Upcoming talk in Fresno, CA For those in the area: Major Interview Sebastian Morello interviewed me for The European Conservative, asking a series of tough questions about the May 2 statement calling for the pope’s resignation or deposition: Why did you and the others involved feel that now was the right time for this call?
I was glad to hear a realistic assessment of Pope Benedict in the first video. (I haven't watched second one.) It is disheartening to hear in some trad circles the damning (I don't think that's too strong a term) of Papa Ratzinger, even to the point of claiming he "was almost as bad as Francis." Those claims are vile slanders. Benedict fell short, as all men and all popes do. But his missteps were mostly of omission, not what he DID do. I have also heard/read you use JPII's good documents in arguments, which is only just. Francis has no good documents and it is easy to see why there is so much animus towards him. JPII did some manifestly bad things (Assisi, Koran kissing, etc.) and set bad precedents (Pope as rock star aura), but some things he wrote are excellent. I can't fathom the vitriol sometimes tossed at Benedict from erstwhile trads.
Yes, I couldn't agree more. My difficulty with JP2 and BXVI primarily concerns their inconsistency: great heights, and great dark spots. With Francis, it's all dark spots. But I do fight back hard against trads who trash-talk all the popes since John XXIII. The fact is, they were all mixed bags, a lot of good mixed in with influences from modern thought, some naivete, some misreading of the signs of the times.
Off-topic, Dr. Kwasniewski, but I would like to know what your opinion is on the soon-to-be canonized Carlo Acutis? I know you are somewhat suspect of some of the canonizations which have happened after Vatican II, which makes me interested to know what you think of this new one?
He seems a fine chap and a fine Catholic, I don't know if the word "heroic" applies using the old standards. The problem I have is that he seems to be exploited by those who would like to see the "aggiornamento" extended into comic books, computer programming, and T-shirts, as if there's nothing at all the matter with our super-casual, secular, high-tech modern way of life, as long as prayer is added to it. Rather, the Church should be prophetically witnessing against the general inhumanity and secularism.
Regarding canonizations in general, I recommend this book:
Thank you! Yes, that is what I think. Looking into his canonization and the way the Vatican has promoted his life, I read a certain effort to push or approve of modernity. Almost as if saying "you're fine! You don't need to change your life to become a saint!"
Just another small request piled on top of the plea to write about the numbering of the psalms by the Masoretes. :-)
If at all possible, I'd very much appreciate it if you could include your thoughts on the Masoretic text vis-avis the Septuaguint.
At one point, I had a reference to Rambam's misgivings regarding the Masoretic work, but I have lost the text and the link and can no longer find any reference to it. In fact, all I can find now is his (alleged) agreement/support. Still it seems the proponents of the Masoretic texts were/are the Jewish brothers/forerunners of 'sola scriptura'.
FWIW, the Septuaguint was translated prior to the advent of Christianity, while the Masoretes "did their work" afterwards. IMO, some of their 'work' does (seem to) show a 'bias' against Christianity. Unfortunately, the KJV is based on Masoretic texts.
I was glad to hear a realistic assessment of Pope Benedict in the first video. (I haven't watched second one.) It is disheartening to hear in some trad circles the damning (I don't think that's too strong a term) of Papa Ratzinger, even to the point of claiming he "was almost as bad as Francis." Those claims are vile slanders. Benedict fell short, as all men and all popes do. But his missteps were mostly of omission, not what he DID do. I have also heard/read you use JPII's good documents in arguments, which is only just. Francis has no good documents and it is easy to see why there is so much animus towards him. JPII did some manifestly bad things (Assisi, Koran kissing, etc.) and set bad precedents (Pope as rock star aura), but some things he wrote are excellent. I can't fathom the vitriol sometimes tossed at Benedict from erstwhile trads.
Yes, I couldn't agree more. My difficulty with JP2 and BXVI primarily concerns their inconsistency: great heights, and great dark spots. With Francis, it's all dark spots. But I do fight back hard against trads who trash-talk all the popes since John XXIII. The fact is, they were all mixed bags, a lot of good mixed in with influences from modern thought, some naivete, some misreading of the signs of the times.
Off-topic, Dr. Kwasniewski, but I would like to know what your opinion is on the soon-to-be canonized Carlo Acutis? I know you are somewhat suspect of some of the canonizations which have happened after Vatican II, which makes me interested to know what you think of this new one?
Thanks, Andrea.
I've written about Carlo Acutis here:
https://www.lifesitenews.com/blogs/we-shouldnt-take-holiness-as-blanket-approval-even-saints-have-their-blind-spots/
He seems a fine chap and a fine Catholic, I don't know if the word "heroic" applies using the old standards. The problem I have is that he seems to be exploited by those who would like to see the "aggiornamento" extended into comic books, computer programming, and T-shirts, as if there's nothing at all the matter with our super-casual, secular, high-tech modern way of life, as long as prayer is added to it. Rather, the Church should be prophetically witnessing against the general inhumanity and secularism.
Regarding canonizations in general, I recommend this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Are-Canonizations-Infallible-Revisiting-Disputed/dp/1989905641
Thank you! Yes, that is what I think. Looking into his canonization and the way the Vatican has promoted his life, I read a certain effort to push or approve of modernity. Almost as if saying "you're fine! You don't need to change your life to become a saint!"
Thanks for a nod in my direction, Dr. K!
I wasn’t particularly interested in watching the Sanctus Ranch videos, but now that I know Lofton gave them two thumbs down, I can’t wait!
Just another small request piled on top of the plea to write about the numbering of the psalms by the Masoretes. :-)
If at all possible, I'd very much appreciate it if you could include your thoughts on the Masoretic text vis-avis the Septuaguint.
At one point, I had a reference to Rambam's misgivings regarding the Masoretic work, but I have lost the text and the link and can no longer find any reference to it. In fact, all I can find now is his (alleged) agreement/support. Still it seems the proponents of the Masoretic texts were/are the Jewish brothers/forerunners of 'sola scriptura'.
FWIW, the Septuaguint was translated prior to the advent of Christianity, while the Masoretes "did their work" afterwards. IMO, some of their 'work' does (seem to) show a 'bias' against Christianity. Unfortunately, the KJV is based on Masoretic texts.