The Catholic Church Through the Sinister Eyes of Cardinal Godfried Danneels

A look at a prominent modernist and member of the St Gallen Mafia. He helped create the absolute crisis the Church is experiencing. I pray for his soul every day.

From Memorare

By J. Basil Dannebohm

"In contrast with the previous councils, which had usually been devoted to a particular theme, Vatican II addressed a broad variety of problems; and many issues were discussed, such as: the place of the organ in the Catholic liturgy, the continued value of Thomas Aquinas for theology, the relationship between Rome and local bishops, sexuality and marriage, and the church‐state relationship. And much more." --- Cardinal Godfried Danneels regarding Vatican Council II

March 14th is the anniversary of the death of Cardinal Godfried Danneels. To commemorate the memorial of his death, it's worth looking back on some of his most notable observations and accomplishments. For readers unfamiliar with the prelate, this article will perhaps serve as a brief glimpse into the career of a man whose legacy was as soulless as his eyes.

Appointed by John Paul II in 1983, Cardinal Danneels of Belgium was an adviser to the Vatican Secretary of State and helped oversee the appointments of bishops during the late pontiff's reign.

From the moment of his elevation, Danneels was among the most liberal men in Catholic leadership. The Belgian Cardinal supported a greater role for women in the Church, he promoted a less rigid policy against contraception, he permitted Catholic schools in Belgium to use pornography to teach sexual education, he persuaded the King of Belgium to sign a pro-abortion law in 1990, and notably sent letter to Belgium government supporting same-sex "marriage" legislation. Reading his platform today, one might find it strikingly identical to that of the infamous Amazon Synod, the German Synodal Path, and the Synod on Synodality.

He was invited to join the St. Gallen Mafia in 1999.

In 2010, Cardinal Danneels told a victim of clergy abuse, “The bishop will resign next year, so actually it would be better for you to wait. I don’t think you’d do yourself or him a favor by shouting this from the rooftops.” The cardinal then suggested that the victim accept a private apology from the bishop and not drag “his name through the mud.”

In 2012, Cardinal Danneels gave a speech wherein he praised the Second Vatican Council as a revolutionary end to an era:

"It should certainly also be said that even contemporary cultural winds were blowing in that direction. Openness and broadmindedness predominated. Along with that came the great power of the media. Immediately all secrecy was broken: all discussions, painful confrontations and debates were sent around the world in every evening news report. Thanks to the same media, the impact of conciliar events had a major world impact. Some conciliar texts ‐ such as that on the liturgy ‐ had already been put into practice before the council was at an end. The council also reached out to many non‐Catholics and focused on all people."

Well ahead of Pope Benedict's resignation, Cardinal Godfried Danneels raised the possibility of popes retiring in advanced age or when their health deteriorated. After the pontiff abandoned the throne, Cardinal Danneels was an active supporter of Jorge Bergoglio, whose election he had long favored.

“Years before the last conclave, he told me that the church needed a Francis as head of the church,” Geert De Kerpel, spokesman of the Archdiocese of Mechelen-Brussels, once said in an interview.

On March 13th, 2013, Jorge Bergoglio appeared on the balcony of St. Peter's as the newly elected pontiff. He took the name his cohorts had chosen for him: Francis. Standing alongside Bergoglio, staring intently at the faithful with cold, sinister eyes was none other than Cardinal Godfried Danneels.

In 2015, Pope Francis appointed him as a papal delegate to the 14th Ordinary Synod of Families. Among the topics addressed at the synod were: same-sex marriage, divorce and remarriage, contraception, and cohabitation outside of marriage. To prepare for the event, Pope Francis declared a special jubilee Year of Mercy and implored theologians to listen to the faithful, and to "open their eyes and ears to the signs of the times."

Shortly before the synod, Danneels authorized the publication of his biography. The book was an unapologetic account that revealed even more details of his dark and disturbing tenure in the College of Colleges. While the book raised concerns among many, Francis was not disturbed in the slightest, noting that Cardinal Danneels was the second most important of the 45 papal delegates appointed to the synod.

While there are many statements Danneels will be remembered for, perhaps most suited for his epitaph would be the words he joyfully expressed on behalf of the St. Gallen Mafia regarding the election of Pope Francis: "We got our man."

Cardinal Godfried Danneels died on March 14th, 2019, exactly 6 years (an ominous number) and one day after Jorge Bergoglio was named Pope Francis.