Posted on 12/10/2014 7:09:59 AM PST by BlatherNaut
Éric Zemmour is probably the most famous and influential journalist and commentator in contemporary France. Though not a Catholic (he has Jewish-Algerian origins, from a family that was granted French citizenship with the historic Crémieux Decree, of 1870), he is considered "controversial" in France since he is an unabashed old-style conservative in a strongly "Progressive" environment - and he is not afraid, as a conservative thinker, to defend the great history of France, including its Catholic roots. (More about him, and his recent book, "Le suicide français", on how extreme "progressivism" is destroying France, in this recent extensive article of the Weekly Standard.)
He made the following comment in his radio editorial in the most popular news radio in France, RTL, on Pope Francis' visit to Strasbourg. We post it mostly for the record of historic events on how "mainstream conservative" commentators in Europe are beginning to view the pontificate.
Éric Zemmour: "Pope Francis goes to Strasbourg and ignores the Cathedral"
It is the story of a pope who goes to Strasbourg and ignores the Cathedral. As a Muslim who would go to Jerusalem and not pray at the Al-Aqsa Mosque. As a French president who would celebrate November 11 without visiting the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. As if the Queen of England disdained the Royal Navy. As an American President who did not take his oath on a Bible.
Pope Francis speaks of the roots of Europe, but never makes clear that they are Christian. He exalts spirituality, but he barely mentions the name of God, and never that of "Christ". He mentions "human rights", "solidarity", "exploitation, "diversity", "the environment", "globalization", and "immigration", but does not say "abortion", "euthanasia" or "homosexual marriage".
He pronounces the words are are pleasing, not the words that annoy. He speaks of the "Europe of peoples", but not of the "Europe of Nations". He advocates the generous welcoming of migrants, while ignoring that these ceaseless waves in the Mediterranean Sea transform Europe, bit by bit, in a Land of Islam - and this even though all those who arrive in Lampedusa are Muslims. But the leader of Christians does not look like he worries or is even concerned about it.
This pope is obsessed with dialogue between Christianity and Islam, but other than a conventional and protocolary dialogue, how can Christianity dialogue with an Islam that considers all Christians to be Muslims who don't yet know it or who deny who they are?
[Presenter: But all this, Éric, simply because he is pursuing, in this way, the work of his predecessors.]
Ah, but Francis in in fact the Anti-Benedict XVI, who had caused scandal by exalting Christianity, impregnated with Greek reason, the opposite of Islam. Benedict XVI recalled the principles of the Church, that undermined the compassionate pseudo-poverty-worship [lit. misérabilisme] spread by the media. Francis acts upon the compassionate pseudo-poverty-worship to enhance his popularity with the media. Benedict XVI recalled dogma in an age that rejects it. Francis tosses out dogma to please the age.
The recent Synod on the Family and its deference to homosexual marriage had already troubled Christians. In France, those who had protested against "marriage for all" [same-sex marriage] in the name of their faith had felt betrayed - this trip to Strasbourg ended up leading them to desperation.
Vatican II had wrought havoc on the liturgical bearings of Christians. Francis seems set on giving away the cultural and religious bearings. Pope Francis is the idol of the media, of Members of the European Parliament, and of the Left in the West. He does not seem to mind that the most vengeful and sarcastic critics of the Church applaud him.
The Pope seems rather to be the heir of Jacques Delors* than of John Paul II. A Christian Democrat converted to Social Democracy. A German Great Coalition** all by himself. A post-Christian pope. An adherent of a Christianity without dogmas, who is adored by contemporary Progressives who have thrown away what is Sacred into the dustbins of history. A pope who best embodies the famous words by Chesterton on this, "modern world, full of Christian virtues gone mad."
Pope Francis is in the process of transforming the Church in a simple NGO, [something] between Greenpeace and Terre d'Asile.***
______________
* famous and highly influential former president of the European Commission ** Christian Democrats of the CDU and Socialists of the SPD *** France Terre d'Asile, French NGO dedicated to establishing the broadest possible understanding of asylum and migration in Europe. [Audio, in French]
“The Pope seems rather to be the heir of Jacques Delors* than of John Paul II. A Christian Democrat converted to Social Democracy. A German Great Coalition** all by himself. A post-Christian pope. An adherent of a Christianity without dogmas, who is adored by contemporary Progressives who have thrown away what is Sacred into the dustbins of history. A pope who best embodies the famous words by Chesterton on this, “modern world, full of Christian virtues gone mad.””
It’s difficult to make a case that such an apostate is even Christian.
Apostates aren’t Christian.
The real problem with this Pope is that he thinks it’s all about him. He thinks he’s absolutely adorable, gives out self-satisfied interviews to any sympathetic journalist, and regards this, btw, as his “magisterio.” I’m sorry, but it’s the Magisterium of the Church that Peter is supposed to be defending, not creating his own.
This Pope is doing to the Catholic church what Dumb’O is doing to the US.
Elections have consequences.
“The recent Synod on the Family and its deference to homosexual marriage”
No Francis fan, but “homosexual marriage” was never discussed at the Synod of the family. Francis can not change church doctrine no matter how much it bothers him.
Amen.
True.
Zemmour's misapprehension may stem from the reference in the relatio post disceptationem to homosexual unions - "mutual aid to the point of sacrifice constitutes a precious support in the life of the partners".
This particular Pope is very adept at focusing on the fine points...when it suits him. It’s true that homosexual “marriage” was never discussed, and the interviewer who put this into an article was clearly doing wishful thinking.
However, “omosessuales,” Italian meaning homosexuals, meaning “gays,” that is, people who believe that God created them that way, were discussed in terms that made one think they were simply people with a slightly unusual feature that actually had positive aspects and had nothing to do with the teachings of the Church, natural law or even moral control.
Freudianism has invaded the Church, although even Freud thought that homosexuality reflected an inability to develop, emotionally or psychologically, beyond a certain point and was something that could be treated. He blamed the mother, but I would say in many cases, it was the absence or weakness of the father...or, conversely, the brutality of the father...that made a child unable to relate to the opposite sex.
But Freud based everything on sexual activity, and the Church appears to be doing likewise now.
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