The Pope is being criticised around the world for spreading dangerous ideas. Such ideas must be stamped out to ensure no democratic country ever entertain such nonsense.
For example, concepts such as "forgiveness", evidenced when the Pope lifted excommunication on 4 SSPX priests, as an overture of generosity that would allow the SSPX breakaway group (comprising hundreds of priests and thousands of lay members) to repent and return to active participation in the Church.
Another dangerous concept the Pope stands accused of is this strange idea of allowing people to hold contrary views. Such dogmatic religious thought as this should not be allowed in any functional democracy.
There is some concern that SSPX Bishop Williamson, after calling the Pope a tool of Satan, will reject these strange ideas of "forgiveness" and "freedom of thought" and therefore not repent and atone (strange Catholic concepts we must also be wary of), but then again (dare I say this in New Zealand?), that is his decision to make.
[Satire Ends]
Where do I start? Williamson is part of SSPX (The Society of St Pius X), essentially a breakaway group from the Roman Catholic Church. It was founded in 1970.
In 1988 Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, who was critical of some elements of the Second Vatican Council, ordained four bishops without the approval of the Holy Father, incurring in automatic excommunication on himself and the four bishops he ordained [ref].
Williamson has made several controversial claims about the holocaust and he has also referred to the Pope as the tool of Satan, that 9/11 was an inside job and the Sound of Music is porn. That makes Williamson mad as a cut snake. Now, I have never met Williamson and the media may be exaggerating, but if the reports are only half true, I stand by this comment.
This move by the Pope was part of an attempt to bring the SSPX back into the fold, as it were. SSPX are around 500 priests in over 80 countries, with thousands of members. That is who the Pope is trying to reach.
I’ll repeat this bit, it has relevance:
SSPX are around 500 priests in over 80 countries, with thousands of members. That is who the Pope is trying to reach.
Williamson is a Bishop in the SSPX hierarchy, but I understand that this is NOT a position approved by the Pope, and that he remains “suspended a divinas” by the Vatican and cannot claim to actually be a Bishop.
As for SSPX Bishop Williamson, I think he will take care of the issue himself. Having called the Pope a servant of Satan, and spouted nonsense about Jews and the holocaust, it is widely expected that he will in turn break from the SSPX and take his loyal followers with him. Ultimately, he will not accept the authority of the Pope.
How many people that is, remains to be seen, but the remainders will be most welcome in the Church and the Pope has held out an olive branch, offering forgiveness and love to not only the SSPX members, but to a wayward priest that would call him a servant of Satan.
He has had the excommunication lifted (which was first placed on him because of his role in SSPX) but all the other issues remain unresolved and unforgiven, and it is now up to Williamson to take the next step.
Update: I've covered the "forgiveness is divine" and I should add the bit about erring. It's worth restating that the Pope lifted the excommunication on January 21 this year. The excommunication was made because Williamson and three others were appointed Bishops without authority. The Pope thus looked at the issue of excommunication, and did not research the 4 bishops privately held opinions - they were not germane at the time.
So when was the television show airing Williamson's views? January 21. The same day. The interview was recorded by a Swedish television station on November 1, 2008, but it was actually broadcast on the same day the Vatican revoked the excommunication. God moves in mysterious ways.
Previous NZC Post: SSPX and Williamson
Damian Thompson (Holy Smoke) for a long view on this action
Related Link: Pope Calls for Unity with SSPX, rest is up to them
Related Link: A loathsome Catholic, but still a Catholic
See also: The Wikipedia on Williamson
And also: Angela Merkel preaches to the Pope
For example, concepts such as "forgiveness", evidenced when the Pope lifted excommunication on 4 SSPX priests, as an overture of generosity that would allow the SSPX breakaway group (comprising hundreds of priests and thousands of lay members) to repent and return to active participation in the Church.
Another dangerous concept the Pope stands accused of is this strange idea of allowing people to hold contrary views. Such dogmatic religious thought as this should not be allowed in any functional democracy.
There is some concern that SSPX Bishop Williamson, after calling the Pope a tool of Satan, will reject these strange ideas of "forgiveness" and "freedom of thought" and therefore not repent and atone (strange Catholic concepts we must also be wary of), but then again (dare I say this in New Zealand?), that is his decision to make.
[Satire Ends]
Where do I start? Williamson is part of SSPX (The Society of St Pius X), essentially a breakaway group from the Roman Catholic Church. It was founded in 1970.
In 1988 Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, who was critical of some elements of the Second Vatican Council, ordained four bishops without the approval of the Holy Father, incurring in automatic excommunication on himself and the four bishops he ordained [ref].
Williamson has made several controversial claims about the holocaust and he has also referred to the Pope as the tool of Satan, that 9/11 was an inside job and the Sound of Music is porn. That makes Williamson mad as a cut snake. Now, I have never met Williamson and the media may be exaggerating, but if the reports are only half true, I stand by this comment.
This move by the Pope was part of an attempt to bring the SSPX back into the fold, as it were. SSPX are around 500 priests in over 80 countries, with thousands of members. That is who the Pope is trying to reach.
I’ll repeat this bit, it has relevance:
SSPX are around 500 priests in over 80 countries, with thousands of members. That is who the Pope is trying to reach.
Williamson is a Bishop in the SSPX hierarchy, but I understand that this is NOT a position approved by the Pope, and that he remains “suspended a divinas” by the Vatican and cannot claim to actually be a Bishop.
As for SSPX Bishop Williamson, I think he will take care of the issue himself. Having called the Pope a servant of Satan, and spouted nonsense about Jews and the holocaust, it is widely expected that he will in turn break from the SSPX and take his loyal followers with him. Ultimately, he will not accept the authority of the Pope.
How many people that is, remains to be seen, but the remainders will be most welcome in the Church and the Pope has held out an olive branch, offering forgiveness and love to not only the SSPX members, but to a wayward priest that would call him a servant of Satan.
He has had the excommunication lifted (which was first placed on him because of his role in SSPX) but all the other issues remain unresolved and unforgiven, and it is now up to Williamson to take the next step.
Update: I've covered the "forgiveness is divine" and I should add the bit about erring. It's worth restating that the Pope lifted the excommunication on January 21 this year. The excommunication was made because Williamson and three others were appointed Bishops without authority. The Pope thus looked at the issue of excommunication, and did not research the 4 bishops privately held opinions - they were not germane at the time.
So when was the television show airing Williamson's views? January 21. The same day. The interview was recorded by a Swedish television station on November 1, 2008, but it was actually broadcast on the same day the Vatican revoked the excommunication. God moves in mysterious ways.
Previous NZC Post: SSPX and Williamson
Damian Thompson (Holy Smoke) for a long view on this action
Related Link: Pope Calls for Unity with SSPX, rest is up to them
Related Link: A loathsome Catholic, but still a Catholic
See also: The Wikipedia on Williamson
And also: Angela Merkel preaches to the Pope
So few people commenting (thinking of DPF's thread) get this issue at all, including DPF. Their ignorance of things Catholic is glaring. They don't even know enough to be embarrassed.
ReplyDelete