Let's defend the Truth

A)  The text of the speech by J.M.Bergoglio:

““….. It is a jubilee year — and I say this remembering our salvation history — for converting, so that our heart may become larger, more generous, more a child of God, with more love. I’ll tell you one thing: if this wish, if the Jubilee does not touch the pocket, it is not a true jubilee. Do you understand? This is in the Bible!…. This happens today too. In the Office of Papal Charities so many letters are received containing a little money: “this is a part of my wages in order to help others”. This is beautiful; helping others, charitable institutions, hospitals, rest homes… This lesson is always timely. How many families there are on the street, victims of profiteering. Please let us pray, that in this Jubilee Year the Lord remove from every heart this desire to have more, to exploit. That we may return to being generous, great…” (General Audience, Saint Peter’s Square Wednesday, 10 February 2016)

B) References to Scriptures:

“No one can be the slave of two masters: he will either hate the first and love the second, or be attached to the first and despise the second. You cannot be the slave both of God and of money” (Mat 6:24)

“Alas for you, blind guides! You say, “If anyone swears by the Temple, it has no force; but anyone who swears by the gold of the Temple is bound.” Fools and blind! For which is of greater value, the gold or the Temple that makes the gold sacred? Again, “If anyone swears by the altar it has no force; but anyone who swears by the offering on the altar, is bound.” You blind men! For which is of greater worth, the offering or the altar that makes the offering sacred?” (Mat 23:16-19)

C) Comment:

Bergoglio says: “if the jubilee does not touch the pockets, it is not a true jubilee. Do you understand?“. We understand. Everyone understood even too well.

“If the jubilee does not touch the pockets it is not a jubilee”. The faithful are clearly invited to put their hands in their wallet and fork out. The more you pay out, the more you will get the mercy so dear to Bergoglio.

On one side it is understandable that the church is supported by the offering of its own faithful, which contribute to the sustenance of their ministers and to satisfy the needs of the whole community. But, on the other side, it cannot be accepted that the jubilee of mercy cannot be a true Jubilee if one does not put his hand to his pocket. You can not make people believe that the Jubilee, to be true, it has to pass through the pockets of the faithful. You can not tie mercy to the outlay of money. Mercy can not be bought. Otherwise we return to the worst inheritance of the past: the sale of indulgences, one of the main reasons that led Lutherans to separate from Catholics and to divide Christians.

Then, Bergoglio contradicts himself again. On one side he wants to unite Lutherans sacrificing and selling off some dogmas of the Catholic faith, on the other he does not make a problem of repeating the same mistakes that led to the division. Well said Jesus, when he stated: “No one can serve two masters: for either he will hate one and will love the other, or will prefer one and will despise the other: You cannot serve both God and mammon” (Mt 6,24). Bergoglio for sure does not serve the true Universal God, he does not serve Christ, he does not serve the Holy Spirit. Bergoglio serves the spirit of the one who is his master.

Then Bergoglio says: “In the apostolic almonry arrive many letters with a bit of money … And this is nice …”. Is this the beauty of the Jubilee ?!

Finally, Bergoglio concludes by saying, for those who did not understand well: “That you return to be generous”. Have we understood? Yes, we have understood well!

Jesus said to the Pharisees: “Woe to you, blind guides, that teach: «Is someone swears by the Temple he isn’t bound by his vow; but he swears by the gold of the Temple he is bound». You blind fools: which is more important, the gold or the Temple which makes the gold holy? And yet you say: « Is someone swears by the altar, he isn’t bound by his vow; but he swears by the gift of the altar he is bound». How blind you are! which is more important, the gift or the altar which makes the gift holy?” (Cfr. Mt 23). The true essence and substance of the jubilee of the mercy of Bergoglio is manifest.