[ 0 → 4] TrapCast Express [ 4 → 15] TrapCast Express, it's Thursday, October 20th, 2022. [ 16 → 24] The synod on synodality is gradually turning into a kind of Vatican III, but piecemeal. [ 24 → 35] His phoniness, Pope Francis, has now extended the synodal process by another year to end in October of 2024. [ 36 → 44] That is, there are going to be two synods on synodality now, one in October of next year and the other a year later, [ 45 → 50] kind of like what happened at the synods on the family in 2014 and 15. [ 51 → 53] In an address given today at the Vatican, [ 53 → 58] the fake pope reiterated that the goal of the synod is, quote, [ 59 → 68] to arrive at an ever greater openness to the newness of the spirit and his promptings, unquote. [ 69 → 72] Translation, fasten your seatbelts, folks. [ 72 → 75] It's going to be a wild ride. [ 76 → 82] Meanwhile, Eric Sammons, the editor-in-chief of Crisis magazine, [ 82 → 83] tweeted the following. [ 83 → 87] yesterday afternoon, quote, [ 87 → 113] Yes, ladies and gentlemen, that is the expert analysis you get from one of those synodal [ 113 → 119] self-proclaimed guardians of orthodoxy and correctors of the supposed pope. [ 120 → 125] The problem with Francis is that he's just not very good at what he does. [ 125 → 131] He just doesn't quite know how best to teach the faith or run the church. [ 132 → 134] Yeah, that's it. [ 134 → 138] I mean, that wasn't a quote now, but that's essentially what he's saying. [ 139 → 142] Sammons must think his readers are idiots. [ 143 → 147] If I were one of his supporters or subscribers, I'd be insulted. [ 148 → 153] He also recently, by the way, published an article at Crisis entitled, [ 153 → 159] The Multiple Religions Coexisting Within the Catholic Church. [ 159 → 161] But we'll look at that some other time. [ 162 → 168] See, there's a reason why the church didn't allow just anyone to publish stuff on religious matters. [ 169 → 172] You had to get it approved first by the diocese. [ 173 → 177] Now, speaking of things that shouldn't be published, [ 178 → 184] the semi-traditionalist Reverend John Hunwick shared some more of his brilliant insights [ 184 → 190] with his hapless readers today in a blog post simply entitled Manifesto? [ 191 → 198] The former Anglican-turned-Novels-Ordo-Presbyter recalls the so-called Manifesto of Faith [ 198 → 203] issued by the modernist Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Muller in February, [ 203 → 205] of 2019. [ 206 → 207] Hunwick writes, [ 207 → 207] quote, [ 208 → 214] I find it hard to express adequately the great debt I feel I owe to Cardinal Muller [ 214 → 218] for his unfailing and continuing defense of the Catholic faith [ 218 → 222] during these dark days of papal apostasy. [ 223 → 230] It fills the need that many of us feel for the sort of sound and intelligent teaching we received [ 230 → 233] in the last two pontificates. [ 233 → 234] Unquote. [ 235 → 243] Yeah, well, when your gold standard of orthodoxy is the magisterium of John Paul II and Benedict XVI, [ 243 → 249] I guess we shouldn't be surprised if you also believe that there is such a thing as papal apostasy. [ 250 → 258] In any case, to hold up Gerhard Ludwig Muller as a great defender of the faith is really quite scary, [ 259 → 263] considering the man denies the bodily resurrection of Christ. [ 263 → 269] Transubstantiation and the perpetual virginity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. [ 271 → 276] Muller is a disciple of Karl Rahner, so no surprise there. [ 277 → 282] Anyway, Hunwick thinks it was remarkable that Muller's 2019 Manifesto [ 282 → 285] didn't mention anything about the papacy. [ 286 → 289] And he says that maybe that's because papal infallibility [ 289 → 293] doesn't tell us anything about the Catholic faith. [ 293 → 298] That, at least, is what he read in a book by an Anglican theologian, [ 299 → 302] and he is just smitten with that incredible insight. [ 303 → 308] He quotes from the book The Recovery of Unity, a Theological Approach, [ 308 → 314] first published in 1958, written by Eric Lionel Muscal, [ 314 → 317] an Anglican theologian who died in 1993. [ 318 → 322] Here is what Muscal says regarding the First Vatican Council. [ 322 → 323] Quote, [ 323 → 328] The definition of infallibility has a logical status [ 328 → 331] quite different from that of any other definition. [ 332 → 337] It is a second-order definition, a definition about definitions, [ 338 → 342] whereas there are first-order definitions, definitions about the faith. [ 343 → 347] Thus, to be told that, under certain conditions, the Pope is infallible [ 347 → 350] is not to be told anything about the Christian faith at all. [ 350 → 353] It is only to be told something about the condition, [ 353 → 356] under which you may be told something about it. [ 357 → 357] Unquote. [ 359 → 363] Now, that may sound rather profound and insightful at first, [ 364 → 365] but it is really misguided. [ 366 → 370] Muscal doesn't grasp that the infallibility of the Pope [ 370 → 376] is itself a revealed dogma and therefore does tell us something [ 376 → 377] about the Christian faith. [ 377 → 381] When the Pope is infallible, and when he is not, [ 381 → 383] is part of the faith. [ 383 → 387] It is part of the faith handed down to us by our Lord and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. [ 388 → 392] The papacy does not just give us revealed doctrine, [ 392 → 394] it is itself a revealed doctrine. [ 395 → 398] And so, Muscal's observation is simply false. [ 400 → 403] Now, of course, we can overlook the fact that a non-Catholic [ 403 → 406] doesn't properly understand Catholic theology. [ 406 → 407] That's not surprising. [ 408 → 413] But why in the world does Mr. Hunwick, of all people, not get it either? [ 414 → 417] See, the way he presents himself on his blog [ 417 → 423] is as some kind of incredibly enlightened expert in Catholic orthodoxy. [ 423 → 427] One who doesn't fall for, you know, silly hyper-papalism [ 427 → 431] and knows all about the real Catholic doctrine on the papacy. [ 432 → 436] Unlike those people who not only acknowledge Francis as a true Pope, [ 436 → 439] but also actually follow him. [ 440 → 443] Now look, Hunwick is no dummy. [ 443 → 447] He's an extremely well-educated man, a genuine Oxford scholar. [ 448 → 454] So the question is, why does he fall for that faulty thesis of the Reverend Muscal? [ 455 → 461] In my opinion, the answer lies in his personal anti-papal bias. [ 462 → 465] Muscal's thesis is extremely attractive to Hunwick [ 465 → 470] because it fits and feeds right into the narrative he has been promoting. [ 470 → 472] A narrative of minimization, [ 473 → 479] recognizing as much as possible the nature, authority, function, and effects of the papacy. [ 479 → 484] Just so he can fit Jorge Bergoglio, Francis, into it. [ 485 → 489] My recommendation to the Reverend Hunwick is this. [ 489 → 494] Spend less time reading what Anglicans are saying about the papacy, [ 494 → 499] and instead read what the Catholic Magisterium says about it. [ 500 → 503] Now, unfortunately, Hunwick is... [ 503 → 507] Hunwick is, of course, not the only one trying to refashion the Catholic doctrine on the papacy [ 507 → 510] into something that will work with Francis. [ 511 → 514] Another man who has apparently now made it part of his life's work [ 514 → 518] to rethink the papacy, his words, [ 519 → 521] is Dr. Peter Kwasniewski. [ 522 → 525] In a 2018 article entitled, [ 525 → 530] Lessons from Church History, A Brief Review of Papal Lapses, [ 530 → 533] which has just been reprinted in Volume 1, [ 533 → 535] one of his grossly misnamed two-volume set, [ 536 → 539] The Road from Hyper-Papalism to Catholicism, [ 539 → 543] Rethinking the Papacy in a Time of Ecclesial Disintegration, [ 544 → 546] Kwasniewski writes the following. [ 547 → 547] Quote, [ 547 → 552] This article has listed 11 immoral popes and 10 popes [ 552 → 555] who dabbled, to one degree or another, in heresy. [ 556 → 560] There have been a total of 266 popes. [ 560 → 563] If we do the math, we come out with... [ 563 → 566] 0.14% of the successors of Peter [ 566 → 569] who earned opprobrium for their moral behavior [ 569 → 575] and 3.76% who deserve it for their dalliance with error. [ 576 → 580] On the other hand, about 90 of the pre-conciliar popes [ 580 → 582] are revered as saints or blessed, [ 582 → 586] which is 33.83%. [ 586 → 588] We could debate about the numbers. [ 588 → 592] Have I been too lenient or too severe in my lists? [ 593 → 596] But is there anyone who fails to behold in these numbers [ 596 → 599] the evident hand of divine providence? [ 600 → 603] A monarchy of 266 incumbents [ 603 → 605] lasting for 2,000 years [ 605 → 609] that can boast failure and success rates like this [ 609 → 611] is no mere human construct [ 611 → 614] operating by its own steam. [ 614 → 615] Unquote. [ 616 → 622] That is on page 43 of volume 1 of his book. [ 623 → 627] Now, what may sound fairly reasonable at first [ 627 → 629] is actually a blasphemy. [ 630 → 632] Kwasniewski is essentially saying [ 632 → 634] that the miracle of the papacy [ 634 → 638] consists in most of the popes [ 638 → 640] being reliable and orthodox [ 640 → 642] and not leading the sheep astray. [ 642 → 644] Not all of them, mind you, [ 644 → 645] or all the time, [ 646 → 648] but for the most part. [ 648 → 650] See? It's a miracle. [ 651 → 653] Usually, the popes get it right. [ 653 → 655] It's just too bad if you happen to live [ 655 → 659] during one of those unusual periods of church history. [ 660 → 661] But hey, even then, [ 662 → 664] there may just be a Peter Kwasniewski around [ 664 → 667] to keep us all on the straight and narrow, right? [ 667 → 668] Lest we be so unfortunate [ 668 → 671] as to follow and adhere [ 671 → 674] to the pronouncements of the apostolic see. [ 674 → 678] The nonsense these people are willing to embrace [ 678 → 679] and proclaim [ 679 → 681] just so long as it avoids [ 681 → 682] the set of accountism, [ 683 → 685] is absolutely staggering. [ 686 → 688] And this makes me very upset [ 688 → 690] because countless good-willed, [ 690 → 691] pious people [ 691 → 693] are impressed by this junk [ 693 → 695] and buy into it. [ 696 → 698] There is no question [ 698 → 701] that the papacy is a miracle. [ 701 → 704] It is a divine institution, after all. [ 704 → 708] But God doesn't work half-miracles. [ 708 → 711] When our Lord cured paralytics, [ 711 → 712] he cured them entirely. [ 713 → 715] He didn't cure most of their paralysis, [ 716 → 717] but all of it. [ 718 → 721] The paralytics were able-bodied again all the time, [ 722 → 724] not just during most of the week. [ 725 → 727] When our Savior cleansed the lepers, [ 728 → 729] he made them whole. [ 729 → 731] He didn't cleanse most of their leprosy, [ 732 → 734] leaving little spots here and there thinking, [ 734 → 736] eh, close enough. [ 736 → 739] What an insult to God [ 739 → 742] to say that the miraculous thing about the papacy [ 742 → 742] is that it's a miracle. [ 742 → 743] It's a miracle. [ 743 → 743] It's a miracle. [ 743 → 746] It's 96% orthodox and reliable. [ 748 → 752] If Kwasniewski could at least keep his repulsive ideas to himself, [ 753 → 757] but no, of course he has to publish them for public consumption. [ 758 → 761] And one of his latest victims is Julia Maloney. [ 761 → 767] She's an American writer and commentator who contributes articles to various semi-trad websites [ 767 → 773] and a year ago published a book exposing the St. Gallen Mafia. [ 773 → 780] Just a few days ago, on October 15th, an article by her appeared at Crisis magazine [ 780 → 783] entitled Modernism and the Miracle of the Papacy. [ 784 → 789] She says that years ago she abandoned her old hyper-papalist self [ 789 → 792] and now appreciates the miracle of the papacy, [ 793 → 798] by which she means, however, the Kwasniewski close enough version. [ 799 → 802] Now, I'm not trying to criticize her. [ 802 → 804] My problem is with Kwasniewski. [ 804 → 809] Maloney is just a victim of his false and dangerous theology. [ 810 → 814] Now, to refute Dr. Kwasniewski, you know what we do here. [ 814 → 817] We go by Catholic teaching. [ 817 → 819] Here are a few examples. [ 821 → 825] In his encyclical letter, Edite Sepe, released in 1910, [ 825 → 828] Pope St. Pius X taught, [ 828 → 828] quote, [ 828 → 834] Only a miracle of that divine power could preserve the Church, [ 834 → 836] the mystical body of Christ, [ 836 → 841] from blemish in the holiness of her doctrine, law, and end, [ 842 → 845] in the midst of the flood of corruption and lapses of her members. [ 846 → 850] Her doctrine, law, and end have produced an abundant harvest. [ 851 → 856] The faith and holiness of her children have brought forth the most salutary fruits. [ 857 → 857] Here is a quote, [ 857 → 860] Here is another proof of her divine life. [ 860 → 866] In spite of a great number of pernicious opinions and a great variety of errors, [ 866 → 868] as well as the vast army of rebels, [ 869 → 872] the Church remains immutable and constant [ 872 → 875] as the pillar and foundation of truth [ 875 → 878] in professing one identical doctrine [ 878 → 882] and receiving the same sacraments in her divine constitution, [ 882 → 884] government, and morality. [ 885 → 885] Unquote. [ 886 → 887] That's paragraph number 8. [ 887 → 889] Of Edite Sepe. [ 890 → 892] Then Pius XII. [ 892 → 896] In his 1943 encyclical Mystici Corporis, [ 897 → 900] Pius XII made clear that the Church is spotless. [ 901 → 905] Not pure for the most part, but without stain. [ 906 → 907] Quote, [ 907 → 911] Certainly the loving mother is spotless in the sacraments [ 911 → 915] by which she gives birth to and nourishes her children. [ 915 → 916] Unquote. [ 916 → 917] In the faith, [ 917 → 920] which she has always preserved inviolate, [ 920 → 923] in her sacred laws imposed on all, [ 923 → 926] in the evangelical councils which she recommends, [ 927 → 930] in those heavenly gifts and extraordinary graces [ 930 → 932] through which, with inexhaustible fecundity, [ 933 → 937] she generates hosts of martyrs, virgins, and confessors. [ 938 → 938] Unquote. [ 939 → 940] That's paragraph 66. [ 942 → 946] And then let's go back to the First Vatican Council of 1870 [ 946 → 947] Unquote. [ 947 → 977] Unquote. [ 977 → 977] Unquote. [ 978 → 987] Now, imagine if Dr. Kwasniewski had said that the Immaculate Virgin was only 96% immaculate. [ 988 → 991] The remaining 4% kind of didn't really work out. [ 992 → 996] Would we not be completely outraged at such a blasphemy? [ 997 → 1003] And what if he then maintained that, hey, don't get all worked up over this. [1003 → 1005] 96% is close enough. [1005 → 1007] That's still pretty miraculous. [1007 → 1011] Since no one could be that holy without God working a miracle. [1012 → 1019] Would we not be beside ourselves and denounce him as a blasphemer and a heretic? [1020 → 1024] And yet, how is what he said about the papacy all that much different? [1025 → 1029] God's miracles aren't 96% miraculous. [1030 → 1034] Because there is no such thing as a partial miracle. [1036 → 1037] The works of God. [1037 → 1038] Are perfect. [1038 → 1043] We read in Deuteronomy chapter 32 verse 4. [1044 → 1046] And when we're talking about perfection. [1046 → 1050] No, 96% isn't close enough. [1050 → 1053] Either you have perfection or you don't. [1053 → 1055] There's nothing in between. [1056 → 1061] In an address given to cardinals on March 20th, 1900. [1062 → 1064] Pope Leo XIII taught that, quote, [1064 → 1067] The church has received from on high. [1067 → 1073] A promise which guarantees her against every human weakness. [1074 → 1080] What does it matter that the helm of the symbolic bark has been entrusted to feeble hands. [1081 → 1086] When the divine pilot stands on the bridge where though invisible. [1086 → 1088] He is watching and ruling. [1089 → 1090] Unquote. [1091 → 1092] In his address. [1092 → 1096] Ancora Una Volta given on February 20th. [1096 → 1097] 1949. [1098 → 1101] Pope Pius XII taught that, quote, [1101 → 1104] The Pope has the divine promises. [1104 → 1106] Even in his human weaknesses. [1106 → 1109] He is invincible and unshakable. [1110 → 1113] He is the messenger of truth and justice. [1113 → 1116] The principle of the unity of the church. [1116 → 1120] His voice denounces errors, idolatries, superstitions. [1121 → 1122] He condemns iniquities. [1122 → 1125] He makes charity and virtue lost. [1126 → 1127] Unquote. [1128 → 1132] Now that's clearly not describing Jorge Bergoglio. [1133 → 1135] But that's not because the teaching is false. [1135 → 1139] It's because Bergoglio isn't actually a valid pope. [1140 → 1145] Now we know that Dr. Kwasniewski isn't really into magisterial teachings. [1146 → 1148] Unless, of course, they happen to support his narrative. [1149 → 1155] So this evidence from the papal magisterium I just presented will not mean much to him. [1156 → 1157] And don't think I'm kidding. [1158 → 1160] You think I'm just assuming that? [1160 → 1160] Oh, no. [1161 → 1165] In a Facebook post of March 26th, 2021, [1166 → 1170] Kwasniewski dismissed the magisterial evidence as, quote, [1171 → 1178] Digging up quotes from a hundred or a hundred and fifty years ago from papal maximalists. [1178 → 1179] Unquote. [1179 → 1182] And I've got the link to that in the show notes. [1183 → 1184] It's unbelievable. [1185 → 1185] You know, [1185 → 1188] Sometimes I think the man has lost his mind. [1190 → 1193] His popularity and worldly success have gone to his head. [1193 → 1197] And now he thinks that sacred theology is his private playground. [1197 → 1202] Where he can just toss around various ideas and publish them for the world to see. [1203 → 1207] As long as they don't disturb the desired and preconceived conclusion. [1208 → 1211] Namely, that the Novus Ordo religion is false. [1211 → 1214] But Francis is nevertheless a true pope. [1215 → 1218] It's a backwards approach to theology. [1218 → 1223] You start with a conclusion and then try to come up with arguments to get there. [1224 → 1230] While ignoring, minimizing, or arguing away anything that goes contrary to it. [1231 → 1236] That's what his rethinking of the papacy is all about. [1236 → 1238] But it's not Catholic theology. [1239 → 1240] It's sophistry. [1242 → 1245] Tradcast Express is a production of Novus Ordo. [1245 → 1248] Check us out at Tradcast.org. [1249 → 1256] And if you like what we're doing, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution at NovusOrdoWatch.org. [1256 → 1257] Slash donate.