‘Extraordinary synod’ concludes, and if at first you don’t succeed, try again?
Vatican City (photo by Joyce Thiel)
The Church of Rome finished an ‘extraordinary synod’ that did not result in what Pope Francis wanted:
October 19, 2014
Just as it seemed the Roman Catholic Church might ease its stance on homosexuality, bishops from around the world removed language doing just that from a new Vatican document.
The final version of the document was issued Saturday at the close of a two-week assembly, or synod, of 200 Catholic bishops.
An earlier version released during the week had spoken of “accepting and valuing their (homosexuals’) sexual orientation” and giving gays “a welcoming home.”
The final version is more general, saying gays “should be welcomed with respect and sensitivity,” and that discrimination against gays “is to be avoided.”
Conservatives criticized the earlier draft, calling for major revisions in a sign of division with progressive members of the Church.
In a blow to Pope Francis, the homosexuality paragraph did not even make it into the final document, failing to reach the two-thirds majority needed to pass.
The bishops also failed to approve paragraphs on allowing divorced and remarried Catholics to receive communion. http://www.voanews.com/content/catholic-church-bishops-gay-vatican/2488442.html
October 19, 2014
Vatican City
Pope Francis has ensured that the world will be fully aware of results of this synod on the family and has warned the world’s top Church officials against various temptations, including being too rigid, as well as too soft.
Speaking to the nearly 200 prelates gathered at the Synod of Bishops on the family’s final session Saturday afternoon, the Holy Father cautioned Synod Fathers against “a temptation to hostile inflexibility”. He also cautioned them to not fall into “destructive tendency” of being do-gooders, saying “that in the name of a deceptive mercy binds the wounds without first curing them and treating them.”
The Pope’s final discourse, at the conclusion of these two weeks full of debate, not only wrapped up this synod, but seemed to lay the groundwork for the second phase of the synod on the family, set to take place a year from now.
During the briefing at the Holy See Press Office Saturday night, Fr. Federico Lombardi, Fr. Thomas Rosica, and Fr. Manuel Dorantes spoke on this Synod’s final outcomes. …
On all but three points, there was the needed two thirds majority vote, which retained that Church’s current stance regarding the access to sacraments to the divorced and remarried as well as its stance on homosexuality.
Fr. Lombardi said, “The text is something ‘of a walk.’ There is so much terminology. To say it is ‘approved/not approved’ is not adequate.” …
Summarizing and outlining some key elements of the Pope’s discourse, Fr. Rosica said the Pope spoke about the temptations that are part of “any one of our journeys.”
“Especially when human beings and men are gathered, there are moments of desolation, moments of temptation,” he continued.
Giving examples of the temptations Pope Francis stressed, the Canadian priest said, “there’s the temptation to a hostile rigidity, which forces us to lock ourselves to the letter of the law and not allow for God to surprise us.” That temptation, he added, which is present among the ‘zealous,’ ‘scrupulous,’ and ‘those who are too careful in the so-called traditionalists of today, even among those who claim to be intellectuals.’
Another temptation is somebody who ‘tries to see everything rosey,’ if you will, somebody who tries to see everything very sweet and not see the dark side of things, somebody who tries not to give into emotions, and thus has a ‘false sense of mercy, which tries to bind up war wounds without really caring for them.”
This type doesn’t go to the roots or the causes of the sickness or illness, he added, and “is the temptation of the do-gooders, of the fearful, and also of the so-called progressives and liberals.” …
Responding to a question, Fr. Rosica said, “A colleague pointed out that three of the paragraphs didn’t receive the 2/3 majority vote.”
“Just keep in mind this is not a magisterial, disciplinary document,” he said, “the Pope asked that this be made available to people to show the degree of the journey which has taken place and that which still needs to take place as a discussion document in the next year.” http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/synod14-final-briefing-though-we-still-are-on-a-journey-pope-wanted-this-document-available-to-all
Pope Francis did not get his way, so will try again apparently next year. Pope Francis has taken steps and positions that have been foreign to the Church of Rome and various prelates are concerned. An American expression is ‘if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.’ This is apparently Pope Francis’ plan.
Pope Francis also spoke today and also ‘beatified Pope Paul VI, the pontiff responsible for Vatican II. Pope Francis stated the following today as translated by a Vatican source:
October 19, 2014
Before invoking Our Lady all together with the Angelus prayer, I would like to underline the profound Marian devotion of Blessed Paul VI. To this Pontiff, the Christian people will always be grateful for the Apostolic Exhortation Marialis cultus and for having proclaimed Mary as “The Mother of the Church”, on the occasion of the closing of the third session of the Second Vatican Council.
Mary, Queen of Heaven, help us to carry out faithfully in our lives the will of the Lord, as the newly Blessed had done.
Pope Francis hopes his own Marian devotion and emphasis will help pressure other bishops to support his Marian and ecumenical agenda. Interestingly, Catholic private prophecy tells of a time when a pontiff will change the Church of Rome and that there will be changes that cause a schism and concerns from the clergy.
In my book, The Last Pope, I reported the following:
Various Catholic prophecies warn that a major “antipope” and major schism is to come. Since there has not been an antipope since the 15th century, for numerous reasons these could be interpreted to mean that a 21st century pope will be an antipope who will implement changes:
Anne Catherine Emmerick (May 13, 1820): I saw again a new and odd-looking Church which they were trying to build. There was nothing holy about it…THIS IS BABEL.
Yves Dupont {writer interpreting A. Emmerick}: They wanted to make a new Church, a Church of human manufacture, but God had other designs…The Holy Father shall have to leave Rome, and he shall die a cruel death. An anti-pope shall be set up in Rome.
Anne Catherine Emmerich (January 12, 1820): There is now some question of Protestants sharing in the government of the Catholic clergy.
Anne Catherine Emmerich (July 1820): I came to the church of Peter and Paul (Rome) and saw a dark world of distress, confusion, and corruption…
Anne Catherine Emmerich (January 27, 1822): I saw many Christians returning to the bosom of the Church, entering through the walls. That Pope will be strict, he will remove the lukewarm, tepid Bishops—but it will be a long time before this happens.
Anne Catherine Emmerich (October 22, 1822): I saw in Germany among the worldly-wise ecclesiastics, and enlightened Protestants, plans formed for the blending of all religious creeds…
Anne Catherine Emmerich (April, 1823): They built a large, singular, extravagant church which was to embrace all creeds with equal rights: Evangelicals, Catholics, and all denominations, a true communion of the unholy with one shepherd and one flock. There was to be a Pope, a salaried Pope without possessions.
Melanie Mathieu (19th century): Rome will lose faith and become the seat of Antichrist.
Jeanne le Royer (died 1798): I see that when the Second Coming of Christ approaches a bad priest will do much harm to the Church.
St. Gregory the Great, Pope (d. 604): In those days, near the end…an army of priests and two-thirds of the Christians will join the Schism.
Yves Dupont {reader and collector of Catholic prophecies}: “prophecies are quite explicit about the election of an anti-pope…Many prophecies predict an anti-pope and a schism “.
Catholic priest and writer R. Gerald Culleton (20th century): A schism of short duration is destined to break out…An antipope, of German origin, is to be set up, and finally Rome itself will be destroyed”.
Frederick William Faber (died 1863): Antichrist…Many believe in a demonical incarnation–this will not be so–but he will be utterly possessed…His doctrine as apparent contradiction of no religion, yet a new religion…He has an attending pontiff, so separating regal and prophetic office.
Blessed Joachim (died 1202): Towards the end of the world Antichrist will overthrow the Pope and usurp his See.
Merlin (7th century): There will come a German Anti-Pope. Italy and Germany will be sorely troubled. A French King will restore the true Pope.
St. Francis of Assisi (died 1226): There will be an uncanonically elected pope who will cause a great Schism, there will be divers 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 dissentions and persecutions that if these days were not shortened even the elect would be lost.
Capuchin Friar (18th century): During these calamities the Pope shall die…three popes shall be simultaneously elected…the third…by force of arms, shall be placed on the throne.
Priest E. Sylvester Berry (published 1920): It has been a matter of history that the most disastrous periods for the Church were times when the Papal throne was vacant or when anti-popes contended with the legitimate head of the Church. Thus shall it be in those evil days to come.
Catholic writer and priest P. Huchedé (19th century): …the false prophet…will not be a king, nor a general of an army, but a clever apostate, fallen from episcopal dignity. From being an apostle of the Gospel he will become the first preacher of the false messiah…
Priest Herman Kramer (20th century): This false prophet possibly at the behest of Antichrist usurps the papal supremacy.
Catholic writers Ted and Maureen Flynn (1993): Catholic prophecy warns us of severe problems threatening the papacy in these end times…An Antipope will seize papal authority…It will be those who hold fast to the truths of the faith who will be labelled as the perpetuators of this horrible schism, according to some visionaries.
Priest Paul Kramer reported: In 1999…Malachi Martin stated…that Our Lady’s words were very dry and specific and they foretold of a future “pope” (not the true Pope, but a heretical antipope) who would be completely under the control of the devil.
Priest Paul Kramer (21st century): The errors of Orthodoxy and of Protestantism will be embraced by that false church, it will be an ecumenical church because the Anti-Pope will be recognized by the world — not by the faithful, but by the world — by the secular world and the secular governments. The Anti-Pope will be recognized as the legitimate Pope of the “church,” and the legitimate head of the Vatican State. That “church” will be united with all the false religions.
Priest Paul Kramer (21st century): The counterfeit “Catholic” Church — the counter-church, the anti-church — the mystery of the dragon, whose tail swept down a third of the “stars of Heaven,” i.e. one third of the Catholic hierarchy under the leadership of a heretical antipope.
Priest Herman Kramer (20th century): In accord with the text this is unmistakably a PAPAL ELECTION . . . But at this time the great powers may take a menacing attitude to hinder the election of the logical and expected candidate by threats of a general apostasy, assassination or imprisonment of this candidate if elected. This would suppose an extremely hostile mind in the governments of Europe towards the Church, because an extended interregnum in the papacy is always disastrous and more so in a time of universal persecution. If Satan would contrive to hinder a papal election, the Church would suffer great travail… one…destined for the papacy at the time will institute the needed reforms. A general council may decree the reforms…The lax clergy at the time will extol the conditions then existing…The dragon is a symbolic term for the evil world powers…They will try to make the Church a “state church” everywhere. This is only possible if they can subject the pope to their wills and compel him to teach and rule as they direct. That would be literally devouring the papacy.
Catholic author and collector of prophecies D. Birch (20th century): Many, many, of the prophecies refer to an Antipope for sometime in the future during which great calamities occur to the Church.
Even the Catholic saint “Pope Gregory the Great” warned that he believed that the time would come when most Catholics would fall for a changed church (which he called a “schism”) in the time of the end. Would this not take a leader that would be, or at least be like, an antipope or the final Antichrist?
As the list above shows, there are many Catholic writers/saints who have warned of some type of an antipope, maybe even the False Prophet, who could be ecumenical, would lead a compromised church, and may listen to the powers of governments in Europe and, possibly, elsewhere.
The Bible, itself, warns of a time when a European Beast will make some type of deal with an ecumenical Roman religious leader (the False Prophet) and later turn on a compromised church (cf. Revelation 17:15-18; 19:20).
An Ecumenical Pope is Prophesied
On the other hand, there are a variety of Catholic prophecies that seem to look forward to an ecumenical pope. This pope will endorse a European leader who comes into power after civil unrest in Europe. This European leader is to establish a new order within Catholicism and essentially eliminate Islam:
Bl. Anna-Maria Taigi (19th century): France shall fall into a frightful anarchy. The French shall have a desperate civil war in the course of which even old men will take up arms. The political parties, having exhausted their blood and their rage without being able to arrive at any satisfactory settlement, shall agree at the last extremity to have recourse to the Holy See. Then the Pope shall send to France a special legate. . . In consequence of the information received, His Holiness himself shall nominate a most Christian King for the government of France…
St. Francis de Paul (1470): The time is coming when the Divine Majesty will visit the world with a new religious order of the holy Cross-bearers… This shall be the last religious order in the Church, and will do more good for our holy religion than all other religious institutions. By force of arms he shall take possession of a great kingdom. He shall destroy the sect of Mahomet, extirpate all tyrants and heresies. He will bring the world to a holy mode of life. There will be one fold and one Shepherd. He shall reign until the end of time…
D. Birch (commenting further in his book): Many of the prophecies speak of the fact that the Great King at first will not be well-liked, especially by the French clergy…
Notice that Francis de Paul prophesied that there will be a new essentially Roman Catholic religious order that will do more good for the Roman Catholic Church than all other religious institutions as it will eliminate nearly all opposition. This is apparently because the King of the North will successfully work with the Pope to make the world nominally Catholic.
However, notice that some of the Catholic clergy will at first oppose this new order and these changes to Catholicism, but that the pope (probably the final one, and possibly the current one) will embrace them.
While some Catholic prophecies praise a new religious order, others indicate that a new type of Catholicism will not be true to some of its beliefs. Some Catholics have felt that some of their “ecumenical leaders” have not been truly faithful to the beliefs of the Church of Rome.
Francis is trying to make changes and is pushing for ecumenical unity. The Bible warns against Francis’ type of unity and teaches that proper unity does NOT happen until after the fall of Babylon (Revelation 18) and Jesus returns (Zechariah 2:6-11). Yet more and more seem to be embracing this false Babylonian unity.
I have warned from the beginning of his pontificate that Pope Francis was ecumenical and needed to be watched. He continues to take dangerous ecumenical steps, while some think he looks like a lamb, he actually speaks like a dragon (Revelation 13:11).
The coming ecumenical faith is opposed to the faith that was once and for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3).
Pope Francis keeps pushing for something that is opposed to the original true Christian faith.
Some items of possibly related interest may include:
Pope Francis: Could this Marian Focused Pontiff be Fulfilling Prophecy? Pope Francis has taken many steps to turn people more towards his version of ‘Mary.’ Could this be consistent with biblical and Catholic prophecies? This article documents what has been happening. There is also a video version titled Pope Francis: Could this Marian Focused Pontiff be Fulfilling Prophecy?
Should you be concerned about the ecumenical movement? Are you aware of the ecumenical movement? Do you understand the biblical dangers of it? Do you know what the World Council of Churches is supposed to be all about? Are you aware what has been happening recently with the Eastern Orthodox? Did you know that in December 2013, Pope Francis’ representative essentially eliminated a ‘conservative order’ and said that they needed to abide by Vatican II? Will there be signs and wonders that will help bring about ecumenical unity? Is compromise away from the Bible what must occur for the type of unity that many Protestant, Eastern Orthodox, and Roman Catholic leaders want? This is a video.
Why Should American Catholics Fear Unity with the Orthodox? Are the current ecumenical meetings a good thing or will they result in disaster? Is doctrinal compromise good?
Will the Interfaith Movement Lead to Peace or Sudden Destruction? Is the interfaith movement going to lead to lasting peace or is it warned against?
Where is the True Christian Church Today? This free online pdf booklet answers that question and includes 18 proofs, clues, and signs to identify the true vs. false Christian church. Plus 7 proofs, clues, and signs to help identify Laodicean churches. A related sermon is also available: Where is the True Christian Church?
Continuing History of the Church of God This pdf booklet is a historical overview of the true Church of God and some of its main opponents from c. 31 A.D. to 2014. A related sermon link would be Continuing History of the Church of God: c. 31 to c. 300 A.D. Marque aquí para ver el pdf folleto: Continuación de la Historia de la Iglesia de Dios.
Which Is Faithful: The Roman Catholic Church or the Continuing Church of God? Do you know that both groups shared a lot of the earliest teachings? Do you know which church changed? Do you know which group is most faithful to the teachings of the apostolic church? Which group best represents true Christianity? This documented article answers those questions.
The Vatican, Peter, and ‘Satan’s Throne’ This is an on-location video sermon from Vatican City and Rome, Italy. Topics covered include St. Peter’s basilica, head coverings, the ‘keys of the kingdom,’ where the Apostle Peter was buried, claims about the Apostle Paul, and why the Cathedra Petri may be a representation of ‘Satan’s throne.’
Is this Satan’s Throne? Is the Cathedra Petri really Peter’s seat or might it be something else? There is also a YouTube sermon about Vatican City, Peter, and this same throne shot in Rome and Vatican City: The Vatican, Peter, and ‘Satan’s Throne’.
Was Peter the Rock Who Alone Received the Keys of the Kingdom? How should Matthew 16:18-19 be understood?
The Apostle Peter He was an original apostle and early Christian leader. Where was Peter buried? Where did Peter die?
The Apostle Paul He was a later apostle, but also an early Christian leader.
Joyce’s Photos of Rome, St. John’s Basilica, and the Vatican Rome has been a major world city for centuries. Since the late second century, it has made claims of prominence over Christianity. There is even a photo of what has been described as “Satan’s Throne” (
) plus the Cathedra Romana.
What Do Roman Catholic Scholars Actually Teach About Early Church History? Although most believe that the Roman Catholic Church history teaches an unbroken line of succession of bishops beginning with Peter, with stories about most of them, Roman Catholic scholars know the truth of this matter. Is telling the truth about the early church citing Catholic accepted sources anti-Catholic? This eye-opening article is a must-read for any who really wants to know what Roman Catholic history actually admits about the early church.
The History of Early Christianity Are you aware that what most people believe is not what truly happened to the true Christian church? Do you know where the early church was based? Do you know what were the doctrines of the early church? Is your faith really based upon the truth or compromise?
The Last Pope Do Biblical and Catholic Prophecies Point to Pope Francis? Why might Pope Francis be the last pope? What happens if he is? Biblical and other prophecies help explain what to expect.
The Last Pope: Do Biblical and Catholic Prophecies Point to Pope Francis? Amazon Book What does the Bible say about a pope near this time? Is the final pope to be an antipope and antichrist? Does Catholic prophecy point to Pope Francis as being the dreaded “Peter the Roman”? This 186 page book provides information and answers.
The Last Pope: Do Biblical and Catholic Prophecies Point to Pope Francis? Kindle This electronic version of the printed book which is available for only US$2.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to The Last Pope: Do Biblical and Catholic Prophecies Point to Pope Francis? Kindle.
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