I like John Wright. I also like Hilaire Belloc, Ann Bernhardt, and Mundabor. They may not like being put in the same group, but all of them are unapologetically Catholic (Roman) and I prefer my coffee and wine neat. (I would have included Alte in this group, but she is a wise young woman, and, given where she lives, blogs not. Pray for her and the faithful in Bavaria: for the Orcish are many among the new migrants Merkel has let in)

Not diluted. And this is John Wright on the Pope’s comments, which I hope I got the correct transcript for.

Well the news today, at least some of the news outlets (Catholic Talk Radio) are reporting what the Pope ACTUALLY said, and, as predicted, it was a logical, nuanced, and pastoral statement which the press utterly misreported, misquoted, and lied about.

And those of you who believed the press now know not to.

I am not sure if John reads this, but if any Catholic can point me to a more correct transcription I’ll change it — but again, I’m travelling most of this day, so it may be tonight. I took the transcript I used from Vox Day’s site and the same thread John is commenting on.

This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgement before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.

I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favour of one against another. For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?

(1 Corinthians 4:1-7 ESV)

Some would say that we cannot judge. We should not judge. And it is true that we judge on incomplete and imperfect facts.

And here there is a principle which is, in my mind, the core of reformation theology. Do not go beyond that which is written. Speculate a bit, but that is not teaching. Stay close to the scriptures. Add not to them: remove not from them.

I have read the Bible as boy and man. I don’t know how many times. And scripture still can pierce and cause you to reconsider.

So… the title of the last post was rhetoric. I don’t know the state of anyone’s soul: not even my own. That is the role of God.

What we can say — apart from rhetoric is not exegesis — is that when we add the prophecies and mystics and habits and traditions then rely on them we have a tendency to error. All of us.

And we all need to return, again and again, to the cross. This the table of our Lord should do. And if it does not, then pare back the liturgy. Pare it back until Christ alone is proclaimed. Your titles, credentials and traditions are fungible. The cross is not.

UPDATE.
I think I have read the correct transcript of Francis’ discussion. Most of the previous discussion was around a pedophilic scandal, and the Pope firstly acknowledged that Benedict had exhausted himself cleaning these issues up, and then the question of immigration came up. Given the sequence of questions, Francis did well to be that diplomatic.

I would have used rhetoric. And caused a bigger explosion.