Friday, December 08, 2017

Dictator Pope - some thoughts



I finished that book, 'The Dictator Pope', a few days ago. There was very little that was new in it but it is shocking when scandals are brought together in a catalogue of vice. This is certainly not a book I would recommend most people reading, especially those who are easily shocked.

It portrays a picture of an arbitrary self-seeking princeling with few virtues and practically every vice. For those who hear confessions regularly it gives an insight into the cup which is clean on the outside but full of corruption on the inside.

It gives an insight into the contemporary Church, certainly into the psychology of many of its leading clergy and perhaps into the heresy of Mercy. In the abuse crisis so many of our leaders like Cardinal Daneels, who comes in for much criticism, not only defended abusers, telling their victim they needed to repent but they simply pretended there was no problem. Maybe they were not as bad as Cardinal Maradiaga who chairs Francis' Council of Nine, he dismissed the whole matter as a construction of the 'Jewish media'.

A false, heretical understanding of Mercy reduces God to being tolerant of everything, to the point where sin disappears and black becomes white, the foolish are regarded as wise, the corrupt become virtuous. A tolerant God means mankind has no need of Redemption or Salvation, the whole Christological drama becomes unnecessary and humanity has no need of a moral compass, because whatever is done, so long as it doesn't undermine the Enlightenment virtues, is fine.

An excess of Mercy has a tendency to remove any critical faculty. God becomes the watchmaker who having finished his work, sets it in place to run by itself, he is not as scripture portrays him concerned by our every action, nor is he the one who will come to judge between sheep and goats, and certainly not the one who is concerned about our personal integrity, our truth telling, our sexual or financial morality and our craving for power. It works well for a dictator, in that any criticism or expression of doubts or any questioning about this new god (the god of theological speculation, rather than God revealed by Jesus Christ in scripture and Tradition) becomes a sign of sickness, rigidity, even heresy but worst of all of the unforgivable sins of divisiveness and disloyalty.

What I find so shocking in this book, which hardly reveals any new secrets, just adds a few details, is that such corruption as it reveals causes dis-ease in so few. Indeed, those who do raise concerns are hussled to the margins and vilified. Colonna gives us insight into a court that seems to be hotbed of neurotic revenge, nepotism, financial corruption, homosexual practice and where surveillance and gossip are rife and where image is all. A quote from the book, a priest said, "It is not who or what you know, it is now about what you know about who you know", he was talking about a culture of blackmail.
Why is it tolerated? Why is it so easily accepted? Why do so few denounce it?

Perhaps it is that Catholicism in particular has seen so many changes in recent years that there are so few points of stability from which bearings can be taken. Even the Gospels, the actual revealed words of Jesus are pushed to the background and replaced by 'the sublime theology' of some German Cardinal. The author makes the point that what has been lost in the last few years is Jesus's 'Let your yes mean yes and your no mean no',

Being anxious that some fragment of the Lord's body might be lost or desecrated should be important to priests, nowadays being deeply concerned that a word, a comma of Lord's being lost should be a deep, deep concern of every Christian because where sin and vice abounds Christ cannot be tolerated

But then many bishops and religious superiors simply turned a blind eve to sexual abuse and abusers.....

26 comments:

gemoftheocean said...

God bless you for your defense of what is right. Yourreward in heaven will be great for your ability to persevere in the true faith. You are one of the most courageous men I know, and I am proud to have met you.

newguy40 said...

Thanks for this very moving post.

Liam Ronan said...

Among many other matters, I find this report shocking on so many levels:

Gloria TV reports - (07 December 2017) Dictator Pope - "Vatican Funded Clinton’s Presidential Campaign"

https://gloria.tv/article/FUgKneqW9dUR1SaWe8U1tu4ni

https://gloria.tv/article/uYnfH7ztEcuy4VUQuUBtimdmE

"Libero Milone resigned as the Vatican's Auditor General because he was trying to make transparent ambiguous money-maneuvers, through which around one million Dollars from Peter’s Pence were allegedly donated to Hillary Clinton’s pro-abortion and pro-gay electoral campaign according to Piero Laporta on La VeritĂ  (July 4).

Such rumours have been circulating since February 2016."

M. Prodigal said...

I do not plan to read the book. I have a pretty good idea of how things are: corruption and sin and more that are reigning in the Vatican. My job as a little lay person is to pray and hope my heart does not become too bitter about the sacking of the Church. But it is confusing because it was always safest to stay in the camp of the pope and now it does not seem so. Are many things always called sin no longer that? If Our Lord said that to hear the pope was to hear Him, what shall we do and how do we justify to others living in sin that they are not on the right path?

Unknown said...

While we know what means a significant number of the wolves in sheep's clothing, we must also keep in mind that such are not since yesterday, neither since anno 2013, even not since the 60's. But before that. And then, with good understanding of that, then we can say, that those false spirit with its very poisonous smoke, because of its subsist for such a long time, has done so much harm to many. And with saying many, I must add too, - more than one or two generations.
What we have right now, especially in the last 5 years, is just a culmination of that not so short process. The thing is, many of 'ordinary people' could not have possibly even imagine 5% of all of that, let alone a big(ger) picture. Therefore, many of them, who begin to see right now 'something' very wrong, are (desperately) thinking that all the problems would probably and hopefully be solved by changing one, or maybe a few high positioned persons in question (of course, in a regular and legitimately way only, according the well known laws, procedures etc...).

But the truth is; the apostasy is so big, so grave, so world-wide, and it lasts for so long already, that we all should take special care of the amount of oil in our lamps.
Ivan

Catechist Kev said...

Sobering post, Fr. Blake. Well done.

Be sure to "check 6" every now and again.

God bless you and happy Advent.
Catechist Kev

James the Convert said...

“...nowadays being deeply concerned that a word, a comma of Lord's being lost should be a deep, deep concern of every Christian...”
Like that Johannine comma?

Pilgrim said...

Father Blake, you nailed it. Thank you very much for your insight. God bless you.

Physiocrat said...

Are these troubles not a consequence of the Roman ecclesiology? You can take logs and build a ship with them - the Barque of Peter, or they can be tied together loosely and made into a sort of raft.

Which is the more resilient?

umblepie said...


'A false, heretical understanding of Mercy reduces God to being tolerant of everything, to the point where sin disappears and black becomes white, the foolish are regarded as wise, the corrupt become virtuous. A tolerant God means mankind has no need of Redemption or Salvation, the whole Christological drama becomes unnecessary and humanity has no need of a moral compass, because whatever is done, so long as it doesn't undermine the Enlightenment virtues, is fine.'

This is a memorable paragraph Father, one to be learnt by heart and remembered by all.
Thank you, and God bless you.

Geraldine Lamont said...

Practically every vice, at his age?

On your broader question see
http://sthughofcluny.org/2014/05/the-catholic-church-and-the-rule-of-law-part-i.html
http://sthughofcluny.org/2014/05/the-catholic-church-and-the-rule-of-law-part-i.html

GOR said...

I haven’t read the book and don’t feel I need to. Very little that is new is reportedly in it, merely collating all that we already knew into one place – for anyone who was not paying attention.

What this papacy is showing is what is, and what is not, the Church’s Magisterium – mainly the latter. Unfortunately this papacy can be detrimental to the salvation of souls – for which the current Pope and his enablers bear full responsibility.

Our Lord was not dictatorial. He was stern, yes - but also forgiving. But He did not water down His teaching. Those who do – even Popes and Cardinals – are not His true followers. We owe them no allegiance. They have condemned themselves.

Simple Simon said...

Fr, if every member of the congregation at you next Sunday Mass have all read and understood your thoughts on 'Dictator Pope' prepare yourself. The congregation will rush the Altar at the end of Mass and carry you off shoulder high shouting 'We have a priest, we have a priest'.
Thank you.

Unknown said...

Talking about replacing the actual revealed words of Jesus? Here is how words of Jesus Christ said to sister Faustina have been changed on official webpage of Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Krakow. Just run a translator of the Polish site (first link below) and compare with English (second link). Take a look at Day 5 where Jesus says "Today bring to Me the souls of heretics and schismatics...". In Polish it no longer mentions heretics and schismatics. Instead it says "Today bring to Me the souls of DISUNITED BROTHERS"

https://www.faustyna.pl/zmbm/nowenna-do-milosierdzia-bozego/ -> POLISH
https://www.faustyna.pl/zmbm/en/novena-to-the-divine-mercy/ --> English

Fr Ray Blake said...

Simon, fortunately only a few read this blog.


Tom, Don't compare "private revelation" no matter how popular, with the public revelation of Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition, it is like comparing jewels and dust. The only value such revelations have is that they echo or comment on the actual words of God. Such visions or private revelations have no more status than the writings or ptraching of any saint, certainly far less than any Papal Magisterial statement.

whitney said...

And how he wants to change the words to The Lord's Prayer. Because it seems that God is trying to 'lead us into temptation'. It seems like the wording is correct if it is applied to bergoglio's church.

Nicolas Bellord said...

I have not read the book but one of the reports about it says that Pope Francis is following the ideas of Peron. This just confirms what his arch-admirer Austen Ivereigh told us some time ago. Very weird.

Pelerin said...

Whitney - have a look at the latest blog post of Fr George David Byers an American priest - 'Arise let us be going.' (Always well worth reading)

He explains why our English translation is in error. He also explains that the Pope does not wish to change the Lord's Prayer as mentioned on Sky News but change the translation.

The French Bishops issued the new translation last week and now it is 'Et ne nous laisse pas entrer en tentation.' It is the third or fourth alteration in the Pater Noster since I first learnt it in French as a teenager.

Mick Jagger Gathers No Mosque said...

Kudos, Fr. Blake. Bold and bracing.

Anonymous said...

Well, the author of the "Dictator Pope" has been interviewed via email. Here is the link containing the translation.

Is the author a female? One of the subtitles in the transcript "In the book, she tells a little-known story about Bergoglio's past. It's about a Jesuit, Father Kolvenbach . What is it about? How did you learn about this story?" On the other hand, it could be a red herring.

I have not read the book, but a reason why the reforms Francis to implement are not being followed through scandalizes me. "Because Pope Francis, who was elected to reform the Church, has discovered that he can control the curia more effectively through the corrupt figures that depend on him for power."

Wow, wow and WOW!!!!

Mar said...

This sentence:

"Perhaps it is that Catholicism in particular has seen so many changes in recent years that there are so few points of stability from which bearings can be taken."

Grant, O Lord, that the Church may be seen as a rock once more, as Jesus intended, not as the morass that 'unjust and deceitful' men make Her out to be.

CatholicNI said...

Let's "cut to the chase" as they say, whoever "they" are. Which priesthood will you be defending before Almighty God and the Holy Apostles, Peter and Paul?

David O'Neill said...

Tell us Father, how should we react to such news? Should we 'do' anything or should we just pray? Should we be praying for a 'good' Pope to lead us? But how do we distance ourselves from a Pope & Cardinals & (presumably) bishops who seem to be leading the Church directly towards Satan? I have enjoyed your posts Father but now I think that lay Catholics need to be led & told how things can be corrected. AMDG

Physiocrat said...

@SPBeliever

What do you mean by "which priesthood will you be defending"? As a former parishioner of Fr Blake, I can vouch for the fact that he has given everything he has for the priesthood and the flock which he has been put in charge of. Fr Blake has nothing to fear, I would think.

@David O'Neill - how should we distance ourselves from a Pope etc?

The Catholic church goes beyond what is under the jurisdiction of the Pope in Rome. The Catholic faith can still be found preserved in its entirety.

David O'Neill said...

Physiocrat - but where outside of the traditional parishes celebrating the EF Mass can the Catholic Faith be found? Our problem after V2 (IMHO) was & is that the majority of Catholics were so 'obedient' that they followed where led regardless of the leader.

Physiocrat said...

@David O'Neill

The clue is in Fr Ray's Blog published on 11 December. He has pointed the way, discreetly as is appropriate in the circumstances. A priest is entrusted with the care of souls and does not have the freedom available to the laity.

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