SEPTEMBER 30, 2016
Quo Vadis, Papa Francisco?
38-CONFESSIONAL ABSOLUTION WITHOUT A SHRED OF REPENTANCE
Pope Francis’ first book The Name of God is Mercy, A Conversation with Andrea Tornielli, a New York Times bestseller, was published early 2016 in conjunction with the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy.
Andrea Tornielli is a veteran Vatican reporter, correspondent for La Stampa, and director of the Vatican Insider website. He also writes for a variety of Italian and international magazines. His publications include the first biography of the Pope, Francis: Pope of a New World, which was translated into sixteen languages, and This Economy Kills: Pope Francis on Capitalism and Social Justice, which was translated into nine languages.
In this conversation with Vatican reporter Andrea Tornielli, Francis explains—through memories from his youth and moving anecdotes from his experiences as a pastor—why “mercy is the first attribute of God.” God “does not want anyone to be lost. His mercy is infinitely greater than our sins,” he writes. As well, the Church cannot close the door on anyone, Francis asserts—on the contrary, its duty is to go out into the world to find its way into the consciousness of people so that they can assume responsibility for, and move away from, the bad things they have done. […]
“Francis has offered his most detailed outline yet for the role of the Catholic church in the modern era.”—National Catholic Reporter.
Source: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27405142-the-name-of-god-is-mercy
If the liberal pro-choice, pro-women’s ordination rag, the National Catholic Reporter, finds the Pope’s “merciful” attitude commendable, it is sufficient reason to look closely at the contents of the book.
As for Andrea Tornielli, he is raking in the moolah on this very expensive small book (INR Rs. 499)
An excerpt from the book, Chapter III, Looking for the Smallest Opening, pages 32, 33
How do we recognize that we ourselves are sinners? What would you say to someone who doesn’t feel like one?
I would advise him to ask for the grace of feeling like one! Yes, because even recognizing oneself as a sinner is a grace. Don Luigi Giussani used to quote this example from Bruce Marshall’s novel To Every Man a Penny. The protagonist of the novel, the abbot Father Gaston, needs to hear the confession of a young German soldier whom the French partisans are about to sentence to death. The soldier confesses his love of women and the numerous amorous adventures he has had. The young priest explains that he has to repent to obtain forgiveness and absolution. The soldier answers, “How can I repent? It was something that I enjoyed, and if I had the chance I would do it again, even now. How can I repent?”
Father Gaston, who wants to absolve the man who has been marked by destiny and who’s about to die, has a stroke of inspiration and asks, “But are you sorry that you are not sorry?” The young man answers impulsively. “Yes, I am sorry that I am not sorry.” In other words, he apologizes for not repenting. The door was opened just a crack, allowing absolution to come in.
A theologian pointed out to me that this is plain heresy, after which I reflected on the situation which Pope Francis speaks of to Andrea Tornielli as an example of the “smallest opening” for mercy to sinners.
The young soldier has neither remorse for his sins of lustful indulgence nor the intention of not committing them again. There is no sorrow or regret for his sins, no resolution to atone for them or to amend his life. His only admission is that he is sorry that he is not sorry, which is no grounds for absolution. To compound matters, he would repeat the very same offenses against God were he given the opportunity again.
If the referred Father Gaston did indeed “absolve” the soldier, he is himself guilty of sin.
And so, most unfortunately, is Pope Francis if he condones the “absolution” given by Father Gaston, as he quite apparently has. I have to concede that my priest-theologian friend is correct. This is a new, modernist catechism from Pope Francis, very much in character with many of his other pronouncements, and is heresy.
The soldier received absolutely no grace from the “small opening” onto the broad road to perdition given to him by the priest. He did not meet the required dispositions and did not make a valid Confession. True mercy, towards the impenitent soldier, contrary to Pope Francis’ interpretation, would have been for the priest to confront him with the fact that he would be immediately consigned to eternal damnation on his execution.
On the part of the penitent, the Sacrament of Penance includes three distinct acts: (a) contrition or sorrow for his sins; (b) confession or telling them to the priest; and (c) satisfaction or performance of the penance imposed by the priest.
A penitent is absolved IF he confesses his sins with sorrow, makes a resolution to atone for them, and promises to amend his life.
The priest refuses absolution to a penitent when he thinks that the penitent does not have the necessary dispositions. The confessor is a judge in the confessional; he must act as judge, looking not only into the sins being confessed, but also into the purpose of amendment, into the sincerity of contrition of the penitent.
Contrition is sincere sorrow for having offended God, and hatred for the sins we have committed, with a firm purpose of sinning no more. God will not forgive us any sin, whether mortal or venial, unless we have true contrition for it … Unless there is sorrow for sin, there is no forgiveness.
The above extracts (with my emphases) are from the Catechism “My Catholic Faith” by Bishop Louis LaRavoire Morrow of Krishnagar, India, pages 316, 317 and 320.
RELATED FILES
MY CATHOLIC FAITH-A CATECHISM BY BISHOP LOUIS RAVOIRE MORROW
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/MY_CATHOLIC_FAITH-A_CATECHISM_BY_BISHOP_LOUIS_RAVOIRE_MORROW.doc
CONFESSION-THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/CONFESSION-THE_SACRAMENT_OF_RECONCILIATION.doc
THE SYNOD ON THE FAMILY-FROM CASUISTRY TO MERCY-THE NEW ART OF PLEASING
QUO VADIS PAPA FRANCISCO 01-WASHING THE FEET OF WOMEN ON MAUNDY THURSDAY
QUO VADIS PAPA FRANCISCO 01A-WASHING THE FEET OF WOMEN ON MAUNDY THURSDAY
QUO VADIS PAPA FRANCISCO 01B-FRANCIS LEGITIMIZES WASHING THE FEET OF WOMEN AFTER VIOLATING RUBRICS
QUO VADIS PAPA FRANCISCO 01C-MAUNDY THURSDAY FOOT WASHING 4.0-MORE REACTIONS
QUO VADIS PAPA FRANCISCO 01D-MAUNDY THURSDAY FOOT KISSING
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/QUO_VADIS_PAPA_FRANCISCO_01D-MAUNDY_THURSDAY_FOOT_KISSING.doc
QUO VADIS PAPA FRANCISCO 02-MEDJUGORJE
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/QUO_VADIS_PAPA_FRANCISCO_02-MEDJUGORJE.doc
QUO VADIS PAPA FRANCISCO 03-HOMOSEXUALITY THE SEX ABUSE CRISIS AND THE GAY LOBBY http://ephesians-511.net/docs/QUO_VADIS_PAPA_FRANCISCO_03-HOMOSEXUALITY_THE_SEX_ABUSE_CRISIS_AND_THE_GAY_LOBBY.doc
QUO VADIS PAPA FRANCISCO 04-COMPROMISED BY NEW AGE ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE?
QUO VADIS PAPA FRANCISCO 05-BAPTISM OF ALIENS
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/QUO_VADIS_PAPA_FRANCISCO_05-BAPTISM_OF_ALIENS.doc
QUO VADIS PAPA FRANCISCO 06-ENDORSEMENT OF A NEW AGE HEALER FROM INDIA?
QUO VADIS PAPA FRANCISCO 08-CONSULTOR TO THE PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR CULTURE PRACTISES NEW AGE ADVOCATES THE HERESY OF WOMEN PRIESTS
QUO VADIS PAPA FRANCISCO 09-THE POPE UNDERGOES NEW AGE TREATMENTS
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/QUO_VADIS_PAPA_FRANCISCO_09-THE_POPE_UNDERGOES_NEW_AGE_TREATMENTS.doc
QUO VADIS PAPA FRANCISCO 10-NEW AGE CONSULTOR TO THE PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR CULTURE NOW DENIGRATES THE EUCHARIST
QUO VADIS PAPA FRANCISCO 11-PRESIDENT OF THE PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR CULTURE JOINS IN RELIGIOUS RITUAL OF NEW AGE CULT
QUO VADIS PAPA FRANCISCO 12-CATHOLIC CRITICISM OF ENCYCLICAL LAUDATO SI’
QUO VADIS PAPA FRANCISCO 13-SOME QUESTIONABLE ECCLESIAL APPOINTMENTS OF POPE FRANCIS
QUO VADIS PAPA FRANCISCO 14-A DANGEROUS POPE CHALLENGING THE CHURCH?
QUO VADIS PAPA FRANCISCO 15-THE POPE SPEAKS ON CLIMATE CHANGE AIR POLLUTION AND A HERETICAL PRIEST EVADES PROLIFE ISSUES
QUO VADIS PAPA FRANCISCO 16-CARDINAL DANNEELS REVEALS THAT HIS CLERICAL MAFIA STRIVED FOR BERGOGLIO AS POPE
QUO VADIS PAPA FRANCISCO 17-HOW WILL TRADITION VIEW POPE FRANCIS’ PAPACY?
QUO VADIS PAPA FRANCISCO 18-CATHOLIC CRITICISM OF POPE FRANCIS’ MOTU PROPRIOS ON MARRIAGE ANNULMENT
QUO VADIS PAPA FRANCISCO 19-CRACKDOWN ON THE FRANCISCAN FRIARS OF THE IMMACULATE
QUO VADIS PAPA FRANCISCO 20-ATHEIST PAPAL ADVISOR BELIEVES IN NEW AGE GODDESS
QUO VADIS PAPA FRANCISCO 21-AWARDED 2015 PERSON OF THE YEAR BY ANTICHRISTIAN PETA
QUO VADIS PAPA FRANCISCO 22-THE CONTRACEPTION AND RABBITGATE CONTROVERSIES
QUO VADIS PAPA FRANCISCO 23-THE LUTHERANIZATION OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
QUO VADIS PAPA FRANCISCO 24-APOSTOLIC DECEPTION AMORIS LAETITIA
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/QUO_VADIS_PAPA_FRANCISCO_24-APOSTOLIC_DECEPTION_AMORIS_LAETITIA.doc
QUO VADIS PAPA FRANCISCO 25-SHAME AND SCANDAL IN THE FAMILY
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/QUO_VADIS_PAPA_FRANCISCO_25-SHAME_AND_SCANDAL_IN_THE_FAMILY.doc
QUO VADIS PAPA FRANCISCO 26-THE DECENTRALIZATION OF DOCTRINAL AUTHORITY
QUO VADIS PAPA FRANCISCO 27-THE CHIEF DRAFTER OF AMORIS LAETITIA AND THE ART OF KISSING
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/QUO_VADIS_PAPA_FRANCISCO_27-THE_CHIEF_DRAFTER_OF_AMORIS_LAETITIA_AND_THE_ART_OF_KISSING.doc
QUO VADIS PAPA FRANCISCO 28- QUO VADIS PAPA FRANCISCO 28-DID GERMAN PELF INFLUENCE THE SYNOD ON THE FAMILY?
QUO VADIS PAPA FRANCISCO 29-PROTESTANT ALPHA COURSE ENDORSED BY POPE FRANCIS
QUO VADIS PAPA FRANCISCO 30-ECUMENISM WITH PROTESTANTS
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/QUO_VADIS_PAPA_FRANCISCO_30-ECUMENISM_WITH_PROTESTANTS.doc
QUO VADIS PAPA FRANCISCO 31-AMORIS LAETITIA-CONTINUING FALLOUT
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/QUO_VADIS_PAPA_FRANCISCO_31-AMORIS_LAETITIA-CONTINUING_FALLOUT.doc
QUO VADIS PAPA FRANCISCO 32-PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR THE FAMILY UNVEILS DIABOLICAL SEX-ED PROGRAMME
QUO VADIS PAPA FRANCISCO 33-POPE FRANCIS DECLINES DONATION BECAUSE OF 666 FIGURE
QUO VADIS PAPA FRANCISCO 34-POPE FRANCIS AND THE HAMMER AND SICKLE CRUCIFIX
QUO VADIS PAPA FRANCISCO 35-RESURREXIFIXES AND A STRANGE CROZIER
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/QUO_VADIS_PAPA_FRANCISCO_35-RESURREXIFIXES_AND_A_STRANGE_CROZIER.doc
QUO VADIS PAPA FRANCISCO 36-THE BENT CROSS CONTROVERSY
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/QUO_VADIS_PAPA_FRANCISCO_36-THE_BENT_CROSS_CONTROVERSY.doc
QUO VADIS PAPA FRANCISCO 37-A BEACH BALL BEFORE THE TABERNACLE
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/QUO_VADIS_PAPA_FRANCISCO_37-A_BEACH_BALL_BEFORE_THE_TABERNACLE.doc
A CLOSED LETTER TO POPE FRANCIS NOW OPEN-FR CONRAD SALDANHA
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/A_CLOSED_LETTER_TO_POPE_FRANCIS_NOW_OPEN-FR_CONRAD_SALDANHA.doc
AN OPEN LETTER TO POPE FRANCIS-FR GEORGE DAVID BYERS
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/AN_OPEN_LETTER_TO_POPE_FRANCIS-FR_GEORGE_DAVID_BYERS.doc
AN OPEN LETTER TO POPE FRANCIS-FR RICHARD CIPOLLA
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/AN_OPEN_LETTER_TO_POPE_FRANCIS-FR_RICHARD_CIPOLLA.doc
AN OPEN LETTER TO POPE FRANCIS-RANDY ENGEL
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/AN_OPEN_LETTER_TO_POPE_FRANCIS-RANDY_ENGEL.doc
AN INDICTMENT OF POPE FRANCIS-ANTONIO SOCCI
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/AN_INDICTMENT_OF_POPE_FRANCIS-ANTONIO_SOCCI.doc
WE ACCUSE POPE FRANCIS
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/WE_ACCUSE_POPE_FRANCIS.doc
IS POPE FRANCIS UNDERGOING TREATMENT WITH NEW AGE ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES?
CARDINAL OSWALD GRACIAS INTERPRETS POPE FRANCIS PERSONAL REMARK ON HOMOSEXUALS AS CHURCH TEACHING
THE FRANCIS EFFECT & WHO AM I TO JUDGE-THE SPIRIT OF VATICAN COUNCIL II?
AMORIS LAETITIA AND THE CURRENT CRISIS IN THE CHURCH
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/AMORIS_LAETITIA_AND_THE_CURRENT_CRISIS_IN_THE_CHURCH.doc
POPE FRANCIS APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION AMORIS LAETITIA ACCUSED OF HERESY BY 45 THEOLOGIANS
INTERVIEW WITH JOHN VENNARI ON AMORIS LAETITIA AND SEX EDUCATION-RANDY ENGEL
