The buzz word that has become current in this Pontificate that PopeWatch hates the most is accompany. It is used almost exclusively in reference to sexual sins condemned by the Church since the Crucifixion. For example, the Pope never tells Catholics to accompany traditional Catholics who wish to worship at a traditional Mass.
The Pope is the Vicar of Christ. However, in this pontificate we are learning the consequences of a Vicar being unfaithful in his duties.
Judging sin as sin is not the same as condemnation of persons. What the hell is someone who flunked basic theology doing in the chair of Peter?
Jesuits are not ignorant people. Using a dual meaning word such as “condemn” is typical Jesuit double-speak. Deliberately using those easily misunderstood words leaves the author, when confronted, all the room in the world to back out with feigned innocence…such as saying, “Gosh, I never meant that we should not condemn sinful behavior.”
BTW, my choice for the favorite papal buzz word would be “rigid” which of course could be cunningly used to praise or condemn anyone, or anything, about a gazillion different ways.
“What the hell is someone who flunked basic theology doing in the chair of Peter?”
David WS, my guess is, that’s exactly why the St. Gallen Mafia wanted him. Their whole project, IMO, is about normalizing homosexuality in the Church.
Don L- totally agree.
“At this moment I am thinking of so many people who are crushed by the weight of life and can no longer hope or pray. May Saint Joseph help them to open themselves to dialogue with God so that they may find light, strength, and peace. And I am thinking, too, of parents who are facing their children’s problems: children with many illnesses, children who are sick, even with permanent illnesses. — how much pain is there! — parents who see different sexual orientations in their children; how to deal with this and accompany their children and not hide in an attitude of condemnation. Parents who see their children leave, who die because of an illness, and also — even sadder, we read about it every day in the newspapers — teenagers who get into childish mischief and end up in car accidents. Parents who see their children not progressing in school and do not know what to do…. So many parental problems. Let us think about how to help them. And to these parents I say: do not be afraid. Yes, there is pain. A lot. But think about how Joseph solved problems and ask Joseph to help you. Never condemn a child.”
That doesn’t sound like he’s praising homosexuality. Strictly speaking, he’s comparing to terminal illness and drunk driving.
David, where did he say anything contrary to “judging sin as sin is not the same as condemnation of persons”?
The modern Church hierarchy’s accompaniment of faithful Catholics appears to be going in the direction of Cain’s accompaniment of Abel.
I believe Thomas More had something to say about accompanying to hell when someone asked about accompanying those who were recognizing King Henry’s divorce and separation from Rome.
Yes, Don L, his use of the word “rigid” was a topic of conversation between my wife and I just a couple of days ago. We take it as a badge of honor to be counted in his “too rigid” camp.
This Pope reinforces my life-long problem with authority figures.
Anyhow, in my guide to logical fallacies are the discursive, false analogy/equivalence, non sequitur.
Well, he’s somebody’s vicar all right. I’m just not sure whose.
“But think about how Joseph solved problems” ??? With whom did he have “problems”? I remember a priest making a funny comment that it was probably a bit frustrating to be St. Joseph to have been living with two sinless people and one being perfect. “Who did this? Oh wait, that was me…”
Frank- “Their whole project, IMO, is about normalizing homosexuality in the Church.” I do believe that this is one of the reforms. They will work hard to dismantle the current teaching and introduce ambiguous falsehoods that lessen the scorn of their sexual deviancy. To adopt the culture and whitewash the CCC teaching.
“David, where did he say anything contrary to “judging sin as sin is not the same as condemnation of persons”?“
Pinky,
By saying “Never condemn a child” and not distinguishing sin as sin, he’s gaslighting any criticism of a gay lifestyle as a “condemnation”.
The statement is insane on its face, no loving parent condemns their child. They may rebuke their child in love and in the hope of a return to their senses.
“ David WS, my guess is, that’s exactly why the St. Gallen Mafia wanted him. Their whole project, IMO, is about normalizing homosexuality in the Church.”
Frank, You’re absolutely correct, that’s what this is all about. All of it.
When people talk about accompaniment they need to realize that there is such a thing as prophetic responsibility. Ezekiel 3:17-21 speaks to this prophetic responsibility. That prophets will be held responsible for their failures to warn people about following the ways of wickedness and sin. This passage sounds to me like faithless prophets will accompany the sinners that they failed to warn and share in their fate.
Every time I hear the word “accompany” I can’t help but think of its use in the NAB translation of Matthew 26:47.
Bergolio knows exactly what he is doing. He is a very smart, devious, evil and cunning man. With the majority of Catholics, his program of transformation is working. Isn’t it?
No it is not, at least if by Catholic we mean people who will bother to remain as members of the Catholic Church. He is merely bringing doom on his faction within the Church.
I sincerely hope you are correct. When his faction amounts to an overwhelming majority, we have a problem. I fear for my grandchildren. After decades of he and his heirlings distorting the Faith what chance will they have. I will be long gone during their formative years. I really appreciate any advice, my being an old, once active, parishioner who seems shoved out the door (figuratively).
I sincerely hope you are correct. When his faction amounts to an overwhelming majority, we have a problem.
His faction is leaving the Church in drones. What he is attempting to do to the Catholic Church has reduced the mainline Protestant churches to shadows of themselves. That will not happen in the Catholic Church as faithful Catholics make an ever increasing percentage of the whole, especially as “liberal Catholics” abort and contracept their would be progeny.
Church history shows us that we should pray for our grandchildren, but also that we have no way of guessing what crisis they’re going to face. Fifty years from now it could be crypto-Sikhist syncretism and denial of Extreme Unction, or war with the Holy Mormon Empire.