Setting The Record Straight

In the 1950s and the 1960s liberation theology was practiced throughout Latin American and beyond. What happened? Saint Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI happened ! Listen to their powerful words spoken as they dismantled Liberation Theology. The Church experienced a reformation once again     Liberation theology was is (or was) a synthesis of Catholic Theology and Marxist  socio-economic philosophy that emphasizes  concern for the poor and the political liberation for oppressed classes. That may sound attractive but the problem was  that its practitioners emphasized the  " Preferential option for the poor " over the true mission of the Church which is the more encompassing liberation of mankind’s fallen nature, from sin, though the sacraments.

Charming tales of the early Church can be gleaned from what is left of the Secret Archives of the Vatican. The precious Archives were under constant danger of being stolen or sacked. Some times the Popes had to flee with them on a mule train as is told in the extant “Book Of Mules and Other Conveniences For The Trip Of Paul III To Other Places”. Along the way Chuck relates the story of “Saint Francis and The Wolf of Gubbio”. 

Halloween is Catholic. Halloween was instituted by the Catholic Church despite the popular mis-historical theories of its origin.  Halloween is a slang word for All Hallows Eve. In other words Halloween is the Vigil of All Saints Day, a very ancient Catholic Holy Day that originally honored Catholic Martyrs.  In recent centuries our Halloween rituals have become debased by a secular overlay of horror movies and a tradition of destructive behavior. This podcast sets the record straight and concludes with a suggestion of how our parishes might revive the authentic devotional heart of Halloween.

There is lots of juicy gossip about the “Secret Archives” of the Vatican. Do they exist? If they do exist what scandalous stories are being concealed by the Catholic Church in these hidden archives? Who gets to see them? Do responsible historians have access? Maybe this is one more coverup by the Catholic hierarchy. Listen to a rambling reflection on this subject. This is Part 1. A following Podcast will reveal some surprises about what is stored in the Vatican.

Those that would leave the Catholic Church because of the current abuse scandal should consider that, in a way, their souls are also their children. Ideally our souls and our children live on after our deaths. What would our child-soul’s future life be like after being denied the sacraments? Even a sinful priest coveys valid sacraments. One cannot leave the priests and yet retain access to God’s real gift of the sacraments of the Catholic Church. This a an urgent message to those that feel like leaving the Catholic Church because of the current abuse scandal and coverup. Going beyond that message this two part podcast uses forgotten history to explain how such sinful acts could occur. This is not a defense. It is a dissection, an brief attempt to use authentic but. largely unknown history to reveal some of the root causes for these sins that have marred the reputation if the Catholic clergy.