Vitalis 🇻🇦 retweeted
As regards the lay faithful, those who formally adhere to the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X are to be considered schismatic and excommunicated.
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Vitalis 🇻🇦 retweeted
The bishops of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X, Alfonso de Galarreta and Bernard Fellay, together with the newly consecrated bishops, have incurred “ipso facto” excommunication “latae sententiae.”
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Vitalis 🇻🇦 retweeted
Excommunication decreed over Lefebvrite episcopal consecrations
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Vitalis 🇻🇦 retweeted
Thankfully I know tomorrow will be a very calm, measured day on Catholic Twitter.
Can’t wait to take a nice break from work on it!
Can’t wait to take a nice break from work on it!
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Vitalis 🇻🇦 retweeted
If the consecrations go forward, rejecting the SSPX's position is clearly the safer course. The burden of proof rests entirely on those who claim that fidelity to Christ requires defying the explicit directives of the Roman Pontiff and receiving the sacraments from ministers who lack ordinary jurisdiction.
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If the SSPX demands of us to return to older and more ancient practices so badly, why stop at the 1962 Missal? Why not advocate restoring the literal Holy Kiss, where we're supposed to kiss other men?
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The red choice is the self-preserving strategy. Blue is caritas (self-sacrificial love) and looks like voluntary martyrdom with no guarantee of fruit which is foolish to the natural mind (Cf. 1 Corinthians 1:23, "the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing").
Everyone on earth takes a private vote by pressing a red or blue button. If more than 50% of people press the blue button, everyone survives. If less than 50% of people press the blue button, only people who pressed the red button survive. Which button would you press? BE HONEST.
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This peeked my interest so I looked it up. To my surprise, a purpoted Vatican intelligence agency called "The Entity" or "Servizio di Intelligence Vaticano (SIV)" had its own Wikipedia article. I will say my thoughts on it.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Entit…
Upon further investigation, it lacks credibility.
The article primarily cites a document published on a CIA journal called Studies in Intelligence, which relays claims made in books by journalist Eric Frattini.
apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA…
One is called "The Entity: Five Centuries of Secret Vatican Espionage" which is an investigative storytelling built on a mix of real material and unverified claims. There is no primary-source documentation, no independent corroboration as its just one author, verifiable operations, or institutional acknowledgement.
More importantly, in the CIA document, it says:
"All statements of fact, opinion, or analysis expressed in Studies in Intelligence are those of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect official positions or views of the Central Intelligence Agency or any other US government entity, past or present. Nothing in the contents should be construed as asserting or implying US government endorsement of an article’s factual statements and interpretations."
Even the CIA themselves does not endorse this, and it is not an intelligence report, but rather some book reviews and commentary on published material.
The author of the Wikipedia page, Abovfold, when asked about the claims of the article, says:
"Sources include at least five mainstream books and academic articles, mentions by Simon Wiesenthal and Carl Bernstein and an official acknowledgement from the CIA. The Vatican is the only one claiming it doesn't exist and they are an unreliable source on the matter as an essential characteristic of covert action is plausible deniability. It's not OR, it's just a niche topic, its existence appears well accepted."
Carl Bernstein wrote about Vatican information networks and intelligence-like activity which supports the idea that the Vatican gathers information but it does not confirm a formal agency called The Entity. Simon Wiesenthal made claims about postwar Church networks, which is interesting but often anecdotal and not structurally detailed. So these are more or less evidence of activity and not proof of a specific organized institution
He quotes the CIA reviewer who states that the Vatican denies it, but from a Catholic perspective that undermines the claim itself. Lying is intrinsically sinful and the Church teaches that evil may never be done so that good may result (cf. Romans 3:8).
Therefore, if such intelligence officers existed or the Roman Curia was asked directly about their existence, they would not be permitted to lie. At most, they could remain silent or decline to answer. The Magisterium consistently upholds that truth cannot be violated even for a seemingly good purpose.
Let us pray that the editors at @Wikipedia will promptly remove this article and prevent any further scandal or confusion among readers.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Entit…
Upon further investigation, it lacks credibility.
The article primarily cites a document published on a CIA journal called Studies in Intelligence, which relays claims made in books by journalist Eric Frattini.
apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA…
One is called "The Entity: Five Centuries of Secret Vatican Espionage" which is an investigative storytelling built on a mix of real material and unverified claims. There is no primary-source documentation, no independent corroboration as its just one author, verifiable operations, or institutional acknowledgement.
More importantly, in the CIA document, it says:
"All statements of fact, opinion, or analysis expressed in Studies in Intelligence are those of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect official positions or views of the Central Intelligence Agency or any other US government entity, past or present. Nothing in the contents should be construed as asserting or implying US government endorsement of an article’s factual statements and interpretations."
Even the CIA themselves does not endorse this, and it is not an intelligence report, but rather some book reviews and commentary on published material.
The author of the Wikipedia page, Abovfold, when asked about the claims of the article, says:
"Sources include at least five mainstream books and academic articles, mentions by Simon Wiesenthal and Carl Bernstein and an official acknowledgement from the CIA. The Vatican is the only one claiming it doesn't exist and they are an unreliable source on the matter as an essential characteristic of covert action is plausible deniability. It's not OR, it's just a niche topic, its existence appears well accepted."
Carl Bernstein wrote about Vatican information networks and intelligence-like activity which supports the idea that the Vatican gathers information but it does not confirm a formal agency called The Entity. Simon Wiesenthal made claims about postwar Church networks, which is interesting but often anecdotal and not structurally detailed. So these are more or less evidence of activity and not proof of a specific organized institution
He quotes the CIA reviewer who states that the Vatican denies it, but from a Catholic perspective that undermines the claim itself. Lying is intrinsically sinful and the Church teaches that evil may never be done so that good may result (cf. Romans 3:8).
Therefore, if such intelligence officers existed or the Roman Curia was asked directly about their existence, they would not be permitted to lie. At most, they could remain silent or decline to answer. The Magisterium consistently upholds that truth cannot be violated even for a seemingly good purpose.
Let us pray that the editors at @Wikipedia will promptly remove this article and prevent any further scandal or confusion among readers.
People saying the Pope shouldn’t comment on the war on Iran because he doesn’t have access to all the Top Secret information that Trump has don’t seem to know that the Vatican has a very sophisticated intelligence service of its own. In fact it’s the oldest intelligence service in the world. I’d bet folding money that the Pope has intelligence as good if not better than the President.
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It always seems to be a follower of @CatholicSOTC spreading confusion about the Second Vatican Council, leaving it to me and other well-informed laymen to step in and clarify the truth.
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A huge reason many young men feel lost is a lack of God
Without communion with God, man can become restless, bitter, and disordered
This does not mean chasing shallow spirituality or empty rituals
This is a reminder that true connection with God must be cultivated through grace to heal the soul, renew the mind, and restore strength for clear thinking and purposeful living
"Our hearts are restless until they rest in You" (cf. St. Augustine's Confessions 1:1; Psalm 42:1-2).
Without communion with God, man can become restless, bitter, and disordered
This does not mean chasing shallow spirituality or empty rituals
This is a reminder that true connection with God must be cultivated through grace to heal the soul, renew the mind, and restore strength for clear thinking and purposeful living
"Our hearts are restless until they rest in You" (cf. St. Augustine's Confessions 1:1; Psalm 42:1-2).
A huge reason young men are depressed is lack of sex
Without sexual contact man can become extremely bitter and ugly
This does not mean you should hook up with randoms
This is a reminder that connection has to be cultivated to heal emotional blocks and get back to clear iving
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The biggest spiritual risk for many young/online Catholics right now is not liberal modernism, but a kind of online traditionalist Protestantization where people use private judgment to decide when the Magisterium is wrong, treat the Church as if she can defect, and publicly resist the Holy Father. To cure this, they must read the Catechism and carefully follow its Scriptural citations. Second, study the Patristics and the history of the early Roman Church. Then, decide what to do with their account, either delete it if they can't stop being disobedient, or use it to promote the fullness of faith, which is religious submission of intellect and will to the Supreme Pontiff.
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Every "tradcath" in social media should know that playing schismatics and cafeteria ecclesiology on social media isn't good for your (spiritual) health, particularly your communion with the divinely instituted Church wherein Christ has guaranteed her indefectibility.
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All Catholic religious orders adhere to the same definitive doctrines of the Catholic faith. Any distinctions that may exist among them in matters of spirituality, discipline, or theological emphasis pertain only to areas that have not been definitively settled by the Magisterium and therefore remain open to legitimate development or reform.
@cath_menarion Well, the fact that you’re asking this 500 years after the Reformation sort of proves my point, but I would say we probably have fewer divisions than y’all do within your fellowship.
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We commemorate the apostles, martyr that through their prayers and supplications God would receive our petition. (cf. St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures 23, 4th-century AD). He is not God of the dead, but of the living. (cf. Luke 20:38) We are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses. (Hebrews 12:1) And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. (Revelation 8:3-4)
Mary is in glory worshipping the king she bore to forgive her sins. She’s not contained in plaster and paint…He’s bowing in front of an idol who cannot speak or hear.
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When a bishop teaches in communion with the Roman Pontiff, and it conflicts with my current understanding, I give religious assent, trusting the Church's authority and recognizing that my understanding may be incomplete. (cf. Luke 10:16, CCC 892)
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I'll say this on people who say Christians and Muslims don't worship the same God.
@sola_chadunded on being the Prime Mover and Creator of the Universe. Muslims reject something true about God (the Trinity) and falsely attribute things relating to him, but by all means, they're still referring to the same God. The same principle applies to any other person that are falsely represented in the media.
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Catholicism describes two powers:
Temporal power – civil governments governing earthly matters.
Spiritual power – the Church governing salvation.
But the spiritual end in salvation is higher than the temporal end in civil order.
St. Thomas Aquinas explains that human law must be ordered under the eternal law and divine law.
> Consequently every human law has just so much of the nature of law, as it is derived from the law of nature. But if in any point it deflects from the law of nature, it is no longer a law but a perversion of law. (Summa Theologiae, I–II, q.95, a.2)
This hierarchy is confirmed in Scripture:
> We must obey God rather than men. (Acts 5:29)
Thus civil rulers cannot legitimately act against the authority of the Catholic Church in matters touching faith, morality, or salvation.
Temporal power – civil governments governing earthly matters.
Spiritual power – the Church governing salvation.
But the spiritual end in salvation is higher than the temporal end in civil order.
St. Thomas Aquinas explains that human law must be ordered under the eternal law and divine law.
> Consequently every human law has just so much of the nature of law, as it is derived from the law of nature. But if in any point it deflects from the law of nature, it is no longer a law but a perversion of law. (Summa Theologiae, I–II, q.95, a.2)
This hierarchy is confirmed in Scripture:
> We must obey God rather than men. (Acts 5:29)
Thus civil rulers cannot legitimately act against the authority of the Catholic Church in matters touching faith, morality, or salvation.
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