UPDATE: 21 Oct 22: Check this out. Hilarious and sad at the same time. HERE
Originally Published on: Oct 19, 2022
While bad news is unpleasant, and often we do well to sidestep the avalanche that hurtles at us everyday, sometimes we ought to know what’s going on. In the case of bad news in the Church, the same applies because we need to know for which things to make acts of reparation. Offenses to the Immaculate Heart of Our Lady, for example, call for acts of reparation.
I read at National Catholic Register about someone appointed by Archbp. Paglia to the Pontifical Academy for Life. You will recall that Paglia has for some time presided over the dismantling of pretty much everything Pope St. John Paul II taught and did regarding the family and sanctity of life. Paglia, as Bishop of Terni, commissioned for the apse of their cathedral – not exactly inconspicuous – a fresco of what can only be described as a homoerotic scrum featuring himself, visible in a zucchetto and not much else. I won’t post an image.
Now for the NCReg news:
Pontifical Academy for Life Appoints Pro-Abortion Atheist Member
Mariana Mazzucato joins a growing list of members who hold views antithetical to the Catholic Church.VATICAN CITY — The Pontifical Academy for Life has appointed to its list of full members a highly influential atheist economist who supports legalized abortion and whose views on the economy have in part been praised by Pope Francis.
Mariana Mazzucato, who teaches the Economics of Innovation and Public Value at University College London and is a member of the World Economic Forum, was appointed on Saturday by Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, president of the academy, and Msgr. Renzo Pegoraro, its chancellor.
[…]
I was going to stop here and remand you to the article. But then I thought, it might be that they won’t click over. They should at least see what this person stands for. Just a little more! But then, there’s this too, and this… and this….
[…]
Mazzucato is one of 14 new ordinary members appointed to the academy. Others include Congolese-born Jean Marie Okwo-Bele, former director of the department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals of the World Health Organization (2004-2017) and now director on the board of trustees of the International Vaccine Institute; Muslim Mosaad Helaly Saad Al-Din, professor of Islamic jurisprudence at Al-Azhar University; and professor Roberto Dell’Oro, formerly a corresponding academician who serves as director of the Bioethics Institute at Loyola Marymount University.
The pontifical academy under Archbishop Paglia has drawn controversy before for its choice of members. In 2017, it appointed a pro-abortion theologian to its ranks, along with choosing for the first time non-Catholic members.
Best known in her field for advocating more extensive state involvement with the private sector to drive innovation, Mazzucato is reportedly “admired by Bill Gates,” [Who wants us all eating crickets. And don’t mean the really bad liturgist.] widely consulted by governments worldwide, and has sought to “save capitalism” by trying, among other approaches, to make it more socially inclusive.
She has also made no secret of her sympathies for a right to abortion. In June, after the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe .v Wade, Mazzucato tweeted “so good!” in response to a rant by liberal commentator Ana Kasparian, who derided Christians for “dictating” how she should live her life when it comes to abortion and contraception.
In 2016, Mazzucato tweeted, “As an atheist, never thought I would love a Pope this much. What a star!” [Indeed.] in reference to two comments the Pope had made — when he suggested Donald Trump was not a Christian in 2016, and his speech a year earlier at the U.N. when he criticized the global banking system, warned about climate change and defended a “right to environment.”
In the U.S., Mazzucato is reportedly consulted by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., while in Europe her approach to public policy serves as the foundation of the European Union’s €100 billion ($98 billion) research and innovation program.
Between 2015 and 2016, Mazzucato was a member of the British Labour Party’s Economic Advisory Committee, convened by Labour’s hard-left leaders at the time, Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell. In 2017, she also advised the U.K.’s Conservative government on industrial policy, including putting the U.K. at the forefront of the AI and data revolution.
In 2013, she wrote her first book, The Entrepreneurial State: Debunking Public vs. Private Sector Myths, in which she championed the role of state funding in biotech, pharmaceuticals and clean technology. She has also worked with NASA in providing an analysis on the emerging ‘economy’ in space.
In March 2020, as the COVID-19 emergency was just beginning in the West, Pope Francis praised Mazzucato for her 2018 book The Value of Everything: Making and Taking in the Global Economy, in which the economist calls on wealth creators to re-prioritize “value” over “price.” The Pope said he believed her vision for the economy “can help to think about the future.” [Is a picture emerging? Pentin did his homework.]
In response, Mazzucato tweeted that she was “deeply honored” that the Pope had read her book and that “he agrees” that the future “must see this re-prioritization.”
The Vatican has tapped Mazzucato before: Last year, she was among the speakers at a conference hosted by the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences that proposed universal basic income, green politics and “zero-COVID” as viable policies. The speakers, many of whose views were diametrically opposed to Catholic Church teaching, discussed how denying the “very existence” of the COVID-19 virus and the “disastrous consequences” that followed could set a similar precedent for an “exacerbated climate breakdown, the migration crisis, the lack of intergenerational solidarity and intensified competitiveness over shrinking resources.”
Mazzucato, who is chairwoman of the World Health Organization’s Council on the Economics of Health for All and a former member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on the Economics of Innovation, spoke on the topic: “What responsibility do political leaders have for healing ‘patient’ Europe?”
The Italian-American economist has close ties to the World Economic Forum, an international non-governmental and lobbying organization funded by many of the world’s wealthiest companies and which holds an annual meeting with politicians and other influential decision-makers in Davos, Switzerland.
In a recent interview which forms part of a new book by forum founder Klaus Schwab, Mazzucato believes the public sector has a bigger role to play in working with the private sector to address many of the issues facing society — a view contrary to many free-market advocates who argue for less government interference. [Big government control of the private sector… redistribution of wealth to a forcibly decreased population, also redistributed population… universal jab… abortion and contraception galore… ]
The Register asked the academy for comment on the appointment given Mazzucato’s views but it had not responded by press time.
Mazzucato’s appointment comes ahead of the academy’s next assembly, set for Feb. 20-22, 2023, on the theme “Converging on the Person: Emerging Technologies for the Common Good.”
The academy said the topic is of “great relevance” given the way the world is “profoundly changing before our eyes, a world where ethical reflection that speaks to women and men in search of meaning and hope for their lives is more necessary than ever.”
Said Archbishop Paglia and Msgr. Pegoraro, “In this sense, it is important that the Pontifical Academy for Life include women and men with expertise in various disciplines and from different backgrounds, for a constant and fruitful interdisciplinary, intercultural and interreligious dialogue.”
I bring this full circle with the suggestion that acts of reparation should be made. It seems to me that this sort of appointment, and others besides, would be an implicit insult to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
O blessed Virgin, Mother of God, look down in mercy from Heaven, where thou art enthroned as Queen, upon me, a miserable sinner, thine unworthy servant. Although I know full well my own unworthiness, yet in order to atone for the offenses that are done to thee by impious and blasphemous tongues, from the depths of my heart I praise and extol thee as the purest, the fairest, the holiest creature of all God’s handiwork. I bless thy holy Name, I praise thine exalted privilege of being truly Mother of God, ever Virgin, conceived without stain of sin, Co-Redemptrix of the human race. I bless the Eternal Father who chose thee in an especial way for His daughter; I bless the Word Incarnate who took upon Himself our nature in thy bosom and so made thee His Mother; I bless the Holy Spirit who took thee as His bride. All honor, praise and thanksgiving to the ever-blessed Trinity who predestined thee and loved thee so exceedingly from all eternity as to exalt thee above all creatures to the most sublime heights. O Virgin, holy and merciful, obtain for all who offend thee the grace of repentance, and graciously accept this poor act of homage from me thy servant, obtaining likewise for me from thy divine Son the pardon and remission of all my sins. Amen.
Would you consider the First Saturday devotion?
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While this looks bad, it does not, except in a very technical sense of the word, look like news.
I refuse to be troubled by the fact that something that is going to the dogs anyway is going to the dogs.
How much longer, Lord?
I suppose the real reason these people want us to eat crickets is so that said crickets can no longer provide the background serenade when their unbelievably uninteresting speeches are finished.
What troubles me is even if we get a good pope at the next conclave, the Vatican is now so embedded with these people that it will be an uphill battle to clean house. Similar to the problem Trump had when he took over the White House as the Obama people had so infiltrated the FBI and other organizations that “draining the swamp” was almost impossible. Once the well has been poisoned it takes a lot time to get it clean again.
But Father! Surely everyone who loves and adores and thinks that VII is the fluffiest and most specialist (and onliest real Council) is also staunchly pro-life, right? For what did the Council Fathers declare on this topic? That maybe it’s okay in certain circumstances, or if someone is really inconvenienced, or someone just really doesn’t feel like being responsible right now? No.
“Life must be safeguarded with extreme care from conception; abortion and infanticide are abominable crimes.” (Gaudium et spes 51) You can’t have the fluffy, open-the-windows-to-the-world parts and ignore something like this.
How can they justify this? I suppose they would appoint a satanist if the person were a nobel prize winner in economics since they value the secular over the spiritual.
I hope it’s okay to make copies of the prayer of reparation to use as we pray outside Planned Parenthood for the remainder of the fall 40 Days for Life campaign.
Of course, I won’t limit praying it to those hours only!
Isn’t the point of Pontifical Academy to do theological work? It strikes me as missing from the analysis the CDF Instruction Donum Veritatis, on the Ecclesial Vocation of the Theologian (1990).
“8. Since the object of theology is the Truth which is the living God and His plan for salvation revealed in Jesus Christ, the theologian is called to deepen his own life of faith and continuously unite his scientific research with prayer.(4) In this way, he will become more open to the “supernatural sense of faith” upon which he depends, and it will appear to him as a sure rule for guiding his reflections and helping him assess the correctness of his conclusions.”
“9. … The commitment to theology requires a spiritual effort to grow in virtue and holiness.”
“11. Never forgetting that he is also a member of the People of God, the theologian must foster respect far them and be committed to offering them a teaching which in no way does harm to the doctrine of the faith. …”
“38. Finally, argumentation appealing to the obligation to follow one’s own conscience cannot legitimate dissent. This is true, first of all, because conscience illumines the practical judgment about a decision to make, while here we are concerned with the truth of a doctrinal pronouncement. This is furthermore the case because while the theologian, like every believer, must follow his conscience, he is also obliged to form it. Conscience is not an independent and infallible faculty. It is an act of moral judgement regarding a responsible choice. A right conscience is one duly illumined by faith and by the objective moral law and it presupposes, as well, the uprightness of the will in the pursuit of the true good.
“(38.cont.) The right conscience of the Catholic theologian presumes not only faith in the Word of God whose riches he must explore, but also love for the Church from whom he receives his mission, and respect for her divinely assisted Magisterium. …”
Given the above, it is unclear how the church benefits from inviting non-Catholics to participate in such groups, let alone atheists and those who so publicly dissent from settled teaching.
And officials wonder why the Church is losing the young? What is there for them that the world does not already offer? If the Church embraces the worldview and no longer holds true to Truth, then why both being a member?
The young today are NOT dumb. They have access to so much information that even a generation ago did not have. Hypocrisy, lies, deceit, straying from the truth; these are ALL very easy to see today.
The young search for truth, beauty and something to aspire/achieve. The traditional church teachings offer ALL of that. Abandoning these teachings and surrounding yourselves with those who wish to destroy you sends what message, exactly?
“Fill the earth and subdue it.” This is a commandment from God. It doesn’t mean we destroy the earth, but it also doesn’t mean we worship it either. This whole business with climate religion, and it is a religion to them, is rearing it’s head because there is a vacuum of knowledge and truth. The Church is not doing it’s job of teaching Truth.
If people were taught that we are stewards of God’s creation vs the creation is our God, then there would be a proper understanding of how to approach our use of God’s gifts.
The true answer is this pontificate has lost it’s way. It has surrounded itself with the zeitgeist and reeks of an attempt to grab onto an idea that died decades ago.
Yes, reparation! Here is a little prayer called “chaplet of the Incarnation” for children. Please consider praying with your kids. Console our Blessed Mother’s Heart…
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DWEJ4McXKtA
I presume it won’t be long before the 2nd part of the message of Our Lady of Akita is fulfilled. Time for all to go to confession frequently lest we be caught without oil in our lamp when the Bridegroom arrives.
Without even getting into Ms. Mazzucato’s atheism, I don’t know whether to laugh or cry at the absurdity of a pro-abortion person who decried the Dobbs decision being appointed to the “Pontifical Academy for Life.” I have to almost laugh if Pope Francis and Abp. Paglia are now just trolling faithful Catholics now. But I have to almost cry when I remember the banners that St . Maximilian Kolbe saw in Rome in 1917: “Satan must reign in the Vatican. The pope will be his slave.” Are we there yet?
Maybe now????
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
At some point, there must be an uprising from the flock, demanding this desecration of the Church to stop.
What would be the reaction if they had appointed Dr. Bernard Nathanson (after his Catholic conversion), Justices Anton Scalia and Clarence Thomas, along with Alito and Joseph Scheidler? Men who knew the horror of abortion and men who know the law.
I’ve heard about a crisis in the Church, but its clearly far worse than we knew.
I’ve been reading Melonis Saint Gallen book this afternoon. Chapter 15 Patience tells you all you need to know about the extension of the “walking together”. If he doesn’t get the desired result there will be another extension. Maybe many will comply by sheer exhaustion. Patience is their game, now what do we do aside from praying? I just feel like crying.
It’s hard to know what to say about it anymore. If you say the truth as you see it you’re being “negative”. If you say the sunshiny thing you’re just blowing smoke and probably trying to convince yourself. Things are so bad it’s like a negative affirmation of the reason for faith, things aren’t just neutral, they’re evil. Can God be very far away? I’m just throwing this out there, but wondering if others are going through a dark night. Maybe that’s expected in such rotten times. It’s awful, just the same. But the distance from God feels so deep even that makes it seem like God is near.
Last year, she was among the speakers at a conference hosted by the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences that proposed universal basic income, green politics and “zero-COVID” as viable policies. The speakers, many of whose views were diametrically opposed to Catholic Church teaching, discussed how denying the “very existence” of the COVID-19 virus and the “disastrous consequences” that followed
Wait: so, she is such a meanie that she approves a “zero-COVID policy”, i.e. to make the world wholly free of the darling little Covid virus, willing to perpetrate horrors against it and deny the Earth of its very existence, and yet at the very same time she is horrified at the idea of those who “deny the very existence of” the virus. Hmmm.
It is clear that she is a darling of all the worst movements and players and idealogues who constitute the elites. What is still unclear is whether she (still) actually believes the claptrap that is peddled by the left, or if she now (like Hardcastle, Frost, and Withers) knows the real nihilism behind the nattering, and is (like the true decision-makers) just in it for power and hatred of the good. Paglia, I imagine, is in the latter group.
Isn’t the point of Pontifical Academy to do theological work?
Ever since Francis eviscerated the John Paul II Institute, using Paglia as his henchman, he has been doing nothing but slapping JPII in the face with its ongoing atrocities of appointments and trial balloons of “loosening” the teaching against contraception – and now (presumably) abortion.
What troubles me is even if we get a good pope at the next conclave, the Vatican is now so embedded with these people that it will be an uphill battle to clean house.
True. I believe the answer would be this: One by one, gather each one of these for an important private meeting with the (new, holy) pope. In that meeting, the pope informs him that he (the pope) wants him to take on an important task in (variously: Ghana, Mozambique, Indonesia, New Guinea, Guyana, etc), and ask if he will serve (without giving any details). Wait for his spluttering. Ask again: will you serve? When he finally submits and says yes, the pope tells him: good, John here has all the details, and an expense account for you. Start working the moment your feet hit the ground. John and 2 more facilitator deacons (read: former marines who chew nails for breakfast) round up the clerical wreckovator, and hustle him off with no contact with anyone else. They take his cell phone and dump it in the Tiber. They get him to the foreign location, inform him that his duty is to be a parish priest, and force him to do the real work of a parish priest or he doesn’t eat.
At a pop, the pope has created 2 thousand missionary priests who struggle to get enough food for a day, because (1) it’s the hinterland, and (2) they have a nanny who makes them be REAL priests to get anything. The cost of sending these guys out is a pittance compared to the savings in NOT having them drain the Vatican (and chanceries) for horrid conferences and high-hog living.
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What in the name of hell is wrong with our prelates???
Oh, I think I answered my own question.
Every day it appears that apostasy is on the rise at the highest levels of the Church- it feels like the end could be near-how much more can we take?
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