Is the new ‘extraordinary synod’ Vatican III?
Vatican City (photo by Joyce Thiel)
The Church of Rome is beginning an ‘extraordinary synod’ today that reminds me of Vatican II–which was a multi-year series of meetings intended to assist the Church of Rome in the 20th century and beyond. The synod that starts today could be even more significant:
Representatives of the Roman Catholic Church from across the globe will convene Sunday in Vatican City for a monumental two-week conference, during which some of the most controversial issues facing the church will be discussed.
The so-called Synod of Bishops on the family is the first forum of its kind in nearly 30 years, after St. John Paul II called the first such synod in 1980 (synods on other church matters are a fairly regular occurrence). Expectations loom large for what the gathering will accomplish, and its results will help shape the legacy of the church’s current and hugely popular leader.
“It’s the single most important event for Pope Francis,” says Rev. Michael Russo, who teaches political communication and religion at St. Mary’s College of California. “It’s Pope Francis’ way to put a personal stamp on his take with regard to issues that face Christians and Catholics and people around the world.” …
“It’s a bold way for Pope Francis to take up issues that have been contested since the last synod on the family in 1980,” says Paul Elie, a senior fellow at Georgetown University’s Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs.
More than 250 participants will attend what’s labeled the “extraordinary synod,” the first of two meetings (the second meeting of the synod will take place in 2015) centered around the theme of “pastoral challenges of the family in the context of evangelization.” They are expected to produce a summary of the points under consideration, which will act as a working document for the 2015 “ordinary synod,” where an even larger body of church leaders will vote on any formal changes to church guidelines on family matters. http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/10/03/catholic-leaders-meet-for-historic-synod-on-marriage-family-issues
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis on Sunday opens a two-week meeting of bishops and cardinals from around the world aimed at making the church’s teaching on family life — marriage, sex, contraception, divorce and homosexuality — relevant to today’s Catholic families. The pre-synod debate has been dominated by mudslinging between liberals and conservatives over divorce and remarriage, but there are many more issues up for discussion. …
Last year Vatican officials sent out a 39-point questionnaire to bishops’ conferences across the globe asking for frank input from clergy and lay Catholics on a host of hot-button issues like pre-marital sex, contraception and gay unions. They got it.
In a brutally honest compilation of the data released in June, the Vatican conceded that the vast majority of Catholics reject church teaching on sex and contraception as intrusive and irrelevant. It said the church had to do a better job ministering to gays in civil unions and to children being raised in such families.
It blamed pastors for failing to adequately preach church teaching and said a “new language” was necessary to convey the church’s message. The findings are to form the basis of the discussion.
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WHO’S COMING TO ROME?
In all, 191 synod “fathers” are taking part: Most are presidents of national bishops’ conferences, others were named by Francis and still others are taking part thanks to the Vatican positions they hold. Sixty-one are cardinals, the rest are bishops, patriarchs or priests. …
The synod technically ends on Sunday, Oct. 19 with the beatification of Pope Paul VI, the third 20th century pope Francis will elevate this year following the dual canonizations of Saints John Paul II and John XXIII in April. Paul is best known for having overseen the completion of the Second Vatican Council, which helped bring the Catholic Church into the modern world. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/5-things-to-know-about-the-vaticans-family-synod/2014/10/04/b5814c2c-4b92-11e4-a4bf-794ab74e90f0_story.html
The synod ends with the planned ‘beatification of Pope Paul VI,’ the pontiff responsible for Vatican II, and a candidate for Catholic beatification that did not meet the usual criteria for beatification by Rome as he did not have two ‘miracles’ attributed to him after he died (see also Popes John Paul II & John XXIII approved for sainthood, but did you notice the Vatican’s criteria?). Yet, the ecumenical Pope Francis chose to make him one of their saints anyway.
Pope Francis will hold Pope Paul’s witness up to a wider audience Oct. 19 when he beatifies him during the closing Mass of the extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the family.
“Although he was not always understood, Paul VI will remain the pope who loved the modern world, admired its cultural and scientific wealth and worked so that it would open its heart to Christ, the redeemer of mankind,” wrote Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re.
The Italian cardinal, a former papal diplomat like Pope Paul, said that while St. John XXIII is remembered for having convoked the Second Vatican Council and presiding over its first session, it was Pope Paul who was the “real helmsman of the council,” presiding over the last three of its four sessions and guiding its implementation. …Pope Paul’s papacy was marked by public and often bitter debates over changing sexual morality, the validity of the church’s traditional teaching and the changes in its liturgy called for by Vatican II.
The Mass most Latin-rite Catholics celebrate today often is referred to as the Paul VI Mass. Under his leadership there was a complete revision of liturgical texts, something he said was a source of joy, but it also was a source of some of his deepest anguish. In the last years of his pontificate, he repeatedly repudiated both those who made further, unauthorized changes to the Mass and those who completely rejected the council’s liturgical reforms. http://www.thebostonpilot.com/article.asp?ID=172175
While it is not, of itself, ‘Vatican III,’ it is possible that the new ‘extraordinary synod’ will mark a step in something that could be called Vatican III. Part of the purpose of the ‘extraordinary synod’ is to increase ecumenical appeal for the Church of Rome. Notice also the following:
October 4, 2014
German Cardinal Walter Kasper suggested in February that the Church should reconsider its teaching on divorce, remarriage and Communion.
Fr. Dodaro told CNA Sept. 29 that he shares some of Cardinal Kasper’s concerns.
“We would like to see the Church more active in welcoming, embracing, involving divorced and civilly remarried Catholics into the full life of the Church,” he explained. “Where we disagree with Cardinal Kasper is on one point, but it is an important one. The question of admission to the sacraments of penance and Holy Communion.”
As a solution to the problematic situation, Cardinal Kasper has proposed “oikonomia” – a notion prevalent in Eastern Orthodox Churches. The cardinal has suggested that the Catholic Church follow the Orthodox example of “tolerating, but not accepting second marriages,” Fr. Dodaro explained. “We oppose that suggestion.”
As the book points out, the Orthodox Church does not have a unified view on the subject.
“There is no single Orthodox position on divorce, on second marriages, on admission to the sacraments; there is no one position that characterizes the views of all of the various Orthodox Churches,” Fr. Dodaro explained.
“I have not heard any senior Orthodox prelates applauding the Catholic Church for wanting to adopt or even to look more closely at their practice, so I do not know how much our doing so would contribute to ecumenical dialogue,” he added. http://www.patheos.com/blogs/catholicnews/2014/10/taking-gospel-seriously-on-marriage-is-not-rigid-its-love/#ixzz3FBqqojQw
Catholics in the Archdiocese of Washington and nationwide are encouraged to join Pope Francis in a universal Day of Prayer for {the} Synod of Bishops addressing “The Pastoral Challenges of the Family in the Context of Evangelization.”…
Synod representatives from around the world will include cardinals, bishops, priests, religious, family experts, married couples and ecumenical guests. http://www.cathstan.org/Content/News/Archdiocese/Article/Catholics-encouraged-to-pray-for-the-upcoming-Synod-on-the-Family/2/27/6175
Some see aspects of this synod as ecumenical, while some feel it will not help ecumenical dialogue. But the Vatican plan is for ecumenism.
Years ago, in my book, 2012 and the Rise of the Secret, I had the following related mainly to Protestants and the ecumenical movement:
While some Catholics are concerned that a change to their faith will occur, even atheists, Protestants, Orthodox, and others should also be concerned about this…
Notice that one evangelical Protestant has predicted that there will be a collapse of evangelicals within a decade because of compromise and limited biblical confidence—and that many will join the Catholics and/or Orthodox:
Michael Spencer (2009): We are on the verge—within 10 years—of a major collapse of evangelical Christianity. This breakdown will follow the deterioration of the mainline Protestant world and it will fundamentally alter the religious and cultural environment in the West… Millions of Evangelicals will quit…massive majorities of Evangelicals can’t articulate the Gospel with any coherence…Even in areas where Evangelicals imagine themselves strong (like the Bible Belt), we will find a great inability to pass on to our children a vital evangelical confidence in the Bible and the importance of the faith… Two of the beneficiaries will be the Roman Catholic and Orthodox communions. Evangelicals have been entering these churches in recent decades and that trend will continue, with more efforts aimed at the “conversion” of Evangelicals to the Catholic and Orthodox traditions… (Spencer M. The coming evangelical collapse. The Christian Science Monitor, from the March 10, 2009 edition. http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0310/p09s01-coop.html viewed 03/13/09)
And the above is not even including the fact that those “Catholic and Orthodox communions” will themselves likely come together and change under the guise of the ecumenical movement that will strengthen in Europe—an ecumenical movement that news events show is occurring…
Since Vatican II (a major Catholic ecumenical council that ran from 1962–1965), many Catholics have been justifiably concerned that doctrinal compromise for the sake of ecumenical unity with those outside of fellowship of Rome was inevitable.
Ecumenical unity is getting closer. The Bible warns against it 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. Do not embrace a false gospel, even if it might appear to have supernatural support (Galatians 1:6-9). 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)–and so, to a degree, do his Protestant supporters.
The coming ecumenical faith is opposed to the faith that was once and for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3).
Yesterday, a meeting began that is calling for a actual Vatican III:
As pro-family and pro-life advocates gather in Rome this week to have their voices heard during the Extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the family, so too are the world’s homosexualist leaders. …
The “Ways of Love” forum, October 4-5, aims to present “a serious proposal for a complete acceptance of LGBT people in the Church” to the Synod bishops. The forum will feature a number of international celebrities of the global Catholic “LGBT” movement, including Geoffrey Robinson, a former bishop of the Archdiocese of Sydney.
Robinson, a member of a group of ultra-liberal bishops who authored a petition to Pope Francis asking for “Vatican III,” will also speak on October 8th at a conference sponsored by Nuova Proposta, a Christian LGBT organization in Rome. He will speak on “how the Catholic Church can begin a new understanding of LGBT people.”
The main “Ways of Love” conference, funded by a grant from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture of the Netherlands, “aims to give the fathers of the Synod suggestions on how to fully include LGBT people, same-sex couples and their families in pastoral care because ‘A debate on families can’t be discussed without considering all kinds of families based on love.’”https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/gay-catholics-groups-converge-on-rome-for-synod-on-the-family
Homosexuality and the homosexual agenda are NOT true ‘waves of love.’ Homosexuality harms its participants as well as society and is repeatedly condemned in the Bible (see The Bible Condemns Homosexuality).
The Vatican has been trying to increase its tolerance of homosexuality, without actually endorsing it.
As far as Pope Francis himself goes, he has repeatedly made statements attempting to be ‘more inclusive.’ He has appealed to Protestants, Eastern Orthodox, Muslims, Jews, and even atheists. He may well make a variety of changes to attempt to increase the appeal of his view of the faith of the Church of Rome.
According to both biblical (Daniel 11:36-38; Revelation 17) and Catholic prophecy (see Why Should American Catholics Fear Unity with the Orthodox?), the time will come when the Church of Rome will change further and move further away from the few actual ties it has with original Christianity. Yet, that will end in disaster for the city of seven hills (cf. Revelation 17:9, 15-18).
It is possible that the ‘extraordinary synod’ that began today will mark another step in that direction.
Some items of possibly related interest may include:
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?
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?
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?
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