Life Site News: Plea to the Pope video

*loud wild applause* 

From Youtube video description: 

Published on Jul 13, 2016
ROME, July 13, 2016 (LifeSiteNews) -- In a spirit of love, humility, and faithfulness, 16 international life and family advocates are asking Pope Francis in a powerful new video to unambiguously speak the truth of the Catholic faith, to end doctrinal confusion, to restore clarity, and to be the Holy Father that Catholics need. 

“We are living in a very special time of a deep crisis of faith inside the Church,” said Bishop Athanasius Schneider, the Auxiliary in the diocese of Maria Santissima in Kazakhstan, who opens the video, produced by LifeSiteNews. 

“It is not a secret. It is very evident. A lot of people, the simple faithful, are suffering because of the situation of confusion,” he added. 

The 30-minute film, titled Plea to the Pope, comes in the wake of confusion caused by the pope’s April release of his Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia, in which he made a number of concerning statements about marriage, divorce, sin, reception of Holy Communion, and sex education for children. The Exhortation has generated numerous contradictory interpretations from various theologians as well as cardinals and bishops. 

Bishop Schneider called it “very urgent” that the pope “states more clearly, in a very unambiguous manner — in such a manner which will not leave any space for misinterpretations — [on] the issues of family and the sacredness of marriage.” 

The film contains an impressive lineup of international life and family advocates who decided that the time had come to voice their concerns for the good of the Church, of souls, and of nations. 

Watch short version here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zR4xcStBARU

Read full report at LifeSiteNews.com: https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/plea-to-the-pope-life-and-family-leaders-call-on-pope-to-end-the-confusion

Sign Petition to Pope Francis here: https://www.lifesitenews.com/petitions/pray-for-pope-francis



God bless you to ALL who took part in this video!  Thank you for speaking out! I pray that this video message will reach the Holy Father and he will listen.

So happy this video has been made!  Praise the Lord!


In Christ,


Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner

Pope Francis on another plane answering questions...what could go wrong?

Quote: In an hour-long conversation with reporters on the plane taking him back to Rome from Armenia,the pontiff was asked if he agreed with recent comments by a German Roman Catholic cardinal that the Church should apologise to gay people.
The pope recalled Church teachings, saying: “[Gay people] should not be discriminated against. They should be respected, accompanied pastorally.
“I think that the Church not only should apologise … to a gay person whom it offended but it must also apologise to the poor as well, to the women who have been exploited, to children who have been exploited by (being forced to) work. It must apologise for having blessed so many weapons.”

How exactly has the Church "offended" gays?  By stating Catholic teaching?  

2357 Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, 141 tradition has always declared that "homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered." 142 They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.

2359 Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.

Too freaking bad! 

I think I have a better idea Holy Father... 

How about the gays apologize to Catholics for pushing their wicked, abominations on us and our families in politics, schools and work places? 

How about these homosexuals apologize to us for demanding we bake them cakes, photograph them and do their flower arrangements for their abominable homosexual unions they are call "marriage"?  

How about they apologize to us for suing us when Christians don't want to cooperate with such evil?  

How about we tell these prideful gays what the Saints have to say about homosexuals in sexual relationships? 

How about that Holy Father?

*On a side note, I am very interested to see which Catholic media outlets do as the pope says and offer apologies to the gays they may have offended and ask for forgiveness from these gays. 

Who will do as the pope asks?  EWTN? Catholic Answers? Catholic Digest? Church Militant? Aleteia? Our Sunday Visitor? Patheos? The Remnant?  The Wanderer? Catholic365? Will any Catholic media outlet offer an apology? (vote in my sidebar poll)


In Christ and NOT apologizing for my Faith, 

Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner 


Source: 
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/26/pope-francis-says-christians-should-apologise-to-gay-people

Christians with guns are distrusting says Pope Francis

The pope has once more spoken "off the cuff"... no, scratch that.  He's once again gone off the rails.

At what point can we say "Shut up already"?  Oh you know, I'm not the only one feeling this way.  Every time the pope speaks we fight back a small shudder that rips through our spine because we instinctively know something distasteful will follow. 

Yes, I am 100% fed up with this pope.  I've had enough, so I am going to rant.  If you don't want to hear anyone blasting the pope, stop reading this now.

The more this pope speaks the more insane he sounds to me.  Who is actually speaking here?  The pope or a demon using him?  I'm serious. 

How long will our Father in Heaven make us suffer under this pope?

The nonsense has gone on since he was elected...its been one thing after another with this guy.  It's not only his off the cuff remarks, its his actions, in-actions and planned remarks.  He tells us to shut up about abortion and birth control and start worrying about "sister earth" and how to save the planet from climate change, he happily accepts a communist crucifix gift and announces to the world that it doesn't offend him at all, he does numerous chaotic interviews that send the world into a tailspin, and he seems completely unconcerned with the Eucharist being passed around at mega-Masses like hot-dogs at a weenie roast. 

He's made a fine mess of things.  With nearly every action he takes and every word he speaks the insanity is growing and I have to wonder...just who is speaking here?  A holy man or a puppet of the devil himself? 

Now he's decided to target Christians who own guns and weapon manufacturers...

TURIN, Italy (Reuters) - People who manufacture weapons or invest in weapons industries are hypocrites if they call themselves Christian, Pope Francis said on Sunday.
Francis issued his toughest condemnation to date of the weapons industry at a rally of thousands of young people at the end of the first day of his trip to the Italian city of Turin.
"If you trust only men you have lost," he told the young people in a long, rambling talk about war, trust and politics after putting aside his prepared address. <- mistake #1
"It makes me think of ... people, managers, businessmen who call themselves Christian and they manufacture weapons. That leads to a bit a distrust, doesn't it?" he said to applause.
He also criticized those who invest in weapons industries, saying "duplicity is the currency of today ... they say one thing and do another."

"who call themselves Christian"...?  Really Father?  Who are YOU to judge?  Does that line only work with gays?

"Leads to a bit of mistrust"... gee ya think Holy Father?  Rule #1: don't show up to a gun fight with a toothpick.  Innocent citizens are being killed by criminals with guns- we can't protect ourselves from these despicable criminals if we have no weapons.  

I wonder how long it would take ISIS or another terrorist group to attack Vatican City if the Pope got rid of the Swiss Guard and all weapons from the city??  

I bet they would be attacked in less than 24 hours.

So I'm guessing he's not going to un-arm HIS Swiss Guard who currently are extremely WELL armed to protect him from harm anytime soon.  

But for the rest of us serfs we must be unarmed and unprotected because calling ourselves Christian and having a weapon is somehow incompatible.  

  

I can't help but ask myself, is this pope delusional?  What earth he's living on...it can't be the same one I am living on.  He sees white, I see black.  He says its up, I see it's down.  

I just don't understand him...and sadly, I pray to God I never do because his sort of Catholicism is NOT what I fell in love with. 

I wish he would spend less of his time opining on secular issues, and more time doing what Christ commissioned the Church to actually do... save souls from damnation.  




In Christ,


Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner 



Source: https://ca.news.yahoo.com/pope-says-weapons-manufacturers-cant-call-themselves-christian-184139430.html

Swiss Guard Weapons: http://www.guns.com/2014/04/13/guns-swiss-guard/

Does the Holy Father understand us at all?

At  Casa Santa Marta on Friday morning the pope said…

"Those [sad] Christians don't do our Lord or Our Church any favors. Christians who set time for mourning, who are always complaining. They're constantly sad...This is not the attitude of a disciple. St. Augustine tells Christians: 'Go on, go on, walk and sing, sing. With joy.” [Official Vatican Network]

Unfortunately it seems that Holy Scripture disagrees with our current Pope on the matter of “those who mourn” (though he is probably spot on about complainers like myself).

Matthew 5:4

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

John 16:20

“Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy.”

Or perhaps our Holy Father doesn’t understand how truly sad many Catholics are with the current state of our beloved Holy Catholic Church and the failure of SOME of the clergy in Her?

[This is not about all the truly wonderful Catholic clergy and religious we have in our Church, God bless you all!  This is about the clergy and religious who are not about God’s work, but their own.]

Yes, Holy Father, we are sad Christians... but you understand WHY we are sad?

If Christians are feeling mournful it is because we see the destruction of souls in the world and the Catholic Church’s failure to speak the Truth boldly and bring people back to God’s Church.  

What makes many of us ‘sad Christians’ is when the Church entrusted by Christ to PREACH the TRUTH to the world, instead ALLOWS ‘liberal’ priests and nuns to run amok teaching HERESY and LIES to deceive the masses – at Mass no less! 

That Holy Father, is what makes us “sad Christians”.

You want to see us joyful disciples again?  Be the Church Christ entrusted you to be.  A Church we can DEPEND ON to ALWAYS preach the Truth.  Be a Church were heresy among the clergy and religious is NEVER tolerated.  Discipline the clergy and flock to correct errors the way Holy Scripture demands you to.

 Hebrews 12:8If you do not have that discipline in which all children share, then you are illegitimate and not his children.

Hebrews 12:11Now, discipline always seems painful rather than pleasant at the time, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

We ‘sad Christians’ will always have our joy in Christ [regardless of failing clergy], but it would be nice to have it again in our Church.  Joy in BEING Catholic because we trust our clergy to teach the Truth from God.  That would be nice...that would bring a great many of us joy.

I think of the words of Saint Paul (Romans 16)…

    ^17 “I urge you, brothers and sisters, to keep an eye on those who cause dissensions and offenses, in opposition to the teaching that you have learned; avoid them. ¹⁸ For such people do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the simple-minded. ¹⁹ For while your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, I want you to be wise in what is good and guileless in what is evil. ²⁰ The God of peace will shortly crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.”

The Catholic priests and nuns who support gay marriage, birth control, women priests and other heresies MUST be avoided by Christians.  When  our Church does NOTHING to remove these heretics from our mist we are saddened.  We see these heretics leading ignorant people on the road to Hell and we are often powerless to do anything about it because our Bishops will not listen to our pleas and remove these serpents from among us- or worse yet, the Bishops themselves are heretics and are purposely filling our parishes with these liars to corrupt and deceive the ignorant.

When will our Church do something about this?  How long will our own clergy and religious be allowed to sadden us with their deceptions?

You want joyful Christians Holy Father?  Discipline, teach and speak the truth to us all.  Stop tolerating heretics who corrupt our Church and faith with their serpents forked tongues.

Start removing and excommunicating people who are in the Church only to “serve their own appetites” as Saint Paul warned us about.  Evil persists in the Church because evil is ALLOWED to remain in the Church.

Christians hungry for the Truth will remain ‘sad Christians’ as long as we see the evil in our Church allowed to spread and corrupt.

Colossians 3:16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.

We keep our joy in Christ and the Holy Sacraments always, but we are daily saddened by the failures found in our beloved Catholic Church when our Church leaders fail to lead, teach or correct those entrusted to them.

What child grows to respect a parent who teaches them lies and fails to correct or discipline them?  That child grows up to become a disrespectful liar themselves… if the Church continues to fail as a parent to Her wayward children, She too will produce nothing but rotten fruit.

The Holy Father quoted Saint Augustine...perhaps our Holy Father will quote another great in our Church...G.K. Chesterton who clearly understood what we need our Church to do...

If our Holy Father wants to see us sad Christians become joyful again, he could do us all a favor by spending his efforts weeding out rotten clergy and putting Saint Paul's words to work throughout our Church, in every parish and convent around the world.

           

1 Timothy 5^20 “As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest also may stand in fear. 21 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels, I warn you to keep these instructions without prejudice, doing nothing on the basis of partiality. ²² Do not ordain anyone hastily, and do not participate in the sins of others; keep yourself pure.”

2 Timothy 4
               New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)
4 “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you: ² proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching. ³ For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, ⁴ and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths. ⁵ As for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully.⁶ As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. ⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”

I can’t say it any better than Saint Paul did in Sacred Scripture.

In Christ,

Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner

Source:  http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-walk-joyfully-as-lamb-of-the-lord

Pope Benedict XVI Resigns!

Our beloved Pope Benedict XVI has stunned the world with his announcement that he will be resigning as our Pope on February 28th of this year.

Dear Brothers,
I have convoked you to this Consistory, not only for the three canonizations, but also to communicate to you a decision of great importance for the life of the Church. After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry. I am well aware that this ministry, due to its essential spiritual nature, must be carried out not only with words and deeds, but no less with prayer and suffering. However, in today’s world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith, in order to govern the barque of Saint Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me. For this reason, and well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter, entrusted to me by the Cardinals on 19 April 2005, in such a way, that as from 28 February 2013, at 20:00 hours, the See of Rome, the See of Saint Peter, will be vacant and a Conclave to elect the new Supreme Pontiff will have to be convoked by those whose competence it is.
Dear Brothers, I thank you most sincerely for all the love and work with which you have supported me in my ministry and I ask pardon for all my defects. And now, let us entrust the Holy Church to the care of Our Supreme Pastor, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and implore his holy Mother Mary, so that she may assist the Cardinal Fathers with her maternal solicitude, in electing a new Supreme Pontiff. With regard to myself, I wish to also devotedly serve the Holy Church of God in the future through a life dedicated to prayer.
From the Vatican, 10 February 2013

BENEDICTUS PP XVI

source:

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/02/11/pope_benedict_xvi_announces_his_resignation_at_end_of_month/en1-663815

Our prayers go with you B16!!!  God bless and thank you!  We love you and are praying for you!

EWTN Press Release

EWTN To Provide Live Coverage of
Pope’s Historic Visit to Africa March 17 to March 23

Irondale, AL (EWTN) – EWTN Global Catholic Network will provide live coverage of the Pope’s visit to Cameroon and Angola March 17 to March 23.
“Catholicism in Africa remains strong, as evidenced by the many vocations from that continent,” said EWTN President and CEO Michael P. Warsaw. “However, a visit by the Holy Father can be expected to strengthen an already strong local Church, and to result in an increase in Catholic laity as well as in religious vocations.”
In addition to Masses and Vespers, the Pope’s schedule includes meetings with the bishops and the President of each country; a meeting with Cameroon’s large Muslim Community at the Apostolic Nunciature, a meeting with the sick at a local hospital, a meeting with Africa’s young people, a meeting with those who represent various ecclesial movements, and more.
What follows is a schedule of the live events: (For the complete schedule, including encore times, please go to www.ewtn.com/papalAfrica09..)
Papal Visit to Cameroon: Arrival (60 min.)
The Holy Father will arrive in Yaounde, Cameroon, where he will be greeted by the authorities. (11 a.m. ET, Tues., March 17)

Papal Visit to Cameroon: Visit to the President of Cameroon (60 min)
Courtesy visit to the president of Cameroon at the Palais de l'Unite in Yaounde.
(5 a.m. ET, Wed., March 18)

Papal Visit to Cameroon: Meeting with the Bishops of Cameroon (90 min.)
Meeting with the Bishops of Cameroon in the church of Christ-Roi in Tsinga.
(6:15 a.m. ET, Wed., March 18)

Papal Visit to Cameroon: Celebration of Vespers (90 min.)
Celebration of Vespers with local clergy and representatives of ecclesial movements and of other Christian confessions in the basilica of Marie Reine des Apotres.
(11:45 a.m. ET, Wed., March 18)

Papal Visit to Cameroon: Meeting with the Muslim Community (90 min.)
In the apostolic nunciature in Yaounde, the Holy Father will meet with representatives of the Muslim community of Cameroon.
(3:45 ET, Thurs., March 19)

Papal Visit to Cameroon: Holy Mass (2 hours)
Celebration of Mass at Yaounde's Amadou Ahidjo stadium, to mark the publication of the "Instrumentum Laboris" of the Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops. (5 a.m. ET, Thurs., March 19)

Papal Visit to Cameroon: Meeting with the Sick (2 hours)
The Holy Father will meet with sick people in the Cardinal Paul Emile Leger Centre. (11:30 a.m ET., Thurs., March 19)

Papal Visit to Cameroon: Meeting with the Synod of Bishops (60 min.)
Address before members of the Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops. (1:30 p.m. ET, Thurs., March 19)

Papal Visit to Cameroon: Farewell Ceremony (30 min.)
Farewell ceremony at Nsimalen International Airport of Yaoundé. (5 a.m. ET, Fri., March 20)

Papal Visit to Angola: Arrival (60 min.) (Tape delay)
The Pope will travel from Yaounde to the Angolan capital Luanda where there will be a welcoming ceremony at the airport. (10 a.m. ET, Fri., March 20)

Papal Visit to Angola: Meeting with the President of Angola and members of the Diplomatic Corps (90 min.)
Visit to the president of the Republic of Angola in the presidential palace in Luanda where he will also deliver an address to political leaders and the diplomatic corps.
(12 p.m., Fri., March 20)

Papal Visit to Angola: Meeting with the Bishops of Angola (60 min.)
Meeting with Bishops of Angola and Santo Tome in the chapel of the apostolic nunciature in Luanda. (2 p.m. ET, Fri., March 20)

Papal Visit to Angola: Holy Mass (2 hours)
Pope Benedict XVI will celebrate Mass in Luanda's church of Sao Paulo.
(5 a.m., ET, Sat., March 21)

Papal Visit to Angola: Meeting with young people (90 min.)
Meeting with young people in the stadium of Coquieros. (11:30 a.m. ET, Sat., March 21)

Papal Visit to Angola: Holy Mass with the Bishops of IMBISA (2½ hours)
Celebration of Mass with bishops of IMBISA (Inter-Regional Meeting of the Bishops of Southern Africa) at Cimangola Square, followed by the Angelus.
(5 a.m. ET, Sun., March 22)

Papal Visit to Angola: Meeting with Catholic movements (60 min.)
From the parish of Santo Antonio in Luanda the Holy Father will meet with Catholic movements for the promotion of women. (11:45 a.m. ET, Sun., March 22)

Papal Visit to Angola: Farewell Ceremony (30 min.)
Farewell ceremony at 4 de Fevereiro International Airport of Luanda. (5 a.m. ET, Mon., March 23)

EWTN Global Catholic Network, in its 28th year, is available in over 148 million television households in more than 140 countries and territories. With its direct broadcast satellite television and radio services, AM & FM radio networks, worldwide short-wave radio station, Internet website http://www.ewtn.com/ and publishing arm, EWTN, is the largest religious media network in the world.

Michelle Johnson
Director of Communications
EWTN Global Catholic Network
5817 Old Leeds Road
Irondale, Alabama 35210-2198 USA
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