PopeWatch: Contempt

Well, at one point we recall that Christ engaged directly in “dialogue” with the devil himself, so I’m quite certain some Vatican approved theologian would bring that up as proof that the Pope’s appointments are inarguably, “biblical.”

They’re not fleecing anyone.

Adapt yourselves no longer to the pattern of the present world. (Romans 12:2)

Two Casualties of the Divorce of the Divine and the Secular
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The first casualty is the turning of retreats into discussions, debates, “bull sessions” and workshops. Retreats then are centered on “outer truths,” which are truths we master, such as the distance of the earth from the sun, liturgical innovations in the Dutch church, etc. “Inner truths” are those that master us, disturb us and never leave us as we are. The theologians at the time of the birth of Christ knew where Christ was to be born, but they did not go. Discussions about outer truths talk about Christ, but only by inner truth do we know Christ. Discussions have validity for they widen knowledge, but here our concern is about discussion in relation to retreats. The reason they were popular for a time was the retreat master never had to be prepared; discussion is also a most excellent means to avoid decision.
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The disciples on the way to Emmaus were “talking, debating, discussing” about “happenings,” but they missed Christ (Luke 24:13-25). The woman at the well, when Our Lord probed her immorality, immediately tried to escape by engaging in a theological discussion about worshiping “on this mountain or in Jerusalem” (John 4:21). Discussions never obliged religious or priests to open their wounds to Christ, but only to reveal their points of view to one another. Discussions and surveys give the impression that one is doing something about the problem, when actually his own spiritual life is untouched. Like lifesavers in a snug station, while a ship is on the rocks, they discuss whether to wear gold braid on their uniforms. Whenever Our Lord spoke about His Cross, the apostles “discussed and dialogued” on three occasions: on the way to Capernaum, the night of the Last Supper, and after the prophecy in Matthew.
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“He asked them: ‘What is it you are debating as you walk?’” (Luke 24:17). It is interesting how often the words “talking,” “discussion” are mentioned in this scene. The less conviction, the more the talk. In answer to His question “they halted, their faces full of gloom” (Luke 24:18). Is that the way talkative Christianity appears to the Lord? Is it our kind of presence that meets His Presence? Since this was Easter Sunday afternoon there was really a reason for rejoicing, but their faith is not strong enough to receive the comfort.
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The second casualty of the misunderstanding concerning the “world” is Christ. Few books today appear on the subject of Christ, though there is a surfeit of them on the Church. There is little difference between them, they are all against the Church. Christ becomes less and less a subject of spirituality. A new standard of judging members of the Church arose: Are you with the world as it is evolving or are you against it? This became shortened to: Are you “with it”? Few there were who asked: Are you with Christ? He became the “silent partner” in the firm. Those who clung to Him and His Cross kept their balance; the rest split into “fuddy-duddies,” on the one hand, and those who preferred to leave the priesthood than not be “with it.” The psychotics remained to “salt up the earth,” but they stayed in the saltcellars of the parish; the neurotics closer to the earth, became not its salt but its honey.
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Never in the Gospels is Christ without the Cross, never is the Cross without the Resurrection. But the tragedy of our day is the Great Divorce of Christ and the Cross. …
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The divorce of Christ and the Cross is not without impact on retreats and the spiritual life. A new type of secular mysticism inspired by the Cross-less Christ expresses itself in Cain retreats. Cain denied the necessity of blood-sacrifice as the condition of reconciliation with God. He offered fruits which cost him nothing, or in modern language, the products of technology. Cain retreats assume human righteousness, the oblation of action and work apart from a consciousness of guilt. The “sacrifice” of the Israelites who offered their gold to make the Golden Calf, never gave a thought to a sin offering. The Cain tradition of spirituality makes no mention of guilt, sin or atonement. If Christ is mentioned, He is “used” to support a position already taken: “Jesus and Revolution,” “Jesus and Militancy,” “Jesus and Homosexuality,” “Jesus and the Secular City.” Cain retreats rely also on much talk, for incessant dialogue is always an excuse from decision. A retreat that centers on Christ and the Cross throws the burden on the individual soul and especially when he is in contemplative isolation. Spiritualization is rarely effected by talk even when it is about the most perfect ideals. Sinful humanity is corrected not by words but by power fed by the Spirit. The tendency to hold Cain retreats away from the Blessed Sacrament is another evidence of the desire to escape Presence closely related to the Cross. Where the concentration is on a “problem” instead of a person, there is little climbing either the Mount of Beatitudes or Calvary.
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Ethics never scandalizes. But Christ the Truth is a stumbling block. In this age of talk, gossip, news dialogue, debate, discussion, playbacks, priests sometimes play with ideas as children play with blocks, and children look to others for approval to admire their mental castles. “Whatever truth they find, they doubt it; they love not the truth; they talk about it.” But Truth is not an “it”; it is a “He.” Christ is ever the Stumbling Block, Frustrator, Disturber, the Victim-Maker. The Stumbling Block character is really not in Him but in us.

From “Those Mysterious Priests” by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen (1974)

https://www.amazon.com/Those-Mysterious-Priests-Fulton-Sheen/dp/0818909781/

The man won’t answer five questions from his brothers, but he wants to dialogue with those advocating mass murder of innocents? He is a viper.