[ 0 → 4] TrapCast Express [ 4 → 14] TrapCast Express, it's Tuesday, February 18th, 2020. [ 15 → 20] Alright, it's time to pick up where we left off in the last episode, number 103, [ 21 → 26] talking about Pope Francis' new exhortation, Carita Amazonia. [ 26 → 32] The document consists of a total of four chapters, and we covered Chapter 1 last time, [ 32 → 34] so this time we'll look at Chapter 2. [ 35 → 40] Now remember, Chapter 1 was the social dream that Francis is suffering from, [ 40 → 43] and Chapter 2 now is the cultural dream. [ 44 → 48] In paragraph 29, he says the following, quote, [ 49 → 53] The Amazon region is host to many peoples and nationalities, [ 54 → 56] and over 110 indigenous peoples. [ 56 → 59] Indigenous peoples in voluntary isolation. [ 60 → 65] Their situation is very tenuous, and many feel that they are the last bearers [ 65 → 71] of a treasure doomed to disappear, allowed to survive only if they make no trouble [ 71 → 74] while the postmodern colonization advances. [ 75 → 78] They should not be viewed as uncivilized savages. [ 79 → 84] They are simply heirs to different cultures and other forms of civilization [ 84 → 86] that in earlier times... [ 86 → 88] were quite developed, unquote. [ 89 → 95] So what Francis seems to be saying here is that all cultures are more or less equal, [ 95 → 99] and that there are no uncivilized savages anywhere, [ 99 → 103] only heirs to different cultures and other forms of civilization. [ 104 → 108] So I guess that's one way to repudiate the fairy tale of the noble savage [ 108 → 113] by simply denying that there exist any savages and everyone's noble. [ 114 → 116] Okay, well, let's see. [ 116 → 118] Let's see what Pope Leo XIII said about that. [ 118 → 125] Writing in 1886 in his encyclical I Am Predem on Catholicism in Germany, [ 126 → 128] this true Holy Father wrote, quote, [ 128 → 133] No less serious or useful is the work which Catholic missionaries, [ 134 → 137] animated by the spirit which the Church inspires in them, [ 137 → 140] bring to distant, uncivilized countries. [ 141 → 146] Several European rulers have in our time begun to establish colonies there. [ 146 → 149] The German government also seeks to establish colonies, [ 150 → 154] increase its possessions, and open new avenues to commerce and industry. [ 155 → 157] What will make its reputation among the nations [ 157 → 161] is its effort to civilize the savage tribes. [ 162 → 168] But to conciliate the minds and to win the confidence of these uncivilized nations, [ 169 → 175] they should teach them the salutary precepts of religion right from the beginning, unquote. [ 176 → 181] Now, to be clear, the idea is not to be unkind, [ 181 → 186] to dismiss these people or to talk down to them and condemn them and walk away self-righteously. [ 187 → 192] No, in fact, the objective here is to communicate to them the natural law, [ 192 → 196] true right and wrong, and, of course, the divinely revealed gospel. [ 196 → 200] And this is clear in what Pope Leo says next. [ 200 → 205] This is the same paragraph 14 from the encyclical I Am Predem, quote, [ 205 → 207] They, meaning the missionaries, [ 208 → 213] should bring them to understand the true notion of what is just and honest. [ 213 → 217] Finally, they should explain what it means to be children of God, [ 217 → 221] for they too have been called to this, thanks to the merits of our Savior. [ 222 → 227] This is what the popes had in mind when they sent so many missionaries to barbarian nations. [ 228 → 232] This is certainly not the affair of armies, nor of civil magistrates, [ 232 → 235] nor of conquerors, although they may certainly, [ 235 → 236] reap abundant fruit for it. [ 237 → 243] Rather, as history attests, it is the task of those men who go forth from the camp of the church, [ 244 → 247] embracing the labors and dangers of missionary expeditions. [ 248 → 255] These men do not fear to travel among barbarian nations as messengers and interpreters of God, [ 255 → 262] ready to pour out their blood and their lives for the salvation of their brothers, unquote. [ 263 → 263] Beautiful. [ 263 → 264] Beautiful. [ 264 → 264] Beautiful. [ 264 → 266] This is real Catholicism. [ 267 → 273] To go out and proclaim the gospel to all because Christ died for all and wants to save all. [ 274 → 279] The souls of barbarians, of savages, are just as precious in the eyes of God [ 279 → 283] as the souls of Europeans or Asians or Africans or anyone else. [ 284 → 289] But what we cannot do is simply act as though there were no uncivilized cultures, [ 289 → 293] as though all cultures were practically of equal value. [ 294 → 294] Well, [ 294 → 295] no, [ 295 → 295] of course not. [ 295 → 301] A culture is as good and valuable as it comes close to the right order of things, [ 301 → 304] especially to moral right and wrong. [ 305 → 310] And let's always remember as well that we ourselves were once savages, [ 311 → 312] if not physically, [ 312 → 313] at least spiritually, [ 314 → 317] before we were regenerated in sanctifying grace. [ 318 → 322] And we become savages every time we fall into mortal sin, [ 322 → 323] which God forbid. [ 324 → 329] So the idea is not to look down on uncivilized cultures with disdain, [ 330 → 332] feeling superior because we're not like them, [ 332 → 335] but to help them get out of their savagery, [ 335 → 340] knowing that we ourselves would be in no better state had God not had mercy on us. [ 341 → 346] But to do that, you first have to acknowledge that savagery exists. [ 348 → 352] Next, we move to paragraph 31 in Corrida, Amazonia, [ 353 → 354] where Francis shares with us, [ 354 → 360] a stanza from a poem written by one Javier Iglesias. [ 361 → 361] Quote, [ 361 → 364] Make the river your blood, [ 364 → 365] then plant yourself, [ 365 → 367] blossom and grow, [ 368 → 371] that your roots sink into the ground forever and ever. [ 372 → 375] And then at last become a canoe, [ 375 → 376] a skiff, [ 377 → 377] a raft, [ 378 → 378] soil, [ 378 → 379] a jug, [ 380 → 381] a farmhouse, [ 381 → 383] and a man. [ 383 → 384] Unquote. [ 384 → 399] Uh, hello? [ 399 → 400] You still there? [ 400 → 401] Okay, good. [ 402 → 402] Um, yeah. [ 402 → 406] So that poem now appears in the celebrated document [ 406 → 412] of a man most of the world unhappily believes is the Pope of the Catholic Church. [ 413 → 414] Think about that. [ 414 → 416] All right. [ 416 → 417] Moving on to paragraph 33, [ 418 → 421] we find one of those whatever statements from Bergoglio [ 421 → 427] that he never justifies and expects everyone to accept simply because he says so. [ 427 → 429] He writes, quote, [ 429 → 432] I urge the young people of the Amazon region, [ 433 → 435] especially the indigenous peoples, [ 435 → 438] to take charge of your roots, [ 438 → 443] because from the roots comes the strength that will make you grow, [ 444 → 444] flourish, [ 444 → 446] and bear fruit. [ 446 → 446] Unquote. [ 447 → 450] What does that mean? [ 450 → 452] Take charge of your roots. [ 453 → 455] Does anyone know what that actually means? [ 456 → 459] I'm not saying it doesn't or can't have any meaning. [ 460 → 465] I'm saying that different people will ascribe different meanings to that because it's vague. [ 466 → 471] Does it mean identify with your upbringing by endorsing everything in your early life [ 471 → 474] and continuing all of the traditions that you received? [ 474 → 480] Does it mean continuing to practice the religion you were brought up with, [ 480 → 482] regardless of whether it's true or false? [ 483 → 487] Does it mean looking with complacency and pride on one's past, [ 487 → 488] no matter what it was? [ 489 → 491] What does it mean? [ 493 → 494] Now, he says, [ 494 → 498] from the roots comes the strength that will make you grow, [ 499 → 499] flourish, [ 499 → 500] and bear fruit. [ 501 → 502] Really? [ 502 → 503] Says who? [ 503 → 504] How so? [ 504 → 507] This is naturalist garbage. [ 508 → 512] Notice that he didn't say that the strength that will make you grow comes from God [ 512 → 514] through faith, hope, and charity. [ 514 → 515] Through grace. [ 515 → 516] Oh, no. [ 516 → 519] That would be supernaturalism. [ 519 → 522] And that might offend those who don't believe in God, [ 523 → 525] in faith, hope, charity, or grace. [ 526 → 529] So, Bergoglio's content to talk about roots. [ 530 → 533] He probably got that from his Jewish psychoanalyst. [ 533 → 538] And I say that because the Jews are big proponents of naturalism, [ 538 → 543] and Francis did admit to getting therapy from a Jewish psychoanalyst for six months, [ 543 → 549] back in the late 1970s or early 80s, if I remember correctly. [ 550 → 553] Now, it's true, Francis does say in the very next sentence, [ 554 → 556] still in paragraph 33, [ 556 → 556] quote, [ 556 → 559] For those of them who are baptized, [ 560 → 563] these roots include the history of the people of Israel, [ 563 → 565] and the church, up to our own day. [ 565 → 569] Knowledge of them can bring joy and, above all, [ 569 → 573] a hope capable of inspiring noble and courageous actions. [ 573 → 574] Unquote. [ 575 → 580] But notice that he is subordinating the supernatural to the natural here. [ 580 → 585] His primary thesis is that what will make you grow and flourish and bear fruit [ 585 → 589] is taking charge of your roots, whatever they may be. [ 589 → 592] And hey, if you're Catholic, then great. [ 592 → 593] For you, [ 593 → 595] that includes all of salvation history. [ 595 → 597] More power to you. [ 597 → 598] Right? [ 598 → 599] But he makes it relative. [ 599 → 601] He makes it subjective. [ 601 → 605] He makes it dependent on whether these are your roots. [ 605 → 608] And that's what ultimately matters for him. [ 608 → 613] And the Muslim with Muslim roots is going to find his deliverance in that. [ 614 → 615] Don't believe it? [ 615 → 621] Well, that is exactly what Francis told Muslims back on January 19th, 2014, [ 622 → 623] in Sacred Heart. [ 623 → 624] Sacred Heart Basilica in Rome. [ 624 → 627] He was meeting with foreign refugees there, [ 627 → 629] and among them were both Muslims and Christians. [ 629 → 633] Now, Francis addressed both of them together, [ 634 → 638] and he said that for the hardships they endured in their refugee journeys, [ 638 → 641] they should find solace in their respective religions. [ 642 → 644] Here's what he said verbatim. [ 644 → 644] Quote, [ 644 → 651] Sharing our experience in carrying that cross to expel the illness within our hearts, [ 651 → 652] which embitters our life, [ 653 → 656] it is important that you do this in your meetings. [ 656 → 659] Those that are Christian with the Bible, [ 660 → 662] and those that are Muslim with the Koran, [ 663 → 669] the faith that your parents instilled in you will always help you move on. [ 670 → 670] Unquote. [ 671 → 671] There. [ 672 → 676] That is Bergoglio's doctrine of roots for you. [ 676 → 678] It is utter apostasy. [ 679 → 681] Now, the fact of the matter, of course, [ 681 → 683] is that there is no essential connection, [ 683 → 685] between your happiness and your roots, [ 686 → 689] if we want to use that awful secular naturalist term. [ 690 → 693] That doesn't mean that your roots can't contribute to your happiness. [ 693 → 694] Of course they can. [ 694 → 698] But your happiness isn't essentially tied to them. [ 699 → 700] And just think about it. [ 700 → 702] What if your roots, [ 702 → 705] which you aren't responsible for having, obviously, [ 705 → 708] what if your roots are in Nazi Germany, [ 708 → 710] or in Communist China? [ 710 → 713] What if what was instilled in you, [ 713 → 715] was the wickedness of these cultures and ideologies, [ 716 → 718] and your parents were criminals in these regimes? [ 718 → 721] Would Francis really want you to take charge of these roots, [ 721 → 724] so you can grow, flourish, and bear fruit? [ 725 → 726] Probably not. [ 728 → 728] All right. [ 728 → 731] Moving on now from roots to bridges. [ 732 → 733] In paragraph 36, [ 734 → 739] the Frankster does admit that even the Amazonian cultures have their limits. [ 739 → 742] And, of course, he's quick to add that so do Western urban cultures, [ 743 → 748] Now, because of that, he says in paragraph 37, [ 748 → 767] And then he proclaims another naturalist dogma [ 767 → 770] that we must accept simply because, [ 771 → 772] because he says so. [ 773 → 775] And here is what he does say. [ 775 → 775] Quote, [ 775 → 780] Our own cultural identity is strengthened and enriched [ 780 → 784] as a result of dialogue with those unlike ourselves. [ 786 → 786] Unquote. [ 786 → 788] And my question would be, [ 789 → 789] Why? [ 790 → 795] Why and how is our own cultural identity strengthened and enriched [ 795 → 799] by talking with those who don't share that culture? [ 800 → 802] Can anyone explain that? [ 802 → 803] Hey, [ 803 → 804] maybe it's true. [ 804 → 806] Maybe it is so. [ 806 → 809] I'd just like to know why and how, [ 809 → 812] because it definitely doesn't stand to reason. [ 813 → 816] And lastly, let's wrap it up here [ 816 → 821] with a sentence from paragraph 40 of Corrida, Amazonia. [ 821 → 825] And I've probably read this six or seven times now, [ 825 → 828] and I still don't quite know what it means. [ 828 → 830] Maybe you can figure it out. [ 833 → 857] Unquote. [ 859 → 859] All right. [ 859 → 861] That's all I have for chapter two, [ 861 → 862] France's culture, [ 863 → 863] cultural dream. [ 864 → 865] And in the next podcast, [ 865 → 866] we'll look at chapter three, [ 867 → 868] the ecological dream. [ 869 → 871] Don't say you weren't warned. [ 871 → 872] Until then, [ 872 → 875] please do me a favor and don't become a canoe. [ 876 → 879] Tradcast Express is a production of Novels Ordo Watch. [ 880 → 882] Check us out at tradcast.org. [ 882 → 883] And if you like what we're doing, [ 883 → 886] please consider making a tax-deductible contribution [ 886 → 889] at novelsortowatch.org slash donate.