DENNIS JOSEPH WEEKLY: Papa is you

Dennis TDN
Dennis Joseph

The Vatican now lists 266 popes so far but the Irish Archbishop Malachy of the 12th century who is now called Saint Malachy predicted that from his time  there would be 112 more popes before judgment day  and the last one would be Peter of Rome.  Well here we are at the 112th and he has chosen Francis not Peter as his papal name and he is not of Rome but of Argentina in South America.   While Malachy may somehow still be right,  after all he was made a saint,  and researchers could find something that connects this Pope to a Peter of Rome  but for now we have Francis,

Also we have two Papas which is the Latin for Pope.  Benedict as Pope emeritus or retired and Francis the new one and both will live in the Vatican.  Benedict is not supposed to try to interfere with the new Pope  and he will not wear the traditional red shoes and the papal ring but his retirement package is interesting-US$3,300 a month, free house and free food and in 2010 it is reported that the US bishops  gave him a birthday gift of US$870,000, does that  ring a local bell?  But why did Benedict resign?   The church says it is because he could not anymore bear the burden of this large institution, that he was too old and weak to carry on.  However Popes are supposed to carry that load nailed to it even to death so  then what was  the unbearable cross  that Benedict was dragging?

While Catholics are displaying righteous indignation at the antics and activities of other faiths, the Catholic church itself over the last few years has been riddled with scandals the most prominent of which is  oversexed and homosexed priests literally riding the back parts of altar boys  seeming to deliberately misunderstand the Jesus saying, “Let the children come unto me and do not keep them back.”   Investigations into the Vatican Bank indicate that mafia money was recycled through the bank channels, also bribe money to political parties in Italy and a whole bunch of secret dealings.  Investigations have even more revealed money laundering and other illegal activities and some high prelates are subject to blackmail.  All of these bombs came crashing all at once on Benedict as this Holy Father  sat withering on his holy throne.  There are priests who think that there is need for a more liberal Pope and not the usual old gods steeped in tradition.  However the Catholic Church has survived on its traditions and  Benedict was known to say concerning radical priests that, “While such priests claim to act for concern of the church they are driven by their own preferences and ideas and should instead turn to a radicalism of obedience.”

He had to bear the agony of reports of priests who rather than do the job for which ritually and ceremoniously a crop of their hair was taken from the top of their heads they  seemed more interested in taking advantage of captive  churchgoing audiences  using the pulpit to throw mepwi black is white mainly to serve the cause of politicians and those from whom they benefit.  Benedict who was once called God’s Rottweiler when he worked  as Dean of the College of Cardinals and the first among equals could take no more.

The  devilish weeds have grown together with the holy wheat and the stewards have failed to remove them.   Those who follow other faiths may well be gee-gee- giggling.
The crushing blows may have sent the man into retirement and yet still as Head of the  church and with the principle that the Pope is infallible and he is practically a dictator he has to share with his predecessors  the blame for the way things developed. So borrowing the title from a truly brilliant calypso song by Ras Kelly referring to the ills of drug lords, I say to Benedict though you are in no way a drug lord but “Papa is you.”

The Catholic Church is the largest enduring institution in the world now boasting  a mammoth 1.2 billion followers  claiming Jesus the Christ as their founder and Peter his disciple as their first Papa.   Since then all Popes are said to be following in the steps of this big fisherman.   The papacy is like a monarchy without children and the cardinals, princes of the church, choose the next king.  With all the power vested in him any failure in and of the church has to be seen as the Papa’s fault and that is why Francis I of Argentina has his work spread out for him to get the colours to match on this Rubik like cube.

The cardinals in their conclave have leaned on the side of humility, care for the poor and a straight shooter and it is hoped they have found all of these in this new Pope.  Let us face it they prayed and chanted, ‘Veni, Sanctus Spiritus or Come Holy Spirit asking for guidance before they began to vote and sang the song I love to hear in ecclesiastical  Latin, ‘Pater Noster.’   However some say that with some of their selections in the past like Benedict IX in the 11th century  who was  regarded as a scamp and  Alexander VI of the Borgias who had mistresses and children in the Vatican,  the Holy Spirit, the third person in the  Trinity could not have been involved.

You may dismiss this as being a long time ago but what about those who recently  covered up the brutal sex abuse of hundreds of children by rogue priests.  Yet we Catholics, and yes I am one, must move forward praying that this Vatican can get its act together under this new Papa  but if things continue to go wrong he must take up his cross and carry it and fix it because he accepted the job knowing the pressures and should not end up giving us another Pope emeritus in the Vatican.  So ‘Papa is you’, and we are no longer prepared to stand aside and look.  We may not be watching our political leaders but we are watching you.

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24 Comments

  1. doctrinal confusion
    August 29, 2013

    Since by Catholic doctrine the pope is the only infallible one among us humans, how are we to describe the present confusion in the Vatican and the Catholic Church universally, now that there are two popes. Are they both infallible?

    The many un-scriptural liberties embraced by the Catholic church appear to be coming to maturity in these days and are painfully confusing. I only hope that no new ones are created in an effort to salvage the sinking ship, but we all look to the Lord Jesus Christ and God the Father the only true God for salvation. Will some truly humble Pope arise, and at whatever risk firmly declare the need for the Catholic church to disown and abandon those false doctrines and point its people to Salvation by Faith alone in Christ alone.

  2. March 16, 2013

    this is nonesenes

  3. J.J.John-Charles
    March 15, 2013

    I am not at all surprised of hearing how these grown men are taking advantage of thees little boys.
    When God placed Adam in the garden and knowing that there was no one for Adam to share his affection with, He said.

    *IT IS NOT GOOD that man should be alone; I will make him a help comparable to him.” Genesis 2 :18

    So God brought him Eve,We can imagine the emotions that over-whelmed Adam when he saw his sweet heart.No wonder he said,

    “this is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.”Gen2:23

    Are you telling me the church Knows better than God? almost all the great leaders in the bible who served God was a family-man with wife and children.Even Peter they claimed 2 be the first pope (we know the is no evidence 4 that)was a married man Matthew 8:14-15 and 1 Corinthians. 9:3-5
    Every sinner,(man,woman and child) who is born again is a priest including yours truly (who is married),the word of God collectively calls us a “Royal Priesthood,1 Peter 2:9
    Paul wrote Timothy and said,

    “If a christian man have a desire to be a bishop,pastor, elder,overseer,just different names but the same work.He must be the husband of one wife,and his children must be well disciplined 1Timothy 3:1-5.
    Don’t get me wrong I am not saying if they let priest marry every thing is OK.The Lord command that we get saved first and Go Back to the BIBLE.

    You will notice that I am supporting my reasoning with the final authority the book of books THE BIBLE.I have no ill feelings towards any, because I was in the same position.Was baptized,made first communion and confirmed by my mother.I know my god mother and fathers,but thank God in January 1971 I was gloriously saved.Now I still have 17 brothers and sister who need the Lord.What I want is to see people come to the Lord.There are two places after death, heaven or hell,I hope you noticed I did not mention purgatory.The only one we know of is where our sins were purged on the cross of Calvary.

    King Obstinate of Antigua said in one of his songs
    “The truth should not offend truthful men”
    In closing let me end with a quote from a former priest.

    “My conscience has been taken captive by the word of God, and to go against conscience or scripture is neither right nor safe.”,,,,Martin Luther

    May God help us all.

    • March 19, 2013

      J.J. John-Charles: Thank you for your comment. I don’t know what religious group you belong to so I can’t speak beyond what I have read in your comments. But what I see on my computer screen is what I believe. The papacy goes back a long way but it does not go back to Peter. I would like to make a few remarks in the hope that they will b posted. (1) Peter never claimed to have a higher rank than the other apostles. He called himself an “apostle” in 1 Peter 1:1 and an “elder” in 1 Peter 5:1. His wording here shows he was placing himself on par with but not above his brethern. He says “I am also an elder.” (2) There is nothing to suggest the other apostles thought Peter was superior to them. Paul said on one occasion he openly rebuked Peter because he was at fault in Galatians 2:11-15. (3) Peter was married (as you have pointed out) according to Matthew 8:14. (4) There is no example in the scriptures of Peter exercising any authority over the other apostles. We don’t see him telling them where to go or what to do. There is no record of him exercising authority over the churches. (5) It was James not Peter who conducted the first church council at Jerusalem in Acts 15:4-30. (6) We find it strange anyone can believe in a papacy that began with Peter when neither Christ nor the apostles gave any instructions as to how they were to choose a successor to Peter! There is nothing in the New Testament telling who can be pope or how the election process is to take place. If (as they say) the pope is not only the successor of Peter, but the vicar of Christ, we would expect Christ Himself would have given very clear instructions for the election process. Instead, the methods have actually changed through the centuries and it is obvious some very bad choices have been made! (7) Gregory 1, known as Gregory the Great, refused the title Universal Bishop. In 607 A.D. Bonafice 3 accepted this title. He was the first Bishop of Rome to accept the title Universal Bishop, thus becoming the first pope. (8) I appreciate the fact that the Roman Catholic Church takes a stand on moral issues and opposes abortion and homosexuality, etc. I applaud them for speaking out on these matters. Protestants AND Catholic BOTH need to understand that we can only be saved through faith in Christ – and what He did on the cross – apart from our own merits or works. Christ by His death made one sacrifice for sins for ever (Hebrews 10:12) This sacrifice was so complete it never had to be repeated. It was so perfect no other sacrifice was ever necessary. All – Catholics and Protestants – who trust the Lord Jesus Christ are saved (Acts 16:31) (Romans 5:12) Sincerey, Rev. Donald Hill. Pentecostal Evangelist.

  4. Distured
    March 15, 2013

    Just a reminder… You go to the chapel to meet the priest. You go the church to meet God among his flock.

    Just cuz d priest is “rogue” dont affect me at all. If he try a stunt, handle it how u best can. Personally, him dead. O_O

    Once again, you who are not prepared to take the “proper” steps, cannot sit back and critize. For you, yourself are weak and dissmal to your own weakness.

  5. Anonymous
    March 14, 2013

    hmm you know Jesus sad if they hated me they will hate you. for all those who know the faults and sins of the catholic church I hope you know yours. wasn’t there a presbyterian married minister in the US who molested over forty young boys too. hmm

    What about all these self righteous married me who run men in the dark of night.

    I guess is the catholic church alone who have fault.All the others are perfect. let he who is without sin cast the first stone.
    Now for all those who see the devil in the Catholic church look within yourselves and see the devils of adultery, fornication, homosexuality, witchcraft,corruption, lies slander there as well.

    • jesuit papal asasin
      March 15, 2013

      your comment make alot of sense, someone should not see all the bad in the church and cannot see the bad in themselves, but on the other hand the history of the church is extremly dark. the church throughout its past has been involved in alot of ungodly practices from its inception..it is good to read its history and its future(revelation) and its roll in the world now( King Nebuchadnezzar’ dream)

  6. T mama
    March 14, 2013

    He is not Italian…..and thank God for Papa Francis….the whole world has its problems, but the Catholic Church with all its faults, still stands srong in the teachings of Jesus and the Holy Bible…

    • Anonymous
      March 15, 2013

      if it stands strong in teaching people the truth then let it start with creation week.

  7. March 14, 2013

    Great article sir..
    But be reminded…just as the followers were asked to keep their eyes on that chimney..look out for the smoke…we all know that where there is smoke,there is always fire.
    And there is a lot of fire that’s not exposed to the followers eyes.
    However GOD is never mocked,and all of it must come to light.HE is on the throne,HE said it and it must come to past.
    For those of you who would like to see these guys,it’s very easy.Just read the gospel of Matthew chapter 23 (King James Version).
    And after you do that,inorder to be comforted,go to Revelation chapter 17.It will tell you all about her,where she is sitted, and what will become of her.
    That’s why I know her days are numbered.For a thousand years are as one day;and one day is as a thousand years with the LORD.
    HE dose not do it as man would do it.
    I will not attempt to play Malachy,for only GOD the FATHER knows the exact time to the end of the age.I am satisfied with the signs which HE gave and said to look out for.They are already rolling.
    And now,after writting such a great article,what then;Are you going to be counted another number of her statistic?(Revelation 17:15)
    There is a way of escape,make use of it,before to late shall be your cry.
    GOD BLESS..

  8. Macaquee
    March 14, 2013

    Thank you for such an interesting article Dennis. I really enjoyed reading this, in fact, its the first time I have read through your whole article. now, don’t get me wrong, it’s not they are boring or anything ; it’s just me and reading alot. I must say that I admire your outspokenness for you stated that you are a catholic. Thats good. We need more people like you to be in it and still talk about the ills about it!!Thanks again!

  9. Anonymous
    March 14, 2013

    Well, well, well. Mr. Joseph please do a research on all the churches and their bad sex behavior. You may find out the Catholic Church is not as bad as it is made to sound.

    Please note that I am not condoling the bad behavior.

    • Mwen
      March 15, 2013

      Knowing the character of Mr Joseph this research will not be a problem to conduct and write about. The problem with the Catholic Church is the fact that the priests are not allowed to get married hence..So let’s see what the results will show thence.Who will be consoled then??

      • April 20, 2013

        The fact that Roman Catholic priests are not allowed to get married is not the reason so many priests are pedophiles. If it was they would be molesting girls not boys. Priests who molest boys are homosexuals. So the problem is homosexuality not pedophilia. Not all homosexual men molest children. But this behaviour is more acceptable amomg homosexuals than among hetrosexuals. There is a large militant homosexual rights organization devoted to the advancement of pedophilia. They are crusading to have the age of consent lowered. They are also working to have all the laws eliminated that would hinder them from having unrestricted access to boys of any age. People ask why so many homosexuals are attracted to the priesthood. There are several reasons. First it provides an excellent cover for gay men who for one reson or another don`t want to come out of the closet. Being a priest they are not expected to be married. Nobody is going to ask a priest why he is not married. Second they know they don`t plan to get married so the celibate priesthood is a relief to them, not a burden. Third it places them in contact with a large number of boys in the parish. These are boys whose parents trust the priest and have taught their children to obey the spiritual father. Fourth these men know they will sin from time to time whether they are priests or not. They also believe as priests they will be living closer to God than they would be if they were not priests and it will be easier to receive grace and forgiveness. Remember the Roman Catholic Church is religious system that teaches salvation is earned by doing certain religious exercises and good works. A priest does more religious exercises and good works than most Catholic lay persons. So it is easy to understand why a devoted Catholic man who is struggling with homosexuality and ladened with guilt would gravitate towards the priesthood believing it will give him the very best opportunity to serve God, and earn forgiveness for his sins. Let us remember that there are many dedicated priests who are living above sexual temptations. Also Catholic priests are not the only religious workers who commit sexual sins. We all need the grace of God. His fvorgiveness is available for all those who trust Christ and receive His salvation. Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Pentecostal Evangelist.

  10. Soldiers of Jah
    March 14, 2013

    Archbishop Malachy prophecy might still stand. We all know and like you said the pope before this new one did not die so technically we still at 111. look at it this way.

    In politics when the prime minister dies or resigns his term in office is carried through by his deputy until fresh election, when he or some one else is elected for a fresh term.

    This new pope is well into his seventies so will not last too long.

    All that is just the anti Christ’s way of trying to confuse and throw in doubt the prophecy because Archbishop Malachy’s prophecy has been proved right.

  11. Anonymous
    March 14, 2013

    Mr. Joseph please.

  12. ummmmmm
    March 14, 2013

    Good article Mr Joseph. I must say that i am too a follower of the catholic church but this constant sexual abuse/child molestation scandals really cuts through the heart.

  13. grell
    March 14, 2013

    we hear about all these sex scandals all over the world.did not grow up within the catholic church,sometimes i sit and wonder if my brothers that grew up in the catholic churches in the caribbean were not victims of abuse by these priest.are they too afraid to come out and tell their stories.just my thoughts.

    • wow
      March 14, 2013

      Very interesting..So what you think the abuse happened to brothers elsewhere and not the Caribbean??? The mess is all over. Here, there and everywhere..

  14. jfingers
    March 14, 2013

    interesting….indeed..hmmmmm

  15. Too Hard Too Long
    March 14, 2013

    Amen

  16. jesuit papal asasin
    March 14, 2013

    mr joseph, i thought i was the only one who researched and notice the trend which the church of rome has taken… this is some great work and i do hope people will open their eyes and see what is happening..

  17. Jadi
    March 14, 2013

    Well Pope Francis is Italian he was raised in Argentina. His family is from Italy. So i think there is the connection the name may be different but he is Italian

    • Gerard
      March 17, 2013

      To be precisely correct He is the son of an Italian immigrant thus a purely acquired Italian name.But he was born in Buenos Aeries Argentina.Hence He is correctly referred to as an Argentinian.

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