J’accuse! (Emile Zola, article in L’ Aurore, January 13th, 1898)

Like Zola, I accuse the Catholic Church’s “government,” the Bergoglio administration, in this essay.

The below is my opinion.

Jorge Mario Bergoglio, known as “Pope” Francis, was a polarizing figure within the Catholic Church, with a segment of the faithful – including this one – arguing that his papacy is illegitimate. This contention arises from heretical and apostate actions and teachings, which deviate significantly from traditional Catholic doctrine.

One of the central issues is Bergoglio’s approach to doctrinal matters, which reflects a departure from established Church teachings. His apostolic exhortation “Amoris Laetitia” is a key example. This document, which addresses the pastoral care of families, is allowing for the possibility of divorced and remarried Catholics to receive the Eucharist without an annulment. This interpretation undermines the Church’s teaching on the indissolubility of marriage, a sacrament that has been a cornerstone of Catholic doctrine for centuries. By introducing ambiguity into this teaching, Bergoglio is opening the door to heretical practices that contradict the Church’s understanding of marriage and the Eucharist.

Furthermore, Bergoglio’s emphasis on interfaith dialogue and inclusivity is apostasy. His efforts to engage with leaders of other religions and his participation in interfaith ceremonies are compromising the Catholic Church’s claim to be the one true faith. For instance, his statements suggesting that salvation can be found outside the Church are contradicting the traditional Catholic belief in “extra Ecclesiam nulla salus” (outside the Church there is no salvation). This misguided openness to other faiths is a dilution of Catholic doctrine, potentially leading the faithful away from the core tenets of their faith.

Bergoglio’s focus on social issues, such as climate change, economic inequality, and migration, has also been a point of contention. While these issues are undeniably important, Bergoglio’s emphasis on them reflects a shift towards a more secular agenda. This focus is a detraction from the Church’s primary mission as a spiritual authority, aligning more closely with contemporary political and social ideologies than with traditional Catholic teachings. By prioritizing these issues, Bergoglio is neglecting the Church’s role in upholding and spreading its doctrinal and moral teachings.

Additionally, Bergoglio’s approach to moral and ethical issues, such as his more lenient stance on homosexuality and his calls for a more inclusive Church, is a departure from traditional Catholic values. His statements advocating for a more welcoming attitude towards LGBTQ+ individuals, while seen as compassionate by many, challenge the Church’s teachings on morality and sin. This shift towards a more progressive stance on moral issues is further evidence of heretical tendencies within Bergoglio’s papacy.

The argument that Bergoglio’s papacy is illegitimate is rooted in his actions and teachings as heretical and apostate. By deviating from traditional Catholic doctrine and embracing a more inclusive and secular approach, Bergoglio is challenging the very foundations of the Catholic faith.

Furthermore, Bergoglio’s approach to the traditional Latin Mass has become a flashpoint for controversy, with his actions being a direct challenge to the Church’s liturgical heritage. The issuance of the motu proprio “Traditionis Custodes” in 2021 marked a significant shift in the Church’s stance on the Latin Mass, which had mostly been freely permitted under Pope Benedict XVI’s “Summorum Pontificum.” Benedict’s document had recognized the Latin Mass as an important part of the Church’s liturgical life, allowing greater freedom for its celebration and acknowledging the desires of those faithful who found spiritual nourishment in its solemnity and historical continuity.

In contrast, Bergoglio’s “Traditionis Custodes” imposed new restrictions, requiring bishops to approve the celebration of the Latin Mass and limiting its occurrence in parish churches. This move was an attempt to curtail the growth and influence of communities devoted to the Latin Mass, which they view as a bastion of orthodoxy and reverence in worship. By restricting access to the Latin Mass, Bergoglio is not only marginalizing a significant segment of the Catholic faithful but also undermining a liturgical tradition that has been a cornerstone of Catholic identity for centuries.

The promotion of the “Novus Ordo,” or the Mass of Paul VI, is emblematic of a broader modernist agenda within Bergoglio’s papacy. The Novus Ordo, introduced after the Second Vatican Council, was intended to make the liturgy more accessible and participatory. However, it represents a departure from the sacredness and reverence of the traditional liturgy, with its simplified rites and vernacular language diluting the spiritual depth and doctrinal integrity of the Mass.

This push towards the Novus Ordo is an embrace of modernist tendencies that prioritize contemporary relevance over historical continuity and doctrinal fidelity. Bergoglio’s actions reflect a broader pattern of undermining traditional Catholic practices and teachings, leading to heresy and apostasy. By sidelining the Latin Mass, Bergoglio is not only alienating a devoted segment of the faithful but also eroding the rich liturgical heritage that has sustained the Church through centuries of spiritual and doctrinal challenges.

Finally, the controversy surrounding Bergoglio’s papacy is significantly amplified by the tensions with His Excellency, Most Revered Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, whose outspoken criticism has brought to light serious allegations regarding the Church’s handling of sexual abuse cases. Viganò, a former Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, has been a vocal critic of Bergoglio, particularly in relation to the case of former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. In a series of explosive public letters, Viganò accused Bergoglio of being complicit in covering up allegations of sexual misconduct against McCarrick, asserting that Bergoglio was aware of McCarrick’s actions yet chose to lift sanctions previously imposed on him by Pope Benedict XVI.

Viganò’s accusations were not only a direct challenge to Bergoglio’s leadership but also a call for accountability at the highest levels of the Church. By demanding Bergoglio’s resignation, Viganò positioned himself as a whistleblower seeking to expose what he perceived as systemic corruption and moral failure within the Church’s hierarchy. His claims resonated with many who were frustrated by the Church’s handling of abuse cases and who saw Viganò as a courageous figure willing to speak truth to power.

In response to these allegations, Viganò faced significant backlash from Bergoglio and his henchmen. This campaign against Viganò is an attempt to discredit and silence him, thereby suppressing dissent and preventing further scrutiny of the Church’s internal affairs. The treatment of Viganò exemplifies a broader pattern of injustice and authoritarianism within Bergoglio’s administration, where dissenting voices are marginalized or silenced rather than engaged with constructively.

This situation has further polarized the Church, with Viganò essentially rising to a martyr for truth and transparency. The controversy highlights the deep divisions within the Church, as well as the challenges Bergoglio faces in addressing the legacy of abuse and restoring trust among the faithful. The handling of the Viganò affair underscores a lack of accountability and transparency in Bergoglio’s papacy, further undermining its legitimacy and the tendencies of heresy and apostasy.

Conclusion

The argument that Bergoglio’s papacy is illegitimate is deeply rooted in the fact that his actions and teachings represent a significant departure from traditional Catholic doctrine. Bergoglio’s approach is heretical and apostate, challenging the very foundations of the Catholic faith that have been upheld for centuries.

Central to this argument is that Bergoglio’s papacy has embraced a more inclusive and secular approach, which dilutes the doctrinal purity and spiritual authority of the Church. His emphasis on pastoral care and inclusivity, is a shift away from the Church’s historical emphasis on doctrinal clarity and moral absolutes. This is evident in his handling of issues such as the reception of the Eucharist by divorced and remarried Catholics, interfaith dialogue, and the Church’s stance on social issues like climate change and economic inequality.

By prioritizing inclusivity and dialogue, Bergoglio was compromising the Church’s teachings on key moral and theological issues. For instance, his openness to dialogue with other religions and his statements suggesting a shared path to salvation is undermining the Church’s claim to be the one true faith. Similarly, his focus on social justice issues was aligning the Church more closely with secular ideologies, at the expense of its spiritual mission.

These deviations from traditional doctrine have led to heresy and apostasy. Bergoglio’s papacy represents a rupture with the Church’s past.

However, the debate over Bergoglio’s papacy underscores the deep divisions within the Church regarding its direction and future. On one side are those who see his approach as a necessary evolution of the Church’s mission, while on the other are those – including the author – who fear that it represents a dangerous departure from the faith’s core principles. These divisions reflect broader tensions between tradition and reform, continuity and change, that have long been part of the Church’s history.

While the argument that Bergoglio’s papacy is illegitimate is contentious and not universally accepted, it highlights the ongoing struggle within the Church to balance tradition with the need for renewal and adaptation. This debate is indicative of the broader challenges facing the Church as it seeks to remain relevant and faithful to its mission in an increasingly complex and diverse world.