Phil Lawler at Catholic Culture demonstrates that if you are a faithful Catholic cleric in this pontificate, you have a target on your back:
In Agatha Christie’s classic Murder on the Orient Express, the great detective Hercule Poirot faces an unusual challenge. There are too many suspects—too many people with obvious motives for committing the crime.
That’s how I feel about the news that Archbishop Charles Brown, the apostolic nuncio in Ireland, is being transferred to Albania.
This is not a subtle move. The Vatican is explaining that it’s just a routine rotation; every now and then papal diplomats are given new assignments. That would make sense, except that:
- Archbishop Brown is not a career diplomat. Pope Benedict sent him to Ireland, at a time of crisis for the faith, precisely because he trusted his orthodoxy.
- When nuncios are moved, they are usually sent to assignments of equal or greater importance. A switch from Ireland to Albania is an unmistakable demotion.
Who would have wanted Archbishop Brown removed from Dublin?
– The Irish government, which is working to end the constitutional ban on abortion? Check.
– The Irish bishops, who don’t want pressure to act like Catholic leaders? Check.
– Liberal Irish priests, for the same reason? Check.
– The lavender mafia, always? Check.
– The Secretariat of State, which resented having a non-diplomat appointed as nuncio? Check.
– Pope Francis himself, who’s busy removing all Ratzinger loyalists? Check.
Too many suspects.
Go here to read the comments. Saint Patrick erected the cross in Ireland, and today too many Catholics, clergy and laity, are doing their worst to tear it down.
“I am neither Conservative or Liberial, I’m Apostolic!” Pope Francis.
May the snakes be lead out of the Vatican by the demand of God through His Saints! Sooner than later… Please.
St. Patrick…Pray for us.
St. Joseph…Pray for us.
St. Peter…Pray for us.
May Our Lady of Knock come to the aid of Ireland and the entire Catholic Church.
Clean your Church Mother of God.
Create a clean heart in Rome.
One worthy of the Chair of Peter.
“..the gates of hell shall not prevail against it…”
I’ve developed a more complete understanding, Jesus must have known that sometimes things would look like hell.
Thank you, Pope Francis
David, I always view that quote about The gates of Hell….as one with a key word in it–prevail.
Prevail to me, means that there must be one heck of a struggle first. The good guys also prevailed in WWII, but the cost of lost lives was enormous, and so it will be with souls, before this is all over.
Not only St Patrick but all of us should weep for the Church as the wheat and chaff are separated and mixed together by that grimmest of reapers, Pope Francis. This is truly a time of testing for all of us. Let us pray that we are able to discern the truth of God.
I keep feeling that the Church is leaving me and not me leaving the Curch