#The Ratzinger Report

[wozziebear]

Despite Benedict's many investigations into theologians, theology flourished | National Catholic Reporter

For all Benedict's theological angst, perhaps no modern movement caused him more concern than the push for women's equality and its influence on theology in the 1980s. And perhaps no one had a more dramatic clash with Benedict's drive to curb the emergence of feminist theology than St. Joseph Sr. Elizabeth Johnson, whose application for tenure at the Catholic University of America Ratzinger personally obstructed in 1987.

As a pontifical university, Catholic University of America's applications for tenure in the field of theology required approval by the CDF. Ratzinger sent Johnson a list of 40 questions, focused particularly on an article she had written that questioned the church's image of Mary as humble and obedient. Her responses to the questionnaire did not satisfy Ratzinger, so he took the extraordinary measure of calling every cardinal in the U.S. to fly to Washington, D.C., to personally interrogate her.

In the end, Johnson became the first women to receive tenure at Catholic University of America. But it wouldn't be her last tangle with the church's hierarchy.

In 2011, Johnson's 2006 book Quest for the Living God was criticized by the U.S. bishops' conference, whose doctrinal committee declared that the book "completely undermines the Gospel and the faith of those who believe in God."

Its feminist themes were a particular sticking point for the nine-man committee, which argued that the titles that the church uses for God cannot be supplanted "by novel human constructions" aimed at "promoting the socio-political status of women."

The incident was a glaring example of the way in which the Vatican had empowered local doctrinal committees to investigate theologians who were working within their dioceses.

"Under Benedict's pontificate, the doctrinal committee of the local episcopal conference soon became the pivotal committee in the local hierarchy," said Massingale.

It became a "super committee," Massingale said, that "contributed to a chilling effect and even lack of creativity when it came to taking on neuralgic issues of sexuality, gender and contraception."

[indynerdgirl]

Edward Pentin - December 28, 2022 VATICAN CITY —Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI is suffering from aggravated kidney failure and had a recent modification to his pacemaker, an informed Vatican source has told the Register. The source said Benedict XVI has been experiencing “kidney failure which has worsened in the last few hours.” The source added that the 95-year-old Pope Emeritus had a modification to his “pacemaker about a month and a half ago to regularize his heartbeats” but stressed that it was unrelated to his kidney failure. The Vatican has yet to confirm his exact condition but confirmed on Wednesday that Benedict had experienced a sudden decline in his health, is currently stable and under medical care. Holy See Press Office director Matteo Bruni issued a statement to reporters at 11.30 this morning saying that he was able to “confirm that in the last few hours there has been an aggravation due to advancing age. The situation at the moment remains under control, constantly monitored by doctors.” The statement followed Pope Francis’ disclosure of his condition at this morning’s general audience: “I would like to ask you all for a special prayer for Pope Emeritus Benedict, who is supporting the Church in silence,” Francis said. “Remember him - he is very ill - asking the Lord to console him and to sustain him in this witness of love for the Church, until the end.” The Vatican said that after the audience, Francis visited Benedict at his Mater Ecclesiae Monastery residence in the Vatican. The Register has contacted Benedict’s personal secretary, Archbishop Georg Gänswein, for comment but he has not yet responded. In recent years, Benedict XVI has become noticeably very frail, immobile, and unable to speak clearly, but Archbishop Gänswein and various visitors have testified to his mental alertness and relatively good health. Earlier this month, Pope Francis praised the Pope Emeritus saying that “all of us sense his spiritual presence, his accompaniment in prayer for the whole Church and his constant contemplative gaze.” Pope Francis was presenting the Ratzinger Prize to French Jesuit theologian Michel Fédou and Jewish law professor Joseph Weiler. Benedict was not present at the ceremony but received the prize winners at his residence.

From today, emphases added by me. Vatican News later posted this:

[eyecantread]

Look, Pope Benedict helped cover up the biggest systemic sexual abuse of children in Catholic history; why in the hell is everyone focused on his childhood? Everyone who brings up the fact that Benedict was a member of the Hitler Youth as some sort of gotcha is missing the point and making it super easy for his defenders to whitewash his real crimes by distracting us from his actual fuck ups. He wasn't a Nazi. He was a child in Nazi Germany and there's a difference. Benedict joined the Hitler Youth as a child. You know who else did? Every other able bodied German child whose parents couldn't flee the country or in prison or being targeted by the holocaust. Membership in the Hitler Youth was required by law, it wasn't voluntary. He also served in the German military during the twilight of WWII, but as a non-com and a draftee at that! He spent the last days of the war in an allied prisoner of war camp! His parents hated the nazis and members of his own family were killed by them. It's not something that can or should be held against him. He was drafted when he was 16 years old. What can and should absolutely be held against him are the things he did and failed to do as an adult member of the clergy with the power to do things! In January 2022, a report written by German law firm Westpfahl Spilker Wastl and commissioned by the Catholic Church concluded that Cardinal Ratzinger failed to adequately take action against clerics in four cases of alleged abuse while he was Archbishop of Munich and Freising from 1977 to 1982. Criticize the man by all means for not using his power to stop sex abuse in the church, he absolutely deserves it! But don't condemn him for what he had to do as a powerless child and citizen under the most fascist regime of the 20th century! You're helping to take focus away from his actual fuck ups and the very real victims of the Vatican when you do this!

[martinwilliammichael]

The Virgin is the conqueror of all heresies

As a young theologian in the time before (and also during) the Council, I had, as many did then and still do today, some reservations in regard to certain ancient formulas, as, for example, that famous De Maria nunquam satis, 'concerning Mary one can never say enough.' It seemed exaggerated to me. So it was difficult for me later to understand the true meaning of another famous expression (current in the Church since the first centuries when — after a memorable dispute — the Council of Ephesus, in 431, had proclaimed Mary Theotokos, Mother of God). The declaration, namely, that designated the Virgin as 'the conqueror of all heresies'. Now — in this confused period where truly every type of heretical aberration seems to be pressing upon the doors of the authentic faith — now I understand that it was not a matter of pious exaggerations, but of truths that today are more valid than ever.

The Ratzinger report : an exclusive interview on the state of the Church by Joseph Ratzinger, Joseph and Vittorio Messori, Leominster, Herefordshire : Fowler Wright Books, 1985, p. 105-106

Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

[dankusner]

By Sinead O'Connor | Sunday, March 28, 2010

When I was a child, Ireland was a Catholic theocracy.

If a bishop came walking down the street, people would move to make a path for him.

If a bishop attended a national sporting event, the team would kneel to kiss his ring.

If someone made a mistake, instead of saying, "Nobody's perfect," we said, "Ah sure, it could happen to a bishop."

The expression was more accurate than we knew.

This month, Pope Benedict XVI wrote a pastoral letter of apology -- of sorts -- to Ireland to atone for decades of sexual abuse of minors by priests whom those children were supposed to trust.

To many people in my homeland, the pope's letter is an insult not only to our intelligence, but to our faith and to our country.

To understand why, one must realize that we Irish endured a brutal brand of Catholicism that revolved around the humiliation of children.

I experienced this personally.

When I was a young girl, my mother -- an abusive, less-than-perfect parent -- encouraged me to shoplift.

After being caught once too often, I spent 18 months in An Grianán Training Centre, an institution in Dublin for girls with behavioral problems, at the recommendation of a social worker.

An Grianán was one of the now-infamous church-sponsored "Magdalene laundries," which housed pregnant teenagers and uncooperative young women.

We worked in the basement, washing priests' clothes in sinks with cold water and bars of soap.

We studied math and typing.

We had limited contact with our families.

We earned no wages.

One of the nuns, at least, was kind to me and gave me my first guitar.

An Grianán was a product of the Irish government's relationship with the Vatican -- the church had a "special position" codified in our constitution until 1972.

As recently as 2007, 98 percent of Irish schools were run by the Catholic Church.

But schools for troubled youth have been rife with barbaric corporal punishments, psychological abuse and sexual abuse.

In October 2005, a report sponsored by the Irish government identified more than 100 allegations of sexual abuse by priests in Ferns, a small town 70 miles south of Dublin, between 1962 and 2002.

Accused priests weren't investigated by police; they were deemed to be suffering a "moral" problem.

In 2009, a similar report implicated Dublin archbishops in hiding sexual abuse scandals between 1975 and 2004.

Why was such criminal behavior tolerated?

The "very prominent role which the Church has played in Irish life is the very reason why abuses by a minority of its members were allowed to go unchecked," the 2009 report said.

Despite the church's long entanglement with the Irish government, Pope Benedict's so-called apology takes no responsibility for the transgressions of Irish priests.

His letter states that "the Church in Ireland must first acknowledge before the Lord and before others the serious sins committed against defenceless children."

What about the Vatican's complicity in those sins?

Benedict's apology gives the impression that he heard about abuse only recently, and it presents him as a fellow victim:

"I can only share in the dismay and the sense of betrayal that so many of you have experienced on learning of these sinful and criminal acts and the way Church authorities in Ireland dealt with them."

But Benedict's infamous 2001 letter to bishops around the world ordered them to keep sexual abuse allegations secret under threat of excommunication -- updating a noxious church policy, expressed in a 1962 document, that both priests accused of sex crimes and their victims "observe the strictest secret" and be "restrained by a perpetual silence."

Benedict, then known as Joseph Ratzinger, was a cardinal when he wrote that letter.

Now that he sits in Saint Peter's chair, are we to believe that his position has changed?

And are we to take comfort in last week's revelations that, in 1996, he declined to defrock a priest who may have molested as many as 200 deaf boys in Wisconsin?

Benedict's apology states that his concern is "above all, to bring healing to the victims."

Yet he denies them the one thing that might bring them healing -- a full confession from the Vatican that it has covered up abuse and is now trying to cover up the cover up.

Astonishingly, he invites Catholics "to offer up your fasting, your prayer, your reading of Scripture and your works of mercy in order to obtain the grace of healing and renewal for the Church in Ireland."

Even more astonishing, he suggests that Ireland's victims can find healing by getting closer to the church -- the same church that has demanded oaths of silence from molested children, as occurred in 1975 in the case of Father Brendan Smyth, an Irish priest later jailed for repeated sexual offenses.

After we stopped laughing, many of us in Ireland recognized the idea that we needed the church to get closer to Jesus as blasphemy.

To Irish Catholics, Benedict's implication -- Irish sexual abuse is an Irish problem -- is both arrogant and blasphemous.

The Vatican is acting as though it doesn't believe in a God who watches.

The very people who say they are the keepers of the Holy Spirit are stamping all over everything the Holy Spirit truly is.

Benedict criminally misrepresents the God we adore.

We all know in our bones that the Holy Spirit is truth.

That's how we can tell that Christ is not with these people who so frequently invoke Him.

Irish Catholics are in a dysfunctional relationship with an abusive organization.

The pope must take responsibility for the actions of his subordinates.

If Catholic priests are abusing children, it is Rome, not Dublin, that must answer for it with a full confession and in a criminal investigation.

Until it does, all good Catholics -- even little old ladies who go to church every Sunday, not just protest singers like me whom the Vatican can easily ignore -- should avoid Mass.

In Ireland, it is time we separated our God from our religion, and our faith from its alleged leaders.

Almost 18 years ago, I tore up a picture of Pope John Paul II on an episode of "Saturday Night Live."

Many people did not understand the protest -- the next week, the show's guest host, actor Joe Pesci, commented that, had he been there, "I would have gave her such a smack."

I knew my action would cause trouble, but I wanted to force a conversation where there was a need for one; that is part of being an artist.

All I regretted was that people assumed I didn't believe in God.

That's not the case at all.

I'm Catholic by birth and culture and would be the first at the church door if the Vatican offered sincere reconciliation.

As Ireland withstands Rome's offensive apology while an Irish bishop resigns, I ask Americans to understand why an Irish Catholic woman who survived child abuse would want to rip up the pope's picture.

And whether Irish Catholics, because we daren't say "we deserve better," should be treated as though we deserve less.

lucille6@mac.com

Sinead O'Connor, a musician and mother of four, lives in Dublin.

[teratologique]

Hold on, gonna read Joseph Ratzinger's 1985 report on gender just to figure out wtf this means

[giancarlonicoli]

10 dic 2023 18:20

LA “BANDA DEI BUONI” USAVA I MORTI IN MARE PER IMPIETOSIRE BERGOGLIO – LUCA CASARINI & CO., ALLA RICERCA DI SOLDI PER LE MISSIONI DELLA NAVE MARE JONIO E PER PAGARE GLI STIPENDI, NELLE CHAT PROGETTAVANO DI USARE L’ELENCO RISERVATO DEI MIGRANTI SCOMPARSI: “COSÌ FRANCESCO PERDERÀ LA TESTA PER L'ASSOCIAZIONE MEDITERRANEA” – LE ISTRUZIONI IPOCRITE AI VESCOVI: “NON CHIEDETE VERSAMENTI DIRETTI PER LA ONG” – IL CAPPELLANO DELLA MARE JONIO, DON MATTIA: “CON RATZINGER ALTRO CHE VATICANO NOSTRO AMICO”. E CASARINI: “BERGOGLIO COI SOLDI AI TRANS GLI HA FATTO VENIRE UN COLPO” -

Estratto dell’articolo di Giacomo Amadori per “La Verità”

In piena emergenza Covid la banda di Luca Casarini & C. era alla disperata ricerca di soldi per le missioni della nave Mare Jonio (per la verità molto poche), per acquistare un nuovo battello (missione non ancora riuscita) e per pagare gli stipendi (soprattutto quelli dell’armatore Beppe Caccia e di Casarini). Anche perché le spese fatte dai fondatori dell’associazione Mediterranea e della compagnia armatoriale Idra social shipping, secondo gli investigatori, nonostante gli stipendi non stellari (sotto i 2.000 euro) erano notevoli.

Per esempio in un’annotazione delle Fiamme gialle sui conti correnti di Casarini si legge: «Le somme percepite dai soggetti indagati non corrispondono a quanto effettivamente dichiarato anche alla luce del sistematico utilizzo di carte di credito prepagate intestate alla società, ma di fatto utilizzate per fini personali o per far transitare somme provenienti dai conti correnti aziendali. Al riguardo si precisa che il capo missione della Mare Jonio (in quel momento probabilmente Caccia, ma anche Casarini lo è stato, ndr) e principale indagato riceve mensilmente una media di euro 6.000 a titolo di rimborso spese dalla società armatrice Idra social shipping il cui conto corrente è alimentato da bonifici effettuati dalla Mediterranea saving humans Aps».

Quindi nel 2020 i nostri erano particolarmente affamati di soldi, nonostante il supporto dell’allora arcivescovo di Bologna Matteo Zuppi, il quale, oltre a donare i primi 50.000 euro consigliò alla ciurma come convincere gli altri monsignori («Ha detto di dire ai vescovi di non menzionare Med nella richiesta a Konrad Krajewskij», l’elemosiniere del Papa).

[…]

E verso novembre un bonifico della Fondazione migrantes portò a 150.000 euro «la quota di soldi avuti dalla Chiesa. Ma i soldi era considerati insufficienti e quando il vescovo emerito Domenico Mogavero portò in dono sulla nave dolci di pasta di mandorle fatti dalle suore benedettine, due bottiglie di vino Marsala («ottime» ci fa sapere Casarini) e un assegno di 1.000 euro, l’ex assessore veneziano Caccia, replica sarcastico: «Con la visita di altri 959 vescovi potremo acquistare la nave nuova».

Sarà per questo che i due imputati per favoreggiamento dell’immigrazione clandestina e il loro cappellano di bordo, don Mattia Ferrari, puntano, cinicamente, a colpire la sensibilità del Papa. Per esempio, il 14 agosto 2020, don Mattia chiede di poter vedere «la foto del ragazzo crocifisso» e, magari, di poterla mandare ai vescovi.

In realtà si tratta di uno screenshot estrapolato da un breve video in cui si vede il cadavere di un migrante che galleggia in mare con le braccia e le gambe spalancate. Casarini è dubbioso: «Quella foto vorrei mandarla solo al Papa e a Cz», ovvero il cardinale canadese Michael Czerny, particolarmente vicino al Pontefice. «Per i vescovi sto preparando una lettera/report in cui descriviamo».

Dopo due mesi l’ex leader delle Tute bianche rivela che uso abbia fatto di quel filmato con il morto, mentre sta scrivendo un articolo sulle torture in Libia a danno dei migranti: «Ho un’idea: e se ai vescovi facessimo giungere la mia famosa lettera al Papa, quella in cui parlo del crocefisso in mare con la foto, ovviamente attualizzando ad oggi? Cioè parliamo a uno perché intendano gli altri». Il cappellano risponde che «ci può stare».

Ma tra le mosse promozionali che lasciano interdetti ce n’è un’altra altrettanto macabra. E la lancia don Mattia il 18 aprile 2020: «Ragazzi, un’altra cosa importante, che potrebbe essere molto utile. Visto che sappiamo i nomi delle persone morte e chi sono i loro familiari, potremmo chiedere ai loro familiari o amici di scrivere una lettera al Papa. Sicuramente Czerny gliela porterebbe». Casarini anche in questo caso non è completamente d’accordo: «Troppo complicato ora. Ovviamente questa cosa dei nomi è super riservata».

Il cappellano non si arrende: «Però teniamola presente come possibilità per il futuro. Il Papa in generale a questa cosa dei nomi tiene moltissimo. Quindi fargli sapere che li sappiamo sarebbe fargli perdere la testa per Med. E una lettera dei familiari, la farebbe appendere su tutte le bacheche». Un marketing cimiteriale, degno dell’agenzia Taffo, in cui i morti diventano figurine da utilizzare per ottenere finanziamenti dalla Chiesa.

Nelle chat colpiscono molto anche le considerazioni riservate a Papa Benedetto XVI, al secolo Joseph Ratzinger, morto l’ultimo giorno dello scorso anno. È il 4 maggio 2020 ed è appena uscito nelle librerie tedesche Ein Leben, la biografia di mille pagine del giornalista amico Peter Seewald. Il volume contiene un’intervista intitolata «Le ultime domande a Benedetto XVI», in cui il Pontefice emerito denuncia: «Mi vogliono silenziare». Don Mattia è molto critico: «Avete visto le ultime uscite di Ratzinger? Se c’era ancora lui, altro che il rapporto di Med con la Chiesa».

[…]

Il cappellano fa presente come sarebbe la situazione senza Francesco: «Non avremmo avuto neanche Zuppi a Bologna, Lorefice (l’arcivescovo Corrado, ndr) a Palermo e Czerny cardinale». Ovvero i bancomat della banda. E sebbene Ratzinger nell’intervista non avesse attaccato Jorge Mario Bergoglio e anzi avesse assicurato che l’amicizia con lui era cresciuta, don Mattia ironizza: «Con i soldi dati ai trans da Papa Francesco gli è venuto un colpo». Anche perché il Papa emerito, nel tomo, sosteneva che il «matrimonio omosessuale» e l’«aborto» sono il «potere spirituale dell’Anticristo». […]

Addirittura Don Mattia posta un cuore quando Casarini cita il libro Impero dell’ex «cattivo maestro» padovano Toni Negri e di Michael Hardt, in cui è scritto che «la leggenda di San Francesco d’Assisi» potrebbe «illuminare la vita futura della militanza comunista».

[…]

A un certo punto don Mattia punta a diventare presidente di Mediterranea: «Per quanto riguarda la gestione interna di Med, ricordatevi anche che se si va verso l’ipotesi di una mia presidenza […], l’autorizzazione di don Erio è fondamentale perché la nomina possa avere effetto. Nel caso, potete fargli il nome di don Luigi Ciotti come esempio di prete presidente di un’associazione».

Purtroppo per il giovane prelato il via libera non arriva.

Il giovanotto chiede il parere a Czerny, specificando che i membri dell’associazione lo vorrebbero incoronare e che Zuppi e Castellucci pensano che dovrebbe accettare, ma ammette anche che forse non sarebbe un buon presidente. E il cardinale canadese lo gela: «Sono d’accordo con la tua conclusione (no grazie), anche se saresti un buon presidente. Per favore, prova a rifiutare con fermezza».

Zuppi suggerisce: «Fatti fare onorario. Lui forse non vuole che ti identifichi e prendi responsabilità dirette». Pure il vescovo Castellucci frena l’entusiasmo del candidato: «Anche la Congregazione della dottrina della Fede chiede di declinare, forse è bene che tu chieda a Luca e Beppe di pazientare almeno per un mandato». L’aspirante presidente è scorato: «Non ho capito che sta succedendo».

Casarini non vuole problemi: «Scrivigli che farai così e che ti fidi di loro». Don Mattia si scalda: «Certo non ho scelta. Ma questa modalità di Czerny che non dà spiegazioni e che pare che sia intervenuta la Congregazione per la dottrina della fede mi fa arrabbiare». Caccia prova a smorzare la tensione: «Niente di grave: sanno anche Loro quanto vali e vogliono tenerti a far carriera nella Loro Organizzazione».

Casarini prova a inserirsi: «Siamo Mediterranea, mica la bocciofila». E il cappellano rincara: «Io tengo più a Mediterranea che a far carriera nella mia organizzazione». E conclude: «Il segretario della Congregazione per la dottrina della fede è un destrone. È contro le Ong». Probabilmente il riferimento è all’attuale vescovo di Reggio Emilia Giacomo Morandi. Caccia, curiale, chiude il discorso: «La Provvidenza farà in modo che tutto funzioni per il meglio».

[violetsystems]

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -Pope Francis has ordered Archbishop Georg Gaenswein, the private secretary and long-time aide of the late Pope Benedict, to return to his native Germany by the end of the month without any new assignment, the Vatican said on Thursday.

A Vatican statement put an end speculation about what role Gaenswein, a powerful figure in the Vatican for more than a decade before Francis sidelined him after a personal falling out, would have in the Church.

Former Pope Benedict died on Dec. 31, nearly a decade after he resigned in 2013, the first pontiff to do so in 600 years.

Gaenswein is 66 and it is exceptionally unusual for someone of that relatively young age and rank not to have an assignment, giving the pope's decision a sense of banishment.

The two-line statement said Francis "had disposed" that the 66-year-old Gaenswein return to his diocese of Freiburg "for the time being".

Nearly all papal secretaries in the past have either been assigned to lead dioceses or made cardinals or given some other high-profile post. Gaenswein is nine years short of the normal retirement age of 75 for bishops.

He has met Francis several times in the past months about his future and there has been speculation in Catholic media that he was hoping to land a diplomatic assignment as nuncio, or ambassador, to a country.

Gaenswein declined to comment when contacted by Reuters on Thursday.

He was Benedict's personal secretary from 2003, when Benedict was still Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, and remained at his side for nearly 20 years, nearly 10 of them after Benedict resigned.

In a book called "Nothing But The Truth - My Life Beside Benedict XVI" and sent to reporters by its publisher only hours after Benedict was buried on Jan. 5, Gaenswein rattled the Vatican by describing what he says were strains while two men wearing white lived within its walls.

Gaenswein and Francis fell out in 2020 when Gaenswein was at the centre of a messy episode concerning former Pope Benedict's role in a book about priestly celibacy that many saw as an attack on Francis' authority.

[noisynutcrusade]

Abuse victim seeks damages from Pope Benedict XVI

MUNICH — A victim of sexual abuse is reported to be suing retired Pope Benedict XVI in connection with the Munich abuse scandal. The German Catholic news agency KNA reported the victim has accused Pope Benedict — who, as Joseph Ratzinger served as archbishop of Munich and Freising from 1977 to 1982 — of having “responsibly approved” the appointment of a priest as a pastoral minister in a Bavarian…

[amicidomenicani]

Question Dear Father Angelo, I have been thinking about these two questions for a while.  1) Is there a difference between Jesus’ body after resurrection and Mary’s body after assumption? 2) Mary speaks very little in the Gospels. Can we assume that many stories of Jesus’ life, such as the Annunciation, Joseph’s dream, the visit to St. Elizabeth with the related Magnificat and Zechariah’s Benedictus, the details of Jesus’ birth, the escape to Egypt, the presentation to the Temple, etc., were narrated, to the evangelists or to other people, by Mary herself? Thanks for your always clear answers. Raffaele Answer Dear Raffaele, 1. Regarding your first question: there is no difference between the risen body of Jesus and the body of Mary after assumption, except for their own identity. St. Paul says that Jesus “will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be conformed to his glorified body by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself.” (Phil. 3,21) 2. What is true for Our Lady will also be true for each of us. The Lord, by virtue of His divine power, will transfigure the body where we now live, which is subject to many miseries and infirmities, and ultimately to the corruption of death, to conform it to His glorious body.  3. Regarding your second question: the events of Jesus’ childhood cannot have any other original source than Our Lady. St. Luke, in the prologue to his Gospel, says that others before him had tried to put the events of Christ’s life in order. The first source has been the narration of “those who were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word from the beginning” (Luke 1,2). Putting together the two expressions “those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning” and “ministers of the word”, it becomes evident that he is talking about the Apostles and Jesus’ immediate disciples. 4. But from whom did the Apostles and the disciples learn the events regarding Jesus’ childhood? There is just one possible answer: from Our Lady. Here is what Benedict XVI (J. Ratzinger) writes on this topic: “Where do Matthew and Luke learn the story they tell? What are their sources? Joachim Gnilka rightly says in this regard that it is evidently a matter of family traditions.  Luke sometimes mentions that Mary herself, the Mother of Jesus, was one of his sources, and he does so in a particular way when he says in 2,51 that "His mother pondered all these things in her heart", or in 2,19, that “As for Mary, she treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart”. Only she could report the event of the Annunciation, which had no human witnesses. Naturally, modern "critical" exegesis will suggest that such connections are rather naïve. But why shouldn’t such a tradition be there, preserved and at the same time theologically modeled in the closest circle? Why should Luke have made up the sentence about Mary keeping words and events in her heart, if there was no concrete reference? Why should he have spoken about her “reflecting” on words (2,19; also 1,29), if nothing was known about it? (Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives, pp. 24-25) 5. Benedict XVI does not conclude that Saint Luke drew directly from Our Lady, but certainly from those who learned directly from Her. Regarding the fact that Marian traditions appeared relatively late, Benedict XVI “finds the explanation in the discretion of the Mother and the circles around her: the sacred events about the “morning” of her life could not become a public tradition while she herself was still alive” (Ib., p. 25). I thank you for the questions, I remember you to the Lord and I bless you. Father Angelo

[swldx]

RNZ Pacific 1333 1 Jan 2023

7390Khz 1259 1 JAN 2023 - RNZ PACIFIC (NEW ZEALAND) in ENGLISH from RANGITAIKI. SINPO = 55333. English, s/on w/bellbird int. until pips and news @1300z anchored by Catriona MacLeod. China and the United States must pursue dialogue rather than confrontation and avoid the mistakes made during the Cold War, top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi said on Sunday in his first public comments since his appointment as head of the ruling Communist Party's foreign affairs office. Wang was replaced as China's foreign minister on Friday by Qin Gang, former ambassador to the United States, but he was widely expected to retain a prominent role in foreign policy after his promotion in October to the Communist Party's Politburo, the country's top decision-making body. In an essay published in the official Party journal Seeking Truth, Wang urged major countries to "set an example" in the face of multiple challenges, citing China's strengthened cooperation with Russia over 2022. Within minutes of the announcement of the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict the 16th on Saturday morning, a wealth of tributes flowed in from world leaders and religious figures including the Archbishop of Canterbury and Jewish advocates. But others including LGBTQ+ advocates were restrained in marking the passing of 95 year old Benedict Before being elected pontiff in 2005 as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, he had long served as the Vatican's doctrinal watchdog ensuring orthodoxy on issues including homosexual activity, which the Catholic Church considers a sin. New Zealand isn't convinced that holding statutory power to close a beach would be helpful. Enforcement powers are one of the recommendations in the coroner's report, on the death of Kaylee, Marlowe after she was attacked by a shark in 2021. Organisers of the Rhythm and Vines festivals say they're working with authorities after two, pedestrians were fatally hit last night by a car near the Gisborne site. One died at the scene of the crash on back Ormond Road about quarter past nine. While the other was critically injured and died later in hospital. Charity runner Gary McKee completes a marathon a day for a year. On the last day of the year, Gary McKee crossed the finish line of the last of the 365 marathons he has run in 2022. The father-of-three from Cumbria set himself the challenge of running a marathon a day to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support and West Cumbria Hospice at Home. Several hours after he completed the last run, the total on his fundraising page reached his target of £1m, which will be shared between the two charities. @1303z trailer for RNZ "Summertimes" program. @1304z Weather Forecast: partly cloudy, light showers. @1306z "All Night Programme" anchored by Catriona MacLeod. Backyard fence antenna, Etón e1XM. 100kW, beamAz 35°, bearing 240°. Received at Plymouth, United States, 12912KM from transmitter at Rangitaiki. Local time: 0659.

[underthewingsofthblackeagle]

In memoriam Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI [This documentary was originally released in 2013 and has since been updated.]          On 19 April 2005 Joseph Ratzinger was elected head of the Roman Catholic Church. He took the name Benedict XVI. Critics saw him as the embodiment of emotionless dogma; supporters viewed him as guardian of the true faith.          Benedict XVI. was the first German Pope for almost 500 years and only the second Pope in the history of the Roman Catholic Church to resign voluntarily. Even as a young theologian, Ratzinger, born on 16 April 1927 in the Bavarian village of Marktl am Inn, soon carved out a reputation as an outstanding scholar. He initially espoused progressive positions within the church and during the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), tackled the matter of how the life of the church might be directed in the 20th century and beyond. But at the latest in 1981, when Pope John Paul II. appointed him head of the Catholic Church’s spiritual watchdog, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, he began to see himself as guardian of the church’s treasury of faith. As Pope, he denounced the ‘Marxist tendencies’ of the teachings of liberation theology in Latin America and Asia. He demanded the strict separation of church and politics. As pontifex maximus, he saw himself as less of a bridge-builder and more of a guardian of the truth. Time and time again, Pope Benedict XVI. had to respond in the name of the Catholic Church to allegations of abuse leveled at Catholic clergy. During the concluding mass of the International Year for Priests at the Vatican, the Pope issued a public apology. He remained in his post at the helm of the Holy See for eight years. But then, in the year 2013, he suddenly tendered his resignation. He felt his strengths were dwindling and "no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry”. The abdication of Benedict XVI. was the first voluntary resignation of a Pope for more than 700 years. But even in the wake of his retirement, he was haunted by the scandalous conduct of Catholic clerics. An independent report concluded that during his tenure as the Archbishop of Munich, Benedict had known about allegations of sexual misconduct against pastors in his diocese. This documentary looks at the background to this event, which was highly significant in terms of both world and church politics and gives an insight into the life of the former theology professor, bishop and head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

[irunevenus]

Have the Popes Involved in Major Sexual Abuse and Pedophilia Scandals, as Cited in the Previous Post, Been Duly Punished? What Happened?

The popes involved in clerical sexual abuse cases and widespread cover-ups have rarely faced legal consequences or direct punishment for their roles in these scandals. Instead, in many cases, the Catholic Church dealt with these issues internally, and the responses ranged from symbolic measures to limited disciplinary actions, with no significant criminal penalties. Below is an overview of the involvement of recent popes in abuse scandals and the repercussions they faced:

1. Pope John Paul II (1978–2005)

John Paul II has been widely criticized for neglecting the issue of sexual abuse and, in some cases, for protecting accused clergy. The most emblematic case during his papacy was that of Father Marcial Maciel, founder of the Legionaries of Christ, accused of sexually abusing seminarians and leading a secret life with children. Allegations against Maciel began surfacing in the 1990s, but John Paul II, who saw Maciel as an ally due to his financial contributions and vocations for the Church, did not take significant action.

Repercussions: John Paul II faced no direct punishment for his inaction. In fact, he was canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church in 2014, a move that sparked controversy, especially in light of evidence that he ignored or downplayed cases of sexual abuse.

2. Pope Benedict XVI (2005–2013)

Before becoming pope, Benedict XVI, while still Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, was head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the institution responsible for handling clerical sexual abuse cases. Although he took some internal measures to prosecute abusive clergy, he was criticized for not acting with the necessary firmness in several cases, particularly during the 1980s and 1990s. However, during his papacy, Benedict XVI apologized to victims on several occasions and removed accused priests, including Marcial Maciel.

Resignation: In 2013, Benedict XVI became the first pope in over 600 years to resign. Although he cited old age and lack of strength as reasons for his resignation, many believe that mounting pressure related to sexual abuse scandals played a significant role. However, he faced no criminal or legal punishment following his resignation and has since lived in seclusion in the Vatican.

3. Pope Francis (2013–present)

Pope Francis took office in 2013 and has faced criticism for his ambivalent response to sexual abuse scandals. At times, he has been praised for his more open stance and for implementing new guidelines to hold bishops accountable for covering up abuse. However, Francis has also been criticized for mishandling certain cases, such as the Chile scandal, where he initially defended a bishop accused of covering up abuse, only to later retract and accept his resignation.

Reforms: In 2019, Francis implemented a new policy known as "Vos Estis Lux Mundi," which obliges clergy to report abuse and cover-ups, and established mechanisms to investigate bishops. However, there have been no direct punitive actions against the pope himself or other high-ranking church leaders for covering up past abuses.

Ongoing cases: Francis has shown a willingness to remove bishops and cardinals accused of cover-ups or misconduct, but he has not faced any punishment for the Church's past actions. His focus has been on internal reform, without legal accountability for previous popes.

The Case of Bishops and Cardinals Involved

While popes have rarely faced direct punishment, some bishops and cardinals implicated in sexual abuse scandals have faced greater repercussions:

Cardinal Bernard Law: Archbishop of Boston during the height of the abuse crisis in the U.S., he was forced to resign in 2002 after it was revealed that he had transferred abusive priests from one parish to another. However, instead of facing criminal investigation, Law was transferred to Rome and given an honorary position at the Basilica of St. Mary Major. He was never formally punished or imprisoned, and he lived the rest of his life in the Vatican until his death in 2017.

Cardinal Theodore McCarrick: McCarrick, former archbishop of Washington, was one of the few cardinals to be laicized (removed from the clerical state) due to sexual abuse allegations. In 2019, after investigations, he was found guilty of sexual abuse of minors and adults. This was one of the first times a high-ranking cardinal faced such punishment. However, McCarrick was not imprisoned and did not face legal punishment beyond losing his ecclesiastical status.

Conclusion

Despite the numerous sexual abuse scandals and cover-ups revealed in documents like the Ryan Report and the Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report, the popes involved in these cases have not been criminally punished or imprisoned. Instead, the Church’s response has been largely internal, with symbolic measures and the implementation of new guidelines and reforms to address the crisis.

The lack of legal punishment for the popes and many of the bishops and cardinals involved remains a deeply controversial issue, especially for victims, who often cry out for more justice and accountability. The consequences for popes and the Church's leadership have generally been limited to resignations and quiet retirements, with no significant legal or criminal repercussions.

Personal Observation: How can they expect the flock to be good and pure if those who lead them are walking towards the very hell they describe?

[patriciafortunato]

“In her very person as a Jewish girl become the mother of the Messiah, Mary binds together, in a living and indissoluble way, the old and the new People of God, Israel and Christianity, synagogue and church. She is, as it were, the connecting link without which the Faith (as is happening today) runs the risk of losing its balance by either forsaking the New Testament for the Old or dispensing with the Old. In her, instead, we can live the unity of sacred Scripture in its entirety.

To use the very formulations of Vatican II, Mary is ‘figure,’ ‘image’ and ‘model’ of the Church. Beholding her the Church is shielded against the aforementioned masculinized model that views her as an instrument for a program of social–political action. In Mary, as figure and archetype, the Church again finds her own visage as Mother and cannot degenerate into the complexity of a party, an organization or a pressure group in the service of human interests, even the noblest. If Mary no longer finds a place in many theologies and ecclesiologies, the reason is obvious: they have reduced faith to an abstraction. And an abstraction does not need a Mother.”

Excerpted from Rapporto Sulla Fede, a series of 1985 interviews given by Pope Benedict XVI to Vittorio Messori. Recently, I found this book in my archives from high school and this excerpt—Women, a Woman—summates the beauty and truth of our veneration of Mary. ♥

[appliedmariology]

Activism, the will to be “productive,” “relevant,” come what may, is the constant temptation of the man, even of the male religious. And this is precisely the basis trend in the ecclesiologies . . . that present the Church as a “People of God” committed to action, busily engaged in translating the Gospel into an action program with social, political, and cultural objectives. But it is no accident if the word “Church” is of feminine gender. In her, in fact, lives the mystery of motherhood, of gratitude, of contemplation, of beauty, of values in short that appear useless in the eyes of the profane world. Without perhaps being fully conscience of the reason, the woman religious feels the deep disquiet of living in a Church where Christianity is reduced to an ideology of doing, according to that strictly masculine ecclesiology which nevertheless is presented — and perhaps believed — as being closer also to women and their “modern” needs. Instead it is the project of a Church in which there is no longer any room for mystical experience, for this pinnacle of religious life which not by chance has been, through the centuries, among the glories and riches offered to all in unbroken constancy and fullness, more by women than by men.

Joseph Ratzinger, The Ratzinger Report (1985), quoted at NLM.