The Catholic Monitor

  The foremost living Catholic philosopher Robert Spaemann, who belonged to Pope Benedict XVI's inner circle of thinkers, in an interview said:  Amoris Laetitia's paragraph 305, when read with its footnote 351, "directly contradicts paragraph 84 of John Paul II's letter Familiaris interview." On April 28, in this interview with the German Catholic News Agency, the philosopher stated: "Each individual cardinal,  as well as each bishop and each priest is called to preserve in his field of authority the Catholic Sacramental Order and to confess it publicly. If the Pope is not willing to make a correction, it is up to another pontificate to officially put things back into order.  The friend of Emeritus Pope Benedict  directly says Amoris Laetitia contradicts the continuous teachings of the Church.  Speamann, when asked if the Pope's document breaches the Church's traditional teachings, said: "It is clear to every thinking ...

Jesus was sooooo tired of all this on the cross when He said: "My God, My God why have you forsaken me." As we hang on the cross with Jesus we can imitate Him in our deep worry for His Church and in all our sufferings. We trust the Father in the darkest darkness. Next, we join our suffering to Jesus crucified for all sinners especially ourselves. Finally, with our Savior who is Truth we speak the truth. Fr. John Hunwicke spoke it best: At the end of the Amoris laetitia press conference Cardinal Schoenborn was asked "whether there was anything in this new document which contradicted paragraph 84 of Familiares consortio. " Schoenborn" repudiated strongly" that there could be a contradiction and claimed Blessed Newman's doctrine development. According to Newman expert Hunwicke the Blessed's teaching is that "Catholic Doctrine had in the past developed while remaining true to type. " The Cardinal "by a neat conjurin...

First they came for the Trade Unionist, and I did not speak out- Because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out- Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me- and there was no one to speak for me.(Niemoller) It seems the Pope may be overly attached and surrounded by certain persons with unhealthy thought processes and strange conspiracy ideas. The Vatican Insider usually a solid news source which has access to ranking Vatican insiders close to the Pope on October 19 wrote a tabloid like paranoid article. It slandered anyone remotely criticizing questionable prudential actions where Francis has no expertise or promise of being guided by the Holy Spirit and the non-infallible teachings of his which contradict the teaching of scripture and all previous popes as being in a global conspiracy with Russian strongman Putin against the Pope. Almost ironically, Phil Lawler, and his CatholicCulture.org, which defends Francis's teaching...

Dr. Robert Moynihan stated:   In the midst of the apparent confusion of the present Bishops' Synod on the Family...would it not perhaps be prudent to do...to ask Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI , who is still living in the Vatican Gardens, hidden from the world, and dedicated to daily prayer for the Church and for all souls in the world, at the end of those 24 hours, to offer his own words of guidance. Letter #44, 2015: Benedict in Prayer Dr. Robert Moynihan to you show details show image slideshow   October 15, 2015, Thursday — Benedict in Prayer   “ The Church has always been flawed and divided. Sinner and saints and surviving amongst them. Even Jesus knew it wouldn't be easy. It was never easy, even during His time. And having Pope Benedict spend his days praying for the Church consoles me. Everyday .” —email last night from a friend “Halten Sie sich unbedingt an die Lehre !” ("Remain absolutely firm on doctrine!") —Words attributed ...

If Pope Francis continues to follow his narrow group of advisers he will need to reject objective reality also known as the law of non-contradiction at least if he keep listening to C. Casper.  According to Robert Royal of Catholic Things "Honduran Cardinal Maradiaga, head of Francis’ “G-8” governing body of cardinals"  appears to be getting the Pope into economic conspiracy theories. Royal observes that unlike Francis " John Paul II took the trouble to listen to people who actually knew something about economics and that’s why, even after his warnings about certain types of capitalism in Centesimus Annus [42], the following analysis [43-62] remains the best overall commentary on the complexities – and occasional paradoxes – of modern economies. Read that. If you do, you’ll hope Francis seeks out some new friends. He has sincere concern about the poor. He needs to hear from those who can show what’s demonstrably helped so many in need." Pray and fast...

Pope Francis needs our prayers so he will follow in the foot steps of Pope John Paul 2 and not follow advisers like C. Kasper who according to C. Burke (who I consider a new Padre Pio) are leading the Church to be a ship without a rudder.  Pray that Benedict ask for prayers for Francis.                                                      

It appears Pope Francis is following Pope Paul 6 in issuing true teaching, but creating an environment where the moral teaching is not followed.  What can we do that wasn't done in the 60's breakdown? Speak the objective truth and pray. Email everyone in your email list to pray for the Pope to teach the truth with mercy as Pope JP 2 did. Pray that Jesus remove all bad advisers and bring advisers like JP2 to advise him.  If you are reading this you are the one to start a prayer crusade for this Pope. Prayer for Pope Francis to follow in the foot steps of a future doctor of the church, Pope JP2, or at least be given the grace not to harm the Church as it was harmed by the 60's breakdown.  In JMJ,Fred Martinez The Synod by Steve Wood  October 2014, Volume 20, Number 6 Family Synod’s Lasting Harm to Catholic Men, Families, & Youth I can’t remember where I came across this riveting Civil War question, “Why didn’t the Civil War soldiers turn in...

  I hadn't thought of writing in over a year until, a some weeks ago, I read Alice von Hildebrand's new book " The Dark Night of the Body " which is on the problems with Christopher West's Theology of the Body (TOB) and how it misrepresents the Pope John Paul II's teaching in some areas.    The book is excellent, but it and all the articles, I read, on this subject seemed flawed because they didn't use quotes from TOB refuting West's misunderstandings.   I felt called to write an article that remedied this deficiency.    Fred   PS-Below is the article and Thomas Howard's email commenting on my article.  (Mr. Howard wrote a blurb for the back cover of von Hildebrand's " The Dark Night of the Body. ")          Dear Mr. Martinez: I think your piece on Chris West does touch on the crux of the difficulty that...