Interesting info on the new Pope Francis

Interesting info on the new Pope Francis

[More on Pope Francis By John Vennari]
Today, March 14, is the first day under the reign
of the new Pope. It is also a day when we continue
to learn more about him.
Unlike Cardinal Ratzinger who was well known
prior to his papal election, and who had a long
paper-trail of speeches, documents, books and
public activities, most people in the English-
speaking world are not as familiar with Cardinal
Bergoglio, now Pope Francis.
Earlier I posted materials that spotlighted some of
his disturbing practices in Argentina: participating
in pan-Christian Pentecostal assemblies; celebrating Hanukkah with Jews; riotous
stadium Masses more like a pop-rally circus than anything sacred.
Other aspects now surface that show another side of the man.
This morning Pope Francis, quietly went to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, the
oldest church in the world dedicated to Our Lady, and prayed before the famous icon
of the Madonna called the Salus Populi Romani, or Protectress of the Roman People.
He also visited the tomb of Pope St. Pius V in the same Basilica. He did not celebrate
Mass, but only went to pray. Also there are Marian Sanctuaries in his home diocese
where Our Lady is especially honored on the First Saturday of each month.
In the post-conciliar world, where the definition and practice of Catholicism encompasses
a bizarre elasticity – a combination of both traditional practices and foreign elements
always condemned by the Church – modern prelates tend to be mixed bags.
As time goes on, we will learn exactly what combination of elements make the man
who is now Pope Francis.

[As Cardinal, Pope Francis strongly condemned abortion, including in rape cases
by John-Henry Westen]
For Your Information --- VATICAN CITY, March 13, 2013 (LifeSiteNews.com) –
While Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio was Archbishop of Buenos Aires he defended the life
of the unborn even in cases of rape, in very stark terms.
In a 2007 speech given to a gathering of priests and laity on October 2nd, then-Cardinal
Bergoglio issued a defense of life even in cases of rape saying: "we aren’t in agreement
with the death penalty," but "in Argentina we have the death penalty. A child conceived
by the rape of a mentally ill or retarded woman can be condemned to death."
Pro-life leaders in Argentina rejoiced at Cardinal Bergoglio’s elevation to the
Pontificate. Nicholas Lafferriere head of Argentina’s Center for Bioethics, Person and
Family told LifeSiteNews.com “Those of us who work for life and family in Argentina
have always felt ourselves to be supported and promoted by Cardinal Bergoglio.”
“On the one hand, he has promoted the dignity of each woman and especially of
women during pregnancy,” he added. In his archdiocese, Cardinal Bergoglio promoted
a special blessing for mothers and their unborn children. Moreover, on behalf of the

bishops of Latin America, also in 2007, Cardinal Bergoglio presented the "Aparecida
Document" regarding the situation of the Church in their countries. The document,
approved by Pope Benedict XVI in July of that year, made a very clear statement
regarding the consequences of supporting abortion, disallowing holy communion for
anyone who facilitates an abortion, including politicians.
The text states in paragraph 436 that "we should commit ourselves to ‘eucharistic
coherence’, that is, we should be conscious that people cannot receive holy
communion and at the same time act or speak against the commandments, in
particular when abortion, euthanasia, and other serious crimes against life and
family are facilitated. This responsibility applies particularly to legislators,
governors, and health professionals."
The prelate also denounced a "culture of discarding" regarding the elderly, which treats
them as if they are disposable and worthless due to their advanced age.
"In Argentina there is clandestine euthanasia. Social services pay up to a certain point;
if you pass it, ‘die, you are very old’. Today, elderly people are discarded when, in
reality, they are the seat of wisdom of the society," he said, and observed that "the right
to life means allowing people to live and not killing, allowing them to grow, to eat, to
be educated, to be healed, and to be permitted to die with dignity."

[Letter of Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires, to the
Carmelite Nuns of the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires (June 22, 2010) -- Bergoglio
Against Same Sex "Marriage"]
Dear Sisters,
I write this letter to each one of you in the four Monasteries of Buenos Aires. The
Argentine people must face, in the next few weeks, a situation whose result may
gravely harm the family. It is the bill on matrimony of persons of the same sex.
The identity of the family, and its survival, are in jeopardy here: father, mother, and
children. The life of so many children who will be discriminated beforehand due to the
lack of human maturity that God willed them to have with a father and a mother is in
jeopardy. A clear rejection of the law of God, engraved in our hearts, is in jeopardy.
I recall words of Saint Thérèse when she speaks of the infirmity of her childhood. She
says that the envy of the Devil tried to extort her family after her older sister joined
the Carmel. Here, the envy of the Devil, through which sin entered the world, is also
present, and deceitfully intends to destroy the image of God: man and woman, who
receive the mandate to grow, multiply, and conquer the earth. Let us not be naive: it is
not a simple political struggle; it is an intention [which is] destructive of the plan
of God. It is not a mere legislative project (this is a mere instrument), but rather
a "move" of the father of lies who wishes to confuse and deceive the children of
God.
Jesus tells us that, in order to defend us from this lying accuser, he will send us the
Spirit of Truth. Today, the Nation [patria], before this situation, needs the special
assistance of the Holy Ghost that may place the light of Truth amid the shadows of
error; it needs this Advocate who may defend us from the enchantment of so many
sophisms with which this bill is being justified, and which confuse and deceive even
people of good will.
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That is why I turn to you and ask from you prayer and sacrifice, the two invincible
weapons which Saint Thérèse confessed to have. Cry out to the Lord that he may send
his Spirit to the Senators who are to place their votes. That they may not do it moved
by error or by circumstantial matters, but rather according to what the natural law and
the law of God tell them. Pray for them, for their families; that the Lord may visit,
strengthen, and console them. Pray that they may do great good for the Nation.
This bill will be discussed in the Senate after July 13. Let us look towards Saint Joseph,
to Mary, the Child, and let us ask with fervor that they will defend the Argentine
family in this moment. Let us recall what God himself told his people in a time of
great anguish: "this war is not yours, but God's". That they may succour, defend, and
accompany us in this war of God.
Thank you for what you will do in this struggle for the Nation. And, please, I beg you,
pray for me also. May Jesus bless you, and may the BlessedVirgin protect you.
Affectionately,
Card. Jorge Mario Bergoglio s.j., Archbishop of Buenos Aires
The first results of the prayers of millions of Argentinians could be seen this week as a
Senate committee voted down the bill approved by the Lower house, despite the intense
pressure of the President, her husband and former President, and her government in
favor of its approval [several news sources]. However, the matter is not yet over - the
full Senate could still approve the bill this month.

[Letter of Apostolic Nunciature at Buenos Aires, dated on March 14, 2013]
This is the request which the new Pope made to the bishops, and all the faithful, of his
home country by way of the Nuncio in Buenos Aires.
Your Excellency,
I have the honor and the satisfaction of turning to you to inform you that the Holy
Father Francis has asked me to transmit to all Bishops, Priests, Religious men and
women, and to all the People of God his cherished recognition for the prayers and the
expressions of warmth, affection, and charity that he has received. At the same time,
he would wish that, instead of going to Rome for the beginning of his Pontificate
next March 19, you may keep this spiritual closeness that is so much appreciated,
accompanying it with some gesture of charity towards the neediest.
I take this joyful opportunity to vouch to you my sentiments of respectful attention.
+Emil Paul Tscherrig
Apostolic Nuncio

[New Argentine Pope Francis branded Falkland Islanders British 'usurpers']
ARGENTINIAN Pope Francis I has started his first morning as pontiff facing
controversy after his hardline views on his country's right to the contested Falkland
Islands emerged.
In a mass in Buenos Aires last year to mark the 30th anniversary of the 1982 invasion
by Argentine forces, Jorge Mario Bergoglio – the then still cardinal – described Britain
as 'usurpers' for ruling the Falkland Islands.
He told veterans: "We come to pray for those who have fallen, sons of the country
who went out to defend their mother country, to reclaim that which is theirs and was
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usurped from them."
Three years earlier, Cardinal Borgoglio had told the families of Argentine soldiers
killed in the conflict before they travelled to the military cemetery on the islands: "Go
and kiss this land which is ours, and seem to us far away."

[How Summorum Pontificum was blocked and trampled on in Buenos Aires:
facts, not fantasy and disinformation]
 ---- Summorum is "implemented" in Buenos Aires - it says so right here in my travel
guide!
Wow, people who know nothing of the Argentine situation suddenly know a lot. It
really is not enough to know what dulce de leche is or that it is the land of the tango
to be aware of what goes on in Buenos Aires. And some are spreading disinformation
about a diocese they do not even know! Unbelievable. But let us go back to facts not
from gringos but from our porteño correspondents who know, live and suffer them.
First, we never said that Summorum had not been applied anywhere in Argentina.
Cardinal Bergoglio was not the only Bishop of the whole of Argentina, but the
Archbishop of Buenos Aires. Naturally, his powers were limited to the Archdiocese
of Buenos Aires, which is territorially very small, limited to the area of the Federal
Capital itself*** - and, even then, not in the churches of the Military Ordinariate, as
in all countries. So what happened there that prompted us to say that the application
of Summorum in that archdiocese was "non-existent" and Marcelo González to speak
that, "a sworn enemy of the Traditional Mass, he has only allowed imitations of it in
the hands of declared enemies of the ancient liturgy"?
Ah, say the Google-searchers whose only experience of Argentina was watching Evita
in one of their Broadway trips, he "allowed" a Summorum mass immediately after it
went into effect: there it is, in this Clarín report - sent by many readers and posted by
many... Well, under Summorum, a bishop does not "allow" or "implement" anything
- that was the Ecclesia Dei regimen. Naturally, under Ecclesia Dei, nothing was
"allowed" in Buenos Aires, even though Argentina has the largest traditional Catholic
community in South America. Anyway, under Summorum, a place was designated by
the Archdiocese in the church of San Miguel Arcángel.
Quite a relief, right? As a matter of fact, that was just the beginning of the problems.
The Mass was celebrated only on the Fourth Sunday of each month in the crypt of the
church of San Miguel Arcángel. And more, as reported in 2010 by Página Católica, a
most trusted blog on Argentine Catholic affairs that has been in our blogroll since its
beginning:

         [C]ontrary to what common sense dictates and Ecclesia Dei clarified, Father
      Dotro [the "chaplain" for the Traditional Mass specifically chosen by Abp.
      Bergoglio] follows the calendar of the Ordinary Form, reading, therefore, the
      lessons of this form. But, as he does not limit himself to this innovation, he does
      not read them, but has them read by the faithful. The modified Mass is therefore
      left without the Epistle, Gradual, or Gospel.

          As informed by the media [as informed above by the Clarin article], on

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September 16, 2007, the first day in which it was celebrated by who would
      soon be the Chaplain of the traditionalists, some one hundred people filled the
      Crypt of San Miguel. [...] From the one hundred people who were present in
      the Mass on the first day, not more than two or three are left... Once a month!
      Because liturgical "modernism" is not in the interest of the faithful who adhere to
      tradition. For that, it is enough, and more [than enough], the number of parishes
      of Buenos Aires that, under the watch of the Cardinal-Primate, do as they please
      in the Ordinary Form. Father Dotro and his superior, who cannot ignore what is
      going on, in this way mock traditionalists about whom they should care.

The poor blogger, so he would not be accused of falsifying anything, even recorded the
new (1970) lectionary lessons read out in the once-a-month mass... [A full translation
of the post should be posted by us soon.]
And so what was the great and generous application of Summorum Pontificum in the
Archdiocese of Buenos Aires? One Novus Ordo-TLM hybrid once a month. And, as
it happens to any badly celebrated Latin Mass, the number of attending faithful fast
dwindled from one hundred to a handful. And, naturally, it was discontinued. So, as
correctly mentioned in WikiMissa, there is currently not a single actual Traditional Mass
strictly according to the 1962 Missal celebrated by diocesan priests of the Archdiocese
of Buenos Aires. And every priest who tried to truly implement Summorum in his
parish - that is, out of their own initiative, without "authorization" from the Bishop -
was ordered to stop. It is what happened to a poor priest who tried to do it in the chapel
of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, in October 2007, and was personally ordered by the
Archbishop to stop in November 2007.
That is how the then-Archbishop applied Summorum in his diocese. Now, will that
have any influence in his current Supreme position? We shall see. We certainly do have
a very liturgical new pope, with determined liturgical views, implemented from his
very first minutes as pope. Whether these views will be pleasing to some who are now
criticizing us is an altogether different matter. On the other hand, those who are used
to bending will certainly have no problem with the changes.
*** This is also important: the diocesan Traditional Masses mentioned by dear Fr.
Finigan as occurring in Argentina do not include any in the Archdiocese of Buenos
Aires precisely because there are not any there, which is limited to the Federal Capital
(Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, which, despite the name, is outside Buenos Aires
Province, in a situation comparable to that of the District of Columbia and Maryland).
The three mentioned by him are in Buenos Aires Province: Villa Celina (La Matanza
Partido, Diocese of San Justo), Rawson (Chacabuco Partido, Diocese of Mercedes-
Luján), and La Plata (Capital of the Province of Buenos Aires, Archdiocese of La
Plata). The Archbishop's territory became a Summorum-free zone.

[For Your Info. --- Led by Francis, a Traumatized Catholic Family Faces the
Future]
As a new pope -- the first ever to choose the name Francis -- assumes the chair of St.
Peter, he faces a community of faith traumatized by scandal. Indeed, if the Catholic
Church is a family, then the victims of sexual abuse by priests are the betrayed sons
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and daughters whose cries have not been heard. Wounded by physical, psychological
and spiritual assaults, they keep insisting that something is terribly wrong with an
institution that pays millions in attorneys fee to keep secret its conspiracy to hide the
facts and help clergy avoid prosecution.
As in most proud but dysfunctional families, the truth these children tell has been too
awful for the patriarchs of the clan to accept. They listen, respond as little as possible,
and then retreat to the comfort of denial. This family dynamic explains why an abuse
crisis that began almost 30 years ago remains unresolved despite billions of dollars
paid in legal settlements and the imprisonment of hundreds of priests. It also explains
why, just a day before the cardinals elected Benedict XVI's successor, one of their own,
retired Cardinal Mahony of Los Angeles, was implicated in yet another abuse scandal
that led to a $10 million settlement with victims of notorious abuser Fr. Michael Baker.
The selection of Archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who eschewed many of the
trappings of office enjoyed by others who led the church in Buenos Aires (he lived
alone, cooked for himself and rode the bus to work) is a helpful sign. Similarly,
Bergoglio's choice of a papal name -- Francis -- recalls St. Francis of Assisi whose
humility and simplicity stand in stark contrast to the monarchical imagery generally
associated with the office.
However, before Francis can lead Catholicism out of its shame, and recover some of
the church's lost credibility, he must gain a clear view of what has transpired to date.
Beginning in the 1980s, lawsuits filed by American victims slowly forced bishops
to disclose documentary proof of widespread sexual crimes against children and
consistent, deliberate schemes carried out to protect offending priests from police
and prosecutors, and shield the institution from disgrace and civil lawsuits. With each
disclosure, more victims came forward and eventually the crisis spread across America,
to Western Europe, and beyond.
In virtually all cases, bishops have responded by seeking to keep secret as many of
the facts as possible and by sending sexual abusers to new posts where they could
find new victims. Thousands of children were harmed by this practice. When forced
into court, too many bishops have acted like clever witnesses coached by attorneys,
responding in the most limited way they can while still satisfying the demands of
the law. Their independent actions have included adopting new rules and personnel
procedures, and demonstrations of regret and sorrow. However, they have not changed
any of the beliefs, teachings and practices that enable abuse in the first place.
For example, before he left the post of archbishop in Milwaukee, New York's Cardinal
Timothy Dolan paid-off abusers to get them to leave the priesthood and shifted tens
of millions of church dollars into trusts that would be protected from lawsuits filed by
people who were raped by priests. Now being examined in a bankruptcy proceeding,
this action can be seen as a scheme to deny hundreds of people the justice they deserve.
More recently Dolan's predecessor in New York, Edward Egan, publicly withdrew
an apology he once made to Catholics who were abused by clergy when they were
children. "I never should have said that," said Egan, "I don't think we did anything
wrong."
Astounding as Egan's unscripted comment was, it is nowhere near as appalling as
the grotesque crimes against children revealed in periodic releases of documents. In
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dozens of cases, men and women who were raped by priests have committed suicide to
escape the effects this kind of trauma. More typically victims simply struggle through,
trying to accommodate the injuries to their self image, mental health and spirituality.
Recovery is possible, but the process is generally grueling and it requires a lifetime
effort.
Fortunately, even fractured families can offer support and as they have witnessed the
pain of their abused brothers and sisters, millions of Catholics have embraced them
and felt disillusioned by the behavior of the hierarchs, who call themselves "fathers."
They see the failings of men who reject the love that exists in gay marriages and use
verbal deflection to justify the church's ongoing oppression of women. They recognize
the brutal results of hostility to contraception -- poverty, disease, death -- and cannot
understand why it's taking so long for the bishops to embrace common morality.
For decades opinion polls have shown Catholic lay people moving steadily away
from their self-appointed leaders, even as the institutional church doubled down on
its orthodoxy. During most of this time progressive lay people tolerated the bishops
and the pope and continued to embrace what was good in the church. However many
have reached a breaking point. This was made clear to me earlier this year in Los
Angeles, on the day that former cardinal Mahony's efforts to protect abusing priests
were revealed in documents made public by a Superior Court judge. Over lunch one
of California's leading laymen, a wealthy donor whose name adorns a wall of the new
cathedral, shook his head in disgust and said he hopes the victims won't give up until
they force real change.
What would real change look like? It might begin with humble action that opens the
Catholic family to full participation by all of its adult members, including women. This
is what victims of abuse, and their growing number of supporters must have before
they move from confrontation and alienation to productive engagement. It is also what
must happen if the church is to again become a relevant and welcomed force for good
in all the world.

[FYI only -- Pope Francis: Time to clear the smoke of Satan]
SHOOTING STRAIGHT By Bobit S. Avila (The Philippine Star)
Last Thursday, I woke up to the big breaking news that finally, just after a two-day
Conclave, the cry “Habemus Papam” rang throughout all the satellite TV networks
of the world. Strange as it seems that the Vatican for all these centuries despite its
embracing advance technology still relied on smoke signals (Just like the Native
American Indians) to tell the whole world the joyous news of the election of the
Supreme Pontiff, who is Jorge Cardinal Bergoglio of Argentina who took the name
Pope Francis I.
On Tuesday night, CNN came up with a report from Las Vegas that the bookies had
bets on which Cardinal would be Pope. It makes me wonder if anyone placed a bet on
our first Latin American Pope? Indeed, the election of Pope Francis I was greeted with
awe and amazement by a joyous Catholic world because it is clearly the work of the
Holy Spirit…who guided the sequestered Cardinals to choose this humble man from
Argentina, the first Pope outside Europe, where Catholicism thrives in its culture and
tradition.
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I’m sure that many Filipinos were disappointed that our own Luis Antonio Cardinal
Tagle wasn’t chosen as Pope. Come on guys, let’s not kid ourselves. Cardinal Tagle is
a neophyte Cardinal…barely three months on the job. Surely you did not expect him
to become a Pope? No I didn’t write anything to support this because we cannot have
a “sashimi” or a raw Pope, especially in these times when the Catholic Church needs
reform.
Here in the Philippines, the Catholic Church too needs to reform for many in the
clergy openly defy the teachings of the Magisterium of the Catholic Church. Using
their blogs in the Internet, they sow confusion amongst Catholics. Notable amongst
them is Fr. Joel Tabora a Jesuit in Davao and in Cebu, there’s a Fr. Ramon D. Echica
who clearly supported the RH Bill. On June 29, 1972 Pope Paul VI said, “I have the
sensation that from some fissure the smoke of Satan has also entered into the Temple of
God.” I could smell the sulphur of that satanic smoke when the majority of professors
from the Ateneo University supported the RH Bill.
But in fairness, not all Jesuits are unfaithful to the Mother Church. We have Fr. Romeo
Intengan who supported the Pro-Life movement and this includes our beloved Fr.
Ernesto Javier who used to run the Sacred Heart School for many decades in Cebu.
But the time to rid the Vatican of Satan’s smoke is here and we can see the works of
the Holy Spirit in the election of Pope Francis I for he is a Jesuit.
Raymond Arroyo of the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) said, “Pope
Francis tried to reform the Jesuits in Argentina. He made a lot of enemies and was
exiled North of the country. Pope John Paul II rescued him and made him Archbishop
of Buenos Aires. He clashed with the Argentinian President over same sex marriage
and contraceptives. Now he is expected to reform the Jesuit Order.”
Here’s a few fact about Pope Francis I that we Catholics should know. He is the first ever
Jesuit to become Pope, which is why this is a great blessing to the Jesuit community.
He took the name of Francis of Assisi, a Franciscan who devoted his life to the service
of the poor, including the animals, as they are God’s creation. In the past, there was
a “clash” between the Jesuits and the Franciscans. So it must be some kind of Divine
intervention that this 1st Jesuit Pope took on the name of Francis. But this name can
also be to honor St. Francis Xavier, the co-founder of the Society of Jesus who worked
missions in Asia. Surely now, the Jesuits must obey Pope Francis I.
Pope Francis is a humble man, known for his doctrinal conservatism and a staunch
defender of the church’s Moral Theology. He is critical of Liberation Theology, which
quite recently Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago spoke highly of; but we wrote a column
chastising her for selling this passé idea. Above all, he is against same sex marriage,
divorce and contraception, an issue still raging in this country. So with elections just
months away, we ask all Filipino Catholics to support Team Buhay and deny the
election of those candidates who supported the RH Bill in honor of our new Pope
Francis I.

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