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Wednesday 9 December 2015

Open Letter to Pope Francis From a Former Member of the Roman Curia

OnePeterFive has obtained the permission and full translation of the original publisher of an "Open Letter to Pope Francis From a Former Member of the Roman Curia. It is signed "A Chaplain of Your Holiness," meaning, it was written by a Monsignor. To protect his superiors, he has determined it necessary to stay anonymous.

The letter is a direct and frontal wake-up call to the Pope and to us. I will give the headings but for the rest, please visit OnePeterFive. 


http://www.onepeterfive.com/open-letter-to-pope-francis-from-a-former-member-of-the-roman-curia/

Holy Father,
On the occasion of your Christmas Allocution in 2014, you called on your curial employees to make first an examination of conscience. Indeed, Advent is an occasion to reflect upon the promises of God and what He expects from us. You claimed that your employees had to be an example for the whole Church, and you then listed a several “illnesses” from which, in your view, the Curia is now suffering. At the time, I had considered this statement to be rather harsh – yes, even unjust – against so many in the Vatican whom I know personally – while you were talking, instead, as if you knew the Vatican, but either only from the outside or only from above. Nevertheless, this speech of yours has actually inspired me to write this letter to you. Following your own example, I shall omit to speak about all the good that you are doing and are speaking and I shall thus only list those aspects of your exercise of the papal office which seem to me to be problematic:
1. An emotional and anti-intellectual attitude of yours which is often tangible and which has difficulties in dealing with theories and doctrines
The alternative to the Teaching Church is the Arbitrary Church, and not the Merciful Church. Among not a few of your own chosen employees and close counselors, there is to be found a true lack of competence, both in teaching and in theology; these men .. think rather all too often in pragmatic and political terms. ...
2. Authoritarianism
You are distancing yourself from the wisdom which is preserved in the Church’s traditional discipline, in Canon Law, and also in the historical practices of the Curia. Together with your disdain for (supposedly) theoretical teaching, this propensity leads to an authoritarianism of which even the founder of your Order of Jesuits, St. Ignatius himself, would not approve. ...
3. A populism of change
Today, it is popular to call for change. However, especially the Successor of Peter has to remind himself and others of that which changes only slowly, and even more so of that which does not change at all. Do you really believe that the approval which you receive from the opinion-makers in the realm of politics and of the media is a good sign? ...
4. Your own conduct is seen as a critique of how your (often canonized) predecessors have lived, talked, and acted
I cannot recognize how this attitude comports with the humility which you have so many times invoked and demanded. ... Your conduct implicitly proposes the idea that you intend to re-invent somehow the Petrine Office. ...
5. Pastoralism
Only recently, you said that you especially like those parts of the papacy where you can act like a pastor. Of course, neither a pope nor a pastor should raise any doubts as to whether the Church is following the teaching of Christ ...
6. Exaggerated display of the simplicity of your own way of life
Of course, you want to set an example – but is it better for you yourself to take care of all kinds of daily chores? ...
7. A particularism which often subjugates the goals and purposes of the Universal Church under the viewpoints of only a part of the Church
This attitude appears nearly comical with regard to a pope. ...
8. An urge for constant spontaneity
A lack of professionalism is not a sign for the working of the Holy Ghost. Expressions like “to breed like rabbits,” or “Who am I to judge…?”  ...
9. Lack of clarity about the interconnectedness of religious, political, and economic freedom
Many of your statements indicate that the state should rule more, control more, and be responsible for more areas, ... history has proven wrong the idea that the state can take care of everything. ... The welfare state can also become too powerful, and with it, too paternalistic, authoritarian, and illiberal.
10. Meta-Clericalism
On the one hand, you show very little interest in the clergy, on the other hand, you criticize a clericalism which is more of a phantom than something that is real. .... Like me, many others have difficulties with the way you sometimes talk and act. But that can be fixed, if it becomes clear that you listen to what others have to tell you. Unfortunately, I know that you are not yet capable of dealing well with such criticism – that is why I do not put my name on this letter. I want to protect my superiors against your wrath, especially the priests and bishops with whom I have worked for many years in Rome and from whom I have learned so much. You might want to work on taking away such fears – from me and from others – or, even better, to make such letters as this one superfluous, namely, by learning something from others.
In this spirit, may you have a blessed and contemplative Season of Advent!
A Chaplain of Your Holiness

16 comments:

Catholic Mission said...



Latin Mass Societies' Mass is heretical
http://eucharistandmission.blogspot.it/2015/12/latin-mass-societies-mass-is-heretical.html


The present traditional Latin Mass is modernist
http://eucharistandmission.blogspot.it/2015/12/the-present-traditional-latin-mass-is.html

Aged parent said...

Actually, letters like this give me a glimmer of hope. It seems to suggest that there are others - in Rome - who are becoming worried enough to publish an open letter. If that is so, perhaps there will be light at the end of this long, dark tunnel.

Ana Milan said...

Excellent. May many others follow him. It is time that our prelates spoke out against this apostasy - even anonymously - although this shouldn't have to be the case, as PF has told us to follow our consciences. We should pray for all our prelates to find the courage to end this Pontificate.

Dorota said...

A pope so humble, he considers himself able and chosen to do away with the nonsense of two thousand years of Church teaching by her holiest and best. Well, maybe not ALL by himself, for he seeks the counsel of sodomites, paedophile protectors, masons, false god worshippers, atheists, abortionists and eugenicists, as well as light-display experts. He loves the world so much, he will ridicule and attempt to destroy anyone and everyone who seeks the Kingdom of God before anything else.
The humble pope has salvation for us in form of a so called just society and poverty equally distributed among the servants of the enlightened elites. Jesus Christ our Saviour needs not interfere with the grand plan of the humble pope,

Dorota said...

Forgot to include what I came to say.
Francis Bergoglio is too arrogant or too ignorant to remember this: Nothing new under the sun.

Human nature does not change, and God does not change, nor do His commandments. Regardless of language games and social engineering by servants of Satan, good IS still good, and evil IS always evil.

Poor misguided Francis wants change, where no change is possible.

Real change happens on individual level only, not collectively. Justice starts with the love of God, not enforced public policy.

Sandpiper said...

People must understand that the pope seemingly suffers a condition known as borderline personality, subtype narcissistic. Even with years of therapy, the insight is never gained, the behaviour never changes. He never should have ascended to the papacy. Those who knew him must have speculated that he was a bit off his rocker.

Anonymous said...

Whoever is this mystery man, his criticisms shall not discourage Bergoglio.

First, no one who wishes to be taken seriously writes an "anonymous" letter.

Second, publishing it publicly is a sign he has a personal grudge or even vendetta, and that also is not taken seriously.

Third, everyone in the closed circle of Curia insiders knows who this guy is, Msgr or not.

Fourth, it seems to be the latest fashion to get your "open letter to the pope" on a blog. Wow, they achieved their "15 minutes of fame."

That might be a pleasant diversion, but for those in the hierarchy who must take these matters seriously, there are sources they consider much more reliable, and indeed more helpful.

These are roughly some of the same effects that may also cause the authors of the newest "petition" to be a laughingstock and actually only detract from their cause.

What is becoming evident over the course of this pontificate is not only a loony, unstable guy in the Chair of Peter, but the amazing breadth of ignorance of Church matters among the "trad" laity.

Is this a blessing in disguise to do a bit of our own soul-searching while we point fingers at the pope?




Anonymous said...

Here's an article about a nun doing her bit for the environment. http://www.spiritdaily.com/A129deer.htm

Lynda said...

The Remnant Newspaper has compiled an accusation and petition to the Pope to renounce the Office of Peter. http://remnantnewspaper.com/web/index.php/articles/item/2198-the-year-of-mercy-begins

Unknown said...

Letters like this, from someone "anonymous" are useless. It could easily be a fake.

Dorota said...

@ Anonymous

So, we are a laughingstock. There never is a shortage of insults hurled at us these days.
Dear Anonymous, like your comment, the letter too has its value to others.

For me, it is especially in the case of the letter, which confirms my own observations. I dared to hope that they are correct, that I am not a loon, the only person observing this farce. Now I know I am not.

So, we don't know anything about the goings-on behind the scenes. We are ignorant about this most transparent pope's courtiers' ways. I think of it as an advantage. We are less cynical, more child-like. Our Lord will not mind.

Those who wish to ridicule us, or excommunicate us, may go on and laugh all the way to hell, if so they choose.

Eirene said...

The comment by Anonymous at 7.35 p.m. stated:
"First, no one who wishes to be taken seriously writes an "anonymous" letter."
Might this not also be applicable to an "anonymous" comment?

Anonymous said...

"...I shall omit to speak about all the good that you are doing... "

All the good that this pope is doing?

Did I miss something in the 33 month since he is pope?

Ana Milan said...

People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones Anonymous. You frequently post here yet criticise an Anonymous prelate for putting his thoughts in an open letter to PF. People who write anonymously usually lack credibility and shouldn't be encouraged (like yourself) but in the prevailing circumstances within the Vatican I gather that this prelate really does fear for the retribution that most likely he (and those around him) will have to endure. I have no doubt that he will be chastised but at least reading his concerns, which are similar to our own, gives us some hope that there are churchmen who agree that the present position cannot be allowed to progress any further. Rather than criticising this man maybe you should ask yourself what possible reason have you to continue posting anonymously when your life or position doesn't demand it.

Anonymous said...

anyone can write anything under the cloak of anonymity, the blogosphere thrives on it.
the disenchanted Monsignor seems to have something in common with the Prodigal's brother.

Anonymous said...

Others in the past did not remain anonymous ,they were excommunicated ,if it was known this man had a traditional bone in his body he would be removed promptly like many before him .This is a war and its better to have people undercover there than no one at all.