THE CHURCH MILITANT - BELEAGUERED BY BERGOGLIANISM

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So you have won another prize…
- Yes, another one. I have received high recognition from the Pope…
Is it because of what you are doing for the cause of abortion?
- Well, that is not brought up, but it is interesting that what is mentioned is [what I do] about resources for society…
But that is true for many other people…
- Of course, and I believe the Vatican know that I founded ‘She decides’. But that did not stop them from giving me this recognition – it is a special honor…
What kind of recognition is it?
- It makes me a Commander in the Order of St Gregory.
Well, congratulations! Is this not truly progressivist on the part of the pope?
- Yes, that is so. And I am happy to have received it.
Do you see it as a confirmation of what you have been doung for women and for abortion?
- Yes, that too. In recent years, I have invested a lot in establishing contacts with the Vatican…
You mean, lobbying work?
- Yes, lobbying. You know that the Vatican, especially under the preceding popes, had a rigid attitude about the rights of girls and women…
Absolutely!
- Which will not change overnight – one must have no illusions abut this. But there are areas perhaps in which we can nonetheless cooperate, and this is what I have been seeking. For example, the Chruch is very much against the marriage of children, and this may seem strange to us [the Dutch], but in many countries the Church has a great influence, so that if a bishop says, “Dear people, it is a bad idea to arrange marriage for girls who are only 14 years old”, it will help [presumably, to counteract that attitude. But why on earth would she advocate for girls to be married off at 14?] Then there was a bishop in Uganda who spoke against homosexualism, and the Vatican told him: “Look, we do not approve this practice, but man is created as he is and we should accept him as he is”.
And so you are pragmatic enough that if the pope or the Vatican can help in your mission…
- Certainly.
Even if they don’t approve of it?
- Naturally. Let us not make a mistake. The Church has a very influential voice among the faithful, but it is also part of negotiations in the United Nations, so it makes a difference if they side with, say Saudi Arabia, and not with Holland on any issue – I prefer them to be on our side.
Alongside Member of Parliament Ploumen?
- Yes.

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But while I was writing this post, I got a reply from the Vatican Press Office, from whom I had requested an explanation of the Ploumen honor. [He quotes the note already cited by Steve Skojec, and it turns out it is signed by Paloma Garcia Ovejero, the Spanish deputy to Press Director Greg Burke.]

Meanwhile, Cardinal Eijk of Holland made it clear he had no part in the conferment of the honor nor was he ever consulted about it.


So these are the facts. The report was not ‘fake news’ , despite the incredulity of many, including some of this blog’s followers who thought it was fake news.

One interesting detail: From the moment the report first came out in public – with an accompanying video – on the evening of January 12 )i.e., four days ago), not one journalist in the major news agencies and media outlets who deal with Vatican news even thought of seeking an explanation from the Vatican [because they chose not to report it at all, to begin with!]

It cannot be said that the news of a prominent abortion activist honored by the Vatican is not newsworthy. So one must find a reason for the media indifference elsewhere. Unfortunately, there is no reason to be found that is worthy of the term.

Riccardo Cascioli comments on Ploumen's admission of her lobbying efforts in the Vatican...

So there's an abortion lobby
at the Vatican...
[Who needs a lobby when the pope himself gladly gives his patronage
to the world's leading advocates of population control
he constantly invites to push their agenda in the Vatican?]
by Riccardo Cascioli
Editorial
Translated from

January 17, 2018

The episode of the Vatican’s conferment of the Order of St. Gregory, rank of Commander, to the Dutch abortion advocate Lillian Ploumen has reached levels of absurdity to the point that it is hard to avoid speaking of a true and proper abortion lobby in the Holy See.[Not that a lobby is needed at all, since the Bergoglio Vatican itself has this never-ending series of international conferences on social issues, to which the world’s leading advocates of population control are among the repeatedly invited speakers!] If only because this is merely the most recent in a series of increasingly embarrassing ‘incidents’ for which a definitive clarification ought to be made. [But to get a definitive clarification from this Pontificate on anything it deliberately wants to leave open and equivocal is, as I have remarked before and forgive the bad pun, equivalent to waiting for Ber-godot!]

Ploumen, who is Holland’s Minister for Development, is a super-activist for abortion as well as for LGBT ‘rights’, and her credentials in this respect would make Emma Bonino envious. [She ought to be, because Bergoglio has yet to give her a formal honor, even if he has praised her as one of ‘Italy’s contemporary greats’, has embraced her publicly on several occasions, and has shrugged off her notorious record as an abortionist who boasts she performed at least 10,000 abortions herself with a bicycle pump by saying "But one must consider the totality of her work!” which, as far as I can research, appears to be of interest to Bergoglio only insofar as she advocates indiscriminate immigration. In the past few days, she has called for the government to allow half a million new migrants into Italy.]

So one cannot understand why the Vatican would have given her an honor intended to be for lay persons who have distinguished themselves by service to the Catholic Church.

[Cascioli goes on to cite the absurd response from the Vatican Press Office given four days after the news broke, to persons like Marco Tosatti who asked the Vatican to explain the honor conferred on Ploumen.]

The Vatican reply is an obvious attempt to minimize the episode, but it only worsens the situation, if that is even possible. From the reply, one would think that when there are visiting government or state delegations, the Holy See prepares by having a tray laid out with the medals corresponding to the various knightly orders in the Church from which delegation members would be honored at random. But of course, these papal honors are not given at random – they are conferred ad personam – to a specific person [named in the papally-signed certificate of conferment that accompanies these honors], and only after the Vatican has evaluated the merits of the prospective honoree. The reason for the conferment is stated in that certificate which is given along with the medal and ribbon that corresponds to the honor given.

Ploumen herself in the video says that although her activism in favor of abortion ‘is not mentioned’, “it is interesting that what is mentioned is [what I do] for the resources of society”, but nonetheless, she sees the honor “as a confirmation of what I have been doing for girls and women with respect to abortion”, admitting that in recent years, she has been carrying out lobbying actions at the Vatican to get their cooperation in her work in some of the developing countries.

So this was not a random honor. They certainly knew at the Vatican who Ploumen is and what she does [the photograph of her talking to the pope indicates that, at the very least, the latter must at least have been given some background information about her – but does he really care about details like this which merely ‘get in the way’ of his bonhomie towards everyone to whom he grants an audience?]

Surely, those at the Vatican who are in charge of these things remember a recent episode that also involved the Order of St. Gregory, when in the autumn of 2012, it became known that the famous talkshow host of the BBC, Jimmy Savile, who had died the year before, was in fact a serial molester of women and minors. He was given the Order of St. Gregory way back when – for the generous contributions to Catholic causes of someone who was much beloved by the British public. The Vatican withdrew the recognition, and at the Secretariat of State where such decisions are made, controls were supposedly installed to make sure that Church honors were not given out too easily and without appropriate investigation.

The Ploumen case is much worse – because the Vatican knew very well what ‘civilian’ battles she has been actively fighting, so what Catholic merit could they have found in her work? Especially since Cardinal Eijk of the Netherlands has said he had nothing to do with the conferment of the honor and was, in fact, never consulted about it.

It starts to become clear that in the highest spheres of the Vatican, there are those who are taking advantage of this pontificate to advance agenda which have nothing to do with the teachings of the Catholic Church [Only now 'starting' to become clear? That's disingenuous! Worse, the agenda is proactively anti-Catholic, but why say “highest spheres of the Vatican… taking advantage of this pontificate to advance [their] agenda” when it is clearly the pope’s agenda that is being advanced, because none of whatever is taking place in the Vatican right now could possibly take place without the pope’s knowledge and blessing. Ask John Allen and Mons. Brian Farrell who sing the praises of a 'very hands-on pope...who knows everything that is taking place and is being said at the Vatican"!]

On the question of abortion, it must be acknowledged that this pope has always been clear in his words – “Abortion is a crime, it is an absolute evil” – even if he has not lifted a finger (or spoken a word) to influence the political debate on the issue as he does so willingly and gladly on the social issues dear to his heart.

But he has surrounded himself with persons who obviously wish to bring ‘the Church’ on a wayward path, in which the dominant drumbeats are the promotion of the LGBT agenda, the openness towards artificial contraception, and the wink-wink nod at abortion on demand. [Which is, though not explicitly akcknowledged, Bergoglio’s own agenda.]

Therefore it is time – urgent and necessary – for the pope to make a clear statement that will put an end to this drift because, in this case, whether he likes it or not – his silence becomes complicity.

[And when will opinion-makers stop demanding the impossible of Bergoglio? He thrives on the confusion and polemic he sows by his deliberate ambiguity and equivocation on matters that popes before him always spelled out with conclusive definitive clarity.

He is the primary follower of what he advised Catholics at the start of his pontificate: Hagan lio! Make a mess, sow confusion, turn things upside down, inside out, whenever you can. This pope is certainly not the symbol of unity that a pope ought to be for the Church!]

On the Ploumen case, Aldo Maria Valli has confected a new fantasy- satire about this Pontificate to add to his serious commentaries and a new book in which he fantasizes a far-into-the-future consequence of the Bergoglio Pontificate (more about that later)....


An interview with Pope Gregory the Great
[In which the interviewer ends up being more the interviewee]
Translated for Rorate caeli by Francesca Romana from

January 16, 2018

Good day, Your Holiness.
Good day to you too.

Might I disturb your Holiness for a moment?
Of course.

You are Pope Gregory, aren’t you? Gregory The First, called Gregory The Great?
In person.

Please pardon my boldness, but I’d like to interview Your Holiness.
Interview?

Yes, just ask you a few questions.
Go ahead, I’ll be happy to answer them if I’m able.

Thank you, Your Holiness. I don’t know if you’ve heard that the Equestrian Order carrying your Holiness’ name was given to a Dutch lady….
Equestrian Order? I’m afraid I don’t understand….

Well then….hmm….It’s an Order of Chivalry of the Holy See - an award.
And this award, as you call it, carries my name?

Exactly Your Holiness.
And why?

Well, then, it was another Pope Gregory, Gregory XVI, in 1831, who founded this Order, a first class one, to confer to Catholics, both men and women, who have distinguished themselves in their service to the Church as well as for their good example.
Interesting. And why ever would Our successor Gregory XVI name it after Us?

Well, I’m not really an expert on the matter, but I believe it was to honour You. You have been … you are an important Pope, very important…
Ah…I see…

Yes, so I was saying that recently this honour, this award, was given to a Dutch lady…
Why? Did she do battle against the barbarians?

No, no, Your Holiness….
Battling the barbarians, defending Rome and saving the Faith is of great merit. We did battle against the Lombards for a long time…
Of course…of course… Or perhaps this lady evangelized some populations?...

No, Your Holiness, she evangelized no-one. At least that’s how it appears to us…
Well then, did she perhaps contribute to the rebuilding of Rome? In our time, We worked hard to bring back luster to the city, in an age of great decadence…

Yes, yes, we know this, but no, this lady has not contributed to the rebuilding of Rome…
Ah, now I’m with you! Well then she surely has contributed to improving the liturgy, rendering it more coherent and solemn. It was another one of Our undertakings….

No, Your Holiness. She hasn’t contributed to improving the liturgy…
Oh, how odd. Well why then this honour which carries Our name?...

There you have it, Your Holiness, the fact is that…
No, don’t tell me now! I’ve got it! She re-launched Gregorian Chant, Our beloved Gregorian Chant!

Not that either, Your Holiness. The lady has done nothing in favour of Gregorian Chant. To tell you the truth I don’t even know whether she can sing…
Oh! But you surprise Us, sir. You are talking about an award that carries Our name , but I see none of the questions that were at the center of our work and life correspond to the interests of this lady…

That’s it, Your Holiness, it was precisely on this [issue] that we’d like your opinion. The Order of St. Gregory The Great was given to that lady because…because…
Tell us, do tell us…don’t keep Us on tenterhooks!

Because…well actually we don’t really know why. It was our hope Holiness, that You might be able to help us understand…
Us? …but We, my dear man …didn’t even know of the existence of this award…

Yes, but I thought that since the Order carries your august name, your Holiness perhaps might have been informed…
No, I’m sorry to say, but no-one told Us anything. Still, believe me, this happens a lot. In any case what remarkable thing might this lady have done?

Well, the thing is..this lady had worked …actually - has been working a lot in favour of abortion and the LGBT cause-…
My dear man, at this point I confess I understand nothing at all of what you’re saying.

Please forgive me, Your Holiness, it isn’t easy to explain…
I see that. I see that. You are saying things that don’t make any sense…

But they do make sense, Your Holiness. They are only difficult [to understand) for those like Yourself, who lived a long time ago.
Try anyway. We’d be most grateful.

How to do this now? Look, Your Holiness, I’ll try to say it like this: this lady retains that mothers when they are expecting a child, can decide whether to keep the baby or not. She further retains that rights should be extended and granted as far as possible to all those people who are part of the LGBT world: lesbians, homosexuals, bisexuals and transgenders.
My dear man, we are bound to reiterate that it is rather difficult for Us to understand the meaning of your words. One thing though, We think We have understood and it is that this dear lady has done absolutely nothing in defense of the Church and the Faith. Therefore, if you don’t mind, we’d prefer now to end this interview which for Us - perhaps also as a result of all the centuries separating us – has been somewhat onerous and – we will not hide it - a source of certain disquiet.

I understand very well Your Holiness and hope that Your Holiness will forgive us. We had thought…
Not to worry. Go your way in peace and receive Our blessing.

Thank you Your Holiness, thank you very much.
But before you go, tell Us: in your times, who is it that holds the fate of Our beloved Holy Mother Church in his hands?

We have a Pope who comes from Argentina…
Argentina? And what country might that be? Is it in the part of the Angles?

No, Your Holiness, it isn’t. It is a part of the world which was discovered many, many years after your existence on this earth. A lot of water has flowed under the bridges of the Tiber…
Don’t mention the Tiber! When I was Pope that river overflowed in a devastating manner and caused a terrible plague. Has it been overflowing now – in your times?

No, Your Holiness. Thank God it hasn’t overflowed for quite a while now.
And what about the plague? Do you have it?

No, Your Holiness, we don’t. At least not in the classical sense of the word.
Again, I’m afraid I don’t understand.

Never mind, Your Holiness, I’ll leave you to rest.
One last thing: were the barbarians converted in the end?

It’s difficult to say Your Holiness. In general yes, but perhaps new barbarians are looming over us…
My dear man, your enigmatic words prove distasteful to Our mind…

Forgive me again. Your Holiness has been more than patient. Thank you and rest well.
Now I think I’ll devote some time to Chant. Gregorian – obviously!

Excellent! Thank you once again! Au revoir, Your Holiness!


Donald McClarey at THE AMERICAN CATHOLIC had this comment on how the Vatican Press Office has simply 'shrugged off' the Ploumen case:

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There isn’t a chance in the world that the current Vatican would grant such an honor to a politician who was given to making racist statements [or worse, anti-Islam statements!] That they overlooked her radical pro-abort record wasn’t a matter of diplomatic cynicism but rather the fact that the powers that be at the Vatican are not going to make an issue of abortion.

Pope Francis has political irons in the fire that are much more important to him than the fact that a politician has spent her career championing the slaying of children in the womb. When it comes to pro-lifers, the Pope tosses us a soundbite every now and then, and then he does something like this to reassure his political allies on the left that he really does not mean it.

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And here's a most ironic counterpart to Bergoglio's...er,insincerity on abortion...



President Trump to address
March for Life via live stream
by Claire Chretien

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WASHINGTON, D.C., January 17, 2018 (LifeSiteNews) – President Trump will speak at the 45th annual March for Life on Friday via a live video feed, becoming the first President to do so.

EWTN staffers broke the news on Twitter Wednesday morning.


“We're excited to announce that the President will become the first sitting president to address the March for Life from the White House live via satellite,” White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said at a media briefing today. “This will take place from the Rose Garden. The President is committed to protecting the life of the unborn and he is excited to be part of this historic event.”

Previous Republican presidents have delivered remarks to the March for Life via pre-taped video messages or phone calls.

“Since his first day in office, President Trump has remained steadfast on his campaign promises to the pro-life cause and has actively worked to protect the unborn,” said Jeanne Mancini, President of March for Life. “Over the past year, the Trump administration has significantly advanced pro-life policy, and it is with great confidence that, under his leadership, we expect to see other pro-life achievements in the years to come. We welcome our 45th President, Donald Trump, to the 45th annual March for Life.”

Last year, President Trump called out the media for giving extensive coverage to a pro-abortion march but not to the March for Life, the largest pro-life event in the world. The March for Life draws hundreds of thousands of people every year on or near the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion on demand.

The theme of this year’s March for Life is “Love Saves Lives.”

Vice President Pence and White House advisor Kellyanne Conway both spoke at last year’s March for Life.

Operation Rescue recently named Trump its 2017 “pro-life person of the year.”

Since taking office, Trump has reinstated the Mexico City Policy, which prevents U.S. foreign aid from going to organizations that commit or promote abortion abroad. He has signed a law allowing states to defund Planned Parenthood, appointed a number of strong pro-life advocates to key Administration positions, and ended Obama's HHS contraception and abortion pill mandate requiring employers to violate their consciences.

Since Trump took office, the U.S. has stood up for the right to life at the United Nations. Trump pulled the U.S. out of a pro-abortion, pro-LGBT United Nations agency, UNESCO.

When he declared November 2017 National Adoption Month, Trump said, “no child in America – born or unborn – is unwanted or unloved.”

He has slammed forced abortion and infanticide in North Korea, appointed conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch to the U.S. Supreme Court, and actively supported defunding abortion business Planned Parenthood.

LifeSiteNews will provide updates as more details become available.

Mundabor promptly commented on this development:

Obsessing with abortion? No, not the pope…

JANUARY 17, 2018

Trump's decision to address the US March For Life live shows once again a handful of very evident facts:

1. This President is way more Catholic than the Pope. As Francis invites us to “not obsess” about abortion, Trump actually does exactly that.

2. Trump engagement in favour of the Unborn is more than a mere slogan, as such a hard pro-life profile will certainly not bring him additional supporters. This is a man of integrity keeping his word, not an Auntie Merkel saying what is convenient on the day.

3. The cowardly US Bishops relentlessly working against the most outspokenly pro-life President since the Gipper show that they do not care about the unborn, and are perfectly at ease with the pro-death agenda of the Democratic Party. This, with the excuse of their socialist-spectacled obsession with “social injustices”.

4. The unborn US babies are, mostly, legal US citizens in fieri (in the making). Too much Stars and Stripes for the Democrats and their Bishops, I suppose. They prefer to let these oppressed, innocent, in fieri US Citizens die, and prefer instead to import illegals from (let us say this again, because repetitio iuvant) shithole countries, who then proceed to Somalise and Haitise the US as much as they can, perpetuating the power of the Democrats in the process.

5. Thank God for President Trump. [Not however for his coarse language and his self-indiscipline! While I cheer anyone who calls a spade a spade, the President of the United States can and ought to say politically incorrect things if they are true without descending to incivility. No country is inherently a 'shithole', however destitute, misguided and corrupt its government may be. And Trump's Twitter-mania is too childishly self-indulgent to be taken seriously, for all the partial truths his tweets may contain.]

[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 21/01/2018 02:38]