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despondence
1. a state or spell of low spirits <her slumping posture betrayed a growing despondence>
2. utter loss of hope <the ability to endure defeat without despondence has allowed him to weather the ups and downs of an acting career>
Prologue
Before we get started, I would just like to inform our new readers, since we have experienced a mini-boom of readership of late, as to one of the main reasons that I decided to launch this humble effort. A major motivating factor was a sense of despondence that I felt reading comment boxes across the wider Catholic blogo-sphere. I noticed this same sense of despondency not only in the Traditional circles, but likewise in the Novus Ordo 1960’s hippie church circles. However, when looking at the landscape, especially post Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum, the situation is actually quite positive. True, the Novus Ordo church is decomposing. Good riddance to bad rubbish I say. However, on the Traditionalist side, we are experiencing quite an extraordinary rebirth, a rebirth that is gaining momentum even in a very hostile environment that is the Francis pontificate. And just to make you, dear reader aware of this situation, I have provided a definition of despondance above. I have also providing two links for your information. One is to a post on the Camden N.J. Catholic Star Herald website which explains quite neatly the association between despondency one of the Seven Deadly Sins, namely Sloth. (see here) The second post and associated link that I am providing is to one that I wrote explaining how this Restoration began, a Restoration that can only be described as the work of the Holy Spirit protecting His “indefectible” Church and allowing the Faithful to rebuild it from the ashes. The associated link is to the largest global mass directory informing the Faithful where they can find an Immemorial Mass of All Ages being offered. (see here and here) Please read through this material, and tuck it away in the back of your mind. And if possible, get involved in this epic endeavor of “restoring all things in Christ”. (see here)
Introduction
Over the course of the last few weeks, this blog has tried to identify the essential elements with respect to the TRUE AGENDA of Francis and his backers. We have also identified the STRATEGY that Francis has put in place for advancing this TRUE AGENDA through the upcoming Synod of Bishop that will begin in 255 days.
Today, we will begin discussing the FORCES that will be taking part in this epic battle at the upcoming Synod. Please keep in mind, that this Synod will be like no other in the history of the Catholic Church. The reason that it will be like no other is the for the first time in Church history, we have a Roman Pontiff that has instructed his bishops to DISREGARD THE DOCTRINE OF THE HOLY ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, in order to satisfy some undertakings that this pontiff has made to a SPECIAL INTEREST group. The proof of this reality is contained in the Lineamenta, or the guideline document that was sent out to the Bishops’ Conferences on the 9th of December 2014, and reads as follows: (emphasis added)
The proposed questions which follow and the reference numbers to the paragraphs in the Relatio Synodi are intended to assist the bishops’ conferences in their reflection and to avoid, in their responses, a formulation of pastoral care based simply on an application of doctrine, which would not respect the conclusions of the Extraordinary Synodal Assembly and would lead their reflection far from the path already indicated.
It is an issue of DOCTRINE that this war is being fought over!
The Field of Battle
Today we will undertake to identify and review the opposing forces and the individual players. We will break down the sides into two camps:
TEAM CATHOLIC: will designate the organizations and individuals who are resisting the CHANGE OF DOCTRINE BY STEALTH, i.e. the TRUE AGENDA of Francis and the Manipulators.
TEAM FRANCIS: (Not to be confused with “Team Bergoglio” of Ivereigh allegations fame.) will designate the individuals and organizations that ARE ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE THE DOCTRINE BY STEALTH, i.e. the TRUE AGENDA of Francis and his operational elements, i.e. the Manipulators
CATHOLIC Forces
From the evidence assembled to date, the armies of the battle formation TEAM CATHOLIC are comprised of the following:
Roman Curia: We know that over 90% of the Roman Curia is against either FRANCIS or his TRUE AGENDA. We have confirmation of this from sources associated with the Novus Ordo camp that is supporting Francis. (see here)
Bishops’ Conferences: So far, we have observed that the CATHOLIC forces are comprised of the following bishops’ conferences: United States, Spain, Italy, Poland, Eastern Europe and Africa.
Individual Prelates: We know that the high level prelates who are in the CATHOLIC forces are Cardinal Burke, Cardinal Pell, Cardinal Muller, Cardinal Oullet, Cardinal De Paolis, Cardinal Scola (see here), Cardinal Piacenza, Cardinal Brandmuller, Cardinal Meisner, Cardinal Napier, Cardinal Bagnasco, Cardinal Caffarra, Cardinal Robles Ortega, Cardinal Erdo, Cardinal Sarah.
FRANCIS Forces
From the evidence assembled to date, the armies of the battle formation TEAM FRANCIS are comprised of the following:
Bishops’ Conferences: The Bishops’ Conferences supporting the forces of FRANCIS are the Germans. However, there are problems within the German camp. (see here) It would be more appropriate to say that it is the leadership of the German Bishop’s Conference that is the main driver behind the TRUE AGENDA of Francis .The other potential Bishops’ Conferences that could be supporting but have not been identified by this blog are the Austrians, Belgians.
Individual Prelates: We know that the high level prelates who are in the FRANCIS camp are Cardinal Kasper (“Team Bergoglio” – see here), Cardinal Lehmann (“Team Bergoglio”- see here), Cardinal Danneels (“Team Bergoglio”- see here), Cardinal Schonborn (“Team Bergoglio”- see here), Cardinal “Bling” Marx (see here and here and here), Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor (“Team Bergoglio” – see here), Cardinal Tagle (see here), Cardinal Poletto (see here), Cardinals Ravasi (see here), Cardinal Wuerl (see here).
Synod MANIPULATORS : Cardinal Baldisseri (see here), Bishop Forte (see here), Bishop Fernandez (see here) and Reverend Spadaro (see here).
Over the course of the next 255 days, this blog will be reassessing the above battle formations, their supporting forces and their leadership to try and present an accurate picture of the state of the battlefield. When new groupings or individual prelates join the battle lines, we will be updating the above. Consider the above an informal Table of Organization and Equipment (TOE) of both sides. When new information arises, we will provide the links to that information next to the organization or individual to which it pertains.
Update: 22 January 2015 07:34 a.m.
I have put up a page titled: Synod of Bishops 2015: Table of Organization and Equipment (TO&E) where I will be tracking the movements of formations and personnel.
The Deus Ex Machina Blog 
Dear SA,
We’re aware you qualified the above lists mainly with regard to the synod- views in support of the Church teachings on marriage- , so we undersand Muller’s inclusion in it from that perspective. We’re submitting our growing concerns about him for your future consideration only, and are sorry for the length but we thought it too important to leave anything out….
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1. He is a close friend and defender of Fr. Gustavo Gutiérrez, the Marxist based-Liberation Theology’s “father” in Latin America. Commenting on Gutierrez, Muller stated, “The theology of Gustavo Gutiérrez, independently of how you look at it, is orthodox because it is orthopractic and it teaches us the correct way of acting in a Christian fashion since it comes from true faith.”
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2. More importantly, in his 900-page work Katholische Dogmatik. Für Studium und Praxis der Theologie (Catholic Dogmatic – For the Study and Practice of Theology),
Müller claims that this doctrine of Mary’s perpetual virginity is “not so much concerned with specific physiological proprieties in the natural process of birth (such as the birth canal not having been opened, the hymen not being broken, or the absence of birth pangs), but with the healing and saving influence of grace of the Savior on human.”
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2-3.As with his also- highly criticized book on the Eucharist, our expertise is lacking, but we get the strong impression of an attempt to question what has always been taught ,to instill doubt. Others with more theological and philosophical training that we have, claim it is outright heresy, and cite the Lateran Council of 649, where the Church taught : “If anyone does not properly and truly confess in accord with the holy Fathers, that the Holy Mother of God and ever Virgin and Immaculate Mary…. incorruptibly bore [Him], her virginity remaining indestructible even after His birth, let him be condemned.”
— Reaffirming this teaching, Pope Pius IV wrote in the Constitution Cum quorundam (1555): “The opinion is condemned that Jesus Christ was not conceived according to the flesh by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary, ever Virgin … or that the same Most Blessed Virgin Mary is not the true Mother of God and did not retain her virginity intact before the birth, in the birth, and after the birth in perpetuity.”
— This WAS the constant teaching of the Church. One critic says Vatican II allowed wording of one line in Lumen gentium on this topic to be carefully crafted to open the question about the virgin birth: “The Son did not diminish her virginal integrity, but rather consecrated it.”
—Muller reportedly relied heavily on Rahner, who openly contests Our Lady’s virginity during childbirth and demands eyewitness accounts as necessary for Tradition to be credible. Along with Liberation theologian Leonardo Boff, he claims the virginity of Mary is a simple metaphor conditioned by the time’s over-valuation of virginity, and has nothing to do with the concept of physical virginity.
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4.. We watched Muller working very hard in November, to help rid Francis of the bad image left by his actions regarding the Synod, after gaining the Pope’s approval for holding another scandalous interfaith meeting at the Vatican.
QUOTE: “The conference was an initiative of Cardinal Muller, who proposed it to Pope Francis in November 2013, according to Helen Alvare, a professor at George Mason University School of Law in Virginia, who is handling press relations for the event. Sponsored by the CDF, It was called:
“the Complementarity of Man and Woman, an International Colloquium” Held November 17-19 (and broadcast live to those with the Vatican app. the ad said.)
It featured more than 30 speakers, 14 Faiths representing 23 countries and various Christian churches, as well as Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, Taoism and Sikhism, and aimed to “examine and propose anew the beauty of the relationship between man and woman, to support and reinvigorate marriage and family life for the flourishing of human society.”
So the world was given the clear impression from the Vatican, that the Sacrament of Marriage the Catholic Church offers, is no different from what all of these other false religions provide, simply because deviants are excluded. Cardinal Gerhard Muller spoke first.
“the Holy Father asked the audience—” to unite in an unbiased and non-partisan spirit: ..Family is an anthropological fact—a socially and culturally related fact.” …Family is a family. It can’t be qualified by ideological notions.”
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The now-familiar indifferentism. God forbid he should mention that without Baptism, we bring more pagans into the world, and fail in our mission to pro-create with God for the regeneration /salvation of souls, as the Church teaches.
Ironically one of the last speakers, the Evangelical pastor and author, Rick Warren, of Saddleback Church in southern California, said about the growing disdain for marriage in the world, “What are we going to do about this?” “The Church cannot cower in silence. The stakes are too high.”
“Above all we must courageously commit to “affirm the authority of God’s WORD.” “Truth is still truth, no matter how many people doubt it,” he said. “I may deny the law of gravity, but that does not change gravity. We don’t break the law, the law breaks us.”
Remember, he said, “WE HAVE THE OWNER’S MANUAL ON MARRIAGE”
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Oh really!”?? There was the ideal opportunity for the Vicar of Christ to do some real evangelizing. But according to the reporters present:
“The Holy Father played the role of listener.”
Gerhard Muller–head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, assisting Pope Francis in the spread of heretical and pagan sects.
Catholic?
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p.s. Forgot to mention: The picture is AWESOME.
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Dear IF:
Thks, I liked the photo myself.
S.A.
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Dear IF:
I know. But Muller has been rock solid since the Synod. He was the first to claim that divorcing practice from doctrine could be considered heretical.
So I am giving him the benefit of the doubt, and pray that he keeps it up.
S.A.
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Dear SA,
If you’re isolating his marriage- issue support at the Synod, yes.
But that last item we listed-the interfaith conference at the Vatican, was one month AFTER the close of the synod, and was totally indifferent on the fact that it’s a Sacrament. Leaving us still very doubtful….
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Dear IF:
I share your concern.
However….
Think about this analogy. The situation that we find ourselves in is one where the Modernists are trying to sink the entire Barque of St. Peter. Now, Muller is helping bale a bit. So do we throw him overboard since he is only baling a bit. Remember, we need all hands on deck.
It is sad, but we have to play this smart. The Modernists are.
S.A.
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Dear SA,
Come to think of it, you’re right, we can’t really trust any of them on every issue–even Burke seems comfortable with JPII and his ecumenism…
So we’ll take what we can get that helps the cause, and as you said, pray they move in the right direction on the rest of it.
A little revision of the Regan motto:
Don’t trust, Accept their help with caution, and Verify 🙂 🙂
Thanks.
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Dear IF:
It is good that you mention Ronald Reagan. I remember the 1980 presidential campaign. The media kept on harping that Reagan had a litmus test to assess whether his people were ideologically pure. That image sticks with me since it is an old leftist canard. If you recall, Reagan won because he ran a bid tent campaign.
As to our situation, what we need is to help those that help us. As far as the doctrinal purity, we know what that is. We can read the Universal Magisterium and can figure out what is doctrinally correct and what is error. So what we need to do is motivate those on our side to start returning back to Tradition, and let the HS do the rest.
Which brings me back to card. Burke. I think he and Benedict realize the damage that VII did. Benedict even had to correct some of his earlier erroneous texts during the Synod. And I think the next generation of bishops will be even more doctrinally pure than this one. And so on , and so on.
And on that pleasant note I will sign off.
S.A.
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From the Catholic forces, you forgot to include Bishop Athanasius Schneider from Astana, Kazakhstan. He’s truly a modern-day Athanasius.
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Thank you Elizabeth. I know. He also likes us bloggers. However if you look carefully, you will see that I only listed cardinals under the main “forces” sections. As for the Manipulators, I listed bishops since they were operational, i.e. did the dirty work.
In the near futures, I will also start listing bishops in the main sections. Bp. Gadecki, who is the head of the Polish Episcopate will be the first. He provided an invaluable service to the Forces of Good in that he gave Card. Burke and Pell access to the Polish Vatican Radio service which let their message get out as to what was actually happening at the Synod.
So please be patient, and I will get all the players in eventually. Remember, we still have 255 days, so hopefully there will be plenty of time.
S.A.
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Oops ~ my mistake. I wasn’t paying attention enough to notice that you were only listing Cardinals in that category. 🙂
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Not to worry. I will get around to the bishops in due course. What you also need to keep in mind is that there are a lot of players to cover. At the Secret Synod of 2014 there were 196 participants. At the 2015 one, there will be 3 times that. Don’t know if I can locate all of them, but I sure will try. Which is why I am giving myself a good head start. 😉
S.A.
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