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Meditations with Matthew Fox
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Pope Benedict’s Political Legacy 01/04/2023 |
NOTE: #MishapsOfMultitasking: While Matthew Fox was writing this DM, he was also drafting his video teaching, primarily about Opus Dei activity in Peru. As a result, he referred here to Allende as the president of Peru. Not so!
Allende was the president of Chile. We've corrected the misstatement below -- thank you to all who wrote -- and we regret the error. |
The political impact of popes Benedict XVI and his mentor JPII cannot be underestimated. |
Benedict and JPII’s support of Opus Dei rendered fascism fashionable again in the Catholic Church (as it was during Mussolini’s time) and the West. Its call for a return to a “Christian culture” opened the door to the authoritarian wave sweeping through Western politics today from Hungary to Trumpian America and
the | Then-Cardinal Josef Ratzinger and Pope John Paul II at the canonization of Opus Dei founder Jose-Maria Escriva. Public-domain photo by Levan Ramishvili on Flickr. |
recently defeated president of Brazil. Yesterday’s news informed us that the democratic-killing extreme right president of Hungary came to Rome praising the “sanctity” of the deceased pope and promised to stay through his funeral on Thursday. Of course, it is well known that a fascist is currently prime minster of Italy for the first time since the Second World War. Under Pope JPII, Ratzinger declared war on Liberation theology and base communities in South and Central America including harassing (now) saint Oscar Romero and silencing the saintly and courageous Bishop Casigalida in the Amazon. Opus Dei members were involved in the overthrow of
Allende’s duly elected democratic government in Chile and Ratzinger hired the former papal ambassador to Chile and buddy to Pinochet as his secretary of state. |
“Opus Dei: The Influential Ultra-Conservative Christian Sect.” 2002 mini-documentary by Journeyman Pictures. | Regarding North American politics, studies reveal that Ratzinger was responsible for John Kerry’s defeat to Bush in 2008 because of his intervening with the election by loudly condemning Catholic politicians who support Roe vs. Wade. Three |
states, one being New Mexico, went for Bush because of Benedict’s intervention–enough to determine the election. Consider how their elevating Opus Dei to prominence resulted in its vast influence on the Supreme Court along with the American press. Benedict’s handpicked hierarchy in the Americas and Europe follow closely its fascist “values.” The most recent president of the Episcopal conference, the archbishop of LA, is himself a member of Opus Dei. Such bishops demonstrate little reluctance to interfere in presidential elections or cases before Congress or the Supreme Court. |
Consider also the Catholic rich man’s club called Napa Institute that meets annually gathering super rich right wingers to cheer on speakers like Steve Bannon and his pal Cardinal Burke and others like them. We know the gods whom Steve Bannon worships. Consider the role of Leo Leonardo in choosing all of | Handpicked for referral to the Supreme Court by Opus Dei operative Leonardo Leo: (L-R Top): justices Neil Gorsuch, John Roberts, Samuel Alito, (Bottom) Brett Kavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett. Wikimedia Commons. |
the current far right wing extremist Supreme Court judges. The
role that he and other Opus Dei operatives play in the media currently constitutes gaslighting occurring around the telling of Benedict’s story. Gaslighting is a kind of mythology-making, or abuse by lying. Following Benedict’s death last week, a niagara of saccharine sentimentalism is flooding much Catholic and secular media serving to cover up his actions as chief inquisitor and pope. Carl Jung warns that sentimentalism and violence are invariably companions. |
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See Matthew Fox, The Pope’s War: Why Ratzinger’s Secret Crusade Has Imperiled the Church and How It Can Be Saved, pp. 112-124, 127ff. Banner Image: Rise of fascism in the U.S.: Proud Boys speak up for former Chilean strongman Pinochet in a 2019 rally; this week, the NYPD gave Proud Boys free subway rides to protest a drag queen event. Photo by Anthony Crider on Flickr. |
Queries for Contemplation Do you think fascism and the teachings of Jesus are compatible? Why or why not? |
Responses are welcomed. To add your comment, please click HERE
to go to our website and scroll down to the Comments field. |
The Pope's War: Why Ratzinger's Secret Crusade Has Imperiled
the Church and How It Can Be Saved
The Pope’s War offers a provocative look at three decades of corruption in the Catholic Church, focusing on Josef Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI. The final section in the book focuses on birthing a truly catholic christianity.
"This book should be read by everybody, not only for its ferocious courage, but also for its vision for what needs to be saved
from the destructive forces that threaten authentic Christianity." ~ Andrew Harvey, author of The Hope. “In the gripping The Pope’s War, Matthew Fox takes an unwavering look at the layers of corruption in the Catholic Church, holding moral truth against power.” — Jason Berry, author of Vows of Silence: The Abuse of
Power in the Papacy of John Paul II | |
See Matthew Fox's full calendar HERE |
Join Matthew Fox as the Center for Contemporary Mysticism hosts him in a Conversation on “Creation Spirituality: Birthing a New World.” Sunday, January 8, 2023, 11 am PT
(UTC/GMT-7). Register HERE. Join Matthew Fox at the virtual Our Lady of the Prairie retreat, offering a discussion and Q&A on “Naming the Unnameable: 89 Wonderful and Useful Names for God…Including the Unnameable
God.” Thursday, January 19, 4:00pm-6:00pm PT. Register HERE. Creation Spirituality Conversations |
In a podcast episode with the Earth and Spirit Center, Matthew Fox reflects on how creation-centered spirituality, and the marriage of the divine feminine and sacred masculine, can help us respond with hope
to the troubles of our apocalyptic times. Listen HERE. | |
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