Religion and Geopolitics Review: Saturday, August 11

By Dr. David Pence and A. Joseph Lynch 

I. POPE FRANCIS AND THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

FROM PHIL LAWLER THEN WITH CATHOLIC WORLD REPORT - A REMINDER OF A LITURGICAL RITE OF DEGRADATION OF A BISHOP: CWR published the text of an old Catholic ritual for the "Degradation of a Bishop" (Degradatio ab ordine pontificali), which can be found in the Roman Pontifical of Pope Benedict XIV.

When he promulgated this ritual in 1862, Pope Benedict obviously felt that it was necessary. He envisioned the possibility that a bishop could disgrace himself so thoroughly, and abuse his office so blatantly, that the Holy See would have no choice but to remove him. Such a bishop would not be allowed to resign quietly "for reasons of health;" he would not be transferred to a titular see in the Sahara; he would not be "promoted" to a meaningless desk job at the Vatican. He would be stripped of his office and - the word is so beautifully expressive - "degraded."

Since CWR first published this ritual, a dozen bishops have been forced to resign, in America and other countries, after accusations of gross sexual misconduct. We have every reason to believe that more such resignations will soon be forthcoming. Isn't it a shame that their resignations were accomplished through impersonal communication - by mail and by fax - rather than with a formal liturgical ceremony?

THE RITE OF DEGRADATION OF A BISHOP

If the degradandus be an archbishop, the degrading prelate removes his pallium, saying: We deprive thee of the rights and privileges of the episcopal dignity, symbolized in this pallium, since thou hast abused them. 

Then, even if the degradandus be a mere bishop, the degrading prelate removes his mitre, saying: We strip thy head of this miter, emblem of the episcopal dignity, since thou hast befouled it by thy ill government. 

Then one of the ministers brings the Book of the Gospel to the degradandus, which the degrading prelate takes from his hands, saying: Give us back the Gospel! Since thou hast spurned the grace of God and made thyself unworthy of the office of preaching, we rightly deprive you of this office. 

Then the degrading prelate removes the ring from the finger of the degradandus, saying: Rightly do we pull off thy ring, the sign of fidelity, since thou hast made bold to rape God's own bride, the Church. 

At this time one of the ministers brings the degradandus a crosier, which the degrading prelate takes from his hands, saying: Thy shepherd's staff we take from thee, that thou shalt be powerless henceforward to exercise that office of correction, which thou hast brought to disarray. 

Then the ministers take off the gloves of the degradandus, and the degrading prelate lightly scrapes thumbs and hands with a knife blade or a shard of glass, saying: We hereby deprive thee, to the extent of our powers, of the grace of spiritual blessing and of sacramental anointing, that thou shouldst forfeit the office of sanctifying and of blessing, and their effects. 

With the same knife blade or shard the degrading prelate lightly scrapes the head of the degradandus, saying: We utterly erase and eradicate the consecration, blessing and anointing bestowed upon thee, and we put thee out of the episcopal order, whence thou returnest unclothed. 

The ministers remove the shoes from the degradandus Thus ends the ceremony.

The wording of the ritual assumes that only one bishop will be shorn of office. But have no fear; the language could easily be adapted to accommodate several degradandi at one time. The US bishops have shown their willingness (one might even say, their unseemly eagerness) to defrock any priest who has been guilty of sexual abuse. But the new American policy does not apply to bishops. The old ritual offers a remedy for this omission. Back in 1862, I wonder what a bishop would have had to do, to find himself called to Rome for degradation? More to the point, what would it take today?

JESUITS AND THE SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR OF MOTHER THERESA'S ORDER: One of the worst and a lot of high ranking Jesuits looking the other way. The fetid sea - Austin Ruse on the gaying of the priesthood.

CARDINAL BURKE AND BISHOP APURON OF GUAM: Something smells very bad in this ambiguous wrist slap and exit from a civic territory that wants to punish this serial homosexual predator. If "conservative Catholics" think we need more prelates like Cardinal Burke, they should look at this very weird story. One of the chief accusers was not allowed to have his lawyer present and thus refused to testify. This intrigue is about high finances and revolting sexual predation. 

BEWARE THE CONSERVATIVE ORTHODOX SIDE OF THE HOMOSEXUAL CLERGY
A word of advice to young conservatives about psychological and practicing homosexuals. The enemies within the gates are not always practitioners of the dark art. There are men who live alone internally-but they live the snide, sarcastic, catty, prissy side of the psychological homosexual. How they love the internet and opportunities to publish statements of dogmatic principles. How they love condemning the acts of married heterosexuals. How they despise open give and take. How they avoid man to man dialogue and debate.   As we look to restore fraternity and patriarchy to the priesthood and to Catholic men throughout the nations, here are four "conservative heroes" whose malformed personalities are more likely to misdirect than lead us:  Cardinal "Gay Ray" (his seminary nickname) Burke; Father Robert Sirico of Acton Institute; John Zulsdorf of Fr. Z blog; Bishop John Nienstedt - arch foe of "gay marriage" in St Paul-Minneapolis Archdiocese. Our only statement at this time is that these men are peculiarly narcissicist and spectacularly unable to initiate and sustain the direct brotherly discussion of the Satanic cult in our midst. It will take a certain set of personalities to break through the homosexual subculture infecting the Apostolic fraternity. These four are not the Galilean fishermen we need.

BISHOP JOHN NIENSTEDT SURFACES AS A REFORMER:
 The bad joke of homosexual clergy playing the orthodox card. 
 Wealthy friends at Napa Institute have been tricked by  predator Nienstedt-the "orthodox bishop" who groomed young male special friends while vociferously opposing gay marriage in Minnesota.   

PUNISHMENT THAT FITS THE  CRIME: A Pope from the past faces Sodomy. He didn't see his era as a time to condemn capital punishment.

THE HORROR IN CHILE
If you are ever tempted to call homosexuality "gay" consider the ring of predators who took over the Chilean priesthood. A journalist reflects-"not just the Anglos."

PART OF THE SOLUTION
The peasants march to Baltimore.  Michael Voris says we will know there is true reform when bishops   a) admit there has been a huge infiltration of clergy by predator and complicit homosexuals; b) effect  many resignations of those in homosexual cult and those who have allowed it.  He is right to emphasize  these as the central requests/demands of the laity. We do not agree with Voris that Bishop Wuerl's suggestion that the American bishops set up  a bishop committee to investigate American bishops is an insulting and bad idea. It is an excellent and necessary reform(see below).

DO NOT INTERRUPT THE CHAIN OF COMMAND: When US military men were being harassed by feminist Senators from New York to appoint  a civilian commission to act on all complaints of sexual harassment in the military, the officers were adamant in their refusal.  The men correctly reminded the ladies trying to set up a National Human Resources Department that a military body must retain a chain of command. If the military leaders are corrupt, they must be removed.  But the corruption of officers cannot lead to the destruction of the chain of command needed to order men into battle. Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington DC is at the heart of the American homosexual infiltration of our priesthood. He has been frightened into making a good proposal which we should not oppose because it comes from the mouth of Donna.  A bishops' committee to investigate bishops. Absolutely correct, Cardinal Wuerl.  We need a bishop led inquisition of the bishops.  Be sure you are not on it.
The role of the laity is to keep reporting and telling the truth to insure the right bishops are on this inquisition board and the wrong ones aren't. The problem we face is that of Abraham pleading for Sodom--can we find ten or five or three bishops who are just? The answer to this dilemma is not to make a committee of laymen--it is to effect enough resignations until we have a critical mass of credible bishops. The Church cannot proclaim to the nations the witnessed truth of Christ's resurrection from the dead, the biological truth of the brotherhood of men and fraternity of nations, or the theological truth of the Fatherhood of God... unless we are credible witnesses. Nothing will so enhance the Church' ability to draw all men to the Body of Christ as our demonstrating an ability to root out the corrupting lies of Satan and the gender confusion of the sexual revolution. The Patriarchal Fraternity of the Second Vatican Council must cast out the Satanic spirit of the sixties. 
The investigative committee of the bishops can have a few bishops and a hundred strong laymen on it with PI and police experience. Lay expertise, detective personalities and Episcopal authority--that cooperative division of labor will begin the Inquisition. This optimal use of all our talents respects the chain of command. The head is still the head while the feet and arms do their tasks. An apostolic church by definition exercises a continuous chain of command. The commission will make reports to the bishops and eventually to the Congregation of Bishops and the Pope. They can propose resignations and they will get plenty of them.  Only the Papal office and his assignees can rid of us of men who resist after the truth becomes clear. If Judas does not resign, the Pope will do what Jesus did and wash the traitor out of the brotherhood. 
 Laymen in the media have a huge role in casting a very wide net of witnesses and stories to shed light on the rot in every diocese in our nation. The predators hate the light. Laymen should quit trying to silence Jesuit James Martin and debate him in the open light. We need to hear in public, bishops and priests say "homosexual clergy" "homosexual bishops" and "homosexual chancery network for career advancement." None of this should be done  in Sunday homilies where our kids are present. Call a meeting for adults only downstairs and talk straight. There is huge role for the laity as prophets and truth tellers. But we do not have the authority of a diocesan bishop, or an investigative arm of the National Conference of Bishops, or of the Pope. And we don't want it. We are not students taking over the administration building on campus.  The patriarchal fraternity of a hierarchal all-male priesthood is not the problem. It is the solution.  We are looking for Elliot Ness not Mother Theresa. We are looking for the Men of Galilee to replace a male figure skating team.  God will raise up such men. Most of them will be priests and bishops ordained in the Spirit to carry out their Apostolic mission.  

II. CULTURE OF LIFE, CULTURE OF PROTECTION

GOOD MAN WITH A PERMIT TO CARRY: The kids lived, the shooter was shot.

TOXIC MASCULINITY: A very good looking lady in a short video says that ain't the problem.

DUTERTE AND THE DEATH PENALTY: While Pope Francis bans the death penalty, Duterte of the Philippines understands it's use as a just means of establishing civic authority and protection. He recently threatened summary execution of corrupt police officials - can anyone doubt the efficacy of his plan?

III. AROUND THE WORLD R&G ROUND UP

RUSSIA AND ITALY: Cultural ties that bind - Christian convergence will soon destroy the anti-Russia narrative and Italians are in the forefront.

ETHIOPIA AND ERITREA - PEACE? ETHIOPIA'S NEW PRIME MINISTER ABIY AHMED: Ethiopia is the sixth largest landlocked country in world. Ethiopia's new Muslim and Oromo prime minister is 41 year old Abiy Ahmed. AOA on horn of Africa - start with map and demographics. On ethnic and religious groups in Ethiopia. Peace between Eritrea and Ethiopia? Is Abiy Ahmed Africa's Gorbachev?

AMERICAN LAND USE: An excellent series of maps telling the tale.

A CANADIAN LOOKS AT SOMALILAND: The British northern Somalis charted a very different course than Somalia of the South. Some history.

CANADA AND THE SAUDIS
It is good to see the Kingdom and the increasingly isolated MbS exposed but this fight over female drivers shows the vacuousness of Canadian foreign policy as much as the laws of Wahhabi Islam.  Is the "issue " of female drivers really more pressing than the saudi bombing of Yemen's Shiites?  

WHO'S MORE PATRIOTIC - THE KOCH BROS OR MIDWEST FARMERS? Laura Ingraham recently contrasted the Koch brothers' opposition to Trump's trade policy with American farmers. These hardworking Midwest men have much more to lose in a trade war than the billionaire brothers refusing to support GOP candidates who agree with Trump. The Koch brothers bailed on Trump after the risk of losing pocket change, but when the farmers are asked how long they will support Trump and their nation, one farmer responded: "To the death." Who sounds more patriotic to you?