News that I missed, courtesy of The Babylon Bee:
VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo boldly proclaimed today that God does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, so long as you don’t count King David, or Joshua, or Gideon, or Samson, or Elijah, or Hezekiah, or any of those other people in the Bible.
Pope Leo further stated that you must also not count Saint Joan of Arc, Saint George, or any of the other Christian warriors who prayed to God.
“God will never answer the prayers of those waging war,” declared Pope Leo. “That is, if you ignore that bit in the Bible about God answering Moses’ prayer when Israel battled the Amalekites. And the bit about David’s prayer before facing Goliath. And the bit about God answering Joshua’s prayer when he marched on Jericho. And the bit about God answering Gideon’s prayer when he fought the Midianites. And the bit about God answering Elijah’s prayer at the showdown against the prophets of Baal. And the bit about God answering those Psalm prayers that King David composed when he was at war. And all the other bits in the Bible too.”
The Pope assured listeners that other than those slight exceptions, God definitely does not listen to the prayers of those engaged in war. “The Lord otherwise will never, ever listen to those who wage battle,” said Pope Leo. “Of course, not counting when God answered Saint Joan of Arc’s prayers at Orleans . Or Saint George, don’t count him either. Oh, or Saint Cornelius, or Saint Sebastian, or any of those guys. Oh, and not anyone operating under Just War Theory as defined by Saint Thomas Aquinas. But, yeah, other than that.”
Go here to read the rest. The reflexive pacifism embraced by popes since Vatican II only makes sense if Scripture, History and Church teaching prior to the day before yesterday is ignored. Much more honest if he simply said that he is against the current war against Iran, which is what he is obviously getting at. However simple honesty and the Vatican haven’t been on speaking terms since Vatican II.
Are then military chaplains useless?
Argh “pray for the pope”. In the lingo of New England “it’s wicked hard”, but pray for the pope.
And pray he and the Vatican stop their cruel war against families that want to attend TLM and persons who want to simply kneel for communion. (For him and) Because if he keeps that up God won’t be hearing his own prayer.
I’m in. Just as soon as the Mad Mullahs and all their followers stop trying to kill all the Christians. Of course, then we’re just back to dealing with atheistic commies who want to kill all the Christians.
Does pope rhyme with joke? It sure seems like it. Stay in your lane padre. Pick on a conflict your own size. Bring peace to Chicago and then you can have a place at the table.
So, in Luke 22:36, where Christ tells the Apostles that if they don’t already have a sword they should sell their cloak and buy one, He wasn’t telling them they’d need to prepare to defend themselves in this fallen world? If that was the case, then what were swords for?
And for all those clergy who spout bromides about ‘all war is bad’, I’d say that almost every soldier who’s ever seen battle would agree it’s a terrible thing— but sometimes it’s less terrible than not fighting. Where would this world be if the Allies hadn’t fought the Axis in WWII? Clergy who mouth simplistic platitudes about ‘all war is bad and wrong’ strike me as unserious posers.
The battle of the Milvian Bridge, the Siege of Vienna, Lepanto, St. Joan of Arc lifting the Siege of Orleans— weren’t those examples of just struggles; where God Himself answered the prayers of combatants, performed miracles, and blessed the victors?
I honestly thought we would get a breathing spell with the new Pope. No repudiation of the previous one, of course, but a slowly passing to a more traditional atmosphere and less drama. Still waiting, still hoping.
Yes, Pope Leo was most concerned with Iran and possibly Ukraine.
What of Normandy and Guadalcanal and the rest?
Siege of Vienna and Lepanto are absolutely critical.
Even the Crusades were at the behest of Greek Emperor and the need to respond to 600+ yrs of Muslim attacks.
Lepanto Eric-
I guess the feast and devotion of Our Lady of the Rosary will be cancelled.
Consistency must needs be the companion of “unity, unity, unity”.