Vatican eyes massive online presence and plans extending existing site

(Media Study South Africa)

Article by Marc Aupiais

Please note that the source quotes, which this article is based on, along with additional information: are conveniently located at:

SACNS Quotes Analysis: Massive Overhaul of Vatican site online: to include many more documents: team of about 20, who bring pope's message to the "extreme ends of the earth" 12 / 08 | August / 2010

Argentine by birth (born in Santa Fe), South American priest, Msgr. Lucio Adrian Ruiz, recently gave an interesting, enlightening and exciting interview to editorially independent Vatican based Italian language paper: L'Osservatore Romano. The Vatican's half million pages are in for a surprise, as the site is redesigned and revamped. The different Congregations of the Roman Curia: that is the Vatican's ministries/operational departments, should each get their own websites soon, more Chinese pages are planned, all major pre-1900 popes are soon to have a voice on the website, in the furthering of Petrine papal teaching, and Vatican diplomatic information is soon to have more space and prominence on the now famous site.

In an interview with L'Osservatore Romano, the Vatican's webmaster notes much, he does not only set out the working structure of the team of about 20 which maintains and updates the Vatican website: part design, part technical, and notes top searches, and when what information is most sought, as well as the Vatican's view that media distorts its views. The former computer sciences teacher, additionally notes exiting additions to the site: such as an updating of diplomatic information, and soon to be available information from the popes prior the 20th century - given that the Vatican had previously only uploaded such documents that were not pre-1900.

The webmaster's team works with Interpol and Italian intelligence in its efforts to protect the official voice of the Holy See online, which has often been targeted by unscrupulous hackers. He also notes that the Vatican first went online in Christmas 1995 with a message from the then Pope John Paul II. Easter 1997, marked the site becoming a more structures orientated website.




South African Catholic News Service: Twitter|Facebook|Facebook Discuss|CAF|YouTube|UStream News|UStream Editorial | Email



As an internationally collaborative: initiative to provide a more transparent, accurate view of the world: This service is brought to you by the Scripturelink Search Engine (quotations, or confers in this service/initiative, are provided to give perspective independently, or reference some external sources: and do not imply collaboration, or any kind of affiliation, or co-operation with other services, or initiatives, which are quoted or noted in articles)



Check the accuracy, and perspectives of our contents via the above listed search engine: against other "Catholic" services

Pope solidifies conservatives at the Vatican | "New Evangelization" Appointment isn't an endorsement of a softer view on abortion

Related: WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 2010

Will lax, incompetent, dissident bishop head Pope's new body designed to re-Christianise the West?

http://southafricancatholic.blogspot.com/2010/06/will-lax-incompetent-dissident-bishop.html

FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 2009

Brazil: Archbishop José Cardoso Sobrinho joins accusations against Vatican based paper: of anti-life "bias"

http://southafricancatholic.blogspot.com/2009/06/brazil-archbishop-jose-cardoso-sobrinho.html


(Tridentine South Africa; article includes files from VA-Browser)

Quick Note Article by Marc Aupiais

|Download Audio Version of this Article|


With the replacement of Cardinal Re, who supported the excommunication in the Recife incident, and the appointment of Fisichella to the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelisation, it may be suggested that Benedict XVI sided with Fisichella in their spat, where Fisichella was accused of seeming to support therapeutic abortion.

After all, Fisichella's statements prompted a clarification by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith: saying that abortion in the case of rape was still immoral, when the former head of the Pontical Academy for life, Fisichella criticised a bishop for applying canon law against those practitioning therapeutic abortion in the case of rape.

However, Re's replacement is Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet, P.S.S., Archbishop of Québec and Primate of Canada, an even more outspoken opponent of abortion, even in radically leftest French Quebec. In fact, he directly opposes abortion in the case of rape, the place where Re's nemesis, Fisichella was accused of dissidence. Ouellet is a staunch loyalist to Pope Benedict XVI's more conservative views. He said that the church will not baptise the adopted children of same-sex couples (gays), and holds many loyalist views which will insure that the pope's future bishops will be more compliant to his reformation of the church after the John Paul II papacy. Ouellet has also been appointed to the Pontifical Commission for Latin America: a post retiring Re held before him, in which Re was competent to speak of the Recife affair.

And, Fisichella was long expected to be quietly moved elsewhere, due to the loss of public confidence in his capacity to head the Pontifical Academy For Life. The Pontifical Council for New Evangelization, focusses on evanglising Europe, but is likely to be a small body, and any errors it makes could well be substituted by the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, the Church's general evangelization body.

It seems that the church is acting much like the South African government, in appointing Fisichella to Europe where he fits in better with the groups the church wants to fight, and Ouellet to ensure loyal bishops, and to Latin America where his views will be welcome in fighting the socialist governments there on abortion and gay marriage: while his views will be of great benefit to Benedict XVI.

Fisichella's replacement, in the Church's pro-life body is Mgr. Ignacio Carrasco de Paula, a Spanish born member of loyalist group Opus Dei, who is a physician and moral theologian. Opus Dei is a loyalist organization, with a strong fidelity to the dogma of the church on all issues including abortion.



South African Catholic News Service: Twitter|Facebook|Facebook Discuss|CAF|YouTube|UStream News|UStream Editorial



As an internationally collaborative: initiative to provide a more transparent, accurate view of the world: This service is brought to you by the Scripturelink Search Engine (quotations, or confers in this service/initiative, are provided to give perspective independently, or reference some external sources: and do not imply collaboration, or any kind of affiliation, or co-operation with other services, or initiatives, which are quoted or noted in articles)



Check the accuracy, and perspectives of our contents via the above listed search engine: against other "Catholic" services

Subscribe to our articles via email:
Subscribe to South African Catholic
Add your email to our system to: subscribe to: "South African Catholic News Service"'s dispatches: via email

Email:

View Archives

Quick Note: USA Supreme Court did not permit Vatican to be sued

(Catholic Watchdog South Africa / Va-Browser)

|Download the Audio of this article|

Quick Note Article by Marc Aupiais

|Quick notes are not as researched as articles if researched at all|

Phil Lawler of Catholic Culture, has noted that media headlines that the USA (United States of America) Supreme Court has allowed the Vatican (Vatican City State/Holy See) to be sued de jure (by right of law), are incorrect. Instead it chose not to decide on the matter as yet, a slightly different move.

Here are the more that obvious results, and I may note that in South African Law, at least with the Anglican church in Province of the Church of Southern Africa, Diocese of Cape Town v CCMA et al, it was found that the priest was not even an employee of the diocese:

"By declining to hear the case, the Supreme Court did deal a minor legal setback to the Vatican, which had sought to have the case summarily dismissed. But the Oregon court’s ruling—which the Supreme Court let stand—only gives plaintiff the opportunity to argue that the Pope and the Vatican can be included as defendants. That argument is far from resolved.

In their effort to include the Pope as a defendant, the plaintiff faces an uphill struggle. The Foreign Sovereign Immunity Act protects the Holy See from liability unless the plaintiff can demonstrate that the priest who abused him was acting as an employee of the Vatican. By any of the normal legal standards—who signed his paycheck, who was his direct supervisor, who gave his assignments—the priest was working for the diocese, not the Vatican. Any effort to draw a connection between diocesan policies and Vatican directives would run into a further obstacle: the historical (and very prudent) reluctance of the American courts to become involved in the internal affairs of a religious body.

Even if an American court did give plaintiffs the right to take testimony from the Pope, the Pope would not be bound by that ruling. The Pope is not subject to American law-- nor to any other system of civil law. He is sovereign; in Vatican City he is the law.

Bottom line: If an American plaintiff takes testimony from the Pope, it will be because the Pope chose to give testimony—not because a court compelled it."

Phil Lawler, Catholic Culture (Catholic; Independent; American) 29 / 06 | June / 2010



South African Catholic News Service: Twitter|Facebook|Facebook Discuss|CAF|YouTube|UStream News|UStream Editorial



As an internationally collaborative: initiative to provide a more transparent, accurate view of the world: This service is brought to you by the Scripturelink Search Engine (quotations, or confers in this service/initiative, are provided to give perspective independently, or reference some external sources: and do not imply collaboration, or any kind of affiliation, or co-operation with other services, or initiatives, which are quoted or noted in articles)



Check the accuracy, and perspectives of our contents via the above listed search engine: against other "Catholic" services

Subscribe to our articles via email:
Subscribe to South African Catholic
Add your email to our system to: subscribe to: "South African Catholic News Service"'s dispatches: via email

Email:

View Archives

Video: Vatican: Pope on suffering and love

"Pope: The world needs the joy that springs from truth
[...]
vatican — April 01, 2010 — The joy that comes from Christ gives us happiness, but it also gives us the ability to suffer and to continue being intimately happy even when we suffer. This is what Benedict XVI said on Thursday, April 1st, during the homily of the Chrism Mass, which he presided over in St. Peters Basilica with 1,600 priests of the Diocese of Rome and from the Roman universities, who afterwards renewed their priestly promises together with the attending cardinals and bishops. The Pontiff then blessed the oils of the Catechumens and of the Sick and the Holy Chrism, which will be used in the sacraments throughout the year. Let us pray to be capable of bringing the joy of the Holy Spirit Benedict XVI said to t ...

[...]

God Jesus Jesus Christ Pope Benedict XVI Vatican Holy See Catholic Church Christianity "

View video on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCz6uvO3HK8

Synod on Africa Opened!

(See What We See News And Archives; c.f. Radio Vaticana (Vatican Based; Structural; Catholic) 02 / 10 | October / 2009 [English] ; 03 / 10 | October / 2009 [ French] ; CTV /Vatican's YouTube Site 04 / 10 | October / 2009 ; BBC [British Broadcasting Corporation] (Secular; Governmental; British / UK Based) 04 / 10 | October / 2009 ; 04 / 10 | October / 2009 [Audio and Text]; AP [Associated press] (American; Secular; independent) 04 / 10 | October / 2009 ; also on Yahoo (Secular; independent; American) 04 / 10 | October / 2009 ;  AFP [The French Press Agency] (Secular; independent; French): Article hosted by Yahoo (Secular; independent; American) 04 / 10 | October / 2009  )


[English; Afrikaans; français]

Article by Marc Aupiais

Lamenting what he seemed to see as western exports to Africa, of relativism, and materialism, as well as what he saw as the export of religious fundamentalism, Pope Benedict XVI, today called Africa a "Spiritual Lung" for the world, during the modern day and age. Africa is likely one of the fastest growing theaters in Catholic Evangelization, the continent's Catholic flock having statistically grown to about three times the size it held three decades ago, in just that time. About 17% (About One Hundred and Fifty Million) of Africa's people are statistically Catholic. L'Osservatore Romano, a paper based in the Vatican, but not vetted by it, slated Africa's political elite, via an editorial, claiming that the resources of the resource rich continent were being unjustly plundered.


Pope: "Church in Africa, the leaven of reconciliation: "

	Pope: "Church in Africa, the leaven of reconciliation "The vocation of the Church, a community of people reconciled with God and each other, is to the prophet and leaven of reconciliation between different ethnic, linguistic and even religious" groups throughout Africa. That was the message at the heart of Pope Benedict's homily during mass to open of the Second Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for Africa, held in the St. Peter Basilicas. In front of 244 Synod Fathers who from Monday October 5 until October 25 will compare notes on "The ...	From: vatican Views: 149 0 ratings
	Time: 01:33

"

While the English language Version of Radio Vaticana, has yet to cover the issue in the same depth, or else the article is not accessible, their French language version stated:

"Dossier : le laïcat, enjeu indispensable du synode pour l'Afrique

Quelque 250 prélats se réunissent, pour trois semaines, à partir de dimanche 4 octobre au Vatican. Ils participeront à la II° assemblée des évêques pour l’Afrique. La messe d’ouverture présidée par le Pape débutera à 9h30 dans la basilique Saint Pierre. Un premier synode sur l'Afrique en 1994 s’était attaché à définir la marche à suivre d’une Eglise en quête de maturité. Cette seconde assemblée entend refaire le point, apporter des réponses aux nombreux défis du présent. Le document préparatoire des travaux a été rendu public par Benoît XVI en mars dernier au Cameroun.

Barthélemy Adoukounou est secrétaire général de la CEDEAO (conférence épiscopale de l’Afrique de l’Ouest francophone). Il sera à Rome en tant qu’expert avec en main plusieurs propositions élaborées avec les membres de la CEDEAO. Parmi ces proposition, il y a l’attention indispensable à porter à la formation des laïcs, condition d’une Eglise « sel de la terre et ferment du monde »

Propos recueillis par Armance Bourgois"

(Radio Vaticana (Vatican based; Hierarchical; Catholic) 03 / 10 | October / 2009)

That is to say:

"File: the laity, vital issue of the Synod for Africa

Some 250 bishops are meeting for three weeks, starting from Sunday, October 4 at the Vatican. They will participate in the second synod of Bishops for Africa. The opening Mass presided over by the Pope, will start at 9:30 in St. Peter's Basilica. The first synod on Africa in 1994 had focused on defining the procedures of a church in search of maturity. This second meeting will repeat the point, answers to the many challenges of the present. The document preparatory work has been published by Benedict XVI in March to Cameroon.   

Bartholomew Adoukounou is Secretary General of ECOWAS (Episcopal Conference of West African Francophone). He will be in Rome as an expert in hand with several proposals developed with members of ECOWAS. Among these proposals, to gain the attention necessary to bring to the training of lay church provided a "salt of the earth and leaven in the world"  Interview by Armance Bourgois [French]"

According to the BBC [British Broadcasting Corporation] (Secular; Governmental; British / UK Based) 04 / 10 | October / 2009:

The pope considers evangelization in Africa, an urgent priority. The previous synod on Africa, unfortunately occurred around the eve of the Rwandan genocide, and the BBC claims it was an event with much talk, and little else. The BBC, seems to compare that previous event to the current one, noting that this synod has a specific focus on the problems of Africa.

The Associated Press wrongly suggests that Bishops are likely to bring up the Vatican's ban on the use of condoms. Local Bishops' Conferences such as that in Southern Africa have already dealt with this issue, with minimal dissidents known for disobedience to the Vatican having pushed for condoms.

The Catholic Church in Africa is familiar with the success of the Ugandan anti-AIDS program, which successfully reduced infection rates, in contrast to nations which focussed on condoms, such as South Africa, these being where HIV/AIDS has rapidly increased as condom distribution has increased.

Condoms, beyond being considered intrinsically evil in Catholic dogma, are also viewed negatively in African tradition.

Many of Africa's refugees are Catholics, even coming from war-torn regions. The Vatican has suggested teaching Catholics to encourage peace in their surroundings.

American Bishops do something about New Mass Translation, something which may help South Africans also, and be useful to others in the future!

(Tridentine South Africa)

Article by Marc Aupiais

When we at scripturelink.net attempted to get the local Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference (SACBC), to place a version online, or permit us to scan a version in and load it online of their heavily copyrighted copy of the new draft version of the new order of the mass, which they rushed out early, without Vatican permission (the Vatican permitted the draft to continue in use for the sake of the faithful locally)- we only got constantly ignored and redirected, and told this was pointless. The fact that Catholics were struggling, or were not given the new words in some instances, while being forced to use them- was not a matter of urgency, and a (pro-legal abortion, pro-condoms, pro-homosexual priests c.f. Catholic Culture's review of the dissident paper's website) newspaper, which they are represented on the board of, and sell in parishes- the Southern Cross, slated the Vatican's decision to change the Order of the Mass. Not so with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), who have carefully constructed a website on their main URL to aid Catholics with the transfer, which has yet to occur in the USA.

On the website:

http://www.usccb.org/romanmissal/

The US Bishops have placed so many relevant documents, explaining the whole process of the change, and answering Questions and Answers. Included is a study version of the new English version of the Order of the Latin Rite (The Normal Mass, said at most parishes) Mass, and another with relevant scriptural annotations, which mean that Catholics can justify the Order to their Non-Catholic friends from the bible. I personally have not gone through the entire online text, but as these texts are assembled by the global community of English speaking Catholic churches (International Committee on English in the Liturgy), it is bound in the least bit to be similar to the draft version already in use in South Africa.

The explaining documents should also be useful. It might be noted that the version on the site is yet to be approved by the given bishops or the Holy See, but is probably the same, or a similar version to the draft being used in South Africa. The website should be updated regularly. We ask our viewers, who have lost their handy translations, or who are interested in finding out, to compare these texts to the drafts we are using, (they at least seem similar- I personally have been looking through the words the parishioners say, and it seems like ours- I do not have time at present to make a textual analysis of their study version against the draft version being used here), and inform us of the differences, so that we can possibly inform others. In any case, for those South Africans without a copy of the draft we are using, this may at least be useful, and the American Bishops, will surely update it when a globally accepted version emerges.


America's study version of the draft of the New Order of the Mass:

http://www.usccb.org/romanmissal/OrdoMissaeWhiteBook.pdf

Version with Scriptural Annotations: (it actually quotes the relevant verses)

http://www.usccb.org/romanmissal/WhiteBookAnnotated.pdf

The New version, was asked of the world by Benedict XVI, who wanted the Novus Order to be closer to the Tridentine Mass, believing it would be of benefit to the faithful.

Catholic News Agency has an article about the new website released by the USCCB, the website we are speaking of here:

Article:

CNA [Catholic News Agency] (Catholic; Independent; American) Aug 21, 2009 :

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=16905

Sunday's Angelus, by Pope Benedict XVI- focussed on the vital part Mary played in giving the Word Flesh

(Journey in a Broken World)

Notation by Marc Aupiais

It is always good to hear the voice of the pope as he speaks on important matters, as we have in the past, we are making note of a video of the pope released by the Vatican onto the internet, this is of him speaking of Mary, the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Christ, during his Sunday Angelus.

From the Vatican's YouTube site:

Video (will be visible on spash page, and article page, will likely not appear via email):



URL of Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUQ8X4g9VsU

Summary by the Vatican: of the video:

"The Blessed Virgin Mary was once again the subject for reflections in Benedict XVIs Angelus address this Sunday, delivered to a packed court yard the Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo. The Pope spoke of Mary in connection with the passage from the Gospel of John offered by the liturgy of the day. John in fact repeats the words of Christ: "I am the living bread come down from heaven. He who eats of this bread will live forever, the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world. The Pope said God needed Mary to take on human form, to enter into our mortal condition, and that He in turn gives us His body in the sacrament of the Eucharist, as an instrument of eternal life. Pope Benedi ..."

(Vatican on YouTube Angelus 2009 - 08 - 16 : The Eucharist, the living bread come down from heaven, from the Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo, the Summer residence of the Pope in Italy)

Vatican vetted Jesuit Paper: "La Civiltà Cattolica" attacks credibility of the "Times", "New York Times" and "The Washington Post", "Le Monde", "the Italian press."

(See What We See news Archive ; c.f. Pope Benedict XVI, letter/speech on Vatican site (Catholic; Hierarchical; Vatican based) 17 / 02 (February) / 2006 ; American Papist (Catholic; Independent; American) 22 / 05 (May) / 2006; Catholic Culture (American; Catholic; Independent) 01 / 05 (May) / 2009; La Civiltà Cattolica (Catholic; Italian; connected with the Vatican) issue "3813")

Article by Marc Aupiais

Known for it's defense of the Catholic position against the use of condoms, purportedly to fight the pandemic of HIV/AIDS, and for being a journal which is purportedly vetted by Vatican officials, the Jesuit La Civiltà Cattolica (The Catholic Civilization) Journal, is known for something modern Jesuits, are not generally known for in recent times, if Catholic watchdogs are to be believed: perceived fidelity to the Catholic Faith.

The La Civiltà Cattolica journal, was noted on the 17th of February 2006, by Pope Benedict XVI:

"I am pleased to welcome you with all those who collaborate with you in various capacities. I know and appreciate the work that the Journal has carried out at the Church's service since 1850, when Bl. Pius IX, my Predecessor of venerable memory, founded it. He then endowed it with a permanent special statute that established its special connection with the Holy See."

(Pope Benedict XVI, letter/speech on Vatican site (Catholic; Hierarchical; Vatican based) 17 / 02 (February) / 2006 )

This same journal, which American Papist, a prominent Catholic service notes, via a quotation: is vetted by the Vatican (American Papist (Catholic; Independent; American) 22 / 05 (May) / 2006), when it was then defending the position of the church against the use of Condoms in the fight against HIV/AIDS, has again taken a stand, which is news making.

In an article, seemingly by La Civiltà Cattolica, which seemingly laments, that Catholics still are perceived as funding some press organizations:

"La Civiltà Cattolica", has been noted by a "Catholic Culture" news brief, as ("Catholic Culture" (American; Catholic; Independent) 01 / 05 (May) / 2009) apparently claiming severe media bias, against the Catholic Church in some Western Media : as seen in this English translation, as taken off "Catholic Culture" (additions by this service in "[]"):

"[these press organizations are part of an anti-Catholic campaign] which, at a universal level, tends to discredit the Catholic Church: "

(Catholic Culture (American; Catholic; Independent) 01 / 05 (May) / 2009)

Those mentioned by name, include: (The British/London) "Times", (The American) "New York Times" and (The American) "The Washington Post", (The French) "Le Monde", and "the Italian press".

In summarizing their article in English on their online site: La Civiltà Cattolica, writes [sections between [] are notes by us):

"[...]The article aims at demonstrating the evangelical purity of a scholarly, vigilant and attentive teaching ready to plug the possible leaks arising from the osmosis between Church and contemporary society. The lay front in Italy has certainly radicalized its position towards the Church. Moreover, the “lay” are always silent in regard to social services that would not exist if it were not for the contribution of the Catholic lay."

(La Civiltà Cattolica (Catholic; Italian; connected with the Vatican) issue "3813")

The word "lay": refers to "laity": to Catholics; who do not hold Holy Orders in the Catholic church. The so-called "lay front", seemingly refers largely to those attacking Pope Benedict XVI, or Catholic Doctrine, that is: in Europe or Italy, or to those supporting publications which do. The article is titled: "AN INCONVENIENT POPE?". The Full summary by the organization is accessible at (La Civiltà Cattolica (Catholic; Italian; connected with the "Vatican") issue "3813").

Tridentine SA: LETTER ON REMISSION OF EXCOMMUNICATION LEFEBVRE BISHOPS

(Tridentine South Africa)

Article by Marc Aupiais

As Predicted, by Rorate Caeli, the Papacy has announced Benedict XVI's intentions, and feelings on the Williamson issue.

Here is the release:

LETTER ON REMISSION OF EXCOMMUNICATION LEFEBVRE BISHOPS

VATICAN CITY, 12 MAR 2009 (VIS) - Made public today was the Letter of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI to the bishops of the Catholic Church concerning the remission of the excommunication of the four bishops consecrated by Archbishop Lefebvre.

  

The Letter is dated 10 March and has been published in English, French, Spanish, Italian, German and Portuguese. The complete text of the English-language version is given below:

  

"Dear brothers in the episcopal ministry.

 VATICAN CITY, 12 MAR 2009 (VIS) - Made public today was the Letter of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI to the bishops of the Catholic Church concerning the remission of the excommunication of the four bishops consecrated by Archbishop Lefebvre.

The Letter is dated 10 March and has been published in English, French, Spanish, Italian, German and Portuguese. The complete text of the English-language version is given below:

"Dear brothers in the episcopal ministry.

"The remission of the excommunication of the four Bishops consecrated in 1988 by Archbishop Lefebvre without a mandate of the Holy See has for many reasons caused, both within and beyond the Catholic Church, a discussion more heated than any we have seen for a long time. Many bishops felt perplexed by an event which came about unexpectedly and was difficult to view positively in the light of the issues and tasks facing the Church today. Even though many bishops and members of the faithful were disposed in principle to take a positive view of the Pope's concern for reconciliation, the question remained whether such a gesture was fitting in view of the genuinely urgent demands of the life of faith in our time. Some groups, on the other hand, openly accused the Pope of wanting to turn back the clock to before the Council: as a result, an avalanche of protests was unleashed, whose bitterness laid bare wounds deeper than those of the present moment. I therefore feel obliged to offer you, dear brothers, a word of clarification, which ought to help you understand the concerns which led me and the competent offices of the Holy See to take this step. In this way I hope to contribute to peace in the Church.

"An unforeseen mishap for me was the fact that the Williamson case came on top of the remission of the excommunication. The discreet gesture of mercy towards four bishops ordained validly but not legitimately suddenly appeared as something completely different: as the repudiation of reconciliation between Christians and Jews, and thus as the reversal of what the Council had laid down in this regard to guide the Church's path. A gesture of reconciliation with an ecclesial group engaged in a process of separation thus turned into its very antithesis: an apparent step backwards with regard to all the steps of reconciliation between Christians and Jews taken since the Council - steps which my own work as a theologian had sought from the beginning to take part in and support. That this overlapping of two opposed processes took place and momentarily upset peace between Christians and Jews, as well as peace within the Church, is something which I can only deeply deplore. I have been told that consulting the information available on the internet would have made it possible to perceive the problem early on. I have learned the lesson that in the future in the Holy See we will have to pay greater attention to that source of news. I was saddened by the fact that even Catholics who, after all, might have had a better knowledge of the situation, thought they had to attack me with open hostility. Precisely for this reason I thank all the more our Jewish friends, who quickly helped to clear up the misunderstanding and to restore the atmosphere of friendship and trust which - as in the days of Pope John Paul II - has also existed throughout my pontificate and, thank God, continues to exist.

"Another mistake, which I deeply regret, is the fact that the extent and limits of the provision of 21 January 2009 were not clearly and adequately explained at the moment of its publication. The excommunication affects individuals, not institutions. An episcopal ordination lacking a pontifical mandate raises the danger of a schism, since it jeopardises the unity of the College of Bishops with the Pope. Consequently the Church must react by employing her most severe punishment - excommunication - with the aim of calling those thus punished to repent and to return to unity. Twenty years after the ordinations, this goal has sadly not yet been attained. The remission of the excommunication has the same aim as that of the punishment: namely, to invite the four bishops once more to return. This gesture was possible once the interested parties had expressed their recognition in principle of the Pope and his authority as Pastor, albeit with some reservations in the area of obedience to his doctrinal authority and to the authority of the Council. Here I return to the distinction between individuals and institutions. The remission of the excommunication was a measure taken in the field of ecclesiastical discipline: the individuals were freed from the burden of conscience constituted by the most serious of ecclesiastical penalties. This disciplinary level needs to be distinguished from the doctrinal level. The fact that the Society of Saint Pius X does not possess a canonical status in the Church is not, in the end, based on disciplinary but on doctrinal reasons. As long as the society does not have a canonical status in the Church, its ministers do not exercise legitimate ministries in the Church. There needs to be a distinction, then, between the disciplinary level, which deals with individuals as such, and the doctrinal level, at which ministry and institution are involved. In order to make this clear once again: until the doctrinal questions are clarified, the society has no canonical status in the Church, and its ministers - even though they have been freed of the ecclesiastical penalty - do not legitimately exercise any ministry in the Church.

"In light of this situation, it is my intention henceforth to join the Pontifical Commission 'Ecclesia Dei' - the body which has been competent since 1988 for those communities and persons who, coming from the Society of Saint Pius X or from similar groups, wish to return to full communion with the Pope - to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. This will make it clear that the problems now to be addressed are essentially doctrinal in nature and concern primarily the acceptance of the Vatican Council II and the post-conciliar Magisterium of the Popes. The collegial bodies with which the congregation studies questions which arise (especially the ordinary Wednesday meeting of cardinals and the annual or biennial plenary session) ensure the involvement of the prefects of the different Roman congregations and representatives from the world's bishops in the process of decision-making. The Church's teaching authority cannot be frozen in the year 1962 - this must be quite clear to the Society. But some of those who put themselves forward as great defenders of the Council also need to be reminded that Vatican II embraces the entire doctrinal history of the Church. Anyone who wishes to be obedient to the Council has to accept the faith professed over the centuries, and cannot sever the roots from which the tree draws its life.

"I hope, dear brothers, that this serves to clarify the positive significance and also the limits of the provision of 21 January 2009. But the question still remains: Was this measure needed? Was it really a priority? Aren't other things perhaps more important? Of course there are more important and urgent matters. I believe that I set forth clearly the priorities of my pontificate in the addresses which I gave at its beginning. Everything that I said then continues unchanged as my plan of action. The first priority for the Successor of Peter was laid down by the Lord in the Upper Room in the clearest of terms: 'You ... strengthen your brothers'. Peter himself formulated this priority anew in his first Letter: 'Always be prepared to make a defence to anyone who calls you to account for the hope that is in you'. In our days, when in vast areas of the world the faith is in danger of dying out like a flame which no longer has fuel, the overriding priority is to make God present in this world and to show men and women the way to God. Not just any god, but the God Who spoke on Sinai; to that God Whose face we recognise in a love which presses 'to the end' - in Jesus Christ, crucified and risen. The real problem at this moment of our history is that God is disappearing from the human horizon, and, with the dimming of the light which comes from God, humanity is losing its bearings, with increasingly evident destructive effects.

"Leading men and women to God, to the God Who speaks in the Bible: this is the supreme and fundamental priority of the Church and of the Successor of Peter at the present time. A logical consequence of this is that we must have at heart the unity of all believers. Their disunity, their disagreement among themselves, calls into question the credibility of their talk of God. Hence the effort to promote a common witness by Christians to their faith - ecumenism - is part of the supreme priority. Added to this is the need for all those who believe in God to join in seeking peace, to attempt to draw closer to one another, and to journey together, even with their differing images of God, towards the source of Light - this is inter-religious dialogue. Whoever proclaims that God is Love 'to the end' has to bear witness to love: in loving devotion to the suffering, in the rejection of hatred and enmity - this is the social dimension of the Christian faith, of which I spoke in the Encyclical 'Deus caritas est'.

"So if the arduous task of working for faith, hope and love in the world is presently (and, in various ways, always) the Church's real priority, then part of this is also made up of acts of reconciliation, small and not so small. That the quiet gesture of extending a hand gave rise to a huge uproar, and thus became exactly the opposite of a gesture of reconciliation, is a fact which we must accept. But I ask now: Was it, and is it, truly wrong in this case to meet half-way the brother who 'has something against you' and to seek reconciliation? Should not civil society also try to forestall forms of extremism and to incorporate their eventual adherents - to the extent possible - in the great currents shaping social life, and thus avoid their being segregated, with all its consequences? Can it be completely mistaken to work to break down obstinacy and narrowness, and to make space for what is positive and retrievable for the whole? I myself saw, in the years after 1988, how the return of communities which had been separated from Rome changed their interior attitudes; I saw how returning to the bigger and broader Church enabled them to move beyond one-sided positions and broke down rigidity so that positive energies could emerge for the whole. Can we be totally indifferent about a community which has 491 priests, 215 seminarians, 6 seminaries, 88 schools, 2 university-level institutes, 117 religious brothers, 164 religious sisters and thousands of lay faithful? Should we casually let them drift farther from the Church? I think for example of the 491 priests. We cannot know how mixed their motives may be. All the same, I do not think that they would have chosen the priesthood if, alongside various distorted and unhealthy elements, they did not have a love for Christ and a desire to proclaim Him and, with Him, the living God. Can we simply exclude them, as representatives of a radical fringe, from our pursuit of reconciliation and unity? What would then become of them?

"Certainly, for some time now, and once again on this specific occasion, we have heard from some representatives of that community many unpleasant things - arrogance and presumptuousness, an obsession with one-sided positions, etc. Yet to tell the truth, I must add that I have also received a number of touching testimonials of gratitude which clearly showed an openness of heart. But should not the great Church also allow herself to be generous in the knowledge of her great breadth, in the knowledge of the promise made to her? Should not we, as good educators, also be capable of overlooking various faults and making every effort to open up broader vistas? And should we not admit that some unpleasant things have also emerged in Church circles? At times one gets the impression that our society needs to have at least one group to which no tolerance may be shown; which one can easily attack and hate. And should someone dare to approach them - in this case the Pope - he too loses any right to tolerance; he too can be treated hatefully, without misgiving or restraint.

"Dear Brothers, during the days when I first had the idea of writing this letter, by chance, during a visit to the Roman Seminary, I had to interpret and comment on Galatians 5:13-15. I was surprised at the directness with which that passage speaks to us about the present moment: 'Do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love be servants of one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: You shall love your neighbour as yourself. But if you bite and devour one another, take heed that you are not consumed by one another'. I am always tempted to see these words as another of the rhetorical excesses which we occasionally find in St. Paul. To some extent that may also be the case. But sad to say, this 'biting and devouring' also exists in the Church today, as expression of a poorly understood freedom. Should we be surprised that we too are no better than the Galatians? That at the very least we are threatened by the same temptations? That we must always learn anew the proper use of freedom? And that we must always learn anew the supreme priority, which is love? The day I spoke about this at the Major Seminary, the feast of Our Lady of Trust was being celebrated in Rome. And so it is: Mary teaches us trust. She leads us to her Son, in Whom all of us can put our trust. He will be our guide - even in turbulent times. And so I would like to offer heartfelt thanks to all the many bishops who have lately offered me touching tokens of trust and affection, and above all assured me of their prayers. My thanks also go to all the faithful who in these days have given me testimony of their constant fidelity to the Successor of St. Peter. May the Lord protect all of us and guide our steps along the way of peace. This is the prayer that rises up instinctively from my heart at the beginning of this Lent, a liturgical season particularly suited to interior purification, one which invites all of us to look with renewed hope to the light which awaits us at Easter

"With a special Apostolic Blessing, I remain Yours in the Lord".

BXVI-LETTER/EXCOMMUNICATION BISHOPS/... VIS 090312 (2540)

Brazil's anti-mgisterial "Workers Party" strikes again, but Vatican sticks by their man!

(Altered Persuation; SA Catholic 28 / 02 / 2009; 06 / 03 / 2009; BBC World News (Secular; Governmental; British; Professional)07 / 03 / 2009; Catholic Hierarchy (Independent) __/__/__)

Article by Marc Aupiais

Canon law is clear, whatever human laws say: help a girl (or in these pressing times, a guy) get an abortion, and you are outta the Catholic church. You are banned from all sacraments, until you get a special absolution, in which you must have confessed your sin, of partaking in abortion. This excommunication extends to those who vote for abortionistic parties, which causes extra abortions.

The News broke, a girl, whose stepfather is accused of abusing her consistently from age six to 9, and of abusing her 14 year old challenged sister, and was arrested on charges of rape: was persuaded by her mother into killing her twin daughters, before they could escape the womb, and Brazil's law, which gives the unborn no real rights.

The Catholic bishop of the area: "Brazilian Archbishop Jose Gomes Sobrinho ", was furious, and excommunicated the doctors who did the abortion, and justified it, and the mother. Brazil's Worker's Party, known for their positions on contraception, women priests, and homosexuality: then used the Vatican's protection of the unborn, to once again lambast the church.

The fact, that the mother and doctors involved in what the church termed to be homocide, against her grandchildren: were already automatically excommunicated, via canon law, has passed by many media works.

"Fatima Maia", who is director of the hospital who killed the twin fetuses, who had been conceived after years of abuse, by a 9 year old's 23 year old stepdad, with seemingly no intervention on the part of the girl's mother: tried to justify her hospital's work. She said that it was dangerous for a 9 year old to give birth.

"Marcio Miranda", who is a lawyer, and represented the church in a media release, stated that there was no risk to the 9 year old, and that a perfectly safe alternative to abortion, would be a Caesarian Section.

People often forget, that if one is permitting a woman to abort her baby, due to rape: that this is a complete denial that the child is a human person. In fact, in South African law: the fact that the Fetus is not considered a person, is precisely why many claim a right to abortion. Before it takes its first breath in South African law, it is considered just that, an it. This Brazillian decision, seems to work on the same principal: that the child has no right to choose to live.

President "Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva", of Brazil, and belonging to its infamous "Workers Party", slung mud, calling the Church "Conservative", saying that they did what he termed "necessary" and "saved" a nine year old's life. He is no stranger to completely ignoring canon law, and himself likely falls under the same automatic excommunication, as the mother and doctors do.

Recently, a congressman of his "Workers Party" party: a certain "Father Luiz Couto", called for the church to stop "unfair discrimination against homosexuals" (paraphrase), and said that condoms are "necessary", while also calling for the church to allow priests to have sex. Father Luiz Couto: was thus suspended from saying the mass, by his archbishop: "Aldo Pagotto", of Paraiba. "Father Luiz Couto", had already broken canon law, in being elected for the "Workers Party". The COngressman, said he would continue to say the mass at his house, with assorted friends.

Despite a large demographically "Catholic" population, Brazil, allows for abortion when a woman is raped, or when her health is badly in danger.

From past experience, Brazillian President, "Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva", calling himnself a "Catholic", for some odd reason: and his party, loves the word "necessary", when slamming the policies of the church. It is not surprising, that he has slammed the church's decision to appose the forcing of an abortion on a nine year old. Brazil's left leaning president, has neither seemingly said much of any alleged neglegence on behalf of the girl's mother, who additionally made her get the abortion, nor has he seemed to mention the two twins, who are now dead, due to his policy, which allowed the uunborn twins to be murdered, in a hospital.

The Vatican's "Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re", who is "Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops", and "Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops", according to "Catholic Hierarchy", has said that life should always been protected, and has named the attack on the Brazillian Bishop, who stood by Catholic beliefs, and regulations: to be unwarranted.

In Many parts of the world, Bishops, have ignored canon law on issues such as abortion, or moves to create anger towards the Vatican. The stancew this bishop has taken, and which his Vatican support have taken: is admirable to any true pro-lifer.

That abortion, itself is a surgery, where generally, the children, are either buirnt into non-existence, or torn apart, limb by limb, seems far from the minds of many a government. As long as the anborn is not known as a person, this will likely remain.

Please note, that the definition of murder, here mentioned: refers to the intentional killing of a unique human life.

Vatican, Europe; Great Britain; Europe: SSPXer's apology not enough: Vatican

(Tridentine South(And Southern) Africa; c.f. Catholic World News (Catholic; Independent; American) 27 / 02 / 2009; BBC World News (Secular; Governmental; British) 27 / 02 / 2009; Rorate Caeli ("Catholic"; American?; Independent) 19 / 02 / 2009: http://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2009/02/argentina-expels-bishop-williamson.html; Zenit News (Catholic; Independent; American) 26 / 02 / 2009; 30 / 01 / 2009; 27 / 02 / 2009 )

Article by Marc Aupiais

Bishop Richard Williamson, of the SSPX/FSSPX ( "Priestly"/"Fraternal Society of Saint Pius X"), which is a suspended movement, not in full communion with Rome, has apologized for any "Scandal", caused by his comments on the holocaust, and admitted, that he is not a historian. He claims that loosely/vaguely referred to information which he fronts was "available" 20 years ago but not available to the general public, currently: had lead him to believe that the holocaust/Shoah extent was basically some sort of myth.

While apologizing for harm caused by his comments, Williamson, of "Great Britain" has not said enough to revoke them, but only apologized for harm caused. Father Lombardi of the Vatican, has said that his statements do not meet the requirements given to the SSPX Bishop. The Vatican is refering to their demand of a full revocation of the SSPX Bishop's previous denial of the extent of the Genocide known as the "Holocaust", or as "Shoah". Jewish groups say that the "apology" does not revoke his previous statements.

 According to Zenit News, Williamson, is not a Catholic Bishop, as the lifting of the excommunications is not the legitimizing of his valid, but illicit ordination, for which he was excommunicated officially. Williamson was recently kicked out of Argentina, for allegedly falsifying information on his visa application in the country: stating that he was employed by a non-governmental organization. He had previously been at a post in an Argentine SSPX seminary, from which the SSPX removed him earlier this year. The Argentine government also apposed his views on the holocaust/Shoah as unacceptable. Large portions of Argentine society, and their electoral roll are Jewish: as compared other Jewish proportions elsewhere in the world. The comments of the Argentine government seem a definite political necessity for Argentina, however: the falsification, that he was working for: "La Tradición", an NGO (non-governmental organization), when in fact he was working as a Priest for the SSPX, which was highlighted by "Rorate Caeli" , quoting La Nación, an Argentine daily, and: "Florencio Randazzo", Argentina's "Interior Minister", is widely enough of a reason to expel him.

Landing in "Great Britain", he falls under certain treaties, which may see him stand trial for the crime of "Holocaust Denial", in Germany. Besides being a historial fact, the extent of the holocaust, killing at least 6 million Jewish members of humanity, it is a highly sensitive issue.

The Vatican claims that they had no knowledge of the Lefebvrite bishop's views on the holocaust/Shoah, when determining whether or not to lift his excommunication: to push forward ecumenical talks between the mainstream and the SSPX priestly schism. The Vatican has also, in the past: lifted the excommunication on the Orthodox Patriarch of at least one, if not many a Eastern Orthodox church, this does not make them a Catholic Patriarch, it is simply ecumenism: how much more in the case of SSPX? (This comparison lies only in the act of lifting excommunications, as compared with the implications, nothing is implied about Eastern Orthodox Churches by it).

Four Leferbvrite bishops, have had their extreme punishment, of an excommunication only the papacy could lift: lifted recently. They were excommunicated, along with Marcel Leverbre, when Leverbvre attempted to ordain them as bishops without Vatican authority. According to Zenit News, the four never were, and still are not Catholic bishops under Canon law.

Williamson's SSPX superior SSPX Bishop Fellay, has asked for him to revoke his views on the holocaust/Shoah, and does not publicly deny the Shoah/Holocaust happened and killed at least 6 million Jewish people.

Note: The word Holocaust has the connotation of a sacrifice to God, however, in order to avoid the connotation, many use Shoah, to describe the events: as this is the Hebrew word for "Calamity". News services, such as this one, do not imply anything theological by using the word holocaust. We believe that the World War II Holocaust, is not some sacrifice to God, but rather a Genocide, the word Holocaust, is simply the most often used phrase, in general usage, by which the World War II Nazi perpetrated Genocide: is referred to.

Vatican to EU: stop ignoring African human Rights

(Social Justice South Africa; c.f. Zenit News Service (American; Independent; Catholic): French Edition 11 / 02 / 2009; Zenit: here: quotes L'Osservatore Romano)

Article by Marc Aupiais

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal "Tarcisio Bertone", on Tuesday (10th February), in an effort promoted by the "Czech Republic" Ambassador, met with ambassadors from the European Union (EU), to the Holy See (Vatican). He showed the Vatican's deep concerns for Africa, and the Middle east. He begged Europe to no longer ignore other continents, and asked that they see and focus on human rights, and crying issues, weeping out of Africa and the Middle East in particular.

His ultimate request: that Europe help the delicate situation in the Middle east comprehensively; and that it deal with Africa: not as though sucking the marrow from the bones: but in a manner which is also best for Africa.

Novartis nearly sneak into Vatican Radio Interview, as guest speaker? Despite their positions?

(Media Study South Africa; c.f. Reuters (Secular; Independent; British) 06 / 02 / 2009)

Article by Marc Aupiais

Those with Hyperactivity know of Novartis: the "Ritalin": sellers. Those who know of the effects of diet: know that sometimes "Ritalin" is needed, and sometimes excluding harmful additives to food: clears up hyperactivity. Novartis is known for some activities some would not agree with.

So, getting a real coup d'état, of getting an invitation to speak on Vatican Radio (Radio Vaticana), "Novartis Chief Executive Daniel Vasella", has now been told that the Vatican doesn't want him to speak any longer in the slot of "Commentator of the week", this February. Perhaps this is further evidence that the Vatican was telling the truth, when speaking of not knowing of Lefebvrite suspended illicitly ordained "Bishop Williamson"'s statements on the Holocaust.

A quick google search, or better yet, a scripturelink of those the Vatican deals with: would go a long way. Fortunately: this time, the Vatican caught the mistake in time.

The Vatican, has rejected the Novartis chief: due to the fact, that his company produces contraceptives: considered a danger to civilization, and intrinsically evil: by sections of Catholic theologians, and as intrinsically evil: by Dogma.

A near tragedy has been avoided, by the Vatican. Hopefully, these errors will prompt the Vatican to begin background checks before taking action. This is not the first time the Vatican's Radio has decided to use a source apposing Catholic Dogma. Vatican Radio has previously interviewed the editor of the Southern Cross: accused by Trinity Communications ("Catholic Culture"): of an anti-magisterial bias, and of airing editorials sporting pro-abortion arguments as though they were not apposing Canon Law, and the Vatican in such.

For now, the Vatican is taking baby steps in media: perhaps they will look to the many Orthodox Catholic sources, and perhaps start to ask who they are dealing with.

BBC Reports on the Papacy's strongest yet condemnation of Holocaust denial: "revoke: or never be readministered to ministery" (Paraphrase): Pope to Williamson

(Insider Confessions Analysis; c.f. BBC World News (Secular; British; Government; a source we find professional) 04 / 02 / 2009 (4th Feb 2009 16:51 GMT + 2); VIS: Vatican Information Service: 04 / 02 / 2009; Rorate Caeli ("Catholic"; Traditionalist; independent; not endorsed by us) February Archives: http://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2009_02_01_archive.html)

Article by Marc Aupiais

While the Vatican has issued another strong Statement against Williamson's holocaust denial: BBC World News: Reports that the Vatican will not allow SSPX Bishop Williamson (anointed against the wishes of the Vatican, during the pontificate of Pope John Paul the Second) to return to duty: until he recants his views: essentially preventing him, as he and his fellow SSPX bishops and priests: currently already are prevented: from exercising legitimately: authority as a bishop (or as a priest). Essentially: this signs another possible impasse between the Society and the Church: which could prevent any visible and real Unification from occurring(the society is still not permitted to exist or operate by the church).

Vatican Information Service Reports:

"POPE'S CONDEMNATION OF HOLOCAUST DENIAL IS CLEAR

VATICAN CITY, 4 FEB 2009 (VIS) - Holy See Press Office Director Fr. Federico Lombardi S.J. made the following declaration yesterday afternoon:

"With reference to the latest requests for clarification concerning the position of the Pope and the Catholic Church on the subject of the Holocaust, it should be borne in mind that the Pope's ideas on this matter were very clearly expressed at the synagogue of Cologne, Germany, on 19 August 2005, at the concentration camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau on 28 May 2006, in the general audience of 31 May 2006 and, more recently, at the end of his general audience of 28 January this year, with unambiguous words of which we highlight the following: 'As I once again affectionately express my full and indisputable solidarity with our Brothers and Sisters who received the First Covenant, I trust that the memory of the Shoah will induce humankind to reflect upon the unpredictable power of evil when it conquers the heart of man. May the Shoah be for everyone an admonition against oblivion, negation and reductionism...

"The condemnation of Holocaust denial could not have been clearer, and from the context it is obvious that this also referred to the views of Msgr. Williamson and to all similar views. On the same occasion the Pope also clearly explained the purpose of the remission of the excommunication, which has nothing to do with legitimising Holocaust denial - something that, as we have explained, he clearly condemns".
OP/POPE HOLOCAUST/LOMBARDI VIS 090204 (260)"

(Online Version: VIS: Vatican Information Service: 04 / 02 / 2009)

BBC world news, which has been commended on professional handling of the Williamson issue: has reported that the Papacy has stated that they will not readmit English SSPX Schismatic: Bishop Williamson into the Roman Catholic Church's ministry: unless he recants his views on the holocaust. Williamson, as with all members of the "Priestly Fraternity" of the irregular grouping known as the SSPX, are still suspended, and not permitted to act as priests or as bishops. Their lifting of excommunication allows them to confess, but not give confession, they are essentially being treated as normal members of the Catholic church: and not as bishops as yet.

Williamson's grave penalty of latae sententiae excommunication, occurred as he accepted SSPX founder: Marcel Lefebvre's anointing as bishop: against the wishes of the Vatican.

While lifting this specific excommunication: in order to pass an impasse with the society: in which they were demanding both this: and wide availability of the Latin Mass: in the regular church: before negotiations continued: the Vatican did not lift the suspensions of either the SSPX Bishops, or of their priests,and the status of the society remains the same: with Catholics deterred from attending their masses: if at all viable.

According to BBC:

"A statement said Bishop Richard Williamson must "unequivocally" distance himself from his statements to serve in the Roman Catholic Church."

(BBC World News (Secular; British; Government; a source we find professional) 04 / 02 / 2009 (4th Feb 2009 16:51 GMT + 2))

Meanwhile: traditionalist blog: Rorate Caeli: claims that the whole situation: was somehow orchestrated to make the papacy look bad. According to them:

Fiammetta Venner, who they name a "lesbian" activist, along with her"partner", informed the Swiss press of the infamous (up to "300 000" Jews Gassed- claims by Williamson) interview: actually based, according to them: on a Canadian interview, which the SSPX Bishop was asked about. Rorate Caeli , quotes a document sent them, which claims that it, along with other events; were considered (according to a document sent them) too well timed: and they seem to claim that there likely is a Vatican document: alleging a plot, involving someone inside the Vatican.

While the actual post does not have a permanent link, which we can find: their comments window, with 55 comments, has the option to view the original post: this is the link to such:

https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=19978542&postID=6685582117221088431

Rorate Caeli , were one of, if not, the first source to air on the lifting of the excommunications: before this publicly was noted, and are highly regarded by many sources: they have been quoted on both SSPX and mainstream internet sources. Rorate Caeli: claims to have been informed of such, before several Italian Journalists aired the possibility of forces within the Vatican, or a force: working to disrupt the Image of Benedict XVI. They claimed, that they had believed that these claims should not have been aired by them, as Rorate Caeli : before being noted elsewhere: which has occurred. We cannot verify the Rorate Caeli: claims, or that of those they note to have also released such. They are, however interesting, and certainly warrant investigation. French Secular paper: Liberation, itself, sees the blunder of the Vatican, as odd: considering the manner in which Benedict XVI has dealt with the Jewish communities in the past.

According to the BBC, the papacy had no knowledge of the comments/situation of Bishop Williamson, in this they quote:"Cardinal Walter Kasper, who is in charge of relations between the Roman Catholic Church and Jewish leaders," who "admitted different parts of the Vatican administration had not talked enough to each other, and failed to check where problems could arise." (Both quotations in this paragraph: BBC World News (Secular; British; Government; a source we find professional) 04 / 02 / 2009 (4th Feb 2009 16:51 GMT + 2)).

Whether or not there was a plot: one can almost be assured: that the Vatican's press, and / or public relations related functions: need to investigate: how it was possible that the Papacy was not given the information needed to predict what occurred, or to be able to release a press statement with the excommunications' lifting: which would have clarified what they have now had to say.

While the SSPX's top brass are no longer under the harshest punishment of the church: their members still operate without license of the church, and their bishops are still suspended, as with their priests. Except in necessity, Catholics are warned to avoid their masses. Except where their is chance of death: their Sacrament of Confession must not be asked of them.

Before the SSPX can be readmitted to the Catholic church: acceptance of the authority of Vatican II, is likely a non-negotiable. The so-called "Society of Saint Pope Pius X" (SSPX), was formed to reject certain reforms occurring because of the council, even though the Late Marcel Lefebvre's signature, is clearly recorded on the council: and despite the direct affirmation by the papacy, speaking outside of the council: during the council's duration (Ecclesiam Suam point number #6), via an encyclical: as an "Ecumenical" council.

Vatican I, defines the code by which Vatican II, is to be universally accepted as free from doctrinal and moral error, as the church: by the faithful within Holy Mother Church.

Views about Judaism, and the holocaust within the society itself, may differ, especially when dealing with parishioners: which are not officially defined: as to whether or not en masse they are in schism (some are, some are apparently not): our news source monitors several traditionalist, and SSPX sources online, and we also have personal contact points within the irregular grouping: at different levels: via which we are able to gain a gauge of their activities and perceptions. Tough negotiations lie ahead of Vatican and society, and many obsticles: before the Society can once again rejoin the church.

Two well read traditionalist sources: Rorarti Caeli, and Fr Z, the first of which we monitor, the second of which we know of: but where the information was come accross, while browsing the internet for sources, and information: both seem to affirm: that Catholics are to treat the society in the same manner.

Rorati Caeli covers the their analysis of the current status of SSPX here, quoting what they say is a article in an edition of: L'Osservatore Romano:

"NOTE OF THE SECRETARIAT OF STATE


Following the reactions caused by the recent Decree of the Congregation for Bishops, with which the excommunication of the four Prelates of the Fraternity of Saint Pius X was remitted, and regarding the negationist or reductionist declarations on the Shoah from Bishop Williamson, of the same Fraternity, it is considered convenient to clarify a few aspects of past events.

1. Remission of the excommunication.

As already published previously, the Decree of the Congregation for Bishops, dated January 21, 2009, was an act by which the Holy Father graciously responded to the reiterated requests by the Superior General of the Fraternity of Saint Pius X.

His Holiness desired to remove an obstacle which prevented the opening of a door to dialogue. He now expects that an equal disposition will be expressed by the four Bishops in complete adherence to the doctrine and the discipline of the Church.

The extremely grave censure of latae sententiae excommunication, in which the aforementioned Bishops had incurred on June 30, 1988, then formally declared on July 1 of the same year, was a consequence of their illegitimate ordinarion by Mons. Marcel Lefebvre.

The removal of the excommunication released the four Bishops from an extremely grave canonical censure, but has not changed the juridical position of the Fraternity of Saint Pius X which, at the current moment, does not enjoy any canonical recognition by the Catholic Church. Not even the four Bishops, though released from the excommunication, have a canonical function in the Church and they do not exercise licitly a ministry in it.

2. Tradition, doctrine, and the Second Vatican Council.

For a future recognition of the Fraternity of Saint Pius X, the full recognition of the Second Vatican Council and of the Magisterium of Popes John XXIII, Paul VI, John Paul I, John Paul II, and of the same Benedict XVI is an indispensable condition

As it was already affirmed in the Decree of January 21, 2009, the Holy See will not avoid, in ways deemed appropriate, discussing with the interested [party] the still open questions, so as to be able to reach a full and satisfactory resolution of the problems which originated this painful division.

3. Declarations on the Shoah

The positions of Mons. Williamson on the Shoah are absolutely unacceptable and firmly rejected by the Holy Father, as he himself remarked on the past January 28, when, referring to that brutal genocide, reaffirmed his full and unquestionable solidarity with our Brethren receivers of the First Covenant, and affirmed that the memory of that terrible genocide must lead "mankind to reflect on the unpredictable power of evil when it conquers the heart of man", adding that the Shoah remains "for all a warning against forgetfulness, against denial or reductionism, because the violence against a single human being is violence against all".

Bishop Williamson, for an admission to episcopal functions in the Church, will also have to declare, in an absolutely unequivocal and public manner, distance from his positions regarding the Shoah, unknown to the Holy Father in the moment of the remission of the excommunication.

The Holy Father asks to be joined by the prayers of all the faithful, so that the Lord may enlighten the path of the Church. May the effort of the Pastors and of all the faithful increase in support of the delicate and burdensome mission of the Successor of Apostle Peter as "custodian of the unity" in the Church.

From the Vatican, February 4, 2009.

[Translation according to original version,
published in L'Osservatore Romano, February 5, 2009 - PDF file]
____________________________

NOTA DELLA SEGRETERIA DI STATO

A seguito delle reazioni suscitate dal recente Decreto della Congregazione per i Vescovi, con cui si rimette la scomunica ai quattro Presuli della Fraternità San Pio X, e in relazione alle dichiarazioni negazioniste o riduzioniste della Shoah da parte del Vescovo Williamson della medesima Fraternità, si ritiene opportuno chiarire alcuni aspetti della vicenda.

1. Remissione della scomunica.

Come già pubblicato in precedenza, il Decreto della Congregazione per i Vescovi, datato 21 gennaio 2009, è stato un atto con cui il Santo Padre veniva benignamente incontro a reiterate richieste da parte del Superiore Generale della Fraternità San Pio X.

Sua Santità ha voluto togliere un impedimento che pregiudicava l’apertura di una porta al dialogo. Egli ora si attende che uguale disponibilità venga espressa dai quattro Vescovi in totale adesione alla dottrina e alla disciplina della Chiesa.

La gravissima pena della scomunica latae sententiae, in cui detti Vescovi erano incorsi il 30 giugno 1988, dichiarata poi formalmente il 1° luglio dello stesso anno, era una conseguenza della loro ordinazione illegittima da parte di Mons. Marcel Lefebvre.

Lo scioglimento dalla scomunica ha liberato i quattro Vescovi da una pena canonica gravissima, ma non ha cambiato la situazione giuridica della Fraternità San Pio X, che, al momento attuale, non gode di alcun riconoscimento canonico nella Chiesa Cattolica. Anche i quattro Vescovi, benché sciolti dalla scomunica, non hanno una funzione canonica nella Chiesa e non esercitano lecitamente un ministero in essa.

2. Tradizione, dottrina e Concilio Vaticano II.

Per un futuro riconoscimento della Fraternità San Pio X è condizione indispensabile il pieno riconoscimento del Concilio Vaticano II e del Magistero dei Papi Giovanni XXIII, Paolo VI, Giovanni Paolo I, Giovanni Paolo II e dello stesso Benedetto XVI.

Come è già stato affermato nel Decreto del 21 gennaio 2009, la Santa Sede non mancherà, nei modi giudicati opportuni, di approfondire con gli interessati le questioni ancora aperte, così da poter giungere ad una piena e soddisfacente soluzione dei problemi che hanno dato origine a questa dolorosa frattura.

3. Dichiarazioni sulla Shoah.

Le posizioni di Mons. Williamson sulla Shoah sono assolutamente inaccettabili e fermamente rifiutate dal Santo Padre, come Egli stesso ha rimarcato il 28 gennaio scorso quando, riferendosi a quell’efferato genocidio, ha ribadito la Sua piena e indiscutibile solidarietà con i nostri Fratelli destinatari della Prima Alleanza, e ha affermato che la memoria di quel terribile genocidio deve indurre "l’umanità a riflettere sulla imprevedibile potenza del male quando conquista il cuore dell’uomo", aggiungendo che la Shoah resta "per tutti monito contro l’oblio, contro la negazione o il riduzionismo, perché la violenza fatta contro un solo essere umano è violenza contro tutti".

Il Vescovo Williamson, per una ammissione a funzioni episcopali nella Chiesa dovrà anche prendere in modo assolutamente inequivocabile e pubblico le distanze dalle sue posizioni riguardanti la Shoah, non conosciute dal Santo Padre nel momento della remissione della scomunica.

Il Santo Padre chiede l’accompagnamento della preghiera di tutti i fedeli, affinché il Signore illumini il cammino della Chiesa. Cresca l’impegno dei Pastori e di tutti i fedeli a sostegno della delicata e gravosa missione del Successore dell’Apostolo Pietro quale "custode dell’unità" nella Chiesa.

Dal Vaticano, 4 febbraio 2009
posted by New Catholic at 1:29 PM 27 comments"

(Rorate Caeli ("Catholic"; Traditionalist; independent; not endorsed by us) February Archives: http://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2009_02_01_archive.html)
According to them, this was posted to their site: "WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 04, 2009"

Again, we must link to a comments page, for both the quotation, and the date:

https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=19978542&postID=8274620641400657286

(Traditionalism) TAC Anglicans to join Catholic church?

(Insider Confessions Analysis)

Article by Marc Aupiais

In objection to "Homosexual" priests and bishops being accepted, and women priests, and such things: the "Traditional Anglican Communion", seeking to keep with biblical traditions, since 2007: has been on the books: as possible converts to the Catholic faith. Opus Dei, is currently the only personal prelature in the Catholic church. Chances are: the SSPX, will also become one if negotiations succeed, traditional Anglicans, a large grouping of the Anglican church, are muted, to possibly get this status: they have already asked to become catholics: it is up to the church, the ball in the Vatican's court: on how or if this is to occur.

The Catholic Church in England: has consistently undermined Vatican Authority in the past, and has declined significantly in recent times. If this Anglican grouping can enter the church: it would be a great blow to those bishops apposing the Vatican, and to the Anglican communion's liberalist enforcement globally.

Many authentic sources: have seen, since the 30th, and perhaps before or after: a possible reunification between many Anglicans, and (what Butler calls) the Ancient Religion, on the cards.

Benedict XVI, has been famous in certain circles for years: for his "Ecumenical" abilities: and ecumenism: is aimed at reuniting the Ancient Religion, with offshoots, and creating and forming better relations between groupings. Even his controversial statements on Islam, have, in the long run: caused the two global religion groupings to come nearer to one another: closer, via diologue: because: both sides then began to speak more fully. The Church, and many Islamics: have been speaking since, especially scholars: in a vibrant manner.

Benedict XVI, may be more important; historically, than John XXIII: whose reforms, were useful, but often misunderstood. The misunderstanding of these reforms, and the influence of secularists on the Catholic church: with secularist values: has caused a marked decline in vocations: and fear and worries throughout the communion.

The Introduction of the Traditionalist Anglicans, and the Catholic Traditionalist Schism of SSPX, an order of priests: back into the Catholic church: may be partly aimed towards creating the warmth, and diversity, and orthodoxy, and clarification in the church, which John XXIII originally must have intended in introducing the Church to the modern age via Vatican II. Certainly, it is better that we re-entered the age: on the terms of Vatican II, than as many other communities do now: attempting to navigate the tides of secularist movements, throughout the world.

A source, believed we should hear whether or not the Anglicans will re-enter the church: by around easter.

This, Anglican move, as with the long term effects of the SSPX ecumenism, could create rapids around the would, and not simply ripples. This is a great symbol: it is the rejection of almost secularist policies emerging in the Anglican hierarchy, which may use the bible to justify policies, but which are based in the culture surrounding them, and not in the time, and mentality of the early Church Fathers, as history records their beliefs on issues of morals and doctrine. Modern Anglican moves, have also been contrary to their historic views, with bishops taking views, which once would have been called heresy by Anglicans.

Reunification, gradual, and intelligent reunification, with both groups: could certainly create a dynamism: which could rescue the church herself more fully from the whirlpool, of secularist influences: who so powerfully assault the church from all sides, and even from those who have crept into her hierarchy: these are all things that Benedict XVI will likely consider, as well as any dangers brought into the church with the million (+- 1 000 000), with a large percentage of priests among them, strong SSPX following, and four hundred thousand (+- 4 00 000) strong TAC following. He is likely to review each case separately, as he determines what to do about each grouping.

The hope might be: in order to restart the powerful heartbeat, the dynamism: which used to bring so many priests, and nuns into the hierarchy.

In coming days: both groups could be incorporated into the Divine structure, and become truly Catholic.

SSPX situation: BBC covers the Story

Article By Marc Aupiais

Due to constant media coverage, we also have been focusing on the irregular society of SSPX, the leaders of which have had their automatic excommunications lifted.
While the society itself, is yet to be reunified, the BBC article on radical, anti-semitic Bishop Williamson's statements about the holocaust: seems balanced, and in depth. I advise the reading of this article.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7860701.stm

BBC, says that the Vatican had no knowledge of the statements, when the censures were taken away.

Euronews, and other sources: continue to generalize: as though Jewish people were a single person:

http://www.euronews.net/en/article/29/01/2009/jewish-leaders-cancel-vatican-visit/

SSPX Bishops re-"communicated"

(Tridentine South Africa)

Article by Marc Aupiais

In a seemingly politically motivated move: Benedict XVI; has lifted automatic excommunications, incurred under canon law: by four SSPX bishops, who: on being consecrated, committed what was then termed and largely perceived to be: an act of schism. While the excommunications no longer carry weight: this probably is not a precident for reintroducing others who incur the excommunication: rather: it seems to be a pre-condition for begining dialogue for the complete reunification of the Society, and the Catholic Church. It does not seem that all issues have been resolved overnight. This may be a start, but many things are still vague and unclear.

It was not because of the excommunications alone: that Catholics have been discoraged from attending society masses, and whether or not the SSPX priests will now be allowed by the Vatican to perform mass ligitimately, or if their actions are still considered illigitimate, is not something we can comment on. This is not the end of the issue, but the beginning of it.

We have asked for ecclesiastical assistence in covering this issue, so as to give a fuller view: whether by direct statements being quoted, or by indirectly quoting sources: so as to give an inside perspective. We hope to gain such.

As for the mean-time: it is still important that the valid tridentine mass be pursued in the mainstream church, within diocesan structures. Many SSPX priests' sermons might still carry certain bias, as with parishioners there.

Doubt still hangs over the organization, and until talks are entered into, in a meaningful manner, and a comprehensive clarification, and negotiation take place: there will still be a cloud over the society. When comprehensive regulations for this situation come to be meted out: perhaps, a clear answer can be made.

Pursuing the unquestionably valid Summorum Pontificum instituted Tridentine (Latin) Mass, within normal church hierarchical structures, remains not ony the clear, and legally sure way to proceed, but also means enjoyment of something special, within, without risking accepting some controversial, if not radical views, and without taking a political stand.

Until the situation becomes less vague: the isolation of the "Society" in the mainstream will likely continue. Negotiations have not happened adequately yet; so as to actually physically and properly reincorperate the controversial Swiss based "Society "of" Pius X", in a proper, and civilized, complete manner: nor is it clear that this shall ever occur, nor if the society will ever manage to regain credibility, and fulfill a beneficial function in the mainstream of the church. So far, ecumenism with SSPX has been at great cost to Catholic-Judaic relations, and the controversial views of the organization, and a particular member of it: could cause further issues.

For now: the best thing to do: is stop, and wait.

It is very dangerous to see this in more than its ecumenical (political) light so far, and it is still advisable to avoid SSPX masses, for those in the mainstream: until such time as more information is given; and it is likely important to wait for negotiations, and meetings: before determining if any headway has been made between the Vatican, and their biggest "irregular" canonical apponent. Whether this is the Vatican calling an SSPX bluff, or if it is genuinely the offering of a palm leaf: it certainly is political. Benedict XVI, is famed for his "Ecumenical" abilities. Hopefully, it may someday yield the fruit of curing the chasm between SSPX and mainstream laity and pastors, and others.

The meaning and ramifications of this ecclesiastical move are unclear. Benedict XVI's representation, seems clear that this has nothing to do with SSPX views on the world. The SSPX bishops were excommunicated for being consecrated, not for their views. The lifting of such excommunication: therefore says nothing of the validity of their views.

It is a political (Ecumenical) move: it is still unclear what status the SSPX churches have in this situation: and whether or not this will mean the lifting of the censure on the SSPX priests: which bans them from "ligitimately" offering the mass.

SSPX Masses have been considered Valid (The priests are considered to truly perform the Eucharistic Sacrifice, in the sense normal priests do), but illegitimate (illegal), it is not immediately clear if warnings against attending their masses, will be lifted, now that the first real move to dialogue has been made.

The Ball is in the SSPX's court. We hopefully may follow this story further.