![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Vatican naivety
Jan. 30th, 2009 04:05 pmTo anyone who still believes the legends about the all-wise, far-sighted Vatican diplomacy, Cardinal Schoenborn's intervention in the Lefebvrite mess (http://www.kath.net/detail.php?id=21984) should be a wholesome learning lesson. Apparently the Vatican took so little trouble vetting the SSPX before the excommunication sentence was withdrawn that they were not even aware of the character of its bishops. (Nor, indeed, of its clergy - http://www.corriere.it/cronache/09_gennaio_29/lefebvriano_treviso_intervista_25c1329a-edf2-11dd-b7db-00144f02aabc.shtml .) Mind you, Cardinal Schoenborn is not one to talk; a few years ago, he gave scandal to the whole Church by allowing into Vienna's legendary and beautiful St Stephen's Cathedral a "modern art" exhibit so hideous, and so hideously blasphemous, that yours truly positively refuses to describe it. And why was that? Because he had not vetted the "artist", trusting to the "prestige" he had gained among the ideological accomplices that make up the bulk of the "contemporary art" establishment. It seems to me that rather too many modern Catholics receive only half of their Lord's commandment, being indeed as innocent as doves, but scarcely as prudent as snakes. And the story seems to be repeating itself, with Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos proclaiming to the four winds that the Lefbvrites "have accepted Vatican II" without a single Lefebvrite voice to confirm it, and against the sect's whole previous output.
Indeed, nothing but terminal naivety could possibly explain the taking of such a step, unasked, at such a time. Vatican! It is 2009! Do you know where your children are? The anti-Church forces that already dominate the European Union have now won power in America by a decisive margin, and are in charge in Canada (always), Australia, Brazil, Argentina, and a number of lesser countries. Christians are persecuted and murdered, not only in the Communist and Muslim world, but in India as well. And at this time of all times the Pope goes and makes a decision that is not only certain to play straight into the hands of all the enemies of the Church at the very moment of their triumph, but which directly reinforces all the attacks against him personally - Papa Ratzi - the Panzerkardinal - the Hitlerjugend member - etc.
If you think for a minute that this will have no effect, pay attention. I just read a rumour that the Obama administration is going to nominate Douglas Kmiec as Ambassador. This is as good as looking for a public showdown with the Vatican, on the matter of abortion. The Vatican and the American hierarchy condemned Kmiec by name during the elections because of his disgusting doubletalk on the matter of abortion; the Vatican will then have the lovely choice of openly refusing President Obama's envoy at a time when his followers would be delighted to have an excuse to assault the Church across the world, or accept an envoy who is a public enemy of the Church. And that is only a small portion of what we can look forward to.
And all this for what? The SSPX are what they are, and everyone who had to deal with them knows them for what they are. This should include the Pope, who has years of experience trying to make them see sense (http://fpb.livejournal.com/127125.html). There will be no reconciliation. Make your minds up to it. It is not a matter of what Richardson is, but of what the whole SSPX is; and sooner or later, and in spite of all their well-meaning naivety and their concessions, the Vatican will come up against it.
Indeed, nothing but terminal naivety could possibly explain the taking of such a step, unasked, at such a time. Vatican! It is 2009! Do you know where your children are? The anti-Church forces that already dominate the European Union have now won power in America by a decisive margin, and are in charge in Canada (always), Australia, Brazil, Argentina, and a number of lesser countries. Christians are persecuted and murdered, not only in the Communist and Muslim world, but in India as well. And at this time of all times the Pope goes and makes a decision that is not only certain to play straight into the hands of all the enemies of the Church at the very moment of their triumph, but which directly reinforces all the attacks against him personally - Papa Ratzi - the Panzerkardinal - the Hitlerjugend member - etc.
If you think for a minute that this will have no effect, pay attention. I just read a rumour that the Obama administration is going to nominate Douglas Kmiec as Ambassador. This is as good as looking for a public showdown with the Vatican, on the matter of abortion. The Vatican and the American hierarchy condemned Kmiec by name during the elections because of his disgusting doubletalk on the matter of abortion; the Vatican will then have the lovely choice of openly refusing President Obama's envoy at a time when his followers would be delighted to have an excuse to assault the Church across the world, or accept an envoy who is a public enemy of the Church. And that is only a small portion of what we can look forward to.
And all this for what? The SSPX are what they are, and everyone who had to deal with them knows them for what they are. This should include the Pope, who has years of experience trying to make them see sense (http://fpb.livejournal.com/127125.html). There will be no reconciliation. Make your minds up to it. It is not a matter of what Richardson is, but of what the whole SSPX is; and sooner or later, and in spite of all their well-meaning naivety and their concessions, the Vatican will come up against it.
