In proclaiming the faith and in administering the sacraments every priest speaks on behalf of Jesus Christ, for Jesus Christ.
Evil too, will always be part of the mystery of the Church. And when we see what men, what the clergy have done in the Church, then that is nothing short of proof that he [Christ] founded and upholds the Church. If she were dependent on men, she would long since have perished.
Certainly, it is difficult to make the demands of the Gospel understandable to secularized people. But this pastoral difficulty must not lead to compromises with the truth.
“What is perfection in love? Love your enemies in such a way that you would desire to make them your brothers … For so did He love, Who hanging on the Cross, said ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’” (Luke 23:34)
Assuredly, the word of truth can be painful and uncomfortable. But it is the way to holiness, to peace, and to inner freedom. A pastoral approach which truly wants to help the people concerned must always be grounded in the truth. In the end, only the truth can be pastoral.
In The Synod on the Family: Business Model for the ‘Spirit of Vatican II’, Christopher Ferrara aptly analyses the recently-concluded synod 'on the family'.
Papal delusion at it's finest is on fine display in this general audience by Pope Paul VI, just a week or so before the Novus Ordo Missae was introduced.
I ran out of tags for Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke's tremendously lucid address at the Franciscan University of Steubenville on the Instrumentum Laboris and attempts to reform the annulment process. This was delivered, whether intentionally or co-incidentally, ont he same day that Pope Francis decided to attack marriage through his Motu Proprios regarding changes to the annulment process.
Distinctions Matter
Distinctions Matter Forward
Missale Romanum
Pre-1951 Calendar