From Rome we hear shocking reports of strong pushback by conservative Roman Catholic bishops against the plot of Cardinals Baldisseri and Kasper and other "progressives" to change traditional teachings of the Church on matters of divorce and homosexuality.
Vatican insider Sandro Magister, an eminently reliable source, reported Monday in Chiesa that 13 leading Cardinals wrote to Pope Francis on October 5th to express the "serious concerns" of themselves and other bishops over the procedures of the Synod on the Family. In their judgment, the rules and documents of the conclave are "designed to facilitate predetermined results on important disputed questions". They also view "Instrumentum laboris" (working document) as inadequate as a "guiding text or the foundation of a final document."
In layman's language, as Walt revealed on October 2nd, the fix is in!
Sig. Magister named 10 of the 13 Cardinals who signed the letter as:
- Carlo Caffarra, Archbishop of Bologna, Italy, theologian, formerly the first president of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family;
- Thomas C. Collins, Archbishop of Toronto, Canada;
- Timothy M. Dolan, Archbishop of New York, United States;
- Willem J. Eijk, Archbishop of Utrecht, Holland;
- Gerhard L. Müller, former bishop of Regensburg, Germany, since 2012 Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith;
- Wilfrid Fox Napier, Archbishop of Durban, South Africa, President Delegate of the Synod (a position he also held at last year's session);
- George Pell, Archbishop Emeritus of Sydney, Australia, since 2014 Prefect in the Vatican of the Secretariat for the Economy;
- Robert Sarah, former Archbishop of Conakry, Guinea, since 2014 Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline;
- Jorge L. Urosa Savino, Archbishop of Caracas, Venezuela;
- Angelo Scola, Archbishop of Milan, Italy.
Click here to read the complete text of the Cardinals' letter to the Pope, in English, as revealed by Sig Magister in Chiesa, 12/10/15. See also "Archbishop Chaput feels 'sense of hopelessness' about Synod on Family" (WWW 9/10/15)
Yesterday, Father Federico Lombardi, the sock puppet in charge of the Vatican press office, called the leaking of the Cardinals' letter a "disruption". Because the authors of the letter intended it to remain confidential, he said, "It would be inappropriate to allow it to have any influence."
In layman's language, "Don't listen to those guys with the red hats. Just listen to the Pope, who speaks through me!"
Father Lombardi then muddied the water more than somewhat, by claiming that Cardinal Pell, who has acknowledged writing to the Pope, has said that neither the text published in Chiesa nor the list of signatories was accurate. He also said that Cardinals Erdo and Scola, named by Sig. Magister, and Cardinals Piacenza and Vingt-Trois, not identified by Sig. Magister, had denied having signed.
Meanwhile, the Jesuit periodical America reported in "Thirteen Cardinals, Including Di Nardo and Dolan, Challenged Pope’s Decisions on Synod" that the correct list of 13 cardinals includes Cardinals Caffarra, Collins, Dolan, Eijk, Müller, Napier, Pell, Sarah, and Savino -- named by Sig. Magister -- and four not on his list: Daniel Di Nardo (Archbishop of Galveston-Houston), John Njue (Archbishop of Nairobi, Kenya), Elio Sgreccia (President Emeritus of the Pontifical Academy for Life), and Norberto Rivera Carrera (Archbishop of Mexico City).
Another Vatican spokesthingy, Father Thomas Rosica, posted a link to the America article on his Twitter account, thus lending credence to the new report.
And now... this very morning, Rome time... Sig. Magister has published a follow-up to his original account, headed "The Letter of the Thirteen Cardinals to the Pope. Episode Two". He confirms the names of the signatories, and stakes his reputation on the authenticity of the text, apart perhaps from a few marginal inaccuracies and questions of form. Above all, he says, the letter is important for underlining what is at stake: control of the procedures of the Synod, and thus its outcome.
"The substance," he writes, "remains that which the statement of Cardinal Pell and even more so the interview with Cardinal Napier have confirmed: a widespread and growing unease among many synod fathers over the insistence in imposing upon them as the basis of discussion a document, the 'Instrumentum laboris', which every day shows itself more and more to be inadequate, and the fear that this with its ambiguities will contaminate the 'Relatio finalis', the writing of which is in the hands of a commission entirely appointed from on high, with an overwhelming presence of innovators."
Showing posts with label Cardinal Baldisseri. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cardinal Baldisseri. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Friday, October 9, 2015
Abp. Chaput feels "sense of hopelessness" about Synod on Family
As Walt told you a few days ago, there's a strong feeling that the fix is in at the 2015 Bishops Synod on the Family, in progress (???) at the Vatican this month. It is clear that, in spite of the opposition of bishops from America, Asia and Africa, the Pope and the Gay Mafia in the highest echelons of the Roman Catholic Church are determined to water down the traditional teachings of the Church on divorce, Communion for divorced and remarried Catholics, homosexuality and same-sex "marriage".
One of those battling for adherence to the Faith of our fathers is Philadelphia's Archbishop Charles Chaput. Earlier this week, in his address to the Pope and the bishops assembled, the prelate said that the Instrumentum Laboris (working document) for the Synod "engenders a subtle hopelessness".
The document, published by the Synod's general secretary, Cardinal Baldisseri, as a "guide" to the bishops' deliberations, has been criticized by many of the prelates. Abp. Chaput told the assembly that it fails to inspire a sense of Christian hope. Moreover, the Instrumentum does not convey confidence that Catholics, with the help of grace, can resist the pressures that are undermining marriage and family life. He continued:
This leads to a spirit of compromise with certain sinful patterns of life and the reduction of Christian truths about marriage and sexuality to a set of beautiful ideals, which then leads to surrendering the redemptive mission of the Church. The work of this synod needs to show much more confidence in the Word of God, the transformative power of grace, and the ability of people to actually live what the Church believes. And it should honor the heroism of abandoned spouses who remain faithful to their vows and the teaching of the Church.
Responding to a question about the demand for a Synod message that will make all people (read: not only divorced Catholics but the LGBT crowd whose lifestyle is objectively disordered) feel welcome in the Church, Abp. Chaput said that the need for attractive language must be balanced against the demand for truth. "We have to be careful with our language so that people don't get hurt, but also we must be faithful to Church doctrine."
Click here to read the full text of Abp. Chaput's address to the Holy Father and the Synod, on RNS (Religion News Service)
Further reading: "Synod. First Shot on Target Comes From the Conservatives", but the "progessive" innovators are already on the counter-attack, and counting on the support of the Pope. Sandro Magister in Chiesa, 8/10/15.
One of those battling for adherence to the Faith of our fathers is Philadelphia's Archbishop Charles Chaput. Earlier this week, in his address to the Pope and the bishops assembled, the prelate said that the Instrumentum Laboris (working document) for the Synod "engenders a subtle hopelessness".
The document, published by the Synod's general secretary, Cardinal Baldisseri, as a "guide" to the bishops' deliberations, has been criticized by many of the prelates. Abp. Chaput told the assembly that it fails to inspire a sense of Christian hope. Moreover, the Instrumentum does not convey confidence that Catholics, with the help of grace, can resist the pressures that are undermining marriage and family life. He continued:
This leads to a spirit of compromise with certain sinful patterns of life and the reduction of Christian truths about marriage and sexuality to a set of beautiful ideals, which then leads to surrendering the redemptive mission of the Church. The work of this synod needs to show much more confidence in the Word of God, the transformative power of grace, and the ability of people to actually live what the Church believes. And it should honor the heroism of abandoned spouses who remain faithful to their vows and the teaching of the Church.
Responding to a question about the demand for a Synod message that will make all people (read: not only divorced Catholics but the LGBT crowd whose lifestyle is objectively disordered) feel welcome in the Church, Abp. Chaput said that the need for attractive language must be balanced against the demand for truth. "We have to be careful with our language so that people don't get hurt, but also we must be faithful to Church doctrine."
Click here to read the full text of Abp. Chaput's address to the Holy Father and the Synod, on RNS (Religion News Service)
Further reading: "Synod. First Shot on Target Comes From the Conservatives", but the "progessive" innovators are already on the counter-attack, and counting on the support of the Pope. Sandro Magister in Chiesa, 8/10/15.
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
Conservative bishops strike first at Synod on the Family
Agent 10 has gone straight! Straight from Washington to Rome, that is, to be there in person while the bishops of the Roman Catholic Church deliberate on the family, marriage and sexuality in the 2015 edition of their synod. He shares Walt's opinion that the Pope's fix is in, but takes some hope in signs that the "conservative" bishops intend to go down fighting.
One such was an address Monday morning by Peter Cardinal Erdo, of Budapest, who, in summarizing the main themes of the "Instrumentum Laboris" (Working Document", came out strongly in support of the traditional teachings of the Church on marriage and sexuality. The prelate stated that Catholics who are divorced and remarried cannot be admitted to Communion as long as they remain in a second conjugal union. He also rejected the idea that homosexual relationships can be treated as similar to marriages.
Cardinal Erdo’s speech placed him squarely in opposition to the "Kasper proposal" -- generally thought to have the backing of (if it wasn't written by) Pope Francis and the Synod Secretary, Cardinal Baldisseri -- which puts forward a rationalization for admitting divorced and remarried Catholics to Communion, and advocates a "positive attitude" toward homosexual unions.
Noting that the Synod is taking place at a time when society is experiencing a "flight from institutions", Cardinal Erdo insisted on the duty of the Church to uphold the indissolubility of sacramental marriage. He said that while the Church must show mercy to people whose marriages have failed, the acceptance of Christ's mercy demands conversion.
In the case of Catholics who have entered into a second marriage, the prelate went on, the rule barring reception of the Eucharist is not an arbitrary prohibition but a recognition of the objective truth that their living arrangement is contrary to the Gospel. While divorced and remarried Catholics should be encouraged to take an active role in the life of the Church, he added, "that is different from admission to the Eucharist."
Regarding homosexual relationships, Cardinal Erdo said that it is wrong to suggest that same-sex unions are comparable to marriages. "There is no basis for comparing or making analogies, even remotely, between homosexual unions and God’s plan for matrimony and the family."
Cardinal Erdo also cautioned against acceptance of the calls from the "progressives" for "gradualism" in pastoral practice -- the suggestion that Catholic pastors could accept couples living in irregular unions, while hoping to guide them into a fuller acceptance of Church teaching. "Between truth and falsehood, between good and bad, there is no law of gradualism."
For that reason, the Cardinal told reporters in a press conference after his speech, the Synod should not consider any dramatic change in teaching. Catholic doctrine can and should be developed, he said. However, "development is not unlimited. We have to look at tradition."
Further reading:
"On Day One of Synod 2015, conservatives strike first" Crux, 5/10/15
"Synod Opening: Beautiful words, but then..." Christopher Ferrara in Catholic Family News, 5/10/15
One such was an address Monday morning by Peter Cardinal Erdo, of Budapest, who, in summarizing the main themes of the "Instrumentum Laboris" (Working Document", came out strongly in support of the traditional teachings of the Church on marriage and sexuality. The prelate stated that Catholics who are divorced and remarried cannot be admitted to Communion as long as they remain in a second conjugal union. He also rejected the idea that homosexual relationships can be treated as similar to marriages.
Cardinal Erdo’s speech placed him squarely in opposition to the "Kasper proposal" -- generally thought to have the backing of (if it wasn't written by) Pope Francis and the Synod Secretary, Cardinal Baldisseri -- which puts forward a rationalization for admitting divorced and remarried Catholics to Communion, and advocates a "positive attitude" toward homosexual unions.
Noting that the Synod is taking place at a time when society is experiencing a "flight from institutions", Cardinal Erdo insisted on the duty of the Church to uphold the indissolubility of sacramental marriage. He said that while the Church must show mercy to people whose marriages have failed, the acceptance of Christ's mercy demands conversion.
In the case of Catholics who have entered into a second marriage, the prelate went on, the rule barring reception of the Eucharist is not an arbitrary prohibition but a recognition of the objective truth that their living arrangement is contrary to the Gospel. While divorced and remarried Catholics should be encouraged to take an active role in the life of the Church, he added, "that is different from admission to the Eucharist."
Regarding homosexual relationships, Cardinal Erdo said that it is wrong to suggest that same-sex unions are comparable to marriages. "There is no basis for comparing or making analogies, even remotely, between homosexual unions and God’s plan for matrimony and the family."
Cardinal Erdo also cautioned against acceptance of the calls from the "progressives" for "gradualism" in pastoral practice -- the suggestion that Catholic pastors could accept couples living in irregular unions, while hoping to guide them into a fuller acceptance of Church teaching. "Between truth and falsehood, between good and bad, there is no law of gradualism."
For that reason, the Cardinal told reporters in a press conference after his speech, the Synod should not consider any dramatic change in teaching. Catholic doctrine can and should be developed, he said. However, "development is not unlimited. We have to look at tradition."
Further reading:
"On Day One of Synod 2015, conservatives strike first" Crux, 5/10/15
"Synod Opening: Beautiful words, but then..." Christopher Ferrara in Catholic Family News, 5/10/15
Saturday, October 3, 2015
Priest in Vatican's Gay Mafia outs himself, gets fired
Goodness! How embarrassing! On the very eve of the Roman Catholic Bishops Synod on the Family, already rigged to roll out a holy welcome mat for homosexuals (see "Synod on the Family: the Pope's fix is in" (WWW 2/10/15), a Polish priest, Monsignor Kyzysztof Charamsa has told the world he's "happy and proud" to be gay!
Well... no biggie, right? We all know there are 1000s of gay priests. Msgr Charamsa himself told a Polish newsmagazine "The clergy is largely homosexual [Walt's emphasis] and, unfortunately, it is also homophobic to the point of paranoia but paralyzed by the lack of acceptance for its own sexual orientation." The point of outing himself, he said, is to challenge Church's "paranoia" towards sexual minorities.
If Msgr Charamsa were just an ordinary priest, in a parish in someplace like Bilaystok or Bydgoszcz, it wouldn't matter very much. But he's not. He's a theologian who, for the past 17 years, has been living in Rome, where he worked as an official in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith!
The CDF, formerly known as the Holy Office and presided over not long ago by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, as he then was, is the department of the Church charged with interpreting and protecting the Roman Catholic Faith. It is the office which has stated time and again that the homosexual lifestyle is gravely disordered, but that being queer is not a sin. However, it teaches -- or used to teach -- homosexual acts are mortal sins.
Msgr Charamsa may have missed that when he learned his catechism for he confessed to Corriere della Sera that he is not only gay, but living in a loving relationship with a man. [The link includes a video, not recommended for readers who are easily nauseated. Ed.]
Msgr Charamsa's scandalous confession should give the lie to those (Hello, Jeff Mirus!) who scoff at claims by Walt and others that there is a Gay Mafia operating openly within the Vatican, indeed within the very part of the Church bureaucracy charged with protecting the Faith of our fathers.
Sadly, Msgr Charamsa is only a soldier. There are others, in much higher positions. Some of them will be taking part in, or even leading (!!!), the Synod on the Family which opens tomorrow. The meeting of nearly 300 bishops and Cardinals is set to last three weeks, during which these learned and pious men will review Vatican's "approach" to gay relationships and same-sex marriage. What do you suppose they will decide? Write your guess on the back of a postage stamp and send it to Walt at the usual address.
Footnote: Oh, nearly forgot... Vatican officials said today that Msgr Charamsa's personal situation "merited respect" (!!!), but added that his statements were "very serious and irresponsible" and might possibly "subject the Synod assembly to undue media pressure." So...he has been relieved of his duties at the CDF, and will no longer allowed to work at the pontifical universities. Has he been defrocked? Errr, no. He's still a priest.
Well... no biggie, right? We all know there are 1000s of gay priests. Msgr Charamsa himself told a Polish newsmagazine "The clergy is largely homosexual [Walt's emphasis] and, unfortunately, it is also homophobic to the point of paranoia but paralyzed by the lack of acceptance for its own sexual orientation." The point of outing himself, he said, is to challenge Church's "paranoia" towards sexual minorities.
If Msgr Charamsa were just an ordinary priest, in a parish in someplace like Bilaystok or Bydgoszcz, it wouldn't matter very much. But he's not. He's a theologian who, for the past 17 years, has been living in Rome, where he worked as an official in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith!
The CDF, formerly known as the Holy Office and presided over not long ago by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, as he then was, is the department of the Church charged with interpreting and protecting the Roman Catholic Faith. It is the office which has stated time and again that the homosexual lifestyle is gravely disordered, but that being queer is not a sin. However, it teaches -- or used to teach -- homosexual acts are mortal sins.
Msgr Charamsa may have missed that when he learned his catechism for he confessed to Corriere della Sera that he is not only gay, but living in a loving relationship with a man. [The link includes a video, not recommended for readers who are easily nauseated. Ed.]
Msgr Charamsa's scandalous confession should give the lie to those (Hello, Jeff Mirus!) who scoff at claims by Walt and others that there is a Gay Mafia operating openly within the Vatican, indeed within the very part of the Church bureaucracy charged with protecting the Faith of our fathers.
Sadly, Msgr Charamsa is only a soldier. There are others, in much higher positions. Some of them will be taking part in, or even leading (!!!), the Synod on the Family which opens tomorrow. The meeting of nearly 300 bishops and Cardinals is set to last three weeks, during which these learned and pious men will review Vatican's "approach" to gay relationships and same-sex marriage. What do you suppose they will decide? Write your guess on the back of a postage stamp and send it to Walt at the usual address.
Footnote: Oh, nearly forgot... Vatican officials said today that Msgr Charamsa's personal situation "merited respect" (!!!), but added that his statements were "very serious and irresponsible" and might possibly "subject the Synod assembly to undue media pressure." So...he has been relieved of his duties at the CDF, and will no longer allowed to work at the pontifical universities. Has he been defrocked? Errr, no. He's still a priest.
Friday, September 18, 2015
"Church must include, not exclude" says chief Synod rigger
Two weeks ago, in "2014 Vatican Synod's 'Welcome gays!' moment was rigged!", Walt recommended, a new e-book by journalist Edward Pentin. In The Rigging of a Vatican Synod, Mr. Pentin lays the blame for the pro-queer "interim report" of the 2014 Synod on Family Life at the feet of the Synod's secretary, Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri.
Walt predicts that -- having failed to silence the bishops opposed to gay marriage, Communion for divorced and remarried Catholics, and the rest of the "progressive" (read: anti-traditional) agenda -- the Prelate and those in the highest offices of the Roman Catholic Church who pull his strings, will have another go when the Synod resumes in October.
What would make me think that? Check out an address given by Cardinal Baldisseri to at a diocesan conference in Sessa Aurunca, Italy, on September 15th. As reported by L'Osservatore Romano (the Vatican's version of Pravda) summarized under the rubric "L'arte dell'accompagnamento" on page 6 of today's edition, the Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops said emphatically that the Church must "include" rather than "exclude".
According to His Eminence, "the crisis of the family is due also to the hiddenness of the Church", which is called to "listen", "accompany", and "include" rather than "exclude", so that all may experience the "incomparable beauty of matrimony."
Walt wants to know how many times one may experience "the incomparable beauty of matrimony". Traditional Catholic teaching -- the Faith of fathers, living still (although just barely) -- is that marriage is a Sacrament which may be received only once. So divorced Catholics who want a second helping would seem to be among those who should be excluded.
And what about homosexuals? Aren't they part of "all"? The Church teaches (or taught, once upon a time) that homosexuality is a grave disorder, and homosexual acts seriously sinful. Does Cardinal Baldisseri mean that, in the name of "inclusivity" we should "accompany" the sodomites on their quest for the "incomparable beauty" etc?
Ah yes... "accompany", that's the key word. One may translate "L'arte dell'accompagnamento" as "The art of the accompaniment". Let's go along with the poor tormented sinners, to keep them company. After all, they can't help it, can they? Perhaps they don't even know that their "lifestyle choice" is contrary to the laws of God and nature.
Walt wonders if Cardinal Baldisseri (and/or his well-travelled master) has read A Man for All Seasons, the play by Robert Bolt about the life and martyrdom of Saint Thomas More. Here's a short passage which seems a propos. The Duke of Norfolk is urging Sir Thomas (as he was before he was beheaded) to join him and all the other nobles or England in swearing to the Act of Succession, which was meant to validate Henry VIII's divorce and remarriage.
NORFOLK: Frankly, I don't know whether the marriage was lawful or not. But damn it, Thomas, look at those names... You know those men! Can't you do what I did, and come with us, for fellowship?
MORE: And when we stand before God, and you are sent to Paradise for doing according to your conscience, and I am damned for not doing according to mine, will you come with me, for fellowship?
That would be a nice question to put to Cardinal Baldisseri. Would he repeat his call for the Synod to "rediscover the art of accompaniment". I wonder...
Walt predicts that -- having failed to silence the bishops opposed to gay marriage, Communion for divorced and remarried Catholics, and the rest of the "progressive" (read: anti-traditional) agenda -- the Prelate and those in the highest offices of the Roman Catholic Church who pull his strings, will have another go when the Synod resumes in October.
What would make me think that? Check out an address given by Cardinal Baldisseri to at a diocesan conference in Sessa Aurunca, Italy, on September 15th. As reported by L'Osservatore Romano (the Vatican's version of Pravda) summarized under the rubric "L'arte dell'accompagnamento" on page 6 of today's edition, the Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops said emphatically that the Church must "include" rather than "exclude".
According to His Eminence, "the crisis of the family is due also to the hiddenness of the Church", which is called to "listen", "accompany", and "include" rather than "exclude", so that all may experience the "incomparable beauty of matrimony."
Walt wants to know how many times one may experience "the incomparable beauty of matrimony". Traditional Catholic teaching -- the Faith of fathers, living still (although just barely) -- is that marriage is a Sacrament which may be received only once. So divorced Catholics who want a second helping would seem to be among those who should be excluded.
And what about homosexuals? Aren't they part of "all"? The Church teaches (or taught, once upon a time) that homosexuality is a grave disorder, and homosexual acts seriously sinful. Does Cardinal Baldisseri mean that, in the name of "inclusivity" we should "accompany" the sodomites on their quest for the "incomparable beauty" etc?
Ah yes... "accompany", that's the key word. One may translate "L'arte dell'accompagnamento" as "The art of the accompaniment". Let's go along with the poor tormented sinners, to keep them company. After all, they can't help it, can they? Perhaps they don't even know that their "lifestyle choice" is contrary to the laws of God and nature.
Walt wonders if Cardinal Baldisseri (and/or his well-travelled master) has read A Man for All Seasons, the play by Robert Bolt about the life and martyrdom of Saint Thomas More. Here's a short passage which seems a propos. The Duke of Norfolk is urging Sir Thomas (as he was before he was beheaded) to join him and all the other nobles or England in swearing to the Act of Succession, which was meant to validate Henry VIII's divorce and remarriage.
NORFOLK: Frankly, I don't know whether the marriage was lawful or not. But damn it, Thomas, look at those names... You know those men! Can't you do what I did, and come with us, for fellowship?
MORE: And when we stand before God, and you are sent to Paradise for doing according to your conscience, and I am damned for not doing according to mine, will you come with me, for fellowship?
That would be a nice question to put to Cardinal Baldisseri. Would he repeat his call for the Synod to "rediscover the art of accompaniment". I wonder...
Thursday, September 3, 2015
2014 Vatican Synod's "Welcome gays!" moment was rigged!
The Gay Mafia at the Vatican must think that faithful Catholics have short memories. Come October, the pro-LGBT gang in Rome -- which may/may not include Pope Francis -- will try again to push their agenda through a second "Synod on Family Life", which wags like Agent 10 have already dubbed "Vatican III".The goal of the Synod is to rectify the unimaginable political incorrectness of the Synod held in October 2014, at which a majority of cardinals and bishops had the temerity to reject an "interim report" recommending that the Church demonstrate more "openness to gays and their gifts and qualities". See "Majority of bishops reject "Welcome gays!" (WWW, 18/10/14).
The bishops failed to approve even a watered-down version of the section on ministering to gays, which stripped away the welcoming tone contained in the "interim report". Two other paragraphs concerning the other hot-button issue at the Synod -- whether divorced and civilly remarried Catholics can receive communion -- also failed to pass.
Why? Because the "updating" of the Church rules on these subjects would be contrary to God's law and nearly two millennia of Catholic teaching! See "Catholic bishops say "interim report" asking Church to welcome homosexuals grossly misrepresented by pro-LGBT media" (WWW 14/10/14).
So how did those proposals get on the table? Aha, that's the BIG question, and journalist Edward Pentin provides the answer in The Rigging of a Vatican Synod? An Investigation of Alleged Manipulation at the Extraordinary Synod on the Family (Ignatius Press, 2015).
The book, excerpted this week by Catholic World Report, tells how the 2014 Synod of Bishops' controversial interim report came to include the paragraphs on homosexuality and cohabitation that provoked strong reactions from several prominent synod participants. See "Even a liberal Cardinal calls pro-LGBT Synod report 'worthless'" (WWW 16/10/14).
Mr. Pentin quotes Father Stephen Fawcett, a Synod staff aide who was keeping the official diary of the proceedings, as saying the interim report was not an accurate reflection of the bishops' discussions. "It just was not."
And Wilfrid Cardinal Napier of South Africa observed that the document -- prepared a small cadre of prelates organized by Lorenzo Cardinal Baldisseri, the secretary-general of the Synod -- was released by the Vatican Press Office even before the Synod fathers saw it.
Mr. Pentin points the finger at Cardinal Baldisseri, but Walt (and many others) would like to know who appointed the prelate to be secretary-general of the Synod? Whose agenda was the Cardinal pushing... or following? And who's in charge of this year's Synod? Oh... wait... According to the Vatican website, it's none other than... wait for it... Lorenzo Cardinal Baldisseri!
Click here to read The Rigging of a Vatican Synod?, as excerpted on the Catholic World Report website. You can buy the e-book from Ignatius Press, at a web sale price of only $12.32.
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