"It is necessary to identity and treat those who are not Charlie".

Cathcon- Yet another example of measures which governments have to take to defend their citizens being instrumentalised for an attack on the liberties of all citizens. Many Catholics cannot in all conscience say "Je suis Charlie Hebdo" because of the vile nature of their anti-Catholic cartoons.

French Jesuit journal publishes anti-Catholic cartoons in solidarity with Charlie Hebdo

"We are Charlie"

How not to be indignant at the murder committed in cold blood? The attack that killed 12 people in the editorial office of Charlie Hebdo fills us with horror. As a result of a newspaper and its options, it is freedom of expression that is subject to terrorism. Unanimous reactions that have arisen, from right and left, among believers as from unbelievers, call out not to give in to fear and to defend a plural society.

We have decided to put online [on our site] a few cartoons of Charlie Hebdo that relate to Catholicism. It is a sign of strength to be able to laugh at some traits of the institution to which we belong, because it is a way of saying that what we value is beyond always transient and imperfect forms. Humour regarding faith is a good antidote to fanaticism and a spirit of seriousness which tends to take everything literally.

We express our solidarity with our murdered brothers , the other victims, their families and friends.

writing

Source

Cathcon: The Jesuits here have an "it's complicated" relationship with the Church like almost all in their order.  Charlie Hebdo comes out of the French tradition of laicity dominated by socialism, which originated in the blood-drenched French Revolution.   This same tradition which committed the odious sin of regicide and gave the Church new martyrs during the Revolution thought nothing of expelling the religious orders from France in 1905.    During the French Revolution itself, malicious cartoons circulating about the King and Queen created the climate for their eventual deaths.

They also campaigned for the banning of the Front National, France's right wing political party.  While the party to which I belong, UKIP rejects outright any deal with the Front National on the grounds that they are too extreme, one can but wonder at the inconsistency.

The Front National comes out of another French tradition, that of Charles Maurras who in the end rejected both monarchy and church in favour of secular solutions.

A most vivid parallel of the Charlie Hebdo cartoons about Catholicism are the anti-Catholic cartoons which the Nazis circulated about the Catholic Church in the 1930s accusing her of systematic child abuse.  In those days the accusation was untrue, only to be made a reality in the post-conciliar church.

That said, satire which exposes an ugliness, proclaims a truth and is done from a love of that which is good has a role.  Without satire creating a climate of opinion, there is every chance that the sexual abuse scandal of the church would have been swept under the carpet.   The cartoons here are removed from this satirical ideal.  While the Vicar of Christ did indeed turn World Youth Day into a carnival the motivations for portraying him like this are darker and deeper.

I have a long history on this blog and elsewhere protesting at blasphemous texts and artworks.   Indeed, I was on Flemish TV outside one particular theatre protesting against a play which implied the Virgin Mary was not. I asked "What will become of Flanders, if Flanders is no longer Catholic?" Asking a similar question this week about France, someone commented that the more accurate question would be, "What will become of France, now that France is no longer Catholic?"  I would not resort to violence to make my point for that is a form of coercion, even worse than state coercion.  St Thomas Aquinas tells us that in the end persuasion is the only path, for the Faith of those that are persuaded will endure, but those who are coerced will revert to their former state.

Our Lady of France and All Martyrs of the Revolution pray for the repose of the souls of those who died!

See also the Hypocrites of Paris

Priest dancing with the baby Jesus

Socialist Youth and Catholic Students at war

The Antwerp Young Socialists react angrily to the statements of the Antwerp branch of the KVHV about Johan Bonny.

The Catholic Flemish Student Alliance in a press release attacked the Antwerp Bishop, Johan Bonny. He advocated in "De Morgen" recognition of gay marriage by the Catholic Church. 

According to the KVHV, Bonny wants the church no longer to designate sexuality outside marriage as sinful.

According to the Antwerp Young Socialists, the view of KVHV is downright creepy. 'Back to the years quietly, where sexuality was not discussed and gays best remained in the closet. This is unworthy of a modern, inclusive and welcoming society unworthy. We did not know that the H is KVHV stood for 'homophobic,' 'says the Antwerp Young Socialists. 

The youth wing of the Socialist Party finds the judgments of the KVHV discriminatory and unacceptable and has filed a complaint with the Interfederal Equal Opportunity Centre. "The statements suggest that homosexuality and gay marriage are sinful. For us, it is beyond the bounds of what is acceptable. If this is the so-called Flemish elite, we are deeply concerned about the future. "

 Also on Twitter, several politicians have expressed their disgust. 

 Source

Catholic students blast bishop for being not Catholic

Press release from Flemish Catholic Student Association of Antwerp

KVHV Antwerp: "Your
Excellency, what you are proposing is not Catholic!"

The Bishop of Antwerp, Mgr. Johan Bonny, has once again been reported in the media by openly stand up for the Church to recognize and bless relationships between homosexuals.  It is not the first time. The Antwerp prelate several years ago, in 2012,was enthusiastic about a play that was staged at De Singel, entitled 'On the Concept of the Face, Regarding the Son of God. "Although this play by Romeo Castelucci took the form of a blasphemous attack on Jesus Christ, Mgr. Bonny saw the cultural value of it.

With his call to offer
homosexual relationships within the Roman Catholic Church a position within the structure, Mgr. Bonny crosses a new frontier. Not this time of decency, but of faith and morals. First, he creates the image that homosexuals should have no place in the Catholic Church. This is manifestly incorrect. Every human being is created by God to join Catholic Church. This Church has its rules, structures and traditions, which are the same for everyone, and contrary to what one suspects, still very well known. Sexual orientation is by no means a criterion that prevents someone being a Catholic. The Church, the only way to salvation in the afterlife, is open to any person, whatever their background, their talents and their problems. This is also the case for homosexuals - as if that had to be said. Everyone is welcome.

But the rules of morality apply universally to every Catholic, at any place and any time. Marriage, a sacrament instituted by Christ, is open to one man and one woman and is entered into voluntarily. It stops at the death of one of the marriage partners. Sexual experience is desired by God in marriage. In this way, the goal of sexuality is human reproduction, raising a family. For the Church, this is not possible outside of marriage. As to commit errors is all too human, so God also provides the sacrament of confession and so every time begins a new chapter in the spiritual  life of every Catholic. In that sense there is no difference between unmarried cohabiting heterosexual and gay couples. The difficulty is only that the Church  cannot allow to have two people of the same sex to marry because the purpose of sexuality is not possible. This is also how Archbishop Léonard has stated the view of the Church on homosexuality in the “duo” interview with Etienne  Vermeersch on VRT.

Here the Archbishop preaches at a Latin Mass- a most excellent man, who the Pope has yet to give a Cardinal's hat.  Bonny is expected to be his successor.


Interview continues.

What is being asked here, is not a place for homosexuals in the Church. They have a place already. What Msgr. Bonny wants is not to allow new players in the game (because everyone is already authorized), but to change the game itself subtly. He seems to want to  promote sexuality outside the sacrament of marriage as not sinful. This means that everyone, both homosexuals and divorced people, may experience sexual relationships outside of marriage without being labelled as sinful by the Church.

Mgr. Bonny, successor of the Apostles, wants to change the Faith in a veiled way. The Flemish Catholic Student  Association of Antwerp also clearly raises its voice and says: no Monsignor, what you are proposing is not Catholic.

More concerned to be Jesuit than Catholic

"According to a recent survey administered by the Jesuit colleges association, about half of the students at Jesuit universities nationwide identify as Catholic. St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia boasts the highest number, with three-fourths of its student body identifying as Catholic. About two-thirds of Rockhurst undergraduates identify as Catholic. Regis, where a little over a third of the students are Catholic, has one of the lowest figures. Though some administrators say this is a sign of the times, others point to this as an indicator of an overall decline in the institutions’ Catholic identity.

Some Jesuit schools have received harsh criticism for hosting pro-choice commencement speakers.
"If we call ourselves a Catholic university, how can we be satisfied with that number?" said Regis Board of Trustees Vice-Chair William Newland. "This is consistent with the direction Regis is moving. 

We’re more concerned with the Jesuit way than with Catholicism.""

Full story



Cathcon- he will clearly be happy to now have a Jesuit Pope.....   Echoes here of the Anglicans who are more concerned with the English way than Catholicism.