Ratzinger strikes again at the "filth" in the Church

http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/homepage/world-news/detail/articolo/papa-pedofilia-scandali-abusi-revoca-decreto-legionari-di-cristo-477/

The Pope has not vacillated in the face of all kinds of old and new scandals that have surfaced

andrea tornielli
Vatican City

The earthshaking decision to remove the monks from the Basilica of the Santa Croce in Gerusalemme (Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem), where they had been for five centuries, is another sign of how the “gentle rule” of Benedict XVI can also be decisive and drastic when it comes to eliminating that “filth” in the Church, the existence of which was denounced by Cardinal Ratzinger six years ago during the Way of the Cross. The decree of the Congregation for Religious which suppressed the abbey come two years after the removal of the abbot, who was much talked about for the less than transparent management of his community and his friendships.

The Pope has not vacillated in the face of all kinds of old and new scandals that have surfaced. For example, he has established standards that are even more severe than the ones he suggested to John Paul II 10 years ago. The victims take priority, as he first showed with his personal stance and now with the new guidelines on abuse aimed at the bishops’ conferences and published last Monday. He has charged the bishops with the responsibility of serving as “fathers and brothers” to their clergy. But most importantly, he has acted, far from the spotlight, with determination during the first six years of his papacy.

One month after he was elected in May 2005, Ratzinger banned Father Gino Burresi, founder of the Congregation of the Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, from any public ministry for sexually abusing his young followers. The priest had been the object of huge coverage for years and the offences he had committed had expired under the statue of limitations. Shortly thereafter came the famous decision on Father Macial Maciel, the former founder of the Legion of Christ, who was found guilty of serious abuse.

In September 2008, Benedict XVI laicized don Lelio Cantini, the charismatic priest from Florence and leader of an active community that saw a number of clergymen emerge from its ranks. He too was guilty of repeatedly abusing minors. In July of the following year, he cracked down on a German clergyman belonging to the Missionaries of the Holy Family of Munich, while in February 2010, with a decree that cannot be appealed, Ratzinger defrocked don Marco Dessi, a missionary in Nicaragua, before the end of his civil trial for sexually abusing minors. The following month, don Andrea Agostini, a priest in the diocese of Bologna who supervised a catholic nursery school in Ferrara, was dismissed from the clerical state for pedophilia. In October 2010, don Nello Giraudo from the diocese of Savona met the same fate, while at the beginning of this year Fernando Karadima, the powerful and influential priest from Chile, was forced to retire despite the fact that the offences had expired under the statute of limitations. A quick decision is also expected regarding don Riccardo Seppia, the priest from Genoa who is a cocaine addict and predator of young boys.

A year ago, at the height of the scandals that occurred mainly in the United States, Ireland and Germany, Benedict XVI made a dramatic pronouncement that «the greatest persecution of the Church does not come from enemies on the outside» but «is born from the sins within the church». He linked these events to the message of the apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Portugal during the last century, claiming that «We delude ourselves if we think that the prophetic mission of Fatima has come to an end».

In the interview book “Light of the World”, the Pope also supported the media and their role in the affair «The media would not have been able to provide those reports if the sin had not existed in the Church...as long as it is a matter of bringing the truth to light, we should be grateful». A lesson of great humility, which seen from the outside could be even better understood inside the Church.

A Baptist friend of mine asked me where in the Bible does it use the word Pope or say anything about the Pope?

A Baptist friend of mine asked me where in the Bible does it use the word Pope or say anything about the Pope?

Well, you will not find the word “Pope” in the Bible. Just as you will not find the word “Trinity,” or the word “Incarnation” in the Bible. Yet, I’ll bet your Baptist friend believes in both the Trinity and the Incarnation.

Just because a particular word is not found in the Bible, does not mean that we should not use that word or that the theology implied by that word is somehow unbiblical. The word “Bible” is not found in the Bible, so does that mean we should not believe in the Bible? Of course not.

The fact of the matter is, even though the word “Pope” is not found directly in the Bible, the underlying meaning of that word is. The word “Pope” is derived from the Greek word, “pappas,” which means, "father" (Latinized as “papa”). In Isaiah 22, verses 19-24, we see God telling Shebna, who was the chief minister of the House of David, that he will be replaced in his office by Eliakim, and that Eliakim will have authority and will be a “father” [papa; pope] to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the House of Judah.

Also in this passage, God says that Eliakim will have the key of the House of David and that he “shall open and none shall shut; and he shall shut and none shall open.”

This passage from Isaiah was obviously on the Lord’s mind when he said to Peter, in Matthew 16:18-19, “And I tell you, you are Peter and on this rock I will build my church...I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven.”

Eliakim was the chief minister in the House of David. What is the new House of David? The Church. Who is the chief minister in the Church? Peter, and his successors - the Popes. Eliakim was given the key of the kingdom. Peter is given the keys of the kingdom. Eliakim had the authority to shut and to open. Peter had the authority to bind and loose. Eliakim was a father to the those in the House of David, just so Peter is a father to those in the new House of David - the Church.

So, since Peter is a “father” to those in the Church, just as Eliakim was a “father” to those in the House of David; and the word “Pope” means “father;” then we can say that the underlying meaning of the word “Pope” is actually found in the Bible - right there in Isaiah 22. And, we can further say, that Catholic belief regarding the role of the Pope is also found right there in Isaiah 22 and Matthew 16, as well as in other parts of Scripture.

www.biblechristiansociety.com

Peter: A Biblical Portrait

In the 16th chapter of Matthew's Gospel, Christ singled out the Apostle Peter for the central position of founding His Church and gives to Peter the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven.

The best spokespersons for an understanding of Matthew would be members of the Apostolic Church, those who heard the words of Christ and writers of the New Testament who recorded the words and deeds of Christ and the early church.

The Evangelists usually make Peter the spokesperson for all the apostles.

Mk 8:29

And he (Jesus) asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter said to him in reply, "You are the Messiah."

Mt 18:21

Then Peter approaching asked him, "Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?"

Lk 12:41

Then Peter said, "Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?"

Jn 6:67-68

Jesus then said to the Twelve, "Do you also want to leave?" Simon Peter answered him, "Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."

In especially dramatic scenes in the Gospels, Peter is often the central figure.

Mt 14:27-28

At once (Jesus) spoke to them, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid." Peter said to him in reply, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water."

Lk 5:3-8

Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he (Jesus) asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. ... He said to Simon, "Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch." Simon said in reply, "Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets." When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. ... When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, "Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man."

Mk 10:28

Peter began to say to him, "We have given up everything and followed you."

Mt 17:24-25

...the collectors of the temple tax approached Peter and said, "Doesn't your teacher pay the temple tax?" "Yes," he said. When he came into the house, before he had time to speak, Jesus asked him, "What is your opinion, Simon?"

Peter is always named first when the apostles are listed in the synoptic gospels and the Acts of the Apostles.

Mk 3:16-17

He (Jesus) appointed the twelve: Simon, whom he named Peter; James, son of Zebedee, and John ...

Mt 10:2

The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John;

Lk 6:13-14

When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Batholomew

Acts 1:13

When they entered the city they went to the upper room where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip ...

It is not uncommon that the apostles are simply referred to as Peter and "his companions" or "the apostles."

Acts 2:37

... they asked Peter and the other apostles, "What are we to do, my brothers?"

Lk 9:32

Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep ...

Acts 5:29

But Peter and the apostles said in reply, "We must obey God rather than men."

In light of the special calling on his life, the sacred authors refer to Peter as being singled out and being shown signs of respect.

Jn 20:3-8

So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first, ... but did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths ... Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first ...

Jn 21:15-17

Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs" ... "Tend my sheep." ... "Feed my sheep."

In Paul's letters, Peter is called the first witness to the Resurrection.

1 Cor 15:3-5

... Christ died ... was buried ... was raised on the third day ... that he appeared to Kephas, then to the Twelve.

Paul repeatedly call Peter "Kephas," the name given him by Christ.

Gal 1:18

Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to confer with Kephas and remained with him for fifteen days.

Gal 2:9

James and Kephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas their right hands in partnership ...

Gal 2:11

And when Kephas came to Antioch, I opposed him ...

Gal 2:14

... I said to Kephas in front of all ...

1 Cor 1:12

I mean that each of you is saying, "I belong to Paul," ... "I belong to Kephas," ...

1 Cor 3:22

Paul or Apollos or Kephas, or the world or life or death, or the present or the future: all belong to you ...

1 Cor 9:5

Do we not have the right to take along a Christian wife, as do the rest of the apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Kephas?

Luke, in the Acts of the Apostles, clearly acknowledges Peter's leadership role.

Acts 2:14

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed to them, "You who are Jews ..."

Acts 3:12

When Peter saw this, he addressed the people, "You Israelites, why are you amazed at this?"

Acts 4:8

Then Peter, filled with the holy Spirit, answered them, "Leaders of the people and elders"

Acts 5:3

But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart ..."

Acts 5:29

But Peter and the apostles said in reply, "We must obey God rather than men."

Acts 8:20

But Peter said to him, "May your money perish with you ..."

Acts 10:34

Then Peter proceeded to speak and said, "In truth, I see that God shows no partiality."

Acts 11:4

Peter began and explained it to them step by step, saying...

Acts 15:7

After much debate had taken place, Peter got up and said to them ...

Acts 3:6

Peter said, "I have neither silver nor gold, but what I do have I give you: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, (rise and) walk."

Acts 9:34

Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed."

Acts 9:40

Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed. Then he turned to her body and said, "Tabitha, rise up."

Acts 5:15

Thus they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on one or another of them.

Acts 10:9-10

The next day, ... Peter went up to the roof terrace to pray at about noontime. ... he fell into a trance.

Acts 10:46-47

Then Peter responded, "Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people, who have received the holy Spirit even as we have?"

The Gospels make explicit statements about Peter's unique role in the church.

Lk 22:31-32

"Simon, Simon, behold Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed that your own faith may not fail; and once you have turned back, you must strengthen your brothers."

Jn 21:15-17

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs." He then said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." (Jesus) said to him, "Feed my sheep."

Mt 16:15-19

He (Jesus) said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter said in reply, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

Source:

http://www.catholicapologetics.org