifying grace until his death. But barring that we can pray for the confounding of any evil intents and plans he may hold. However, we confidently may hold the mental reservation that, barring his repentance and conversion, the Church in Her wisdom will some day declare he was an antipope. Until that is declared by the Church, no, we are not free to state or try to convince others that he is currently not a valid pope. That seems hard or even harsh but that’s our duty and obligation as lay Catholics.
You may be right, and I may be wrong I gotta be honest, though, I'm actually relieved this man is finally making heretical statements out in the open and not 'privately' to atheistic newspaper reporters (oxymoron right?) . My faith is not shaken a bit. I know that Catholic Church founded by Jesus Christ is perfect and indefectible. I think God may be allowing this with Francis, in part, as a punishment for Catholics not being as faithful as we should have been for many, many years.
This kind of meme is exploding on social media today. There will be no holding back this mentality now, but we MUST be prepared to address this issue calmly and with faith and hope.
One more thing, then I'll shut up. The title of this discussion is Pope Francis supports gay civil unions -- isn't this title itself a logical impossibility?
At least I can claim ignorance here. Maybe now is the time for some Catholic education on this matter, Brian. Also, can a pope speak heresy on matters of faith and morals and still be the pope? If you have easy access to this information that would be very helpful. Thank you.
F.X. Wernz, P. Vidal: "Finally they cannot be numbered among the schismatics, who refuse to obey the Roman Pontiff because they consider his person to be suspect or doubtfully elected on account of rumours in circulation." (Ius Canonicum, 7:398, 1943) Rev Ignatius Szal: "Nor is there any schism if one merely transgress a papal law for the reason that one considers it too difficult, or if one refuses obedience inasmuch as one suspects the person of the pope or the validity of his election, or if one resists him as the civil head of a state." (Communication of Catholics with Schismatics, 1948) De Lugo: "Neither is someone a schismatic for denying his subjection to the Pontiff on the grounds that he has solidly founded ['probabiliter'] doubts concerning the legitimacy of his election or his power [refers to Sanchez and Palao]." (Disp., De Virt. Fid. Div., disp xxv, sect iii, nn. 35-8)
You are correct, Frodo, to urge us to be level-headed. But it is a strange mix to do so while being appalled simultaneously. What are clergy to do when Catholics assume and start sharing that the Pope and Church agree with same-sex marriage? And what if Catholics in Ireland start saying that their 2015 decision to legalize same-sex marriage was correct all along? Church teaching is not changed, but saying so does nothing to minimize the collateral damage inflicted, and the blinding of the collective conscience. Lord have Mercy!
