Showing posts with label Early Resignations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Early Resignations. Show all posts

Friday, June 12, 2020

The Purge of Catholic Bishops in Argentina Continues

Cornice and towers of San Luis Cathedral in Argentina.
 City (1594), province (1820) and diocese (1934) are named after the holy King Louis IX. named by France.
(Rome / Buenos Aires) On June 9, Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Monsignor Pedro Daniel Martínez Perea as Bishop of San Luis in Argentina. The Vatican propaganda speaks of “resignation”. Since Bishop Martínez Perea is only 64 years old, it is more accurate to say that he was resigned by Francis.

Msgr. Martínez Perea, born in the city of Mendoza in 1956, was ordained a priest in 1981 for his home diocese. In 1986 he moved to the neighboring diocese of San Rafael, where he was incardinated. San Rafael was created in 1961 by dividing the diocese of Mendoza. Since 1973, the Bishop of San Rafael was the Ukrainian-born Monsignor Leon Kruk, who founded the diocesan seminary and saw national identity and the Christian faith as an inseparable unit. In the troubled years of the transition from military dictatorship to democracy, Bishop Kruk was a contact point for priests who were faithful to the Church and who opposed the subversive activities of the followers of Marxist theology of liberation. Bishop Kruk was killed in a traffic accident in 1991.

The special case of San Luis


In 2009 Pope Benedict XVI appointed Don Pedro Martínez Perea as Bishop Co-Adjutor with succession rights for Bishop Jorge Luis Lona of San Luis. The predecessor of Bishop Lona was the Capuchin Juan Rodolfo Laise (1971-2001), who died very old in July 2019 in San Giovanni Rotondo in southern Italy. The special concern of Bishop Laise, a canon lawyer, was to promote the awe-inspiring understanding of the Holy Eucharist, which is why he did not follow certain post-conciliar paradigm shifts. When he gave Communion, he openly opposed this. Throughout his life as a bishop, as well as in his pastoral and journalistic work, he advocated Communion kneeling on the tongue. At his own request, he spent the evening of his life as a confessor at the site of the long-standing work of his holy confrere, Padre Pio von Pietrelcina. The bishop, who only celebrated in the traditional rite, could only do so in private in San Giovanni Rotondo, since the religious superiors prohibited him from celebrating publicly. Until shortly before his death, he spoke up in defense of the Immemorial Rite and against efforts toward intercommunion .
Bishop Martínez Perea
Bishop Martínez Perea
When Pope Benedict XVI in 2009 was looking for a successor who would continue the legacy of Bishop Laise and the ailing Bishop Lona in the diocese of San Luis, he found him in Don Martínez Perea. When Bishop Lona retired in 2011 at the age of 75, Martínez Perea succeeded him.

The 2019 decree


On October 29, 2019, the bishop issued a decree that observers in Argentina and Rome are convinced that it would trigger for the retirement that has now taken place.

With the decree, Bishop Martínez Perea prohibited the use of female altar servers. He stated:

"(...) in the diocese of San Luis  the liturgical custom of only accepting male altar servers for ministry will continue."

At the same time, the bishop determined that any contrary practice had to be stopped and given up again where it had already started.
Decree of October 29, 2019
Decree of October 29, 2019
The bishop referred to his liturgy-based jurisdiction and the corresponding interpretation by the Pontifical Commission for the interpretation of legal texts, to the relevant circulars and instructions of the Roman Congregation of Worship from 1994 and 2004 and to the decisions of his predecessors Laise and Lona, who had "explicitly" asked for male servers only. In 1994 the Roman congregation of worship gave local bishops the opportunity to use female altar servers if necessary. There is no general approval, but an emergency regulation. In the post-Council era, however, such special regulations were made the "rule" in some countries because the drive is not a "plight" but a different theology.

In connection with his decree, Bishop Martínez Perea expressly stated that there was no need for this exception in his diocese.

The situation in the diocese of San Luis in autumn 2019 was as follows:

  • Only the traditional form of receiving communion, oral communion, is permitted in the diocese.

  • Only male altar servers are permitted to perform the altar service.

  • In contrast to the recommendations of the Argentine Bishops' Conference on the controversial post-synodal letter Amoris laetitia from 2017, remarried divorced women are not admitted to the Sacraments.

  • Conservative and traditional communities and orders were also welcomed into the diocese and could develop their apostolate undisturbed.

There are few dioceses of this kind worldwide. And that seems to have disturbed some in the Argentine Bishops' Conference and in the Vatican.

The backlash


The backlash was not long in coming. 37 days after the decree, on December 5, 2019, Bishop Martínez Perea had to inform the priests, religious and believers of his diocese that Pope Francis had ordered " an apostolic visitation of the diocese of San Luis."

Francis appointed Msgr. Milton Luis Troccolli Cebedio as Apostolic Visitator, whom he had appointed Bishop of Maldonado-Punta del Este in Uruguay five months earlier. He visited the Argentine diocese from 10th to 13th December.

Katholisches.info wrote on December 9, 2019:

“Bishop Martínez's letter gives no reasons for the visitation. Such were not communicated to him. A similar procedure under Pope Francis in some other dioceses meant that the Commissioner followed the Visitor. The chronological sequence of events leaves little scope for other interpretations. Although Bishop Martínez only affirmed what the Church teaches, the visitor was sent to him a few days later. It was a clear signal that his actions are obviously not wanted by Rome.”

Bishop Martínez Perea was retired by Pope Francis three days ago. According to the official Vatican announcement, the Pope had only complied with the bishop's wish to be released from office. But it is just a phrase, as Msgr. Martínez himself said. In a statement on Facebook, he wrote that a bishop signs a blank check with his appointment, in which the head of the Church can enter the date of how long the appointment is valid. In a very reserved manner he said that Francis had withdrawn his mandate.
Francis will be succeeded by the Bergoglian Msgr. Gabriel Bernardo Barba, who is close to the papal confidante and ghostwriter Victor Manuel Fernández, Archbishop of La Plata. Msgr. Fernández is the archbishop who, a few months after taking office, eliminated the Motu proprio Summorum Pontificum in his Archdiocese. Bishop Barba, ordained priest for his home diocese in Morón in 1989, was vice-director of Caritas there and was responsible for the formation of permanent deacons. In December 2013 Pope Francis appointed him Bishop of Gregorio de Laferrére and now Bishop of San Luis. At the Feast of Corpus Christi 2017, Msgr. Barba made a plea against Communion on the tongue and for hand Communion in his sermon. He said:

"The gesture of hand Communion seems to me to be a much more meaningful and mature gesture than Communion on the tongue."

Bishop Martínez nevertheless gave his successor advice in his statement on Facebook: to respect the traditions of the diocese of San Luis. He dressed his request in the language of the Church hierarchy, which is why it was certainly understood by Monsignor Barba. Whether he will heed this is another question. Bishop Martínez Perea wrote verbatim: "He will respect the traditions, although he is shaped differently than I am".

The purge of the Argentine episcopate, where there are fewer non-Bergoglians left, continues. You can see how many of the bishops who ordained Mgr Martinez Perea are still in office. And the purge does not only affect Argentina.
Bishop Barba with Pope Francis
Bishop Gabriel Bernando Barba with Pope Francis

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Image: Wikicommons / Diocesis San Luis / Vatican.va (screenshot)
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

AMDG

Tuesday, June 6, 2017

Cardinal Turkson: "The Exit Door of Benedict is Always Avalilable for Francis"

(Lisbon) The Portuguese daily Sol published an interview with Cardinal Peter Turkson on 3 June. The cardinal from Ghana also entertained the possibility of Pope Francis' resignation.
The Cardinal was President of the Pontifical Council Iustitia et Pax and since 2016 has been the first prefect of the new Pontifical Council for the Holistic Development of People, in which he had formerly acted as an advisor.

Excerpt from the interview

The daily newspaper Sol, in the words of Cardinal Turkson, mentions in a meaningful way: "The exit door of Benedict is always there for Francis."
Sol: Is it possible that Francis should follow the example of Benedict XVI. and resigns?
Cardinal Turkson: I do not know if he will. This is a matter between him and God. But it is also true that what Benedict has done has become a part of the institution. This means that the freedom to do so is always given.
Sol: You mean, even if he does not open the door, the door is always there?
Cardinal Turkson: Definitely. This can happen.

Controversial figure of an "emeritus pope"

This continuing "development" of the institution of the papacy by the office of Benedict XVI. and the unusual way he continued to dress himself as a pope, to keep his pope's name and to be an "emeritus pope" is very controversial. Cardinal Walter Brandmüller described the figure of an emeritus pope as a "great danger " for the unity of the Church.
Against the attempted institutionalization of an "emeritus pope," Church lawyers even vehemently raised their voices. For the renowned Church lawyer Giuseppe Sciacca, curial bishop and secretary of the apostolic signatura, the figure of a emeritus pope is " theologically and legally untenable." On the other hand, in May 2016, Archbishop Georg Gänswein spoke in a lecture, which triggered violent reactions ( see also ).

Resignation signals from Pope Francis?

In the past half-year the discussion about a possible resignation of Pope Francis, which he himself has suggested as such, has intensified. The historian Roberto de Mattei, on the occasion of the 80th birthday of Francis, and in connection with the unaddressed Dubia (doubts) of prominent cardinals, wrote on the controversial post-synodal letter Amoris laetitia that in the course of 2017 it can not be ruled out that Francis  may take the bull by the horns and resign 
The Argentine weekly magazine Perfil interpreted the words of Francis from 30th May as resignation signals . The Pope had said in the morning sermon in Santa Marta:
"We shepherds must all say farewell. There comes a moment when the Lord tells us, "Go somewhere else, go there, go there, come to me.""
Perfil wrote:
"Francis today nurtured the idea, like his predecessor, to resign his office before his death."
Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Photo: Sol (Screenshot)
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
AMDG

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Liturgical "Sensibility" of Pope Francis Leads to the Demotion of Cardinal Cañizares

Cardinal Cañizares with Pope Benedict XVI
(Rome / Madrid) It had already been written for a few days. Now the confirmation has been made. Pope Francis today named Archbishop Carlos Osoro of Valencia as the new Archbishop of Madrid. The deposition of Cardinal Antonio Cañizares Llovera, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments by Pope Francis was already expected a few weeks after the recent conclave. Now the Argentine Pope is sending him back to Spain as the new Archbishop of Valencia. The decisive factor is not in the move, the in rank is more like a demotion, but a reposting away from Rome.
So, this is the  second dismissal of a prefect of the Roman Curia, which was expected by observers since the late spring of 2013. With the election of a new pope all offices of the Roman Curia are forfeit.  In the course of his staff restructuring of the Curia, Pope Francis removed those two from a total of nine prefects. Their understanding of the Church was the closest to Pope Benedict XVI. Cardinal Mauro Piacenza was already  replaced as Prefect of the Congregation of Clergy on September 21, 2013. Today, even the delicate department the Holy Liturgy and the Sacraments follows. Delicacy, not least because of questions as to how Pope Francis has exhibited low liturgical sensibility.

Liturgical Abuse for Francis is No Offense? - There is Already the Liturgical Dignity of the Old Rite  

While the Pope previously confessed no connection to criticism the widespread liturgical abuses especially in the West, he had repeatedl incomprehension, yes even a recognized aversion to the traditional Roman Rite, especially against the faithful who adhere to this rite.
That there would never have been a  Motu Proprio under Pope Francis, Summorum Pontificum, with which Pope Benedict XVI. 2007, corrected the liturgical reform of 1969, the imbalance in the innermost core of the faith and gave the traditional Rite far reaching rights of citizenship and equal rights in Church law again in addition to the Novus Ordo, is not doubted in the even more broad environment of the Argentine incumbent.
Cardinal Piacenza and Cardinal Canizares of Pope Franzikus outclassed
Cardinal Piacenza and Cardinal Canizares Whom Pope Francis deposed as prefect of a Roman Congregation
The aversion towards the efforts of his predecessor was already visible during his first public appearance, against attempts in the  Church to reclaim the understanding of the sacred, continues with the deposition of Cardinal Cañizares. A replacement has not yet been made. Traditionally connected circles harbor fears. Among the candidates in the past year most frequently mentioned, there was also Curial Archbishop Piero Marini, the [evil] papal master of ceremonies of John Paul II.

Too Close to the Understanding of the Church of Benedict XVI.

Cardinal Piacenza was connected with the  attempt of Benedict XVI to provide the clergy with  Saint John Mary Vianney, a saint, as a model, who was anchored steadfastly in the traditional churches and religious understanding. A "priest in the pre-Conciliar image", which has been so violently resisted within church,  so violently that the attempt failed.
Cardinal Cañizares was connected with the effort of Benedict XVI.  to strengthen the sacredness of the liturgy and to reinforce this effort mainly by the appreciation of the traditional Rite. Benedict XVI. not only ended the monopoly of the Novus Ordo, he put it  under pressure through the Vetus Ordo. In fact, the papal action bore immediate fruits worldwide. A process that  has been increasingly put to a halt by the election of Pope Francis. Critics have blamed Cardinal Cañizares, of scarcely responding to liturgical abuses in the Novus Ordo.

Lack of Understanding of Liturgical "Restoration"

With personal integrity, but not particularly combative, the cardinal celebrated several times in the traditional form of the Roman Rite, as well as in autumn 2012 on the occasion of the first International Pilgrimage of Tradition to Rome . It was the first time since the reform of the liturgy that it was celebrated at a main altar of St. Peter again in a larger scale Sacrifice of the Mass in the Old Rite.
Cardinal Canizares Celebrated the Old Rite in 2012 in St. Peter's Basilica 
Cardinal Piacenza had just turned 69  at the time of his dismissal. Cardinal Cañizares is 68. Neither the one nor the other cardinals were close to retirement age. Both were, as it is custom of the Church, resigned with melodious and prestigious offices.  However, the key point to the line-up of changes, is the underlying directional decision. Pope Francis wants to correct the pontificate of his predecessor, Benedict XVI not only by gestures but by facts. But  that is why he was ultimately chosen.

Detente with Prime Minister Rajoy?

Antonio Maria Cardinal Rouco Varela, the former Archbishop of Madrid,  is retiring  from office because he has reached the age limit.  As usual under Pope Benedict XVI. he  left him two years longer in office. It was just another year, because Pope Francis wanted to take sufficient time  for this personnel decision. Spain plays a more important role in the Spanish-speaking world, to which Argentina is one,  than other European countries.
Cardinal Rouco Varela was a determined opponent of the socialist Zapatero government and its social policy. Because of his personal weight and as chairman of the Spanish Bishops' Conference he exercised a decisive influence on the appointment of bishops in Spain. Politically, he was close to the right wing of the bourgeois Partido Popular (PP). But that's not currently the acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, whose search for a  majority would prefer a quiet Church. 
Text: Giuseppe Nardi
image: 30Days / MiL / Asianews / Le Forum Catholique
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
AMDG

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Archbishop Zollitsch Resigns Early

(Freiburg im Breisgau) "I admit that this message of the day delighted me." With these words, the Spanish church historian and Catholic blogger Francisco de la Cigoña, addressed the resignation of Archbishop Robert Zollitsch of Freiburg and his imminent departure as chairman of the German Bishops' Conference in March 2014. The title of de la Cigoñas comment can not be reproduced in full here. It reads: "Remarkable Kick in the A... to Zollitsch".

"Robert Zollitsch, who had been Archbishop of Freiburg since 2003, is in my opinion one of the worst bishops, not only of the German church, but the universal Church. He became the unusual object of attention for Pope Francis. He quickly put him on the road, just one month and eight days after reaching the retirement age, as this is actually usually done only for really sick or really disastrous bishops," says de la Cigoña.

"He was also Chairman of the German Episcopal Conference, Conference of Bishops, a disaster, what action can be more surprising," says the Spanish historian.

One Spanish Bishop is 77 and his resignation still hasn't been accepted.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Image: La cigüeña de la torre
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

AMGD

Monday, February 11, 2013

Society of St. Pius X on the Resignation of Pope Benedict

[SSPX USA] The Society of St. Pius X has learned of the sudden announcement about the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, which will be effective on the evening of February 28, 2013.

Despite the doctrinal differences that were still evident on the occasion of the theological talks held between 2009 and 2011, the Society of St. Pius X does not forget that the Holy Father had the courage to recall the fact that the Traditional Mass had never been abrogated, and to do away with the canonical sanctions that had been imposed on its bishops following their consecration in 1988. It is not unaware of the opposition that these decisions have stirred up, obliging the pope to justify himself to the bishops of the whole world.

The Society expresses its gratitude to him for the strength and the constancy that he has shown toward it in such difficult circumstances, and assures him of its prayers for the time that he wishes to devote from now on to recollection.

Following its founder, Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, the Society of St. Pius X reaffirms its attachment to eternal Rome, Mother and Instructress [Mater et Magistra] of Truth, and to the See of Peter. It reiterates its desire to make its contribution, according to its abilities, to resolving the grave crisis that is shaking the Church. It prays that, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the cardinals of the next conclave may elect the pope who, according to the will of God, will work for the restoration of all things in Christ (Eph 1:10).

Menzingen, February 11, 2013,
on the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes

Link ...

Monday, October 1, 2012

Two German Bishops Resign

Bischof Joachim Wanke
© Th1979, Wikipedia, CC
One official resignation after the other followed unexpectedly -- by reason of a "labile health situation". German Catholics should not expect reforming Bishops to be appointed by the current pontificate.

(kreuz.net)  Today Pope Benedict XVI has accepted the resignation of two German Bishops.

As of today Bishop Joachim Wanke (71) and Bishop Wilhelm Schraml (77) of Passau are on leave.

Because of poor health

Msgr. Wanke resigned his office by reason of Canon Law 401 § 2

In this case a resignation follows by reason of poor health or another serious reason.

The Bishop resigned in the former case because of a "labile health situation".

The diocese of Erfurt will be immediately directed by a provisional Diocesan Administrator.

Msgr. Wanke was first established as Bishop of Erfurt in 1994. Previously he was an Auxiliary Bishop as the former Apostolic Administrator of Erfurt-Meinigen.

Resignation because of Age

Bishop Schraml had already reached his age of resignation by 2010 -- at the completion of his 75th birthday.

Msgr Schraml was a priest of the Diocese of Regensburg. In 1996 he was named by Pope John Paul II as the Auxiliary Bishop of Regensburg.

By 2001 till today he was Bishop of Passau.

Link to kreuz.net...

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Benedict XVI Fires Another Old Liberal Bishop

Yet again there is another Old Liberal Bishop of the rundown Post-Conciliar Church --- named by Benedict XVI -- who has been removed. 

 (kreuz.net)Today Pope Benedict XVI has accepted the surprising resignation of Archbishop Vincenzo Di Mauro (61).

The reason for the resignation is not known.

Vigevano is a 64,000 population city 35 km southwest of Milan.

Dismissed

Msgr De Mauro was the Secretary of the Vatican Prefecture for Economic Affairs.

His dismissal after only three years in an unimportant Italian diocese was widely interpreted as a demotion.

The Italian news agency 'agi.it' spoke of the dissmissal of the Archbishop.

A broad education

Msgr Di Mauro was ordained a priest by the Old Liberal Archbishop of Milan, Giovanni Cardinal Colombo (+1992) in June of 1976.

Along with theology, he studied Literature, Journalism and Economics.

He was active in the Archdiocese of Milan as a chaplain in various parishes.

Roman Career with Interruption

From 1994-1998 he worked for the first time in the Vatican with the Papal Office of Laity.

Then he came back as a pastor from Milan.

Career Jump Under Benedict XVI

In January 2004 he was named as a Delegate to the Ordinary Section of the "Administration of the Patrimony of the Holy See".

In September 2007 the Pope raised him to Secretary of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See.

For this administrative post, Benedict XVI consecrated him Bishop on the 29th of September.

Co-Consecrator Was Secretary of State, Tarcisio Cardinal Bertone.

Transfer with Consolation Prize

On the 22nd of November 2010 Msgr Di Mauro was surprised to be named as Coadjutor-Bishop of the small Diocese Vigevano -- 35 km south west of Milan.

As a consolation prize, he was granted the personal title of Archbishop by the Pope.

Msgr Di Mauro published various catechetical works.  He wrote text and composed also downright horrible church music.

The Reason

There are two possible reason for the resignation of the Archbishop: one -- a possible -- entanglement in the disappearance of documents from the Vatican or -- more likely -- sexual indiscretions.

Link to kreuz.net....