Faithbase

Guys, Pope Francis fired Bishop Strickland. What in the world is going on with the Vatican? Now, this news came in after I received another note on WhatsApp from a dear friend in Rome, who told me about the new changes that took place under the 2023 Vatican Synod, which seems to have very little of the Holy Spirit and a lot more of the spirit of this age. wanting to modernize the church under the label of equity and inclusion. And by the way, this Synod, instead of having bishops and cardinals voting on the different issues, for the first time incorporated lay people or experts who had the same voting rights as the clergy. I look at Jesus when he wanted his followers to establish his ecclesia, to form, to shape, to influence society for the sake of his kingdom. But what we're witnessing nowadays is the exact opposite. And the reset agenda that is proposed by the World Economic Forum is pushing the Catholic Church to reset as well along the lines of Davos versus standing firm on the teaching of Christ. So, what am I talking about? Well, let me tell you about it, and then we will go back to Strickland. So, this week, a new Vatican document that has come from the Congregation for Doctrine of the Faith, and the body that basically is responsible for defending the Catholic doctrine, came out stating that transgender, as well as people of the same sex relationship, can be baptized and be baptismal sponsors, which we normally address as godparents. But wait a minute. One of the rules to legitimize a godparent couple is that they need to live a life that is congruent with the faith and must be married by the Roman Catholic Church. So, how in the world are we going to reconcile this? Well, given the lenient stance that the Pope has taken on gay issues since the very beginning of his mandate, it would not surprise me if in a very near future, he caves in. Now, do not get me wrong. I'm not attacking gay, lesbian, trans, nor do I claim to be without sin judging from a pulpit. I'm just commenting on this issue that happens to involve sexual preferences. But it could very well be attributed to any other sin, whether it is adultery, thievery, murder, you name it. Okay? So, when it comes to sexual preferences or identities, the Pope already stated, who am I to judge? Well, I think especially as a leader of a church, he is to judge. According to John 7 24, we are to judge not by appearances, but correctly. And we all ought to call sin what it is, sin, and not hide behind some false humility. Now, hypocritical, self-righteous judgment is what Christ condemns, but he calls us to be discerning. Now, what value would a baptism have without an inner desire to change or a conversion or a repentance? Water itself does not have any virtue to wash away our sins and take it from a swimmer like me. But baptism is effective in cleansing us from sin when it's preceded by repentance, belief in the one who pardons us, and is followed by a sincere effort to honor his name in our actions. Now, if we look at John the Baptist, Peter, and even Jesus, they preach repentance first, turning away from sin, then baptism, which demonstrates publicly one's intention. Now, furthermore, Jesus states this in Luke 3 8, bear fruits in keeping with repentance. To me, that signifies a change of direction or metanoia in Greek. That comes from an internal change of the mind and of the heart. Now, back in 2016, the Vatican denied the blessing to same-sex couples and was hit by a very harsh comment like this. This will exacerbate the pain and anger of LGBTQ plus Catholics and our families. This is coming from Marianne Doody Burke. She's the executive director of Dignity USA. So, seven years later, 2023, we do not see pastoral zeal so that people may repent and convert, but we see a desire to normalize their behavior. And here's the comment from the same organization, the same person. It is encouraging to see the Vatican making it clear that LGBTQ plus people are not automatically banned from our church sacraments. We hope this document will help with the discrimination that we have received from some priests. This is the latest comment from that person. Now, I'm reminded of another scripture, Matthew 18 7, where it says, Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble. Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come. Now, Christians are often accused of judging or being intolerant when speaking out against sins, but opposing sin is not wrong. When Jesus said not to judge others, he did not mean that no one can identify sin for what it is. Jesus is giving us permission to tell right from wrong. That is being discerning. And he also tells us to confront in love those who are strained from the truth for a godly conduct. And this brings me to Bishop Strickland. He is the Bishop of Tyler, Texas, who is a very strong conservative and sticks to biblical views. He says that the church is moving in the wrong direction. And in some of his social media, you know, he has been pretty fiery. Like this one here of May 23 of this year. He says of the Pope, he's undermining the deposit of faith. Follow Jesus. Now, you may remember the video that I did during Gay Pride Month where I featured him. He is not the type that seeks praise for men while compromising the truth. But in so doing, he is threatening the very powers that are steering the Pope in the wrong direction. So, in June of this year, Strickland received an apostolic visitation under the rumors of a significant turnover in his diocese because of a possible mismanagement of a school and also a planned Catholic community. However, the parishioners are speaking positively of his 11-year tenure. And as a result of the visitation on November 9, he was asked to resign without any explanation. Strickland declined, and therefore the Pope ordered his removal. And he accepted the removal and even asked people to pray for the Pope. However, a removal with no canonical crime or not even an explanation is abuse of papal authority. And according to Cardinal Garrett Mueller, he says, this is abuse of divine power of the episcopate. So, meantime, we have other sex offender clerics that continue with their influence because of papal lenience, while the uncompromising Strickland is a shepherd without a flock. Lord, have mercy on us all. Guys, please, let's stick to the truth. That's the reason why we have his word. And don't get compromised by the morality of this world. I love you, and I'll catch you next time. Ciao.