Pope Francis talks a lot about the Devil.
Recently he has said that those hating him and wishing him dead are are”doing the work of the Devil”
And strangely, it is the right-wing conservative Catholics who hate him and wish him dead.
You would have thought that conservative Catholics would have done something they’ve always done – love the pope and almost treat him like God?
They were always the ones who pushed papal infallibility to the extremes.
THE REAL PROBLEM:
The real problem the right-wingers is that this pope is not on their side – and Benedict was.
Francis has
1. Made sympathetic overtures to the LGBT folk.
2. Restricted the Latin Mass very heavily.
3. Accepted same sex civil unions.
4. Restrained the Roman Curia.
5. Given the world’s bishops more say and authority.
Francis also has fairly big names after him from the right wing side – people like Cardinal Burke and Archbishop Vigano.
There is also the big American Catholic TV station ETWN.
MY VIEW:
As a liberal Catholic I am on Francis’ side in this scrap.
I did not like Benedict.
I see no point in the Latin Mass.
I believe the Vatican is totally corrupt.
I think that Vigano and especially Burke are dinosaurs.
THE OUTCOME:
There may well be a schism in the RCC with the Latin Mass and Lace Brigade breaking away and maybe eventually joining up with the SSPX.
On the other side, the German Church is ploughing its own furrow with its own synod and its intentions of allowing same-sex marriages and admitting Protestants to receive Holy Communion.
The real problem is that the RCC has never really managed to find its place in the modern world.
While most people are living in the 21 st Century the RCC is stuck in the past and most modern intelligent people are not willing to accept RC teachings on sexuality and women and many other issues.
Personally I like the “conflict” that is happening.
Change comes from conflict and change.
As for whether the Devil is involved?
He doesn’t have to be personally involved. There are many in the Church doing the “devilment” for him.
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AND SPEAKING OF DEVILS……….
BISHOP PAT BUCKLEY 