What say you?
Inquiring Minds Want to Know
- Donald R. McClarey
Donald R. McClarey
Cradle Catholic. Active in the pro-life movement since 1973. Father of three, one in Heaven, and happily married for 43 years. Small town lawyer and amateur historian. Former president of the board of directors of the local crisis pregnancy center for a decade.
1). Audits of the Holy See’s finances. Basically, a DOGE for the Vatican, addressing the issues Cardinal Pell encountered when he was tasked with investigating the books (and then prevented from actually being able to do the job). I suspect that if there were to be true fiscal discipline at the Vatican, a lot of the shady parasites hovering around Rome—both the ordained and the lay— would have fewer resources to cause trouble. So the benefits would be more than merely financial.
2). As Don said, end Francis’ squalid war against the Traditional Mass. And not just by abrogating the deeply unjust Traditiones Custodes and reinstating Summorum Pontificum, but also by ordaining FSSP, ICKSP, and yes, SSPX bishops. I cannot understand why Francis thought it was fine for the Communist Chinese government to decide who can be a bishop, and loopy Jesuits can have them, yet tradition-loving Catholic orders must be kept at the mercy of often hostile ordinaries.
3). Find some way to root out the Lavender Mafia. It must be done, and it seems to have only gotten worse— or at least, more obvious— during Francis’ pontificate. It’s going to take a good deal of grit, luck, and a strong stomach…
There’s one other thing the next Pope should do, but it doesn’t really count as a fourth thing because it involves doing nothing at all. That is, the next Pope should ignore any mention of any ‘Synod on Synodality’ nonsense until the notion collapses under the weight of its own stupidity.
1. Penance. Lead and require all bishops to publicly repent for closing the churches during Covid, and perform public acts of strict and onerous penance and reparations for 3 years.
2. Liturgy. Revoke traditionis custodes and celebrate all papal masses as TLM solemn pontifical high masses.
3. Doctrine. Undo and/or authoritatively clarify Amoris Laetitia, Abu Dhabi, death penalty, etc., and then provide an authoritative gloss on V2 in line with Trent and VI to lay to rest any of its ambiguities (eg, religious liberty, relation to other religions, etc.)
I was going to write something, but Jason did a better job than I could have.
Jason’s three recommendations have my vote. It’s time to get back to the Gospel of righteousness and holiness, conversion and repentance.
After thinking about it a while, I think I might need to amend my list above. I still stand by my initial post, but if I think any list of the first things a new Pope should tackle must start with exorcising the Vatican. After the pachamama stuff, and with having folks like Rupnik lurking there, I think the premises are due for a deep clean.
Doesn’t have to be publicized, maybe just put together a team, including the diocesan exorcist, and roll up the sleeves and get to work some evening when the crowds are gone…
Add to Jason’s list, end the perverted relationship with the Chicoms. Just terminate it. Loudly and publicly. China is liable to be in turmoil for a while. Wherever there is turmoil and suffering, Christ is forcefully present. It would also send a strong message that there’s a new sheriff in town.
Allow the Latin Rite (boom)
Allow the Latin Rite (boom..)
Allow the Latin Rite (boom….)
Truth be known, I have not yet attended a Latin Mass. Yet I know that if the Rite were allowed back, all the silliness would disappear.
I’m with what the others have said. I cannot improve on the recommendations put forth above. I will add that restoring the free ability of priests and faithful to worship according to the 1962 Missal would be an instantaneous act of good faith from a new Pope.
Amen, Josh, and everyone else. Good working list for the next Pope.
Pray and fast. Even though it’s Paschaltide.
Not sure about the first thing. Perhaps a re-affirmation of Summorum Pontificum and for the Pope to offer a public Mass making use of the 1962 missal.
I love the Traditional Latin Mass, and I wouldn’t be upset if the next pope reversed Francis’s position right away. But I think it’ll take a much larger and more permanent solution.
I don’t know what the solution is, by the way. But we have a large number of devout Catholics practicing a distinct liturgy, across dioceses. We have bishops with a wide range of opinions on it. We have some outright schismatics and edge discipline issues. I’m no church historian, but this mix of issues may be unique.
As for my three, maybe summon Rupnik, rent the Colosseum, and can a pope legally purchase lions?
If Paglia’s perverted mural is still hanging in a cathedral somewhere, I’d have that abomination torn down in 5 minutes.
Pinky, why would you want to feed Rupnick to the lions? Wouldn’t that constitute as cruelty to animals?
CAG gave me a more restrained and penitential idea: sending Rupnik with a hammer and chisel around the world removing his mosaics.
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Our next pope would do us some huge favors if he would…restore Summorum Pontificum. Rather, if he would enhance it by allowing routine use of either 1962 or the pre-55 rites and norms.
He would also do well to make a clear decision about SSPX.
This business of halfway in and halfway doesn’t make sense.
He also needs to reign in the foolishness with synodality.
Cleaning up the “Vatican Bank” for good would also be very helpful.