Bishop Oster Stops Sending Written Christmas Cards

The Bishop of Passau has already received several hundred Christmas letters.

Passau (kath.net/pbp) The Bishop of Passau, Stefan Oster SDB is looking forward to his first Christmas in the diocese of Passau. "I would particularly like to invite you now to the festive Christmas church services in the cathedral, but of course also in the other churches of our diocese," he stressed. For weeks now, a lot of Christmas mail has arrived at the chancery. "I'm happy about every single letter and every card," said Bishop Stefan. "The great appreciation, the good wishes are extended to me by so many people, touches me," says the chief shepherd of Passau. Several hundred letters are already on the bishop's desk.

Furthermore, the bishop added but added: "At the same time I also have the impression that for many people and organizations in the pressure of having to do the Christmas mail, annual increases and the many hours involved, sometimes days and weeks are noticeable. Even for myself. That is a time when we little have time for little else, let alone to really turn in prayer to Christ who wants to touch us and meet us in this day."

Therefore, Bishop Stefan wants to set an example in this year and give up writing Christmas cards. He connects it with the promise that all who have written to him or are writing, are included in his prayers. He is also accessing the modern tools of electronic greeting postcards, which are to make available to all people his Christmas blessings, especially those who have written to him.

Next week, a Christmas greeting on the website of the Diocese will be available. This version also brings aid to people in need: Bishop Stefan donates the money that is saved for cards, letters and postage for the Child and Youth Services in Sierra Leone. In the local capital, Freetown, Salesian Brother Lothar Wagner works with street children and currently cares mainly about Ebola Ebola orphans or survivors. Photo Bishop Oster (c) Roman Catholic Diocese of Passau

Franciscan Order is Bankrupt? Millions in Switzerland, Maxi-Fraud in Italy

Franciscans at Prayer

(Assisi / Rome) the information is still scarce and the situation is quite opaque. The headline is, however: Is The Franciscan Order (OFM) In Bankruptcy? What role did Father Rodriguez Carballo have? The transactions occurred during his tenure as Minister General of the Order. In 2013 he was appointed by Pope Francis as secretary of the religious congregation.

Worldwide, there are just over 14,000 Franciscans, the next come Minorites (OFM Conv) and Capuchins (OFM Cap) who form one of the three branches of directly going back to Saint Francis of Assisi's first order. Characteristic features are  the coarse brown tunics with a white rope and the rope symbol, called the cross of St. Anthony.

"Financial Shortfall" in Italy - Money Laundering in Switzerland?

For three months, the order's accounts have been reviewed by  the General Curia. According to the Italian weekly magazine Panorama,  the result is clear: there was a "financial shortfall" of tens of millions of euros. The Order, or rather the religious leadership, was deeply in debt and risking bankruptcy.

The starting point were the checks after the Swiss prosecutor's office last October, which seized accounts of the Franciscan Order seized with tens of millions of euros. They were suspect to have  invested in companies that serve as money laundering.

The investments in Switzerland were made ​​in the administration of José Rodriguez Carballo as Minister General. Rodriguez Carballo was,  from 2003-2013, the 119th Minister General of the Order.  On April 6, 2013, he was appointed by Pope Francis as secretary of the religious congregation. As such, he immediately gained notoriety because of the provisional administration of another Franciscan Order, the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate . The appointment of Carballos Rodriguez was the first major personnel decision of the current pontificate.

According to Panorama  the mendicant orders of the "Poverello" of Assisi are liable to be killed by a mountain of debt and be insolvent. Specifically, it's about two different erroneous developments that might be related. In the first case there is the suspicion of deliberate mismanagement in Italy there by foreign persons may have enriched themselves with the help of the members of the orders. On the other hand it comes to bank accounts in Switzerland, which were confiscated by the Prosecutor.

Deposed General Treasurer of the Order

The minus due to mismanagement was, among other things, accumulated through the reconstruction of the hotel Il Cantico in Via Gregorio VII in Rome. The hotel management included the former General Treasurer of the Order, Father Giancarlo Lati. Meanwhile, he was replaced by Father Silvio De La Fuente. Officially "for health reasons" as the Order had announced. The Financial Administration of the Order is the focus of the investigation.

The Order is finding itself concerned about "financial difficulties in a critical situation," according to Father Michael Perry who has held office since 2013 as New Minister General.

The Swiss investigation must first be confirmed. If the seizure is to be valid, the question arises  as to who is responsible. It is clear that there are more than 14,000 brothers who  will suffer most because few have done wrong to the Order.

Persons Outside the Order and Members of Religious Order Under Suspicion

There are several "persons  who are not members of the religious order" under suspicion.  We are talking about maxi-rraud. After the internal checks it says in the Order, that the control and security mechanisms have been "compromised" or are "too weak" in financial matters. A more detailed clarification of who did and who did not play a role is sought.

In addition, "there seems to  be a certain number of dubious financial operations made by brothers, who had been entrusted to the custody of the finances," said the Minister General. "The extent and scope of these operations have brought the financial stability of the General Curia in great danger."

It seems that both brothers as well as some persons foreign persons outside the order have put the  Order   into the jeopardy and caused great financial loss. General Minister Perry turned to the competent authorities in Italy after completion of internal audits. The "competent ecclesiastical centers" were well informed.

State authorities and the Vatican informed - begging letter to Provincials

The  General Minister has asked  all religious provincials for "financial aid" for  the General Curia "to meet its  payment obligations and above all to pay the high passive interest."

The General Government commissioned a "qualified legal counsel" to take the necessary steps. After the dismissal of the former  Treasurer General, Father Pasquale Del Pezzo was called in turn to Rome. As special representative,  all economic and financial functions are under the care  of the General Curia.

He understood the "frustration" many brethren, as Minister General Perry. It was an "encouragement" to follow the example of Pope Francis, who had prompted with a "call for truth and transparency in the financial activities of the Church and of society."

In the Franciscan monasteries scattered all over the globe, there is much surprise. "With the contents of the letter I have" said the Minister General "thorough agreement," said Father Rosario Gugliotta, the curator of the Portiuncula Chapel and the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli in Assisi, the most important church of the Franciscan Order.

What is the responsibility ex-Minister General Rodriguez Carballo?

Curia Archbishop Father José Rodriguez Carballo was Minister General, as the shady financial transactions were carried out with the assets of the Order. As secretary of the religious congregation, he signed, together with Cardinal Prefect Joao Braz de Aviz, the new "guidelines"  because  the Order's property was lackadaisically managed. In early August they were published.

He will also have to answer questions  internally and answer questions. Whether  Swiss Justice will deal with it is not yet clear.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
image: VaticanInsider

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Katholisches...

AMDG

"Jesuit" School Fires Conservative Professor For Exposing Leftist Hegemony

Edit: at some point someone is going to have to fight them. Thank goodness someone won't let them get off scot-free.

[Truth Revolt] Marquette Political Science professor John McAdams has been suspended "until further notice" for exposing a leftist TA who silenced a student from discussing gay marriage in her ethics class.

Last month, an unidentified 20-year-old Marquette student stirred up controversy in his "Theory of Ethics" class when instructor Cheryl Abbate led a discussion about "applying philosophical theories to modern political controversies." Among the various political controversies listed were "gay rights" alongside other hot-button topics like gun rights and the death penalty.

In an interview with Todd Starnes of Fox News, the student said regarding the incident, "we had a discussion on all of them – except gay rights. She erased that line from the board and said, ‘We all agree on this.’”

When the student confronted Abbate after class about why they didn't discuss gay rights, Abbate said that some students who might be homosexual could get offended, clarifying that opposition to issues like gay marriage would be homophobic.

In a recorded conversation, the student accused Abbate of restricting his right to express his opinion in class and Abbate dropped the bombshell.

“You can have whatever opinions you want but I will tell you right now – in this class homophobic comments, racist comments, sexist comments will not be tolerated,” she told him. "If you don’t like it, you are more than free to drop this class.”

The student did drop the class and reported it to the Chair of the Philosophy Department, Nancy Snow, but nothing happened. However, Abbate didn't get away scot-free. When conservative professor John McAdams learned about the incident, he exposed it on his blog The Marquette Warrior where he accused of Abbate of "using a tactic typical among liberals now" when dealing with her student. He also criticized Nancy Snow for some of her own Orwellian conduct in her “Philosophy of Crime and Punishment” class where she "tried to shut up a student who offered a response, from the perspective of police" to Snow’s comments about supposed "racial profiling'" and her ordering that the student write a letter of apology to all black students.

Once McAdam's blog post went viral, Abbate and several professors signed a petition to have McAdams disciplined for his public dissent. Shortly thereafter, McAdams received the following letter of suspension from Marquette Dean Richard Holz:

Dear John:

The university is continuing to review your conduct and during this period–and until further notice–you are relieved of all teaching duties and all other faculty activities, including, but not limited to, advising, committee work, faculty meetings and any activity that would involve your interaction with Marquette students, faculty and staff. Should any academic appeals arise from Fall 2014 semester, however, you are expected to fulfill your obligations in that specific matter.

Your salary and benefits will continue at their current level during this time.

You are to remain off campus during this time, and should you need to come to campus, you are to contact me in writing beforehand to explain the purpose of your visit, to obtain my consent and to make appropriate arrangements for that visit. I am enclosing with this letter Marquette’s harassment policy, its guiding values statement, the University mission statement, and sections from the Faculty Handbook, which outline faculty rights and responsibilities; these documents will inform our review of your conduct.

Sincerely,

Richard C. Holz, Ph.D. Dean

Responding to his suspension, McAdams highlighted the absurdity of being given Marquette's harassment guidelines considering that "the behavior must be directed toward a protected class (color, race, national origin, ethnicity, religion, disability, veteran status, age, gender or sexual orientation), and leftist philosophers are not a protected class."

Marquette's Turning Point USA chapter has since launched a grassroots initiative. Their petition to lift McAdams' suspension can be signed here.

http://www.truthrevolt.org/news/marquette-suspends-conservative-professor-exposing-totalitarian-leftist-faculty

Cardinal Brandmüller Meets With SSPX at HQ

[SSPX USA] On December 5, 2014, Cardinal Walter Brandmuller, president emeritus of the Pontifical Committee for Historical Sciences, met with Bishop Bernard Fellay, superior general of the Priestly Society of St. Pius X, accompanied by several priests. The meeting was held at the Herz Jesu Seminary of Zaitzkofen, in Bavaria.

This meeting was a follow-up of the September 23, 2014 meeting in Rome, during which all had agreed to pursue the doctrinal discussions “in a broader, less formal framework than in the previous discussions.” (see DICI #302, Oct. 10, 2014). The theme was the Council and its magisterial authority.

The goal of these meetings is to make the Church’s authorities more aware of the Society and the works of Tradition, and at the same time to expose to them the serious objections and points of divergence that remain concerning the Second Vatican Council and its reforms. In this perspective, two more meetings are scheduled in the coming months, one at the St. Cure de Ars Seminary in Flavigny (France), and the other at St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary in Winona (USA).

(Source: fsspx/MG–DICI #307, Dec. 19, 2014)

Pope Francis Won't Be Around in Ten Years

[The Local] The 78-year-old pontiff wished them well with their bid to host the 2024 Games, but said he would not be around to watch them.

"Dear friends, best wishes for Rome's bid to host the 2024 Olympic Games," he said. "I will not be there. May the Lord bless all of you and your families."

It was not the first time the Pope, who turned 78 on Wednesday, has hinted he does not think he will last very long at the helm of the Catholic Church.

On his way back from South Korea in August he lightheartedly remarked to reporters that he may have only two or three years left to live.

http://m.thelocal.it/20141219/pope-will-not-be-in-the-vatican-in-ten-years

Pope Francis: 2017 Catholics Will "Commemorate 500 Years of the Reformation"

German Lutherans with Pope Francis

(Rome) Pope Francis received a delegation on Thursday of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Germany at the Vatican. In his address to the Lutherans, the Catholic Church leader said some astonishing  things. Catholics and Lutherans should "remember together" the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.  Celebrate the schism as a common event? An idiosyncratic form of "historicization" of the Reformation?

What the Pope said: "Ecumenical dialogue can not now be separated from reality and the life of our churches. In 2017, Lutheran and Catholic Christians commemorate together the five hundredth anniversary of the Reformation. On this occasion, Lutherans and Catholics will, for the first time, have the opportunity to keep one and the same global ecumenical commemoration, not in the form of a triumphalist celebration, but rather to  confess our common faith in the Triune God. "

This is a shared "Reformation Memorial" reported Miguel Angel Yáñez, as the chief editor of Adelante la fe  considers: "I really wonder: Are we seriously commemorating as Catholics of the unfortunate schism that  enticed by the millions of souls to the fall away from the Catholic faith"

Lutherans and Lefebvrians?

And Yáñez continued, "If this ecumenical discourse is coherent, then we would soon get to hear the following statement from Rome:

, Ecumenical dialogue can not be separated from the reality and the life of our church today. In 2018 we commemorate together with Catholics associated to Archbishop Lefebvre   the 30th anniversary of the consecration of bishops who have separated from us. On this occasion, the two sides will, for the first time, have the opportunity to keep the world one and the same ecumenical commemoration, not in the form of a triumphalist celebration, but to confess our common faith in the Triune God,'" says Miguel Angel Yáñez.

Pope Francis continued to the German Lutherans. "Let us invite all, with God's help and with the support of his spirit to make further steps towards unity and not just to limit ourselves to what we have already achieved with this Reformation Memorial"

The German Bishops' Conference is actively pursuing the "common" Memory of the Church's schism by Martin Luther. For this purpose, a separate "project office of the Reformation Memorial" was set up.

2017: 100th Anniversary of Fatima

The 2017 does not mean 500 years of Church division but really, 100 years since the apparitions of Fatima. For the latter, Pope Francis has  not taken to commemorate it so far. In Portugal they have been trying to descure a Pope visit since 2013 for the Pope's visit on the occasion of the 100th anniversary celebrations in Fatima. Last April,  the retired Portuguese Cardinal José Saraiva Martins said there is no secure commitment, but it was "normal and natural" that the Pope would come to a "so momentous occasion" to Fatima.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
image: InfoVaticana

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

LInk to Katholisches..

AMDG

"Parallel-Superior" Bergoglio -- Why Was Today's Pope Exiled by His Jesuit Brothers in 1990

(Buenos Aires / Rome) Today December 17 Pope Francis celebrates his 78th birthday. In the morning he enjoyed a tango that was danced by thousands of  "aficionados" in his honor in St. Peter's Square. The Osservatore Romano published a page from the Pope's biography appearing in Argentina, which lays particular value on the Jorge Mario Bergoglio  and the conclusion and signing in his own hand.

The book entitled Aquel Francisco was written by two Argentine journalists, Javier Cámara and Sebastian Pfaffen (see separate report  Bergoglio as "Brilliant but Crazy" Was Sent Into "Exile" ). Both come from Cordoba in Argentina, where the publisher is located. The focus of the book lies in the reconstruction of the two phases in the life of the current Pope, which he spent in  a provincial Argentine town. These were the two years of the novitiate of 1958-1960 and the two years of exile without any appointment, to which he had been sent by his Superiors 1990-1992. An exile, which Pope Bergoglio today often referred to as an "internal cleansing".

Aquel Francisco - the Autobiographical Biography

In December 2013, the Pope had been informed by the Archbishop of Cordoba during a visit to Rome, that the two journalists were going to write a book about this double period. Pope Francis picked up the phone and called the two."Not once, but several times, and would not let his grip loose.," said Vatican expert Sandro Magister about the episode. The Pope began and intense correspondence via e-mail with Cámara and Pfaffen, describing his memories and makinng the biography  a kind of autobiography. From an "autobiografia Cordobana" says Magister, since the book is peppered with direct statements in quotes. It deals with stories and appraisals.

"There are two main points of the book which arouse curiosity," says Magister. This applies initially to the real reasons that led to the fact that the former Argentine Jesuit Superior  Bergoglio fell out of favor with his brothers.  The current Pope was at the head of the Jesuits in Argentina in the 70s, to be exact 1973-1979. He was sent into exile in 1990 by Father Victor Zorzin,  who was close to Father Bergoglio. Father Zorzin was namely Bergoglio's Vice, when he was  Order Provincial. In 1986 Zorzin was elected  Provincial. It's an office which he held until 1991.

Why Did Bergolio's Brethren Want to Get Rid of Him?

Between Zorzin and Bergoglio  there were great differences of opinion about the nature of religious leadership. The same was true between Bergoglio and Zorzin's successor, Father Ignacio García-Mata, who was Provincial from 1991-1997 Provincial and thus for  a time when Bergoglio was already progressing in a new career outside of his order. It was in  1992 that Pope John Paul II appointed him  Auxiliary Bishop of Buenos Aires, and in 1997, Archbishop Coadjutor, eight months later, and finally in February 1998, as archbishop of Buenos Aires and Primate of Argentina.

According to the two authors there were  internal disagreements in the order which resulted in a thunderous "smear campaign" against Father Bergoglio. A campaign whose echo was heard as far as Rome and penetrated to the former General of the Order, the Dutchman Peter Hans Kolvenbach. They had the rumor circulated, as such, but Father Angel Rossi, the current Superior of the Jesuits branch in Cordoba confirmed in a book that the "once so brilliant"  Ex-Provincial had been exiled,  "because he had become sick, crazy.'

The "Parallel-Superior" Bergoglio

In 1979, there followed  Provincial Bergolio, Father Andrés Swinnen, who remained always connected to his predecessor, provides a more substantial explanation of exile. Bergoglios  "sin" was   that after his mandate as Provincial ended, he continued as leader of a faction   within the province of the order and tried to exert influence.

First they had made him the rector of the Colegio Maximo de San Miguel. Then he was sent to the doctoral program in Germany. But in Frankfurt he stayed only briefly. In the few months that he was in Germany, he traveled extensively and visited the various branches Jesuits. They had tried to deport him from Argentina. This also explains the reason why he never came to the official residence to study, but after a short time he succeeded in returning to his homeland. Now he was sent to the Colegio del Salvador where he taught theology. But for whatever reason he was also sent there, he joined "as a parallel-head", said Father Swinnen. In this way he influenced many Jesuits, especially younger brothers. Within a decade, from 1979, the end of Bergoglios term as Provincial, until his exile in 1990  more than 100 young Jesuits left the Argentine Jesuit Order and gave up their  priesthood.

Exodus from the Order, For Which Bergoglio Was Blamed

The Exodus was blamed on Bergoglio. A "large part  of those exiting belonged to  a group who were not on  Bergoglio's page, but rather wanted to get rid of him," said Father Swinnen. Whether at his side or against him, the former Provincial played a central role in the province's internal conflict.

The book provides no detailed background information about the reasons of the conflict. Was it only in the personality  of Bergoglio and other actors, or it was about substantive issues of doctrine and church order? Neither the reigning pope nor Jesuits cited in the book seem to want to "warm up" to the former controversies that led to such a tangible conflict. 

Writings in Cordoban Exile

So far, it is known that Pope Francis has written a book in his life. His written legacy is limited to shorter posts and forewords for some books of others, as well as two brochures  that appeared after he became the opponent  of Joseph Ratzinger in the conclave of 2005. Even at this time as archbishop of Buenos Aires, he made ​​use of Manuel Fernandez as a ghostwriter . He made ​​him rector of the Pontifical University of Buenos Aires, Titular Archbishop,  Synod of Bishops on the family and the official papal lyricist. Even the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium comes largely from his pen. This is not unusual for statesmen and leaders in.

All the more surprising that Pope Francis says in the book that you wrote in his exile Cordobaner two books. The books are entitled "Reflexiones de esperanza" (Thoughts on hope) and especially "Corrupción y pecado" (corruption and sin) and my brochures. The latter took his text output because of a tragedy, the murder of a 17-year-old in 1990 by members of high society 2014 he also appeared in German translation.

Evangelii Gaudium and Romano Guardini

 "Corruption" is a topic that Pope Francis addresses in his sermons over and over again. The Catholic Church leader is said to have resumed the study of Romano Guardini in exile, to complete his dissertation on the German religious philosopher. "I did not manage to finish it, but this study has helped me a lot in what later came to me, including the transcript of the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium , part of which is taken on the social criteria entirely of my thesis about Guardini ".

The never completed dissertation is not known, but in Evangelii gaudium there is actually a detailed quote by Guardini from his work published in 1950, "The End of Modern Times". The quote is found in paragraphs 217-237, where the Pope sets out the criteria that should be followed in order to advance the promotion of the common good and social peace.

To what extent his style of leadership, whether as a provincial and "parallel-superior" then  as archbishop or pope are  in relation to Guardini's criteria, would require a separate investigation.

Text: Settimo Cielo / Giuseppe Nardi
image: MiL
TransL Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
Link to Katholisches...
AMDG

Bishop Asks Wrestlers to Forfeit Match

There was a small buzz of concern with the Trinity wrestling faithful when the Shamrocks hosted ShippensburgTuesday night.

All over the possibility of a female showing up in the Greyhounds lineup. And of course, how it would affect the match.

In late September, the head of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg, Bishop Ronald Gainer, handed down a new policy that stated any male wrestler who attends a Catholic school would have to forfeit a match if opposed by a female.

http://highschoolsports.pennlive.com/news/article/6318264547220400546/bishops-rule-on-females-wrestling-males-doesnt-alter-outcome-of-trinitys-win-over-shippensburgthis-time/

Important Strategic Course in Selecting the Head of Opus Dei

Right of Pope Francis is Prelate Echevarria, Left
Msgr. Ocariz

(Rome) Prelate Javier Echevarría, who has been at the head of the Personal Prelature of Opus Dei since   1994,  has engaged an important personnel decision and thus undertook a strategic course in naming  his successor at the head of a Personal Prelature.

Echevarria, who has the rank of bishop, is the second successor of Opus Dei founder Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer y Albas (1902-1975). Escrivà was canonized  in 2002 by Pope John Paul II, and his first successor, Monsignor Álvaro del Portillo (1914-1994) was beatified by Pope Francis on September 27, 2014.

Monsignor Javier Echevarría has now appointed a deputy.The decision was justified with the proliferating  global tasks and his advanced age. Echevarría, born in 1932 who reached his 82nd birthday last June 14, had appointed the former Vicar General of the Prelature, Msgr. Fernando Ocáriz as his deputy.

Msgr. Fernando Ocariz Coadjutor Prelate 

In Dec. 9 came the appointment came into force transmitting to  Msgr. Ocáriz all that is necessary for the responsibility  the management of the Prelature, including the prelate's reserved decision-making powers. The only exceptions are the responsibilities associated with the episcopal office of the prelate.

The appointment was made ​​in accordance with Article 134, paragraph 1, and Article 125 of the Codex iuris particularis Operis Dei ,   which  John Paul II. approved with the Apostolic Constitution Ut sit on 28 November 1982.

In contrast to countervailing tendencies to  bureaucratize ministries occupied for life in the church and to limit their time, the prelate of Opus Dei continues its life in accordance with statutes. For this reason, the statutes provide for the possibility that the prelate may freely appoint a deputy  in the form of a coadjutor. The General Council of the Prelature can also recommend such an appointment.

Msgr. Ocariz was Co-author of the Declaration Dominus Iesus

Msgr. Fernando Ocáriz was born in 1944 in Paris. He studied physics at the University of Barcelona and then theology at the Lateran University in Rome. At the University of Navarra, he received his doctorate in the New Evangelization. In 1971 he was ordained a priest and later taught Fundamental Theology as Professor at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome. Since 1986 he has been Consultant of the Congregation and since 1989 a member of the Pontifical Academy of Theology . Since 1994, he exercised the office of Vicar General of the Prelature. He is regarded as one of the principal authors of the Declaration Dominus Iesus on the unicity and salvific universality of Jesus Christ and the Church in 2000.

Opus Dei, canonically erected in 1943,  is the only personal prelature of the Catholic Church. The prelate has the rank of bishop. Already, Msgr. Echevarria held  the Office of the Vicar General in Opus Dei before his appointment as  Prelate.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
image: Osservatore Romano

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link Katholisches...

AMDG

Is the Creche Subversive? --- Student Action Against the Banning of Natvity Scenes by "Ayatollahs of Secularism"

Crib Flashmob in France Against State Censorship

(Paris) Is the Christmas crib subversive and seditious? This question is being decided in France according to the judgment  of an Administrative Court in Nantes. For years radical secularist  circles are increasingly trying to ban Christian symbols from the public space. This includes the removal of  Nativity scenes from  public. A few days ago an administrative court of Nantes forbade the building of a crib in the  General Council Building of the Vendée.  The initiative Touche pas à ma crèche has engaged itself against this displacement process. The initiative can be translated into English with "hands off my crib!" 

France is experiencing a flash mob  this Advent as the nativity scenes appear in public spaces. In response to the anti-Christian efforts of recent years is trying set up cribs large and small in  prominent places to reconnect with old traditions in squares and  alongside churches.

Is the crib subversive?

Student Group Responds to Ban Ruling of an Administrative Court

The initiative Touche pas à ma crèche was founded by a group students from the Vandée, that northwestern French land in which the Catholic people rose against the Jacobin dictatorship of the French Revolution. The backlash will be an answer to the "ayatollahs of secularism" as it says on the Facebook page of the initiative. The students make living nativity scenes in public spaces and mime  the "mighty in charge," whom they name "the Ayatollahs of Secularism", as an expression of the censorship,  staging a performance Mary, Joseph, of the angels and the shepherds with sealed mouths.

Crèche partout against the "Ayatollahs of Secularism"

The initiative was triggered by an administrative court judgment of Nantes, which prohibited the establishment of a Nativity scene in a public building of Vandée. The well-known French website Le Salon Beige called for action Crèche partout  ("crib everywhere"). The appeal is a reference to the name of the famous rallies Manif pour tous.

According to the Administrative Court of Nantes a nativity scene is a "religious symbol" and therefore incompatible with the "neutrality of the civil service." The Child Jesus, Mary and Joseph, the ox and the ass must not be placed in the building of the General Council of the Vandée this year. An antii-Christian association had complained against the annual erection of a crib  and won their case.

"Then the Christmas Lights Should be Banned"

Student Initiative Against Natvity Ban

Many people are outraged. "Then one would have to ban the entire Christmas lights adorning the streets of our cities and towns," angrily responded Bruno Retailleau, the chairman of the UMP in the French Senate. His predecessor, Philippe de Villiers described the court decision as a "totalitarian".  France is "Christian soil,  and this decision is an expression of poisonous secularism, which disdains our traditions and customs. Will they also prohibit the ringing of bells in the name of dogmatic secularism?"

1905 witnessed the anti-Christian force enact a law that introduced the separation of church and state in a radical form. In 2004, the veiling of Muslim women was banned. Since then, the  ruling Socialists insist in this provision as a general ban on religious symbols in public space. A Christian teacher must no longer wear a Cross with a necklace in France, if he wants to keep his job.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
image: tempos / Facebook

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Katholisches...

AMDG

Bishop of Trier to Withdraw Suspension of Faithful Pastor

By Christmas, the bishop should renounce the suspension.

Hamburg / Trier (kath.net/ CBA) After the dismissal of a pastor in the diocese of Trier, community members sent an "ultimatum" according to a "Spiegel" report, to Bishop Stephan Ackermann. Ackermann. Before Christmas he should cancel the dismissal and stop "swinging the whip», according to the release by an initiative group. A few weeks ago parishioners who were demonstrating against what they called the "authoritarian and unjustified action from above" in front of the Bishop of Trier's palace and wrote letters of protest.

In mid-November, Ackermann dismissed the pastor in Beckingen, Saarland, Christoph Eckert, from his office. For his part, the priest filed a complaint at the Vatican. Until the local decision which is expected in a few months, Eckert may not exercise his previous office. He was provisionally transferred to another parish.

In a letter to the affected parish, Ackerman stressed that he had never previously resorted to such measures.

But only through this painful step would he given the chance for a fresh start. Eckert had his request for voluntary transfer rejected. Ackermann stressed that there had recently been "problematic developments" from a split in the parish community. Doubts had arisen whether Father Eckert had applied himself to his job and the "service of the unity of the church."

(C) 2014 CBA Catholic News Agency. Link to Kath.net Trans; Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

AMDG

Pope Francis Will Name New Cardinals in February 2015 --- Will Family Be a Theme?

For the Second Time in His Pontificate, Francis
Will Name New Cardinals

(Vatican) Pope Francis is going to convene a new Extraordinary Consistory of Cardinals for   the 14th-15th February 2015. As Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi SJ announced, it shall be convened because Pope Francis will appoint new cardinals.

Immediately before the extraordinary consistory the C9 Council of Cardinal Advisors will meet from 9th-11th in February, and from the 12th-13th of February  the Cardinal Consistory will confer on the reorganization of the Roman Curia. In the ordinary consistory in 2014 Cardinal Walter Kasper made his speech about the "New Mercy" which was the official start of the current intra-Church conflicts around Marriage and Sacrament.

Currently, there are 112 papal electors. . By the end of February next year their number will be reduced to 110. A few days later, the Egyptian Cardinal Antonios Naguib will reach 80 years of age. Francis could thus create at least eleven new cardinals  who have not yet reached the age of 80.

Will Consistory Discuss The Family Again?

The C9 Council of Cardinal Advisers will summarize the work on the reform of the Curia and submit their report directly following the ordinary consistory. According to Vatican spokesman Lombardi, it is also likely  that February will bringany decisions regarding the reform of the Curia. Pope Francis concluded this in an interview with the daily newspaper La Nacion for the whole of 2015. Whether the ordinary consistory will discuss again, and address the Annual Synod of Bishops in October 2015 on the family is not known

It will be the second Cardinal survey of this pontificate. On February 22, 2014, Pope Francis  will create19 new cardinals, 16 of which are potential electors. Among them is  Benedict XVI's  appointed CDF, Gerhard Müller, and Prefect of Clergy, Beniamino Stella and Synod Secretary Lorenzo Baldisseri, both of whom were appointed by Pope Francis.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi 

image: Infovaticana

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Katholisches...

AMDG

Gaudete Sunday Liturgical Abuse in Puglia

Edit: this abomination just has to be pointed out. The Diocese of San Severo is presently headed by Lucio Angelo Renna, O. Carm., and is located in Puglia, Italy not far from the Adriatic. Recently, this morning in fact, a local priest, Francesco Cicorella, held the following Gaudete Sunday "Mass" at the parish of San Bernardino. It appears the local pastor is something of a Pied Piper. The priest keeps a Facebook account where he published this video.

Post by Marika Casoli.

Aberro-Activists Wanted to Disturb His Wedding

Edit: we have been wondering what happened to him for a while, and just saw this on kath.net. Translated it.

The American blogger Thomas Peters sits in a wheelchair after an accident. In an interview he talks about his still firm faith, his marriage and his work.

Washington DC (kath.net/jg) In a rare interview, the American blogger Thomas Peters (29) has spoken about his faith, his work and his life as a paraplegic. His faith had survived the severe accident which would have cost him nearly killed, he told the British Catholic Herald.

In 2006 he began the blog "American Papist" was founded. The site was successful from the start. Peters was one of the most well-known blogger in the US and was a frequent guest on television and radio broadcasts. Later, he became involved in the "National Organization for Marriage" (NOM), an organization that is politically committed to the protection of traditional marriage and family.

In the course of his wedding in 2012, he began to feel the negative effects of his popularity. There were multiple threats from gay activists to disrupt the wedding. Peter therefore hired a security guard.

A little over a year later the blogger suffered serious injuries of the spine in a swimming accident. He remains in a wheelchair and is learning to move his right hand.

Medical advances may be a miracle. With his injuries he was supposed to be paralyzed from the neck down. But he can move his arms, his left hand and his torso. His faith is still strong, confirmed Peters, who grew up in a Catholic family with five brothers and sisters. He continues to write blog entries on the website catholicvote.org be published. He has also developed an online application to facilitate political commitment. Link to Kath.net... AMDG

Saint Thomas University PR Man Issues Fake Correction For His Modernist Pro-Abort University

Edit: unfortunately,  the letter doesn't acknowledge any wrongdoing.   Nor does it address any of St. Thomas University's historical hostility to Catholicism.   There are still two links that are "accidentally" listed on the site, from TFP Student Action.

Here's the letter we'd received which claims to have addressed the situation from their PR office...  It's a sad day that a Catholic institution employs a mouthpiece like this.

Maybe the problem isn't a minor error, but a systemic problem with the University?

Dear Eponymousflower website,

My name is Jim Winterer and I’m writing from the University Relations office at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul.

You had carried an article on your website that was critical of some links that appeared, in error, on St. Thomas’ website. We thought you’d be interested in seeing a response that our president, Julie Sullivan, is providing to those who are calling and writing with their concerns.

Her response is:

Thank you for contacting me regarding links to inappropriate internship resources that appeared on the University of St. Thomas website. The links were published in error on the website of our College of Arts and Sciences, and they are being corrected. Student internships in the college are approved through the Office of the Dean. The dean has not approved, nor would he approve, academic credit for internships at Planned Parenthood or abortion organizations.
Sincerely, Julie H. Sullivan, Ph.D., President

Regards,
Jim Winterer

Church in Austria is a "Pigsty" -- The New Book of Almost-Auxiliary Bishop Gerhard Maria Wagner

(Vienna) He was named in 2009 but  an unprecedented smear campaign prevented Bishop Gerhard Maria Wagner of the Diocese of Linz.  He has today presented  and talked plaintext his new book. 2009, the Upper Austrian priest Wagner had become a victim of  bishop-bashing, which is a  popular smear game in trend-setting circles. Now, he said the church in Austria is not only in a precarious condition, but is a "pig stye" in which it "stinks".

Pastor Wagner 2009 Victim of the Bishop-Bashing

The list of victims of the bishop-bashing is already considerable. It ranges from Bavaria with Bishop Walter Mixa of Augsburg to Hesse with Bishop Franz-Peter Tebartz van Elst of Limburg and Grisons with Bishop Wolfgang Haas from Chur to Lower Austria with Bishop Kurt Krenn of St. Pölten. The  blocking of Rev. Gerhard Maria Wagner 2009 as auxiliary bishop of Linz is a special variant of the smear game. Wagner was then not allowed to take office.

The persecution is only possible because authoritative church circles are interested in the jettisoning personal rivals because of personal or ideological reasons and have been actively involved behind the scenes.

The fight against Wagner was tantamount to an exemplary execution, while the Windischgarsten priest was supposed to have only been an auxiliary bishop, i.e. auxiliary bishop of Linz. An auxiliary bishop has entrusted to him only as much decision-making power  as is given him by the responsible diocesan bishop, and ig may be withdrawn from him again at any time. In the Diocese of Linz, however, there was the anxiety that  the appointment of Bishop Wagner by Pope Benedict XVI. would be followed by an  early position in the Episcopal succession by the same Wagner,  if Diocesan Bishop Ludwig Schwarz were to  complete his 75th year and become emeritus.

It's not only the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ) write about   Linz as "Left". The same could be said of the full-time staff apparatus of the diocese. At least the more influential part. With the subtle difference that it is not so much the SPÖ, but is more close to the Greens. There are hardly any Diocesan priestly voacations. Who would  want to become a priest, would do this in the context traditional communities or seeks refuge in the still reasonably intact community of a monastery.

Feeble Roman Knees

The lay Apparatchiks and the Liberal, often effeminate  clergy of Upper Austria quickly found allies  in the media   to begin shooting practice on a living object. In Austria it was belched loudly and Rome was already in its knees.  Although Pastor Wagner was appointed over Pope's brother, Msgr. Georg Ratzinger and Pope's secretary Georg Gänswein handpicked him and with the best knowledge of the situation on the ground, the priest's   career as a bishop ended after 30 days and did not get beyond the appointment status.

 Pope Benedict XVI. would lose face because of the weak knees of Rome, Wagner asked formally to withdraw the appointment, which the Pope "granted".

On January 31, 2009 Wagner was appointed, and on 2 March 2009   Benedict XVI. granted a  dispensation from the appointment. In the meantime, Pastor Wagner experienced hell on earth and the devout Catholic nation rubbed its eyes, as to how lies can produce a smear campaign. Each day new lies were unpacked. It wasn't until   Wagner's "chalice" had  passed over to progressive part of the Diocese, where it was presented as a  trophy for  hunted prey, that the whole nightmare was over.

 Question of Episcopal Succession in Linz Directs Media Attention on Pastor Wagner

An Auxiliary  Bishop Wagner would have done the Diocese of Linz, more  good than ever, but his prospects   to once again be considered for the episcopate by Rome  are very small. Nevertheless, the retirement of the Diocesan Bishop Ludwig Schwarz is fast approaching. In this context,  the media is again suddenly paying attention to the absent pastor Wagner again after years of peace.

Wagner obeyed in 2009 as a faithful son of the Church. Rome wanted him as auxiliary bishop and he accepted. Rome had changed her mind again under heavy pressure and he obeyed as well. After some time of silence, Wagner, however, took stock and spoke of a "conspiracy" to which he had fallen victim. Wagner today is also the publisher and editor of a Little Penny Sheet, with a wide circulation in Austria, which has the rare virtue of wise, but clear speech. He just said what was obvious, but at that time almost no one dared speak out.

New book "Heaven or Hell" - "Many People Feel Disoriented"

Pastor Gerhard Maria Wagner

Wagner had raised his voice even after the appointment   that it was not for him, but much more so for the Catholic Church in Austria a fiasco. The media hardly cared. But now someone feels   their toes being stepped on. Today, Pastor Wagner has presented his new book, "Heaven or Hell." At the book launch, the sharp witted and eloquent priest was not sparing with plain writing and a gaze at the Archdiocese of  Archbishop Cardinal Christoph Schönborn. Schönborn had supported Kasper's "mercy"  last October at the Synod of Bishops in Rome and would also like to see a new "gradation" applied to all the sacraments. Wagner commented that the Archdiocese of Vienna was a "pig stye" in which there is a foul stench.The situation of the Church in Upper Austria, and born by opposites, says Wagner.

He wished "all the best" to the future Bishop of Linz. For himself, says Wagner as once before, he had already credited the need to "shovel out the pigsty". After all, the position of the Church is questionable because she is not on the right track. There were many tensions and many people are disoriented.

"We Basically Obey to be Catholic"

Pastor Wagner founded an initiative two years ago to strengthen the sacrament of penance in daily life. He called all the priests of the German-speaking countries that committed themselves, to sit every day for an hour to make confession available. In this context, Wagner complained today that in many parishes the Sacrament of Penance is "dead". In the liturgy there is a "momentum" that "disturbs" him. The reason for this is, among other things, an incomprehensible competition between laity and priests. There were quite a few priests who  would"fear of the parish council meeting." "There's something wrong," said Wagner.

It's a disorientation, which is reinforced by the church or is only caused by it. Pastor Wagner quoting a priest who complained to him about his suffering, "that today we have to  basically stop being Catholic."

In the Diocese of Linz There is an "Oligarchic Business" 

However, his opinion was not in high demand in the diocese of Linz   and he accused his home diocese of operating  "quite a bit of an oligarchic business". He took to his bishop's defense, because not a few bishops are simply "alone" and isolated. As  the homosexual Conchita Wurst Thomas Neuwirth  was imposed  as a Euro Vision winner, he had put "shame on Austria," said Pastor Wagner.

As for Pope Francis, Wagner says in his  new book that he was pleased that the new Pope could find sympathy and confidence all over the world, but he does not notice in fact that the churches have become full, "people go to confession more and all that, praise Pope Francis, have become more religious in recent times,"  said Pastor Gerhard Maria Wagner, almost Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Linz.

The church circles referred to by Wagner responded with offense. The pastor "disqualifies"  himself with these statements themselves, suggested the Vicar  of Linz, Wilhelm Vieböck to the ORF: "I find it appalling that Father Wagner used the dramatic word, pigsty 'for the whole Church in Austria". Vieböck confirmed the same time, what is really going on in the background: Such an attitude does not qualify Wagner for higher church offices.

In June 2015 the Diocesan Bishop Ludwig Schwarz completed his 75th year. In Linz, nobody expects an extension in office. The Diocese sent Rome sent a shortlist few days ago  of three candidates for the succession. What are names on the list, is not initially known. It can only be that the name of Father Wagner certainly not there.

Text: Martha Weinzl
image: ORF / JfdL (screenshot)

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Katholisches...

AMDG

Bishop Fellay Blesses Crib in European Parliament

(Brussels) At the invitation of the Italian MEP Mario Borghezio (Lega Nord) and the initiative of the Civitas Institute, the Superior General of the Society of St. Pius X,  visited the European Parliament in Brussels, and blessed a nativity scene there.

The large crib is located in one of the central, public halls of the parliamentary representation of the European Union in Brussels.  MEPs  from France, Great Britain, Greece, Portugal and Italy, parliamentary staff and EU officials gathered to be blessed. In his speech  Alain Escada, president of the French Civitas Institute suggested that the baby Jesus in the manger should rule over all nations, since all power comes from God. For this purpose, he quoted the Pope St. Pius X,  as the 100th  anniversary of his death was commemorated in 2014: "The civilization must not be contrived, for it was, it is and it has been a Christian civilization, it is the Catholic society.  To restore it merely requires the unceasing renewal of its  natural and divine principles. "

Bishop Bernard Fellay said in his speech: "There in the mange is where it all started. So it is quite normal that Europe's guides, God the helmsman give Him glory, who came among man to save him, He, the King of Kings. Let us remember what Cardinal Pie said, 'When the moment for the lordship of Jesus Christ did not come, then the time has not come for governments to continue'. By the blessing of this crib, the Church is a connection between this place and the grace of God's love. This little place is a Sacramental for the benefit of all who come here to gather inside."

Bishop Fellay was accompanied by the District Superior of  Society of St. Pius X for Belgium and the Netherlands, Father Thierry Legrand is in the seat of the European Parliament. He stressed the importance of the initiative,   because of the increasing attempt to prevent the establishment of nativity scenes in France in public spaces and Advent and attempts to replace and reinterpret  Christmas Traditions with "Winter events" and "Year End initiatives."

Text: pius.info/Giuseppe Nardi
image: pius.info

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Katholisches...

AMDG