The Francis Effect

Gloria.TV description: Fr. Linus Clovis on the Francis Effect at a seminar for Pro-Life Leaders in Rome, 8th May 2015.

**********************

**Note, this priest says that Pope Francis said (the "Rabbitgate" controversy) "three is enough", three children is enough was what he was talking about. The Vatican deleted that statement from the record.  Gee...I wonder why?

All I can say is...'Well said Father, well said."


In Christ,

Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner 



Source: http://gloria.tv/media/CG5Dyd1WWLg

What about all the scandal caused by Catholic laity?

I hoard collect old and rare Catholic books.  I love reading these old books and want to share them with my blog readers.  I’ve got bookshelves in my house filled with them in assorted sizes complete with that wonderful (to me) old musty book smell. ;)

One of them I want to quote from today is called “The Fountain of Catholic Knowledge” written in 1899 and published in 1900. 

It’s a large book and this is just a small sample of one topic in it.  The section I am sharing today, and the topic I wish to discuss is on the Church’s teaching of the terrible sin of scandal and how very damaging it is and how this sin ruins souls and causes the loss of salvation if not corrected and repented of.

Scandal is all over, but many hardly notice it, unless it’s coming from inside the Church.  The media happily (and correctly) calls the sin coming from the Church 'sin' and 'scandalous' but doesn't apply the same standard to sin outside the Church. 

Sadly, the media is also full of reporting priests supporting gay ‘marriage’, supporting women priests, abuses at Mass, child molestation and cover ups…you get the picture.  Depending on the media source and topic it may or may not call these things 'sin'.  But this isn't about the media, it's about us Catholics.

These ripples of scandal have spread across the globe causing numerous Catholics to leave Christ’s Holy Catholic Church.

But what about all the scandal caused by Catholic laity?

Are you still scandalized when you see a Catholic “remarry” outside the Church after a divorce, hence entering into public adultery?  Are you scandalized by adultery or do you happily attend the wedding and buy the adulterating couple a wedding gift?

Are you still scandalized by pre-marital sex or have you become so desensitized by it that the sin of fornication barely registers in your brain as you pick out a house warming gift for the fornicators in your family who insist on living together before marriage?

Are you getting the picture yet?

These sins are no longer taboo in our secular society.  Adultery, fornication, lies, lust, greed etc are the norm on television, in books, magazines, online… we are submerged in the ‘normalcy’ of sin.  Secular society has declared ‘sin’ to be…well, no longer sin at all.  There is no sin today according to our society.  Society tells us that if you live with your boyfriend/girlfriend before marriage that it’s “your own business” and no one else’s.

That is wrong.  

People don’t have to see you having sex to figure out if you are living with someone as boyfriend/girlfriend sharing the same bed you are committing fornication.

That is scandal. 

Scandal is the ripple effect of one person’s sin made public.  When was the last time you heard a homily on the sin of scandal?  I never have.  Thankfully, I am a Catholic bookhoarderworm so I read these wonderful old Catholic books that teach me the depth of these Catholic teachings.

Please carefully read the below quote and reflect on your own life any occasion that you might have caused scandal and the ripple effect that went out into the world because of it.  If upon reflection you are free from the sin of scandal, good for you!  If not… get thee to confession as soon as possible.

[quote]  “To cheat and to steal are, certainly, not virtuous actions; if we do either, we sin against God, our neighbor, and ourselves; but to give scandal to others is still worse, for this is one of the greatest dangers which can menace a soul.

 Scandal is the evil which we do to others by the bad example that we give them.

A man does wrong, no one knows it; he is guilty in the sight of God; he will lose his own soul if he does not repent.  This is very certain and very lamentable, but at least his example has perverted no one.  But suddenly a man hides his wrong-doing no longer, his evil life becomes known and spoken of, he even speaks of it himself, boasts of it, and appears to glory in a miserable notoriety.  Others, attracted at first by curiosity, begin to make a little circle around him, and to regard him with admiration.  “At all events this man must get some pleasure and excitement out of life!” they begin to say; and thus it follows that the evil which they regarded too closely strikes them, they are gradually overpowered by it; and next we may see them enjoying themselves after the manner of their model; they imitate him, and soon they desire to go still further than he!  This is scandal!

One man offended God; at this hour there are ten, a hundred, a thousand… Death strikes the author of this scandal; he goes to stand before his heavenly Judge and render an account of all those thousand souls lost by his example!

Thus you see how incalculable are the effects of bad example.  How is it possible completely to retrieve a scandal?  We may desire to do it, but often it is quite beyond our power.  Our Lord said, ‘Woe to that man by whom scandal cometh.  It were better for him that a millstone should be hanged around his neck, and that he should be drowned in the depth of the sea.’  He who knows everything, knew well that those who give scandal to their brethren stand upon the brink of their eternal ruin!  But, on the other hand, how happy a thing it is to give a good example!  It is to work in union with God Himself for the salvation of souls.  

 And how great is this power which each one of us possesses!  Consider the case of a young man who has been so unhappy as to give scandal to others by setting them an evil example; if he only examine himself, if he reflect, and consider the terrible account he will have to render, he becomes changed and converted; he was openly wicked, and is now openly a Christian!  His companions ridicule him; he pities them, he advises them to imitate him in his conversion; he sets an example of patience and temperance, of industry and morality, and, in the end, succeeds in saving a great number of those whom he would most certainly have led to destruction.

It is impossible to calculate the immense influence of example.  By means of this all-powerful influence whole families, parishes, schools, and communities are either saved or lost.  I have known a numerous family, worse than indifferent, become a model of religion and fervor, thanks to the holy influence of but one of its members, who, by turning to God with his whole heart, caused the light of faith to shine upon all who surrounded him through the force of example alone.  And I have known another family in which the apostasy of the eldest son led away into heresy a number of his brothers and sisters… How many parishes have been perverted, corrupted to their very centers by the scandal given by one priest!  In a college, in a school, one thoroughly bad child will entice into evil the greater part of his schoolfellows, and if the superiors do not arrest the contagion from its very commencement, by driving this black sheep out of their midst, the whole flock will surely be lost.  And finally, in a State, how incalculable are the evils, which, by a fatal necessity, are always produced by the immorality of a sovereign or by his irreligion!  Now, what is the conclusion to be drawn from all this?  That scandal is an immense evil.  He who has given scandal has but one chance of salvation, and that is by becoming entirely changed and setting a good example to those whom he formerly scandalized.
Human respect will often prove a stumbling-block; but we must gather courage; those who have dared to do evil must also dare to be repentant in the sight of all. [End quote]

We ARE our brother's keeper.

I've learned that each time I go to Confession, I have to very carefully reflect on the sin of scandal and take a good look at my life...sometimes I have more to confess than I first thought.

In Christ,

Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner

Book images from: http://www.princetonantiques.com/pab/product_info.php?products_id=9873

Quote Source: The Fountain of Catholic Knowledge – Published by the Office of Catholic Publications in the year 1900 [page 208-210]

Sorry Jesus, we are just too busy for you

I know a family in my parish fairly well.   Our daughters are friends and went through First Holy Communion and Confirmation together.  The mother was a CCD teacher and her daughter was/is very involved in school activities and sports.  When the children were in CCD and Mass attendance was required (kids had to sign in to prove that they were at Mass) this family would show up late at the Saturday Vigil Mass still wearing their soccer uniforms, grass stained knee-pads and all.

I had at first thought “Well, at least they showed up.”

But after being invited to their house a few times, learned that they “took the summers off” from Mass because it wasn’t “required” and it really didn’t fit in with their very active life style.

They weren’t showing up for Jesus in the Eucharist.  They were showing up to be seen and signed in because the parish required it of children in CCD.

Years earlier, when my youngest daughter was preparing for First Holy Communion there was nearly a riot at the parents meeting over scheduling First Holy Communion.  The problem?  Sports.  There were assorted sports practices and games filling up the Saturday spring schedules and parents wouldn’t think of allowing their child to miss a sports event.  Some parents stomped out of the “required” parents meeting because they were going to be late for one of those sports events.  There were even raised voices and heated exchanges between the parents and the religious director.

As a new convert to the faith back then I was shocked. I also learned why the parish had to make everything a “requirement”- that’s the only way parents showed up for anything!

I wondered why these parents even bothered to enroll their children in CCD when sports were the priority for them.  Things got so bad that the First Holy Communion had to be divided up into different weekends to accommodate the different sports events going on.

I was incredibly saddened by the entire affair.

Today I read a story about parents in the UK who are whining about Mass times not being “family friendly” - so they stopped attending Mass completely.  

Quote: A survey of baptised parents with children at Catholic primary schools, conducted for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, found that a majority only attended Mass occasionally because they said the time of Sunday services were not family friendly and clashed with their busy lives, and that in some cases other members of the congregation did not appreciate having noisy children in attendance.

What time would be “family friendly” for Mass attendance?  Most parishes offer Saturday evening Vigil Masses along with several Sunday morning and noon Masses.  None of these times are “family friendly”?  How about daily Mass?  Those too “unfriendly” too?

When in the history of the Church have Catholics (before now) ever complained that Mass times were simply not “family friendly” for them so they decided to stop attending Mass?

I imagine when Jesus was arrested, tortured and nailed to a cross the timing wasn’t “family friendly” for him or the Virgin Mary either.  Does anyone think of that?

Do people even know what the First Commandment is anymore?  How selfish to put your “busy life” before God.

The issue here is people are ignorant of the Faith.  They simply do not know or don’t believe that the Eucharist is the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ.

They’ve heard so many homilies on “social justice” for the past forty years no one knows anything else.  When priests stop preaching the Faith to the people they stopped TEACHING.  How can people pass on the Faith to their children if they don’t know it themselves because the homilies they hear constantly talk about social justice issues?

What about the Eucharist?  The Sacraments?  How many Catholic parents raising children can ADEQUATELY tell their children what the Sacraments are and why they are so important?

Not the parents in the article.

Quote: Findings from the survey showed for many Mass times appeared to be set to suit an older generation and respondents felt prevented from participating more fully because parish life “was run by, and for, an older generation who were regular Mass goers”. It also found that parents had a “limited faith vocabulary”, and in some cases mistakenly believed that before preparation for a sacrament it was necessary to have enough money for the celebration.

And…

Identifying parents’ hunger for on-going formation, the report said that the majority of Catholic parents gained knowledge about their faith from their children but wanted the Church to provide better catechesis – including around what do to during Mass.

People are STARVING to be fed the Faith and instead of being served the banquet our Lord wants us to have, the priests and Bishops are giving the laity crumbs, barely able to sustain them.

Things have got to change.  Priests MUST teach the Faith to their flocks because the Faith is being completely lost.

In Christ,

Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner

Source: http://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/1134/0/parents-put-off-by-mass-timings-but-have-strong-catholic-identity-says-survey

Fr. Longenecker's Church of Nasty vs Church of Nice (UPDATED)

UPDATE AT BOTTOM!!

Recently Fr. Longenecker closed the comment box on his Patheos blog so people are no longer given the opportunity to reply to anything he says- at least not publicly.  Personally I hate that, so I have stopped going to his Patheos website- until today when I saw by way of another Catholic outlet his opinion on what he terms “Church of Nasty”.  

That reads "Nasty Catholics" vs. "Nice Catholics" to my mind because the "Nice Catholics" belong to the "Church of Nice" where they treat everyone so 'nicely'.  On the other hand, he's got the "Nasty Catholics" belonging to the "Church of Nasty".  These Catholics are described like rabid dogs on his Patheo's blog 'Standing on my head'.

  

Because there was no option to leave a comment there, I decided to write a much longer one here on my own personal thoughts of Father Longenecker's "Church of Nasty" view.  Since Father gave no links to whom he was specifically thinking of when he wrote his blog post, I can only assume based on what I myself have seen around the web- and nothing I have seen comes close to Father's depiction.  Sure, there are lots of disappointed, hurt, angry, confused, fired up Catholics out there filling the blogosphere with their thoughts and opinions but there isn't a single blogger out there that I know of which I would slap that "Nasty Catholic" label on- not one. 

So not surprisingly, I see things a bit differently than Father and I mean this with no disrespect.  Just my opinion, on his opinion.

Quote:  

[Longenecker quote] If not the Church of Nice do we need to be the Church of Nasty?

In the Catholic blogosphere and Catholic Church generally I increasingly whiff a very bad smell.It’s what I call the Church of Nasty.Trying to avoid the insipid, spineless and lily livered “Church of Nice” too many Catholic are falling into the other trap of becoming the Church of Nasty.It may be someone sending intentionally misleading headlines to a news aggregator to smear another Catholic, or it might be some guy who’s set up a super nasty website full of horrible attacks on others. It might be a radical traditionalist hell bent on attacking all the modernists and compromisers or it might be a radical progressive intent on attacking all his horrible right wing enemies. It might be some Catholic who has his knives out for Muslims, Jews and Protestants. It might be someone attacking homosexuals, sinners, modernists or feminists.  It could be a progressive launching endless attacks on traditionalists, conservatives and Republicans.Sometimes it gets so bad that it feels like, “If you don’t hate the people I hate the same way I hate them, then I hate you too!”Wherever it is coming from and wherever it is going they’re intent on being the Church of Nasty, and let me tell you it can get real ugly.I’d link to some of the poisonous websites out there, but I do not want to send them traffic or soil the unblemished minds and hearts of my dear readers…. [end quote]

Again, since Father gives no links to who or what he is referring, we are left to assume all sorts of horrid things about Catholics who are sick and tired of modernist Catholics in the Church who corrupt the teachings and bark “Who are you to judge” at you if you DARE to oppose gay rights.

Now I can see in Father's quote that he places "radical traditionalists" beside "progressives" and Catholics attacking non-Catholics beside a guy's "super nasty website".  But lets get to the heart of this.  The "Church of Nice" are those who won't speak up against anything, while the "Church of Nasty" (as he refers to them) are those who won't be silent.  

That is what it boils down to.  This (my post specifically) isn't about progressives vs. traditionalists.  It's about those who speak up and those who keep silent about ERROR among the Faithful.

"To recoil before an enemy, or to keep silence when from all sides such clamors are raised against truth, is the part of a man either devoid of character or who entertains doubt as to the truth of what he professes to believe. In both cases such mode of behaving is base and is insulting to God, and both are incompatible with the salvation of mankind." 
--Pope Leo XIII, Sapientiae Christianae

What Father neglects to mention is that those opposed to the Church of Nice didn’t start this "battle" (if you will), but they do intend to finish it because keeping silent is not an option. 

They are NOT the “Church of Nasty”, they are THE CHURCH. 

The AUTHENTIC Church- the people who believe ALL the Church teaches.  They don’t want to change the Church, they LOVE HER JUST AS SHE IS.  They despise the deceit of those who seek to ruin Her, to change Her, to mar Her magnificence with their heresies and deceit.  They won’t stop opposing heresy, sin or deceit.  And they won't be bullied into shutting up and playing "nice" when what they love is so brutally attacked. And they won't stand by in silence while souls are being lost to heresies and scandal.

These Authentic Catholics simply won’t tolerate people twisting the word “charity” to fulfill their own purpose either.  These Catholics have had enough of the Church of Nice.  

Father Longenecker says…

[quote]  Therefore, there must be a way between the insipid Church of Nice and the snarling Church of Nasty.

To stop and think it through, and give everyone the benefit of the doubt there are two different virtues vying for predominance: the virtue of charity and the virtue of truth.The Church of Nice too often sacrifice truth on the altar of charity and the Church of Nasty too often sacrifice charity on the altar of Truth.There must be a way to be both truth and charitable–both Nasty and Nice. [end quote]

You don’t understand “charity” any better than the Church of Nice does Father.  

It is NOT charitable to ignore sin or the sinner.  It is not charitable to standby biting your tongue so you don’t hurt someone’s feelings when their salvation is in jeopardy.  

It is not charitable to DO NOTHING when you see people working to destroy what you hold dear.  It is not charitable to ALLOW modernism to spread in the Church and do nothing.

Charity is love.  Love is wanting the sinner to repent so he/she can have eternal salvation.  THAT is what charity is. When progressives WORK to destroy the Faith and the "Church of Nice" remain silent so as not to cause offense that is not charity.

The Church of Nice crowd by their silence actually embraces liberalism and modernism not only in the world, but in the Church.  These people are the lukewarm who will be vomited out of God’s mouth for refusing to do anything.  

Revelation 3 - 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold, nor hot. I would thou wert cold, or hot. 16But because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold, not hot, I will begin to vomit thee out of my mouth.

The progressive Catholics WORK to bring about legalized abominations: abortion, gay ‘marriage’, artificial birth control, embryonic research etc, while the Church of Nice crowd smile at them and wave at them marching with their gay pride banners.  

The Church of Nice crowd wouldn’t dare tell someone their sin might lead them to hell because it might offend them, so instead they smile and keep silent as they watch souls going to Hell. 

This is NOT charity, it is hatred, selfishness and cowardice. 

Authentic Catholics WORK to stop modernism and heresy. Authentic Catholics aren't afraid to risk themselves for the sake of another- even if it comes with a cost.

If Uncle Bobo and his partner invite you to their 'wedding' it is NOT charity to accept and bring them a gift.

The most charitable thing you can do is sit down with them (or write to them if they won't meet with you) and tell them WHY you can't support them and why their relationship is a sin.

That is truly loving them and wanting the best for them.

Buying them a gift and attending their "wedding" because they are "nice guys" and you don't want to "offend" them is NOT an act of charity. 

You have an opportunity to HELP someone avoid MORTAL sin...you WILL be held accountable for how you respond to that opportunity.

Charity is loving others enough to RISK being hated, rejected and mocked because you hold another person's salvation MORE VALUABLE than your self pride or ego.  You are willing to be mocked, humiliated and hated if it helps even ONE soul turn from sin and return to God.

All the evils of the world are due to lukewarm Catholics.

-Pope St. Pius V

The Church of Nice crowd will never risk themselves for another.  They are too selfish and comfortable to do what Jesus commanded.  Picking up our crosses and following Jesus is NOT easy, and often it is NOT comfortable.  It was not supposed to be.

When Catholics stand by and say NOTHING when Cardinals lead parades with gay banners declaring the right to gay ‘marriage’ that is NOT charity.  

When Catholics stand by and do NOTHING when priests march for women priests it is NOT charity.  

When Catholics stand by allowing ‘Catholic’ politicians to support abortion, birth control, gay ‘marriage’ and adoption it is NOT charity.  

When Catholics stand by and do NOTHING when Catholic clergy cause scandal it is NOT charity.

All the strength of Satan’s reign is due to the easy-going weakness of Catholics.

-Pope St. Pius X

He that sees another in error, and endeavors not to correct it, testifies himself to be in error.

-Pope Leo I

Not to oppose error, is to approve it, and not to defend truth is to suppress it, and indeed to neglect to confound evil men, when we can do it, is no less a sin than to encourage them.

-Pope Felix III

Catechism #826 Charity is the soul of the holiness to which all are called: it "governs, shapes, and perfects all the means of sanctification." ²⁹⁷If the Church was a body composed of different members, it couldn't lack the noblest of all; it must have a Heart, and a Heart BURNING WITH LOVE. And I realized that this love alone was the true motive force which enabled the other members of the Church to act; if it ceased to function, the Apostles would forget to preach the gospel, the Martyrs would refuse to shed their blood. LOVE, IN FACT, IS THE VOCATION WHICH INCLUDES ALL OTHERS; IT'S A UNIVERSE OF ITS OWN, COMPRISING ALL TIME AND SPACE - IT'S ETERNAL! ²⁹⁸

Hmmm...now WHO does that sound like??  Oh yeah, the Church of Nice!

It is not the “Church of Nice” who reminds Catholics they need to attend weekly Mass.  When Catholics  no longer believe the Eucharist is what the Church says it is, it is not the Church of Nice who correct them.  Oh no, that might hurt their feelings. 

It is not the “Church of Nice” crowd who encourages Catholics to go to Confession when they learn a brother or sister has fallen to mortal sin.  Oh no, that might upset them and “who are we to judge” them anyway?  If they don’t believe in sin or the need to confess because they think God is sooo nice that He won’t allow THEM to go to Hell- the Church of Nice crowd won’t correct that thinking.  Oh no, Hell is for the Hitler’s of the world, not Catholics who love each other.

What unity do Authentic Catholics (those who believe ALL the Church teaches) have with the “Church of Nice” crowd who support (by their silence and smiles) unrepented sin and modernism in the Church?

The Church of Nice crowd don’t understand charity because they have interpreted the word to be an inactive term. Charity is something we DO.  It is action, not in-action.  The Church of Nice crowd are in-active pew warmers. 

Catholic Catechism #1792 Ignorance of Christ and his Gospel, bad example given by others, enslavement to one's passions, assertion of a mistaken notion of autonomy of conscience, rejection of the Church's authority and her teaching, lack of conversion and of charity: these can be at the source of errors of judgment in moral conduct.

Do Authentic Catholics get angry when they see Cardinal’s leading parades with gay pride banners?  You bet.

Do Authentic Catholics get angry when they see Catholic priests attending gay pride parades causing scandal to the faithful?  You bet.

Do Authentic Catholics get angry when they see Catholic Bishops more concerned with political issues like immigration reform than teaching the Faith?  You bet.

Do Authentic Catholics get angry when they see "Catholic" politicians supporting artificial birth control, abortion and gay marriage while their priests and Bishops turn a blind eye?  You bet!

Do Authentic Catholics get angry when they see authentic parishes being closed down in favor of liberal dying parishes?  You bet.

You can call these Catholics “Church of Nasty” if you want to Father Longenecker, but I will call them AUTHENTIC CATHOLICS and God will never vomit them out of His mouth for being lukewarm Church of Nice pew warmers.

"If I have against me all the Bishops, 

I have with me all the Saints and Doctors of the Church"

-St. Thomas Aquinas

In Christ,

Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner

****Since Father Longenecker’s comment box is closed feel free to use my comment box to share your thoughts on Father’s article or my own.  I’d like to hear from both the “Church of Nice” and the “Church of Nasty”(or as I like to call you, Authentic Catholics) crowds.

Patheos link: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/standingonmyhead/2014/09/church-of-nice-or-church-of-nasty.html

UPDATE:
Father Longenecker and I have been going back and forth in emails over this post I wrote.  In his first email he indicates I was "biased", "unfair" and had gotten worked up into a "lather un-necessarily".
Why did he feel this way?  Because I didn't quote this particular part of his blog post (I reminded Father I linked to his blog so that people could read it in its entirety).

Quote: Some Catholics talk disparagingly of the “Church of Nice”

They are referring to the modernist church where indifferentism, complacency and tolerance replace the truly Christian virtues. They object not to niceness, but to a church that is nothing but nice.I’m with them. I can’t stand watered down religion. Modernist Christianity has eviscerated the gospel, removed the supernatural, “de mythologized” the message and turned Catholicism into nothing more than a do gooder religion for the country club set.As one commentator has observed, “This ain’t a religion. It’s a set of table manners.”I have written on this blog constantly of the danger to real Catholicism of removing the miraculous and robbing the church of the one power she has: the supernatural power of the sacraments, the fullness of the magisterium, the power of the Holy Spirit and the fullness of truth in the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.When Some Catholics sneer at the “Church of Nice” I’m sympathetic.Let’s not tame the lion or water down the wine. Let’s hold to a full blooded, rip snortin’, Rooster Cogburn Catholicism.

Ok, so I have now added the quote Father felt was necessary to share here.  I am not sure that changes anything, but I am willing to update my blog for my readers to see what Father Longenecker really wants you all to see.

I'd also like to add that Father gave me the link to the "Church of Nasty" website that influenced his blog post.  Personally, I don't even think it is Catholic- and I told him so- seems more anti-Catholic but I will let you all decide.

I will share the offending link with my readers so you can decide for yourselves.  
Be warned it is hateful and trashes the Holy Catholic Church.

Here is the link Father Longenecker gave me in email: HERE

Note this hate filled blog has no comments and I can see no followers so I don't think its having much of an impression on anyone.

Father and I were respectful of each other even though we saw this situation very differently.  We had (in my opinion) a good conversation about all of this and I am happy he decided to write to me to share his thoughts on what I wrote.

OK, that's it.  Just wanted to update this story.

God bless!