Beware Catholic media and spokesmen ...
Robert Royal and EWTN are fundraising (that's like 'sweeps week' for media outlets - you need salacious headlines to attract an audience). So, as I pointed out, Robert Royal is fundraising, as so many do this time of year, yet invoking the Immaculate Conception, and while insisting his publication is defending the faith, at the same time he's promoting a book by an anonymous author who takes down the papacy of Pope Francis. I would suggest that no faithful Catholic read this type of anti-papist propaganda used to discredit Pope Francis. This is what Mr. Royal had to say in the introduction to his revue of the book:
This is an all too brief account of a remarkable new book on the pope, which is making waves in Rome and around the world. Fr. Gerald Murray, Raymond Arroyo, and I will discuss this and other matters in greater detail tomorrow evening on EWTN’s “The World Over,” 8 PM East Coast time (Check local listings for rebroadcasts and postings on YouTube). We began our year-end funding drive on November 8, and I’d like to end it this Friday, December 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. You’ve already heard more than enough on this from me. - The Catholic Thing
I've already heard more than enough from Robert Royal and the rest of Catholic media detraction and calumny against the Pope.
Yesterday I came across a Facebook post linking to a Church Militant denunciation of the Holy Father, which has since been removed. It appears to be only a matter of time before Church Militant bails on the Pope as well - I may be wrong. Yet all of this criticism and so-called analysis based upon conjecture, rumors and gossip, propagated by disgruntled clerical-courtesans in the Vatican, does severe damage to the faith of ordinary people and those outside the Church who are being told that Vatican II and the Ordinary Form of Mass have destroyed the Church and led to apostasy from within the Church.
Even with limp cautions to be careful reading "The Dictator Pope" - along with the dispensation of 'a need to know', one needs to recognize that the book will take on a life of its own and become embedded in the public consciousness, not unlike Cromwell's defamation of P. Pius XII in his book, "Hitler's Pope" has. Fr. Z exonerates his promotion of the book with the following disclaimer:
It is not flattering. Some of it resonates with what I have picked up in my last visits to Rome and conversations with friends who still labor there. There is a really bad environment in Rome right now. The tension is so thick that you could cut it with chainsaw… maybe.
REMEMBER: Most of you do not have to read this stuff. Some of us do. Most do not. Be wary, in yourself, of the vice of curiositas. Yes, there is a kind of “curiosity” which leads to sin. - Fr. Z
Yet Fr. Z endorses the book, suggesting he can vouch for it's contents stating: "Some of it resonates with what I have picked up in my last visits to Rome and conversations with friends who still labor there. There is a really bad environment in Rome right now." This is what gossip is. This is hearsay and gossip.
As Fr. Z said, most of you do not have to read this book. He doesn't have to either. No one does. Fr. is correct in warning about curiositas - do as he says, not as he does.
Do not donate to these people. They engage in gossip, hearsay, and detraction - if not calumny. They are feeding scandal and division.
Powerful Mother, by your grace and intercessory power
with Your Son and our Liberator, Jesus,
take into your hands today this knot.
I beg you to undo it for the glory of God, once for all.
Pray for the Holy Father. Our Lady told us, "he will have much to suffer." I always remember the vision of St. Jacinta Marto:
"I saw the Holy Father in a very big house, kneeling by a table, with his head buried in his hands, and he was weeping. Outside the house, there were many people. Some of them were throwing stones, others were cursing him and using bad language. Poor Holy Father, we must pray very much for him." - St. Jacinta
Consider Jacinta's vision in light of how the Holy Father is being treated today - especially by Catholics - and what he himself has been saying since the beginning of his pontificate.
"Only God knows the stories of those people who have given their lives, who have died, and continue to be stoned with the hardest stone that exists in the world: language.” - Pope Francis
Pray the Rosary every day.
AMEN
ReplyDeleteI have no intention to read this book because I have nothing to benefit from it. I have my own spiritual house to keep in order.
ReplyDeleteThat said, isn't it equally calumnious to to suggest that Catholic news outlets are reporting on this simply for the sake of fundraising? The fact is that this book is newsworthy. It sounds like it paints a picture of the Holy Father which is already largely observable, apparent, and accepted by many. History has shown many times that sometimes even Popes need to be put in check. Maybe this isn't the proper way to do it, but to uncharitably dismiss all those who are reporting on it is itself, I think, out of line.
Excellent reasoned response.
DeleteI didn't say they were reporting on this simply for the sake of fundraising - just that they are fundraising. Royal has 2 Donate apps embedded in the article on the subject, kind of like PBS advertising for a popular show to draw more viewers. That's my impression at least, sorry if I didn't make that clear. Like PBS, EWTN is always asking for donations, yet they are getting more and more critical of the pope. Then of course, Fr. Z is always trolling for dollars. He recently got excited about how a priest can say 3 Masses on Christmas and can pocket all 3 stipends! Yay! He's a guy with dollar signs in his eyes. He and a few others online are never shy about explaining why people should give them money. Royal advertises the EWTN spot to discuss the book at the onset of the article - that in itself is promoting a scandalous discussion begun in the post - based on rumors an innuendo by an anonymous author. It's news worthy all right - but it doesn't make it right to promote a book based upon hearsay and gossip. The author uses a pseudonym, c'mon, that's a typical anti-clerical, anti-papist tactic. The proper coverage would be to inform people of that fact at the onset. To point out the dangers of following these gossip mongers is not at all uncharitable. World Over Live is an entertainment fan-site, politically biased, Catholic gossip hour which Arroyo exults in. Church Militant and 1P5 are just as bad. Though EWTN enjoys 'approval' from the Church, it is not the voice of the Church. Church Militant is not at all approved by the Church nor recognized as a legitimate news source, while 1P5 is substantially a blog run by a Catholic layman - no Church approval. Gratefully most Catholics seem not even to be aware of these social media outlets, and just a fringe element relies upon them for news.
DeleteI doubt it is ever uncharitable to dismiss gossip mongers and tale bearers, or warning others to stay clear of them. What did the Holy Father call them? Oh yes, 'terrorists'. And yet some of them wonder why seminaries once turned them away.
I almost forgot - but they are all profiting from the book in one way or another. People did that with Dan Brown's book once - a work of fiction everyone thought might harm the faith - a work of fiction! This book is purported to be a work of non-fiction, yet where are the Catholics 'debunking' it? Instead the pundits are saying, "Yeah, that may be true because I saw or heard this or that from this monsignor or that priest who works in an office near the closet off the restroom."
DeleteThat closet is a secret entrance to hell.
DeleteCan I purchase this book on Fr. Z's site? LOL!
ReplyDeleteSt Francis told his novices not to read books! The only book one should read is the Crucifix.
That quote scared me. What? don't read?
But the more I think about it the more it makes sense as long as one is constantly reminded of the Passion every hour of the day and meditating on the passion every day. It an exercise that takes some work - and a few meditation books on the passion are a necessary help.
St Mary of Egypt never read a book in the desert yet God increased her understanding.
I always say put down your guns and pick up a Crucifix for Lent or put down your cell phone and pick up a Crucifix for Lent....
You can order the book through Z's link and he gets something from that I think.
DeleteHey Terry do you carve/make Crucifixes?
ReplyDeleteI don't. I did a few retablo style ones once, but they are gone.
Deletedxv515, you are right about my good St. Francis and books! What we need to focus on is the Blessed Trinity, Our Lady, and the saints.
ReplyDeleteNo one has to like Pope Francis. But it is our duty as faithful Catholics to pray for the Vicar of Christ, who was selected by the grace of the Holy Spirit. Reading character assassinations and complaints does not help. Spiritual support does.
Thank you, Terry and all, for your defense of Pope Francis. He may not be everyone's cup of tea all the time, but he is still our Holy Father and we must not abandon him. Keep praying!
God bless and protect all here - Susan, ofs
It's important to amend our lives and pray and make sacrifices. I love S. Jacinta because she offered her life for the pope. The pope asks our prayers, and heaven does too. These others are misled. There is nothing wrong with books faithful to the Magisterium of the Pope.
DeleteI still remember all the books that were written denouncing Pope St. John Paul II.
ReplyDeleteWhich is why I am so suspicious of what is being done to Pope Francis. Archbishop Flynn of this diocese came back an complained about John Paul looking to the next person in line as he greeted the person in front of him. It was a negative comment that has remained with me since. If you look at photos of JPII he rarely makes eye contact - it reminds me of early contemplatives - Peter of Alcantara was like that. Nevertheless, little negative anecdotes stick like glue. Paul VI was especially calumniated, and some of the same critics of Francis recycle the same lies to this day. It's a great evil that unimportant people use to gain approval from unsuspecting Catholics. The internet is saturated and contaminated with it. As a historian, you know all too well what it did to the French Monarchy.
DeleteYes, I have seen the cycle of calumny do its damage over and over again.
DeleteI've read the book. It's a great page-turner and written in a wonderful style. It's journalism at its best - telling the truth without mincing words and providing sources for everything. Everyone I know who has read it loved it - including many priests. No wonder that currently it is #1 on Amazon for Catholic books. In fact, I think every single one of my friends who are priests has read it or is currently reading it - usually in the course of two or three days because its so hard to put down. Every one of them who has finished it has said that it has made it more clear to them just how dangerous a man Francis is. Personally, I suggest that every Catholic read it. It's time to stop pretending that Francis is a good leader, that he is actually sympathetic to the poor, and that he is actually humble. As the book shows, these are all acts meant to manipulate people. You know, I think if everyone felt free to express their opinion about Francis with no fear we would find that the vast majority of bishops, priests, and orthodox laity would admit that they know that there is something very wrong with the leadership and teachings of Francis. It's time for him to resign. It's time to elect a good leader to sit in the Throne of St. Peter. Read the book! Know the truth!
ReplyDeleteShame on those priests. No priest I know would touch this filth, especially the orthodox ones. And I don’t consider priests in trad orders to be paragons of orthodoxy.
DeleteAl - I hope you are not sharing this crap with your nuns and priest friends.
DeleteI'm willing to bet good money that "Marcantonio Colonna" is actually Steve Skojec and his not-quite-sedevacantist buddies at St. Blog's. He's already written an article with similar content and title a year ago (not linking it; there is enough filth in this world without my spreading it around) and such a thing is quite up his alley.
DeleteWhat's that you say? I'm slandering a good man?
But he did write the article. It's a verifiable fact.
What's sauce for the goose... =)
Professor - could be, but I wonder - could be a priest as well. No matter who, this kind of character assassination is anti-clericalism at its best-worst. They are making fools of themselves by giving it credence. We already know that though - and see it in the machinations and dissent coming from 1P5, LifeSite and that Arsh-hole AB. You aren't slandering anyone - they are the slanderers.
DeleteI'm not gonna read it either. I'm all stocked up on gossip here.
ReplyDeleteThere is a difference between gossip and fact. This book is filled with verifiable facts.
Delete“Hitler’s Pope” and “Constantine’s Sword” are also extremely well researched and filled with facts.
DeleteWant to read a great Catholic book. "Drunks and Monks" by John Carmichael. Best conversion story that I've ever read. Might make us all focus on our own personal sins and family situations, the power of the rosary and repentance. The truth of our faith!
ReplyDeleteA couple books I know of are even better, the New Testament and the Catechism - they are better than conversion stories, they actually cause conversions to happen.
DeleteIt seems to me there is a correlation between being obsessed with Church division and scandal (and prophesies of such) and being divisive and scandalous in the Church.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Terry. This stuff is dangerous, especially for jerks like me who have a predilection for curiositas. (Haha...it's so spiritually sophisticated to use Latin to name what is really the most mundane sin, gossip.) God help me, Fr. Z, and everyone inbetween!
PSA: It's getting cold outside, so show some caritas to the cold homeless by donating to the Acton Institute today. Your donations will help create a world where the cold homeless people will better see the error of their choice to be cold homeless people and instead choose to be warm homeful Republicans.
A definite correlation. How many of these types actually believe Malachi Martin was some sort of prophet and his books - esp. Windswept House was actually nonfiction. The vague Quito apparition no one except trads have ever heard of is often quoted to support their claims.
DeleteThanks for defending the Holy Father, Terry. That Quito apparition to Mother Mariana Torres is not approved and is quite likely completely bogus. It also contains a number of anachronisms. The two popes prophecy attributed to Bl. Emmerich could be one of the embellishments to her writings made by Clemens Brentato. The St. Francis Destroyer Pope prophecy emanates from the heretical Joachite movement. So many bogus prophecies, so much cursing and reviling of the Holy Father. Something is not right
DeleteThank you Emmett for contributing that information. I had no other info on these 'prophecies' than what has been online, and I always sensed a bad spirit about them. When you say something is not right you express my sentiment exactly. I am convinced it's part diabolical and part 'political' - that in the sense we have seen in the Russian meddling in the Presidential campaign and so on. This form of discrediting the Church and esp. the Pope and hierarchy is typical of the old Soviet system as well as European Masonic influences. Although it seems to me when the average person speculates on the conspiratorial nature of it, they automatically resort to the dubious accounts we are discussing - Quito, Emmerich, and the Joachite prophecy. It's a very strange irony. Thanks for your very good work Emmett. God bless you.
DeleteThanks Terry,
ReplyDeleteThat needed to be said. The treatment of the Holy Father has been disgusting and like you, my thoughts the past few years have often turned to the vision given to St Jacinta Marto. When I was with the Holy Father in July, he said several times "please pray for me, it is very difficult". Satan hates him because of his evangelical zeal to shake up the Church out of its lethargy.
Stephen Walford