Damian Thompson has drawn attention to the headline in the Times erroneously and unjustifiably attacking the Holy Father. See: Catholic fury over The Times's coverage of Pope Benedict XVI. While writing this, I also received Damian's Tweet with a link to the Facebook Group Catholics Who Condemn the Times' Treatment of the Pope which you may like to join if you are on FB.
The Times article has a sidebar quote from Ruth Gledhill which includes the words:
The Pope is pretty unassailable. He is not elected ...The Times should not be allowed to forget that it highlighted that as an "Expert view" from its "Religion Correspondent".
The mainstream media are clearly gearing up for an all-out attack on the Holy Father when he visits Britain in September. This is a good time to pray earnestly for the Pope: one way of remembering to do this is to gain as many plenary indulgences as you can, since one of the conditions is to pray for the intentions of the Holy Father. Pray especially to Our Blessed Lady to strengthen and protect him. You can also use the traditional Prayer for the Pope which is given in English and Latin by Fr Z.
11 comments:
God Bless Pope Benedict XVI! Jesus told us all to dance for joy when people revile us for his sake. We know that our Holy Father is doing a bang up job when the liberal press attacks him so.
This is from the Comments section of Fr Ray Blake's blog:
The British press won't tell you what I read in German on the Munich-Freising Archiocese website.
The priest in question was not even from that Archdiocese. He was from Essen, and was received in Munich-Freising to undergo therapy against a background of suspicion of sexual abuse of boys.
The then Archbishop Ratzinger allowed him into his Archdiocese in 1980 and ordered him to reside at a particular parish house. However, in deviation from this order the Vicar-General placed him in a parish in Munich and lifted all restrictions on his exercise of ministry.
No complaints or accusations were made against the priest during this period from 1 February 1980 to 31 August 1982.
Archbishop Ratzinger was translated from the Archdiocese on 15 February 1982.
The priest was an assistant priest at Grafing from September 1982 to the beginning of 1985. After the suspicions of his sexual misconduct were made known he was put under police investigation and relieved of duties on 29 January 1985.
In June 1986 he was convicted at Ebersberg of secual abuse of minors and sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment suspended for five years.
The Vicar-General of Munich-Freising has taken full responsibility for his decision and its effects.
NOTE ISSUED BY HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE DIRECTOR
VATICAN CITY, 13 MAR 2010 (VIS) - Holy See Press Office Director Fr. Federico Lombardi S.J. today issued a note entitled "A clear route through stormy waters".
"At the end of a week in which a large part of the attention of the European media has been focused on the question of sexual abuses committed by people in institutions of the Catholic Church, we would like to make three observations:
"Firstly, the line being taken by the German Episcopal Conference has shown itself to be the right way to face the problem in its various aspects. The declarations of the president of that conference, Archbishop Zollitsch, following his meeting with the Holy Father, recap the strategy laid down in the conference's recent assembly and reiterate its essential operational aspects: recognition of the truth and help for victims, reinforcement of preventative measures and constructive collaboration with the authorities (including the judicial authorities of State) for the common good of society. Archbishop Zollitsch also unequivocally reiterated the opinion of experts according to whom the question of celibacy should in no way be confused with that of paedophilia. The Holy Father has encouraged the line being followed by the German bishops which - even taking account of the specific context of their own county - may be considered as a useful and inspiring model for other episcopal conferences that find themselves facing similar problems.
"Furthermore, an important and wide-ranging interview given by Msgr. Charles J. Scicluna, promoter of justice of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, gives a detailed explanation of the significance of the specific canonical norms established by the Church over the years to judge the heinous crimes of sexual abuse of minors by members of the clergy. It is absolutely clear that these norms did not seek, and have not favoured, any kind of cover-up of such crimes; quite the contrary, they initiated intense activities to confront, judge and adequately punish the crimes in the context of ecclesiastical legislation. And it must be remembered that all this was planned and set in motion when Cardinal Ratzinger was prefect of the Congregation. The line he followed was always one of rigour and coherence in dealing with even the most difficult situations.
"Finally, the archdiocese of Munich has replied, with a long and detailed communique, to questions concerning the case of a priest who moved from Essen to Munich at the time in which Cardinal Ratzinger was archbishop of that city, a priest who subsequently committed abuses. The communique highlights how the then archbishop was completely unconnected with the decisions in the wake of which the abuses took place. Rather, it is evident that over recent days some people have sought - with considerable persistence, in Regensburg and Munich - elements that could personally involve the Holy Father in questions of abuse. To any objective observer, it is clear that these efforts have failed.
"Despite the storm, the Church clearly sees the route she must follow, under the sure and rigorous guidance of the Holy Father. As we have already had occasion to observe, it is our hope that this torment may, in the end, help society as a whole to show ever greater concern for the protection and formation of children and adolescents".
God bless our Pope! The devil knows his time is short so he has started his all-out assault on the holy father.
Prayers, everyone! We need prayers.
What is worse, the attack continued this morning on BBC Radio 4's "Sunday" programme. I hope many will write in protest. The Times may be Murdoch's plaything - the BBC belongs to us all. +E
God bless the Pope: he has the prayers of many not in his flock.
What else should we expect from a publication owned by the megalomaniac Murdoch?
It wasn't just the articles. I thought the cartoon in the Times from Peter Brooke (who has form in being gratuitously offensive to Catholics) was also exceptionally offensive.
Having Ms Gledhill's comment I'm struck by the level of ignorance of a so-called religion reporter. The Pope's power wass not centralised over the last two pontificates his authority was commisioned by Jesuis Christ - you are Peter what bound on earth shall be considered bound in Heaven.
Desar Father
This is not a coment on this item but as I can't find your email I thought this would do. I saw this in the Mirror and thought it might be of interest, especially the coomenst about unbeliving cardinals:
Pope's exorcist: Vatican is possessed by the devil By Don Mackay 12/03/2010
The Pope's chief exorcist has claimed the Vatican is possessed by the devil.
Father Gabriel Amorth said a string of child sex abuse scandals rocking the Catholic church are proof Satan is living among religious leaders.
The 84-year-old, who was the inspiration for the spirit-busting priests in movie The Exorcist, added: "The Devil lives in the Vatican. He has won over the confidences of people.
"The consequences are visible. We have cardinals who don't believe in Christ, bishops connected with demons. We have these stories of paedophilia."
Father Amorth, who has conducted 70,000 exorcisms in his 50-year career, also said the 1981 attempted assassination on Pope John Paul II and the attack on Pope Benedict XVI at Christmas Eve mass were the devil's work.
He spoke out during the launch of Memoirs of an Exorcist, written by Italian religious affairs journalist Marco Tosatti.
Father Amorth has also claimed Adolf Hitler and Josef Stalin were both possessed. He added: "The Devil is invisible. But in the people he possesses he can be seen through pain and blasphemies.
"Sometimes he makes fun of me, but I have to say I enjoy my work."
And the Italian priest once said reading Harry Potter "opens children's minds to dabbling with the occult and black magic".
Gregoria Borgia/Associated Press, has a photo of this Sundays window blessing, showing Pope Benedict XVI given what looks like a Nazi salute.
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