A Reply to Mr Geoff Kiernan

I know many people don't read comments on blog posts (I know I usually don't, unless they're on this blog!), but two comments were left on my sharing of Dr Peter Kwasniewski's article Should We Pray for ‘Our Holy Father’s Intentions’ Even if a Pope Has Bad Intentions?, that give me an occasion to explain my position on Francis.

The comments were,

This same question has bugged me for some time now. I have not been convinced otherwise by your well intentioned comments. I can only bring myself to pray for him,not his intentions.

I note in your 'post a comment' comments that you admit to only praying FOR him. I see you will not 'tolerate' comments as to the 'legitimacy of Francis as the Vicar of Christ', so I won't go there except to say your following comment (...heretic and protector of perverts...) sort of contradicts the preceding one.

Just what is the ordinary punter in the pews to do?

And,

Also just noted the report was from P Kwasnieski and not yourself... I still pose the question and await a reply...

For reference, the rules of my combox state, '

Comments will be deleted that are ... attacks on the legitimacy of Pope Francis as the Vicar of Christ (I know he's a heretic and a Protector of Perverts, and I definitely want him gone yesterday! However, he is Pope, and I pray for him every day).

It is true that I consider Francis the valid Pope, and it is true that I also consider him a heretic. However, it is important to remember that we have had heretic Popes in the past. Honorius, John XXII, and John Paul II all come immediately to mind.

In fact, I have little doubt that, at least before becoming Pope, Benedict XVI was a heretic. In his book, Principles of Catholic Theology: Building Stones for a Fundamental Theology, (1975, English translation, 1986) he said,

If one is looking for a global diagnosis of the text [of Gaudium et spes], one could say that it (along with the texts on religious liberty and world religions) is a revision of the Syllabus of Pius IX, a kind of counter-Syllabus ....

Since Fr Hardon defines the Syllabus in his Modern Catholic Dictionary (post Vatican II imprimatur) as

A series of eighty condemned propositions listing the prevalent errors that aimed at the undermining of society, morality, and religion. Every Catholic is expected to give exterior and interior assent to the condemnation of errors expressed in this syllabus,

the conclusion seems inescapable.

However, and what is vital, is that none of these men, including Francis, have ever tried to bind the Church under the conditions of infallibility outlined in Pastor Æternus. Their erroneous opinions are the opinions of a private doctor, not of a Pope qua Pope. I, for one, do not believe that any Pope can bind the Church infallibly to a heresy or a heterodox opinion. I believe that God, the Holy Ghost, would intervene to prevent it. If He didn't, it would make God, the Son, a liar.

All that said, it is far above my pay grade to decide whether Francis is or is not Pope. I have read the blatherings of a woman who graduated from an agricultural school with a degree in animal husbandry, who, as far as I know, has absolutely no formal training in theology, logic, or canon law, that Benedict didn't really resign and remains the 'true Pope'.

I have read sedevacantist arguments, as well. As far as I can see, they all refuse to accept the First Œcumenical Council of the Vatican's teaching in Pastor Æternus on the permanency of the Petrine Office.

I find the teaching of Pastor Æternus totally incompatible with the idea of the Chair being empty for 56+ years. (I've discovered one fellow online who believes it's been vacant for 173+ years, since the death of Pope Gregory XVI!) At least the Benevacantists do not claim the Chair of Peter is vacant, just that the wrong man is recognised as sitting on it.

Now, Mr Kiernan misunderstood me on one point. Indeed, my com box rules do indeed say that I pray for Francis every day. I do, indeed, pray for his conversion to the Catholic Faith every day, in every Mass I hear, and in every Rosary I say.

However, on the basis of what Dr Kwasniewski points out from the thoroughly Catholic, pre-Conciliar Raccolta, I also have no problem for praying for his intentions to gain a plenary indulgence.They always include 1. The progress of the Faith and triumph of the Church, 2. Peace and union among Christian Princes and Rulers, 3. The conversion of sinners, and 4. The uprooting of heresy, so even if Francis's published 'intentions' seem questionable or evil, I'm sure God knows for what I am praying, even when Francis's 'intentions' are 'iffy'. In fact, it would seem that points 1, 3, and 4 are praying directly against Francis's opinions and actions.