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A Priest Life: Benedict XVI distinguishes “between those who hold ‘ecclesiastical offices’ and those who are in ‘communion with the Church spiritually’.”

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JMJ

 The Fr. Cusick has posted a very interesting article (reproduced below for the chronicle). 

While many will scoff at the thought, the fact that Pope Emeritus B16 is making a distinction between holding an office and being in cohesion with the Church is pretty big.

While the comment was aimed at the Germans, I can think of prelate or two in Rome to whom the criticism could also be leveled. Perhaps, someone who is trying kill part of that tradition 😎.

For the chronicle ...

P^3

Source: A Priest Life

POPE BENEDICT XVI RESPONDS TO TRADITIONIS CUSTODES

The import and significance of this interview was exposed and explained in a lengthy print article in today’s Libero, on p. 12 (to read the original click on the image above).

Here I will only speak to the central issue in the interview.

The Holy Father criticizes the leaders of the Church and Church institutions in Germany, faulting them for acting without any inner or spiritual cohesion with the Church, the Gospel or Her teaching through the ages. He urges the Faithful to remain faithful to the spirit of the Church and not to the unfaithful leaders of the Church of today. His position is not far from that of the late Archbishop Marcel Lefebrve, which is why this talk is causing a earthquake here in Rome and throughout Europe.

Pope Benedict XVI is putting his finger on the loss of faith in modern times. And giving sound guidance for the faithful to stop obeying faithless leaders and resist them.

But the Holy Father goes much further. In a succinct German phrase, he distinguishes between those who hold “ecclesiastical offices” and those who are in communion with the Church spiritually. And He tells the faithful to remain in communion with the latter NOT the former.

This entire counsel is exactly that which Andrea Cionci has discerned in Pope Benedict’s Declaratio of February 11, 2013 and his subsequent behavior and authentic statements.

You can read the entire by Cionci in full by clicking the image above. FromRome.Info will try to publish an English translation of Cionci’s article tomorrow.

Editor’s Note: The entire German text of the original publication is not available for FromRome.Info to republish. 

Source: From a post by

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