Italian Politician Invokes Blessed Mother, Draw Criticism from Some Church Officials

[13pollitos]

Salvini held a rally where the pope was mocked and rosaries were displayed while mocking the pope. That’s not what rosaries are for.

Salvini is from the “Lega” party. It used to be “Lega Nord”, a party that believed the south of Italy was a drain on the north, and was even against southern Italians relocating to the north.

Thank you for actually taking the time to give some insight that is actually helpful. I do appreciate your thoughtfulness.

 

[yankeesouth]

As the years go by I am struggling more and more with understanding. And I am become more and more convinced that I should just walk away. Thanks for helping to make my decision easier.

Don’t leave the Church…that is what these liberals want you to do so they don’t get any pushback. There are many who recognize the battle that is underway so don’t despair.

Look what Brazil did yesterday!

Brazilian president signs proclamation consecrating nation to Virgin Mary​

Brazilian president signs proclamation consecrating nation to Virgin Mary - LifeSite

During the ceremony, participants prayed the rosary and sang a Marian hymn, accompanied by a number of nuns.

www.lifesitenews.com

 

[Feanor2]

Do you identify yourself as a political conservative? Do you read Lifesite, breitbart, crisis, remnant?

Are you comfortable with what are seen as the political leanings of the Pope?

So you put all that together. Not likening his politics and eating far right “Catholic” media and of course you aren’t going to feel warm and fuzzy about the pope

I have loved all the Popes of my lifetime. They have authority over me. When they write or say something I see that as my chance to learn to an opportunity to criticize, question, and even attack

And that’s what the media sources above are doing. They are opponents of Francis and they attack him every day

 

[pnewton]

I agree with all you say; but if the pope hasn’t met with you, a distinguished member of CAF, I am a little concerned.

We all should be concerned. What are we? Chopped liver?

 

[13pollitos]

Do you identify yourself as a political conservative? Do you read Lifesite, breitbart, crisis, remnant?

I don’t “identify” with either the right or left politically. I “identify” as Catholic. I did not vote for Donald trump and don’t plan on it in the next election unless there is no third party pro life candidate to choose from. It is unusual for me to vote for either major party in any election because neither candidate tends to seem to line up with common sense or basic decency.

I read many, many sources of information. I tend to mainly start with NPR, local news stations, and either ABC, CBS and NBC. From there it is as mixed amount of sources (often Washington Post and NYT are the next sources I seek though) as possible because no one seems to remember journalism should be unbiased.

I have seen so many faithful devout Catholics leaving the church over the last few years and normally it is because they have been personally hurt by things Pope Francis has said. I spent many years attempting to explain things away, but it’s gotten to the point I no longer can find the words. I used to go and find his transcripts in Spanish (my 1st language) but they were not any clearer to me. So I asked questions as well. Now I realize no one has answers, they just have to try to criticize someone who asks questions. They attempt to discredit them as simply pope haters, political opponents and anti catholic. It is absolutely unkind (by saying that I realize I will be labeled the one that is unkind).

So, if you have something to offer besides assumptions based on your own biases, good. If not, maybe you could simply say a prayer for those of us struggling and move on.

 

[KMC]

Feanor2:

Were “questions” asked about JPII and Benedict by these same segments of the Church- not really.

Folks just like what they see as the politics of the Pope so they criticize him.

This is exactly what I mean. No one addresses the questions and instead attacks the questioner.

I seriously have been struggling to understand. I have been a faithful Catholic my entire life, especially during very difficult times. I do pray for the Pope. As someone from South America I was so proud and happy when we got our first pope from this side of the world. I defended his statements for several years. I do not in any way HATE the pope. I am simply trying to understand. Any help with that? Or just more attempts to belittle?

As the years go by I am struggling more and more with understanding. And I am become more and more convinced that I should just walk away. Thanks for helping to make my decision easier.

Sometimes its best to take a step back and look at the big picture.

Pope Francis has a charism / authority that no other human has, and that charism / authority was that given to Peter, then handed on to his successors. This charism / authority,when engaged, protects the Sacred Tradition / teachings of the Church from error on issues of faith and morals, as promised by Christ.

This does not mean that the Pope doesn’t make mistakes (he is not impeccable), or doesn’t sin (he goes to confession like everyone else).

So other Popes have taken grief during my lifetime: JP2 on his ruling about no female priests. B16 because he is too “orthodox”. Francis because he’s too liberal. Blah, blah, blah.

The Catholic Church is THE Church founded by Christ Himself. I ain’t going nowhere…I hope you stay.

 

[13pollitos]

I have loved all the Popes of my lifetime. They have authority over me. When they write or say something I see that as my chance to learn to an opportunity to criticize, question, and even attack

How do you learn if you cannot understand, unless you ask questions? Why are questions seen as an attack and a criticism? Can’t they truly be an effort to learn?

I am a teacher. If I treated my students questions as an attack against me or “answered” their questions with silence, how would I be helping them to understand? If their questions were met with other individuals criticizing them as a defense for me, how could I expect my students to want to learn? Why would they want to attend school?

 

[Hoosier-Daddy]

Were “questions” asked about JPII and Benedict by these same segments of the Church- not really.

Folks just like what they see as the politics of the Pope so they criticize him.

Well, not by the same segments but certainly others. STJPII was the longest serving pope of the era and his involvement in the cold war and the fight against communism and socialism was well documented. And also well protested by many Catholics. From his visit to Poland to his alliance with Reagan it was controversial to say the least. Not to mention social issues concerning sexuality and the modernization of the Church. And to be honest, there are many on the conservative/traditional side that had real issues with his politics concerning the traditions and the teachings he was involved with. Then came the politics of BXVI. Strait out of disobedient Germany, a lone voice, with a past that included WWII era politics of his involvement with the HItler Youth and his Brother fighting in the war for Germany. Traditionalists cheered his papacy and looked for a right swing, which they got, but without the power they expected. The left/progressives went crazy, terms like Nazi Pope were used inside and out of the Church. “God’s Rottweiler” replaced the more friendly term of “German Shepherd” While we may never know the pressures that caused his abdication, it has become clear that there were many political factors to it.
While I honor and respect the pope personally and the office, I do not “like” his leadership or politics or theology this papacy has lost the ability to lead, I think the strategy of ambiguity has failed. And if it hasn’t the abuse Crisis and the handling of it has destroyed the voice of Rome. Not to mention a flavor of south american politics and worldview that we frankly did not know we were ignorant of… I think criticisms are mounting, and I think they should be expected to. Ultimately it doesn’t matter though. It doesn’t matter what you, or I, or a poster, or a priest, or a bishop, or a speaker, or a cardinal thinks of the Pope. He alone is Pope. He will be judged by God and the Future Church and Popes. Not us. Our job is to cling to the faith. And the faith is not advanced by press conferences, twitter, and if the Pope meets with an Italian politician.

The command is to Honor thy Father and Mother. You don’t have to like them, you don’t have to agree with them… You have to obey them in all ways except sin. Most of us with Have a different “Father” in a few years. But our mother is constant.

 

[yankeesouth]

Today is the Feast of Our Lady Help of Christians. The invocation Auxilium Christianorum originated in the sixteenth century. Pius V inserted the invocation in the Litany of Loreto after the battle of Lepanto when Catholics prayed Rosary to save Christianity from Ottoman Empire.

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