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These Last Days News - January 18, 2017

Could Amoris Laetitia Signal the End of Catholic Marriage?

The above Messages from Our Lady were given to Veronica Lueken at Bayside, New York. Read more

OnePeterFive.com reported on January 16, 2017:

by Father Brian Harrison, O.S.

New York Times columnist Ross Douthat recently published a widely circulated commentary on the recent fall-out from Amoris Laetitia entitled, “The End of Catholic Marriage”. In it, he argued persuasively that if Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation on marital love comes to be generally interpreted and applied as liberally as it has been in the Diocese of San Diego, California, it will in effect mean the death of this sacrament as the Gospel of Christ and the Catholic Church have always presented it: a sacred covenant whose indissoluble character means that remarriage after divorce constitutes adultery – a violation of the Sixth Commandment that excludes one from sacramental absolution and Eucharistic communion.

Almost as if to corroborate the accuracy of Douthat’s warning, the two bishops of a Mediterranean island nation have descended like birds of prey to inflict sudden death on Catholic marriage in their jurisdiction. Malta has been famous as a bastion of fervent and orthodox Catholicism almost since St. Paul evangelized it in the first century. No more. For in one fell swoop, Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna of Malta and Bishop Mario Grech of Gozo have avoided superficial flesh wounds and darted straight in for the jugular. They do admittedly try to disguise their death-blow with the standard bland rhetoric about the need for a sincere search for God’s will, serious prayerful discernment, “humility, discretion and love for the Church and her teaching”, etc. But their bottom line is that in Malta there will now be no objective and enforceable limits whatsoever on the right of (non-continent) divorced and civilly remarried Catholics to receive the Holy Eucharist. Priest confessors are being told they may no longer be deciders in such matters, only ‘accompaniers’; for access to the sacraments for all persons in these illicit unions will ultimately depend entirely on their own subjective decision of “conscience”.

How and when did this revolution occur? On January 13, the two aforesaid bishops made public an 8-page pastoral letter to Maltese priests entitled Criteria for the Application of Chapter VIII of Amoris Laetitia. (It is dated January 8, 2017, Solemnity of the Epiphany.) Here you can read the full text.

I have no inside information as to whether Pope Francis had prior knowledge of this document, but in any case the Pontiff’s predictable failure to censure it will signify his assent to its content; indeed, that message has already been spread abroad by the instant publication of the Maltese letter in the Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano.

Apart from noting two articles of the Catechism of the Catholic Church about factors that can diminish personal culpability for objectively sinful acts, this letter contains no references to any pre-Francis magisterial teaching. So in Malta the year 2017 has started off looking like Orwell’s 1984, wherein inconvenient history simply vanishes down the memory hole. This is papal positivism with a vengeance: the very pontiff who constantly berates traditional Catholics for “seeing everything in black and white” is now being turned into a Superpope whose authority trumps that of all his predecessors if he chooses to call white what they called black.

Let’s take a look at the text of the document. Its general approach is clearly established right from article 1, wherein relationships that the Gospel and the Catholic Church call adultery and fornication are soothingly sociologized under the term “complex family situations”. Indissolubility is nowhere mentioned in this letter, and even an initial nod given to our Lord’s teaching on marriage reads like lukewarm lip-service. Before the two bishops turn to the manifold merciful mitigations of God’s law that really warm their hearts, they write, “As priests, we have the duty to enlighten consciences by proclaiming Christ and the full ideal of the Gospel” (art. 1). Ah, yes. Gospel teaching on lifelong marital fidelity is now just an ideal, no longer a grave obligation imposed on all spouses by Christ himself.

The same disingenuous airbrushing of Jesus’ demanding teaching is apparent when the Maltese bishops come to discuss continence on the part of invalidly remarried couples in cases where there are serious reasons for them not to separate. In article 9 we read (with emphasis added here):  “Throughout the discernment process, we should also examine the possibility of conjugal continence. Despite the fact that this ideal is not at all easy, there may be couples who, with the help of grace, practice this virtue without putting at risk other aspects of their life together.”

In this passage, note first of all the word “conjugal”: the bishops are whitewashing an adulterous relationship with an adjective that refers to true marriage. Next, continence is again described as a mere ideal, not a binding obligation. Indeed, the bishops depict this “ideal” as virtually unattainable by commenting coyly that there “may be” couples who actually observe it! In fact, their existence is far from hypothetical, as most experienced pastors are aware. Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke told me several days ago (January 14^th) that, in speaking to the faithful who attend his Masses and lectures in various countries, he very frequently meets divorced and remarried couples who tell him they are practicing that demanding self-discipline – and finding peace and happiness in doing so. (His Eminence was in St. Louis visiting St. Mary of Victories Church, of which I am the rector, to celebrate Mass at the invitation of ‘Juventutem’, the international young adults’ organization that promotes the traditional Latin liturgy.) The Maltese bishops go on to imply that even those invalidly married couples who “may be” able to “practice this virtue” (i.e., continence) should do so only if this doesn’t “put at risk other aspects of their life together”. In plain language: Go ahead and practice vice instead of virtue – adultery instead of chastity – if that’s what it takes to safeguard “other aspects of [your] life”. The good end will justify the evil means.

Yes, it’s frightening to see Successors of the Apostles uttering such pernicious doctrine – especially by appealing to a papal document. But it gets worse. In the next sentence all pretence of seriously advocating a ‘brother-sister’ commitment for these couples is dropped. For the bishops continue thus: “On the other hand, there are complex situations where the choice of living ‘as brothers and sisters’ becomes humanly impossible and gives rise to greater harm (see AL, note 329)”. “Humanly impossible”, Your Excellencies? Have you forgotten that the Council of Trent has anathematized as heresy the view that, even with the help of sanctifying grace, compliance with God’s commands can sometimes be impossible? (Cf. canon 18 on justification, Dz 828 [DS/DH 1568].) And how could obeying a divine command ever “give rise to greater harm” than disobeying it?  Would it not be blasphemous to suggest that our loving Father could ever command us to do something that is to our real detriment, not our benefit?

It is all too easy to foresee the conclusion that will naturally be drawn from this paragraph (art. 9) by invalidly remarried Maltese Catholics: “Our official teachers of the faith are clearly telling us that sex between divorced and civilly remarried couples is not always gravely sinful; for they’re saying that the ‘brother-sister’ option is no longer a prerequisite for receiving the sacraments. And their rationale is that continence is not only humanly impossible for most couples but will in any case usually do more harm than good.  So why we should even attempt to live according this so-called ‘ideal’ when our bishops are saying that if we find it too burdensome we can go to Communion anyway?”

The coup de grâce for the perennial doctrine on marital fidelity and sacramental integrity comes in the succeeding paragraph of the letter. Article 10, in full, reads as follows:

“If, as a result of the process of discernment, undertaken with ‘humility, discretion and love for the Church and her teaching, in a sincere search for God’s will and a desire to make a more perfect response to it’ (AL 300), a separated or divorced person who is living in a new relationship manages, with an informed and enlightened conscience, to acknowledge and believe that he or she are [sic] at peace with God, he or she cannot be precluded from participating in the sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist (see AL, notes 336 and 351).”

Please note the inclusion of “separated” persons above. Our two Maltese falcons (unleashed, it must be remembered, by the chief Falconer in Rome) have not only pried open the sacramental doors for those in bigamous unions that enjoy civil recognition. Their sharply logical beaks have simultaneously ripped out and discarded the need for divorce – so often a stressful, time-consuming and expensive process. Thus, Catholics in Malta who are cohabiting with one partner while still legally and sacramentally married to another will henceforth have access to the sacraments on the same basis as the divorced and remarried. Note also the ominous word “cannot” in art. 10. The island nation’s priest confessors are being told they not only may, but must, grant absolution (and thus, access to Communion) to unrepentant adulterers provided only  that the latter insist they have “manage[d], with an informed and enlightened conscience, to acknowledge and believe that [they] are at peace with God”. What, then, of the priest whose own “informed and enlightened conscience” tells him he may not comply with this revolutionary diktat? Once again Orwell’s scenario springs to mind: in Malta, it seems, all Catholic consciences may (perhaps) be equal, but some are now clearly “more equal than others”.

As if all this were not bad enough, more is in store a little further down the road. In article 3 of the letter, the bishops say that before treating their main topic (those who are “separated or divorced” from a true spouse), they “would like to address the situation of those who cohabit or who have only married civilly”. That is, Catholics who have never been validly married. While this paragraph rightly recommends a pastoral approach that would encourage these couples to move toward true marriage, it is silent about whether or not they can ever approach the sacraments in their present condition. However, the bishops hasten to emphasize, in accordance with AL #294, that among such couples “the degree of moral responsibility is not the same for all cases”, i.e., that they are not necessarily in mortal sin. So it is not hard to see what conclusion about sacramental reception will be drawn from art. 3 by many unwed sexual partners whose “informed and enlightened consciences” also tell them they’re “at peace with God”. Indeed, they will be able to tell themselves that, if anything, they should have a greater right to receive Communion than the divorced and remarried. For as simple fornicators in God’s sight, they cannot be accused of the graver sin of adultery, which violates the cardinal virtue of justice as well as that of temperance.

An explicit authorization for these folks too to approach the sacraments is probably just round the corner; and, since logical conclusions have a way of stubbornly following from their premises in practice as well as on paper, a similar permission for same-sex couples who find themselves “at peace with God” will surely not lag far behind. Not to mention corresponding concessions to polygamists all over Africa, as the orthodox Cardinal Wilfrid Napier of Durban has recently warned us.

All in all, 2017 seems to be shaping up pretty well for Protestants as they celebrate (with more than a little encouragement from our Catholic leaders) the 500^th anniversary of the Reformation.  For if little Malta turns out to be a canary in the coal mine – an indicator of impending death for indissoluble marriage on a wider international scale – then our separated brethren will surely rejoice that we Catholics are finally seeing the light that Luther received five centuries earlier when he boldly relativized the Gospel’s stern teaching on this matter. Whether that ‘light’ really comes from Christ, who sent His Blessed Mother to appear at Fatima 100 years ago, is of course another matter. Among other things, she warned us then that “sins of the flesh” are those which most frequently send souls to Hell.

Editor's Comments:  Matthew 16:18  "And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."  Jesus said; "the gates of hell shall not prevail against 'IT'" (the Church) not 'HIM' (the Pope). 

    The Church survived the Imposter Pope Paul VI  in the 1970's.  http://www.tldm.org/News3/impostor.htm  The Church survived erroneous popes in the past history of the Church and "IT" will survive them in the future.

"There will be an uncanonically elected pope who will cause a great schism, there will be diverse thoughts preached which will cause many, even those in the different orders to doubt, yea, even agree with those heretics which will cause my Order to divide, then will there be such universal dissensions and persecutions that if those days were not shortened even the elect would be lost." - St. Francis of Assisi (The Reign of Antichrist, Fr. R. Gerald Culleton)

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Our Lady of the Roses Awesome Bayside Prophecies... http://www.tldm.org/Bayside/ These prophecies came from Jesus, Mary, and the saints to Veronica Lueken at Bayside, NY, from 1968 to 1995.

HIGHEST MITRES
"Do not be misled by the outer clothing of man, for there are many wolves in sheep's clothing, wearing the apparel of rank. Know that many have given themselves to satan.
     "Pray, pray much for those who wear the highest mitres, for they, too, have set themselves onto the road to hell. Your prayers and your acts of sacrifice and those who hear My voice, pray much for the Red Hats that have gone onto the wide road."  - Our Lady, October 2, 1974

HIGHEST PLACES OF THE CHURCH
"We ask that you pray much. Pray for those in the House of God who have lost their way. Many mitres are now going onto the road to perdition. Pray for them, for it is of great sorrow to Our hearts to see a man of God fall from his mission.  
     "Satan has entered into the highest places of the Church.
     "Pray much. I have asked you in the past to help patch the cracks. The bark of Peter flounders.
     "You will stand fast with Our Vicar. Do not allow your hearts, through your ears and human senses, to be misled. The enemies of God send out false interpretations.”  - Our Lady, April 13, 1974

CONTROL OF MANY MAJOR POSITIONS
"Control—you must know, my child, and tell the world that satan has control now of many major positions in the House of God, in the Eternal City of Rome. Traitors surround your Vicar. His sufferings are great.
     "Already they have chosen his successor. But pray, my children, pray much that he does not be removed, for woe to the world! The crucifixion of the Mystical Body of Christ! Woe to mankind!"
     Veronica -  Now Michael is stepping back, and he's now pointing with his spear. He has a spear in his right hand. He's pointing with his spear now, and he's pointing to a cardinal. And he's now writing above his head: "W".
     Now he's going over—I should be able to see him; he's standing right in front of him, and he's pointing to the next cardinal, and he's writing above his head: "A".
     And he's then going to the next one—he's sitting way over at the end, though, and he's writing above his head: "S".
     Now he's coming forward, and he's pointing his spear with disdain at a "V", a big "V". A big "V" now is appearing on the head of, I guess he's a bishop, or archbishop. He's wearing the same kind of a, like a . . . a . . . he's got a biretta-like, one of those little round hats. It's sort of a purplish color. And now above his head is written the letter "V".
     Now Michael is bending forward.
     St. Michael - "They are the initials, my child. You will pray for them, and ask many of earth's children to pray that they come out of the darkness. Their souls wallow in sin. They are blinded, and they are misleading those under their rule.
     "V. does much damage to the Holy Father [Pope Paul VI] by changing his correspondence. V. rewrites his letters. V. censors his mail. He did not, my child, receive the medals you sent to him. He did not receive your correspondence, my child. The Holy Father shall receive his knowledge from Mary, the Queen of Heaven and his Mother."  - St. Michael, August 21, 1974

“SET TO RIGHTS THE DAMAGE”
“I, Michael, guardian of the House of God, give fair warning to all cardinals and bishops in all houses upon earth, churches, that you must set to rights the damage that you have created, the damage that has destroyed many souls.
     "It will be a command of the Father from Heaven that all in authority defrock and excommunicate those under their rule who seek to destroy the Faith as given by the Father from Heaven.
     "Speak, my child; speak now as I have directed you. There is a major law in the Faith of Jesus Christ that none shall enter into secret societies of the Masons. The sons of satan are rulers, known by the name of Freemasons. All who join this heinous..."
     Veronica - Oh! Oh, my goodness! Oh!
     St. Michael - "All who join this secret society will immediately be condemned to the abyss forever.
     "Those in rule will excommunicate and defrock all who enter and make pact with the separated brethren and who will compromise the Faith with the separated brethren.”  - St. Michael, August 21, 1974 

PLAN  OF  LUCIFER
"You will stand behind your Vicar. The agents of hell surround him. They will not remove him from the Seat of Peter. A greater punishment falls upon man should he be removed from the Seat of Peter! It is the plan of Lucifer to sit his agent upon the Seat. I have warned you many times that your ways have led you into great destruction.
     "The hand of God will fall heavy upon your world. For a man to let himself fall into perdition in his lay life . . . but when this perdition has entered into the House of God, it calls for a speedy and fast destruction! For all that is rotten will fall. Weak vines will break, boughs will be bent, but the cross of the living God shall not be bent by the will of man and to satisfy the desires of a corrupt generation! No-o-o! For woe to those who promote evil in the House of God! They will be held accountable in full measure for the fall of the souls entrusted to their care." - Our Lady, May 30, 1973 

ANTIPOPE OF HISTORY
"My children, in the past My Church, My people have gone through crucibles of suffering, but I say unto you: My House, My Church upon earth is passing through a trial far greater than any in past history. Lucifer and his agents now are working with diligence and are most successful at this moment in their striving to topple the Seat of Peter and to place in Rome a pope that is the antipope of history." - Jesus, June 18, 1978

SATAN'S  AGENT
"The Holy Father will soon undergo a great trial. You will all gather round him and support him on his cross. You will not set up the machinery for the entrance of satan's agent onto the Seat of Peter, for when you do you have reached the beginning of the end!" - St. Peter, August 5, 1972 

TRAVELING ROAD OF FALLEN ANGELS
"To all of Our bishops and cardinals: awaken from your sleep! This warning is given so that you will have time to make amends. You are burrowing like rats into the foundation of My House! In your quest to improve, you are destroying My House! In your arrogance, you are traveling the road of the fallen angels! Modernization—you shall not change to please human nature! You will bring man to his God through discipline. The rules have been given to you, set down very clearly in the Book of life, the Bible. You will not change the words to suit your fallen nature! My word to you is this: Return My House to the rule! A House in darkness will shut its doors. The filth must be cleansed!"  - Jesus, December 6, 1974 

USING RANK TO DESTROY SOULS
"Those who have the highest rank in My Son's House, in the houses throughout your world, are using their rank to destroy many souls. Pray, pray much for them, for they, too, shall burn in the fires of hell.”  - Our Lady, August 14, 1974

MAN  OF  DARK  SECRETS
"I see that the high priests of the House of God have become soft in their ways. They cater to their bodies and do not wish to sacrifice and make penance. There will be no easy road to the Kingdom. They will get down on their knees, and they will starve their worldly bodies until they rid themselves of the demons within them.
     "Unless you listen now to my words of caution, you will fall into the trap that is being set for you. The enemy is within the House of God. He will seek to remove your Vicar from among you, and when he does he will place a man of dark secrets upon the Seat of Peter!" - St. Thomas Aquinas, August 21, 1972 

CARDINAL AGAINST CARDINAL
“When I am returned to remain guard at the tabernacles, and my name is returned, you will find the people flocking back into the houses of their God. Instead, now I have been locked out and satan has been invited in. His agents fill the seats of the houses of God. The battle will rage with great ferocity in the House of God—bishop against bishop, cardinal against cardinal, until the score has been settled in favor of the Eternal Father, your Creator.”  - St. Michael, August 21, 1974

Directives from Heaven... http://www.tldm.org/directives/directives.htm

D36 - Bishops (Part 1) PDF
D37 - Bishops (Part 2)  PDF
D122 - Antichrist   PDF
D129 - Third Secret, Part 1 - 666 in Rome  PDF
D130 - Third Secret,  Part 2 - Satan entered the Church in 1972  PDF
D131 - Third Secret,  Part 3 - Satan in highest realms of the hierarchy   PDF
D132 - Third Secret,  Part 4 - Bishop against bishop, cardinal against cardinal  PDF
D133 -The Apocalypse/Revelations PDF
D155 - Antipope of History PDF
D186 - Excommunication   PDF
D188 - Wrath of God    PDF
D190 - Cardinals, Part 1   PDF
D191 - Cardinals, Part 2  PDF 
D192 - Cardinals, Part 3 PDF
D300 - Satan's War Against the Papacy, Part 1   PDF
D301 - Satan's war against the Papacy, Part 2   PDF

EDITOR'S COMMENT:  Evil is accelerating and the Anti-Christ forces are gaining power in the world.  When the persecution starts, all Christian web sites on the internet will be forced to close.  Be sure to have in your possession all the following items: the Bayside Prophecy books, Bayside Medals, Douay-Rheims Bibles, the Protection Packets, Candles, Sacramentals, and Religious Books.  Purchase these items now while they are still available!  You will urgently need them in the days ahead.  Also, you can print out all PDF files for the Directives from Heaven and all of the Bayside Prophecies.  Copy Our Lady's messages and the Directives from Heaven now while they are still available!  Pray to the Holy Spirit for wisdom and guidance on how to prepare now and for the days ahead when the Antichrist is revealed.  Viva Cristo Rey!

Articles...

Bishop Athanasius Schneider: Synod Interim Report ‘Clearly a Prefabricated Text’ Representing a ‘Radical Neo-Pagan Ideology’...
http://www.tldm.org/News25/Bishop-Athanasius-Schneider-Synod-Interim-Report-Clearly-A-Prefabricated-Text-Representing-A-Radical-Neo-Pagan-Ideology.htm

Archbishop Burke preaches tough Communion rule: Turn away abortion-rights backers under pain of mortal sin
http://www.tldm.org/News11/ArchbishopBurkeToughCommunionRule.htm

Archbishop Burke: Bishops must discipline pro-abortion Catholic politicians
http://www.tldm.org/News11/ArchbishopBurkeDisciplineProAbortCatholicPoliticians.htm

Pope Benedict supports excommunication for pro-abortion politicians: "Incompatible with receiving Communion"
http://www.tldm.org/News10/PopeExcommunicateDenyCommunionToProAbortCatholicPoliticians.htm

Pope Benedict XVI says that refusing Holy Communion to pro-abortion politicians is a "doctrine of the Church"
http://www.tldm.org/News7/Ratzinger3.htm

Honduran Cardinal: "A politician who publicly supports abortion, he excommunicates himself"
http://www.tldm.org/News10/HonduranCardinalCommunionMustBeDenied.htm

Pope Benedict warns pro-abortion politicians against receiving Communion unworthily
http://www.tldm.org/News10/PopeUnworthyCommunion.htm

Catholics must be free of grave sin to receive Holy Communion
http://www.tldm.org/News6/ReceptionofCommunion.htm

Archbishop Burke: more profoundly sorrowful would be a bishop who failed "to safeguard the worthy reception of  Communion"
http://www.tldm.org/news6/Burke2.htm

Sacrilegious Communion and the U.S. bishops
http://www.tldm.org/News6/sacrilege.htm

Austrian Bishop Lugner says mall owner excommunicated for providing space for abortion clinic
http://www.tldm.org/News10/AbortionBishop%20Lugner.htm

Bishop Henry says he would refuse Prime Minister Holy Communion, would consider excommunication
http://www.tldm.org/News7/AbortionBishopHenry.htm

Links...

Bishops and bald eagles, Judie Brown, March 2, 2007
http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/brown/070302

Cardinal Ratzinger said, "The minister of Holy Communion must refuse to distribute it." He did not say 'could,' or 'may,' but that he "must,"  Barbara Kralis, July 6, 2004
http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/kralis/040706

Prohibition is worthless without enforcement, Barbara Kralis, June 24, 2004
http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/kralis/040624

Is not murder just as evil as lust in the eyes of God? Barbara Kralis, June 8, 2004
http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/kralis/040607

Ten questions regarding the denial of the Eucharist, Barbara Kralis, May 24, 2004
http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/kralis/040524

Your names have been written in Heaven… "It is not by accident that you are called by My Mother, for your names have been written in Heaven.... But with this great grace you have great responsibility to send this Message from Heaven throughout the world, for if you are able to recover just one more for Heaven, an additional star shall be placed in your crown." - Jesus, August 5, 1975

A great obligation to go forward... "It is not by accident that you are called by My Mother, for it is by merit and the prayers that have risen to Heaven for your salvation.  For those who have received the grace to hear the Message from Heaven, you have a great obligation to go forward and bring this Message to your brothers and sisters.  Do not expect a rest upon your earth, for you will have eternal rest very soon." - Jesus, June 12, 1976

The sin of omission...  "The sin of omission shall condemn many to hell, be they layman or Hierarchy.  I repeat:  not the sin of commission, but the sin of omission will commit many to hell."  Our Lady of the Roses,  October 6, 1980

My gift to help spread Our Lady of the Roses' messages to the world.

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