Pope To Caserta Pentecostals

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JMJ

Sometimes people focus on what the Pope doesn't say, such as the need to convert, while implying that they are 'fine' where they are and are already actual members of the Church of Christ.

Focusing on his address to the Protestant Charismatics (as opposed to the Catholic ones), I have highlighted below some portions that are likely to (should)  cause consternation amongst the Traditional Catholics (Canonically regular and otherwise).

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Prayer

Penance

Patience

PS. (As this was a scheduled post) Rorate-Caeli has more coverage here.

Most of the Pope's address has the same sweet nothings (sorry Your Holiness, as a Traditionalist, I look for substance within the teachings of the Vicar of Christ).

The theme of the talk "The Holy Spirit creates 'diversity' in the Church" is enough to send shivers up anyone with a modicum of understanding of Catholic theology.

source

What does the Holy Spirit do? I said he does something else, which perhaps one might think is division, but it isn’t. The Holy Spirit creates “diversity” in the Church. The First Letter to the Corinthians, chapter 12. He creates diversity! And this diversity is truly very rich, very beautiful. But then, the Holy Spirit himself creates unity, and so the Church is one in diversity. And, to use the word of an Evangelical whom I love very much, a “reconciled diversity” by the Holy Spirit. He creates both things: He creates the diversity of charisms and then He creates the harmony of charisms. Therefore, the early theologians of the Church, the early Fathers – I am speaking of the 3rdor 4thcentury – said: “The Holy Spirit is harmony,” because He creates this harmonious unity in diversity.

What kind of diversity is he envisioning?  One of doctrinal diversity?  In Corintians St. Paul is discussing various different charisms - not doctrinal deviations.

We are in the age of globalization, and we wonder what globalization is and what the unity of the Church would be: perhaps a sphere, where all points are equidistant from the center, all are equal? No! This is uniformity. And the Holy Spirit does not create uniformity! What figure can we find? We think of the polyhedron: the polyhedron is a unity, but with all different parts; each one has its peculiarity, its charism. This is unity in diversity. It is on this path that we, Christians, do what we call with the theological name of ecumenism. We try to have this diversity become more harmonized by the Holy Spirit and become unity. We seek to walk in the presence of God to be irreproachable. We seek to find the nourishment of which we are in need to find our brother. This is our way, this is our Christian beauty! I refer to what my beloved brother said at the beginning.

Ok, I take exception to the highlight statement. The Church has not lost its Unity.  The Protestants and Orthodox left the Unity of the Church when they broke either or both Unity of Faith and Unity of Government.

On this path we have very often done the same thing as Joseph’s brothers, when jealousy and envy have divided us. Those who arrived first wanted to kill their brother – Ruben succeeded in saving him – and then sold him. Our brother John also spoke of this sad story. That sad story in which the Gospel was lived by some as a truth who did not realize that behind this attitude there were ugly things, things that were not of the Lord, a terrible temptation of division. That sad story, in which the same thing was done that Joseph’s brothers did: denunciation, the laws of these people: “it goes against the purity of the race …” And these laws were sanctioned by the baptized! Some of those who made these laws and some of those who persecuted, denounced their Pentecostal brothers because they were “enthusiasts,” almost “madmen “ who ruined the race, some were Catholics … I am the Pastor of Catholics: I ask forgiveness for this! I ask forgiveness or those Catholic brothers and sisters who did not understand and who were tempted by the devil and did the same thing that Joseph’s brothers did. I ask the Lord to He give us the grace to admit and forgive … Thank you!

Ok, more cultural alarm bells.  If we apply the analogy presented by the Pope, the Protestant Evangelicals are taking the place of Joseph.  The Catholics are the jealous brother.  Jealous of what?  Are the 'gifts' of the evangelicals real?  I'm sorry, I stick with the Catholic doctrine that the majority of the Charisms noted in scripture died out by the 3rd or 4th century because they were no longer necessary. In my mind the Catholic Charismatic Renewal is nothing less than a protestant pentecostalism virus that have infected the Mystical Body of Christ.  It may infact presage the coming of the Anti-Christ.

We are on this path of unity between brothers. Some might be astonished: “But the Pope went to the Evangelicals.” He went to find brothers! Yes! Because – and what I will say is truth – because they were the ones who came first, in Buenos Aires, to find me. And there is a witness here: Jorge Himitian can tell the story about when they came, they approached us … And so this friendship began, this closeness between Pastors of Buenos Aires, and today here. Thank you so much. I ask you to pray for me, I am in need of it so that at least I won’t be so bad. Thank you!

The question that needs to be answer is: Who is leading whom and to where?  I also note that Pope Francis goes out of his way to go to those who are doctrinally challenged. It may be a confirmation bias on my part, but his kindest words seem reserved for those who deviate from the doctrines of the Church. Example: Cardinal Kasper, the protestants etc. When it comes to 'Traditionalists', he has nothing by a sour disposition.

It would be quite easy to take these words an interpret that the Pope sees the protestant pentecostals as part / members of the Catholic Church - in spite of their recent declarations and that Catholics persecuted them.

As Catholics, we know that we get the leaders we deserve.  This pontificate is reinforcing the opinion that the people in the Church in general are in a very bad shape.

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