Introductory Note: * A Heretic is a baptized person who rejects an authoritative teaching of the Roman Catholic Church.  A schismatic is a person who refuses communion with a true Pope or refuses communion with true Catholics.  An apostate is a person who rejects the Christian faith completely.  All heretics, schismatics and apostates sever themselves from the Catholic Church automatically (Pius XII, Mystici Corporis, June 29, 1943).  Therefore, if one is a heretic he is not a Catholic (Pope Leo XIII, Satis Cognitum, June 29, 1896).  And most heretics convince themselves that they are not denying any dogma when they actually are.  The Heresy of the Week changes every Friday. 

For this Week (4/15/05):

Let’s look again at what “Cardinal” Ratzinger believes

There is some talk now that the Novus Ordo “Cardinals” will elect “Cardinal” Ratzinger in the next conclave.  Let’s look again at what this apostate actually believes to show that neither he nor any of the other Novus Ordo “Cardinals” would be a validly elected Pope, but another Antipope.

“CARDINAL” RATZINGER HOLDS THAT IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST

At a press conference after the document Dominus Iesus was released, Ratzinger stated:

“[W]e are in agreement that a Jew, and this is true for believers of other religions, does not need to know or acknowledge Christ as the Son of God in order to be saved, if there are insurmountable impediments, of which he is not blameworthy, to preclude it.” (Zenit news story, “Are Believers of Other Religions Saved?”, Sept. 5, 2000).

This is a clear rejection of Catholic dogma.  It proves that Ratzinger is not even remotely Catholic. 

Pope Eugene IV, Council of Florence, Sess. 8, Nov. 22, 1439, ex cathedra: Whoever wishes to be saved, needs above all to hold the Catholic faith; unless each one preserves this whole and inviolate, he will without a doubt perish in eternity.– But the Catholic faith is this, that we worship one God in the Trinity, and the Trinity in unity…  Therefore let him who wishes to be saved, think thus concerning the Trinity.

     “But it is necessary for eternal salvation that he faithfully believe also in the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ...the Son of God is God and man... This is the Catholic faith; unless each one believes this faithfully and firmly, he cannot be saved.”

RATZINGER FULLY FAVORS ECUMENISM AND THE DEVIL WORSHIPPING ECUMENICAL CEREMONY AT ASSISI

The train that took the false religious leaders from the Vatican to Assisi was described by Ratzinger as “a symbol of our pilgrimage in history… Are we not all, perhaps, passengers on the same train?... Is not the fact that the train chose as its destiny peace and justice, and the reconciliation of peoples and religions, a great inspiration and, at the same time, a splendid sign of hope?” (Zenit news report, Feb. 21, 2002.)

So Ratzinger is in favor of the false ecumenical apostate gathering at Assisi.  He is an apostate according to the teaching of the Magisterium of Pope Pius XI.  Pius XI teaches that all who favor such gatherings have completely rejected the Catholic Faith.

Pope Pius XI, Mortalium Animos (# 2), Jan. 6, 1928:

“For which reason conventions, meetings and addresses are frequently arranged by these persons, at which a large number of listeners are present, and at which all without distinction are invited to join in the discussion, both infidels of every kind, and Christians, even those who have unhappily fallen away from Christ or who with obstinacy and pertinacity deny His divine nature and mission.  Certainly such attempts can nowise be approved by Catholics, founded as they are on that false opinion which considers all religions to be more or less good and praiseworthy, since they all in different ways manifest and signify that sense which is inborn in us all, and by which we are led to God and the obedient acknowledgement His rule.  Not only are those who hold this opinion in error and deceived, but also in distorting the idea of true religion they reject it, and little by little, turn aside to naturalism and atheism, as it is called; from which it clearly follows that one who supports those who holds these theories and attempt to realize them, is altogether abandoning the divinely revealed religion.”

RATZINGER HAS “NOTHING AGAINST” THOSE WHO ATTEND MASS ONCE A YEAR

“Cardinal” Ratzinger: “I have nothing against people who, though they never enter a church during the year, go to Christmas Mass, or go on the occasion of some other celebration, because this is also a way of coming close to the light.  Therefore, there must be different forms of involvement and participation.” (Zenit news interview, Oct. 1, 2001.)

This just proves again that Ratzinger is not a Catholic.

RATZINGER SAYS THAT VISITING THE BLESSED SACRAMENT IS A WASTE OF TIME

Taken from Ratzinger’s work Die Sacramentale Begrundung:

 

 “Eucharistic devotion such as is noted in the silent visit by the devout in church must not be thought of as a conversation with God.  This would assume that God was present there locally and in a confined way.  To justify such an assertion shows a lack of understanding of the Christological mysteries of the very concept of God.  This is repugnant to the serious thinking of the man who knows about the omnipresence of God.  To go to church on the ground that one can visit God who is present there is a senseless act which modern man rightfully rejects.” (original quote in German found here)  

 

Die Sacramentale Begrundung is available on bookstands in Germany today.

 

AT VATICAN II, RATZINGER DENIED THAT NON-CATHOLICS SHOULD BE CONVERTED

Joseph Ratzinger, Theological Highlights of Vatican II, pp. 61, 68: “The new text describes the relationship between the Church and non-Catholic Christians without speaking of ‘membership.’ By shedding this terminological armor, the text acquired a much wider scope… The Catholic has to recognize that his own Church is not yet prepared to accept the phenomenon of multiplicity in unity; he must orient himself toward this reality… Meantime the Catholic Church has no right to absorb other Churches.  The Church has yet prepared for them a place of their own, but this they are legitimately entitled to… A basic unity – of Churches that remain Churches, yet become one Church – must replace the idea of conversion, even though conversion retains its meaningfulness for those in conscience motivated to seek it.” (Theological Highlights of Vatican II, New York: Paulist Press, 1966, pp. 61, 68.)

He says that Catholics should not absorb and convert the non-Catholics.  This is apostasy.  Ratzinger also said recently that his views have not changed since Vatican II.

RATZINGER ADMITS THAT VATICAN II’S TEACHING IS A “REVISION” OF POPE PIUS IX’S SYLLABUS OF ERRORS AND THE TEACHING OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

“Cardinal” Joseph Ratzinger, Principles of Catholic Theology, 1982, p. 381: "If it is desirable to offer a diagnosis of the text [of Gaudium et Spes] as a whole, we might say that (in conjunction with the texts on religious liberty and world religions) it is a revision of the Syllabus of Pius IX, a kind of counter syllabus…the one-sidedness of the position adopted by the Church under Pius IX and Pius in response to the situation created by the new phase of history inaugurated by the French Revolution was, to a large extent, corrected via facti, especially in Central Europe, but there was still no basic statement of the relationship that should exist between the Church and the world that had come into existence after 1789." (San Francisco, Ignatius Press, 1982)

In this incredible quote we see that Ratzinger fully recognizes that Vatican II boldly rejected the teaching of the Catholic Church.  He bluntly admits that Vatican II’s teaching on religious liberty, etc. is a “revision” of the Catholic Church’s teaching in the Syllabus of Errors. This teaching of Pope Pius IX in the Syllabus of Errors infallibly condemned the ideas of religious liberty and salvation for non-Catholics, which were taught by Vatican II.

RATZINGER DENIES THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY

Joseph Ratzinger, Introduction to Christianity (a book of his which was republished in 1990 with Ratzinger’s approval), p. 277: “Paul [St. Paul] teaches not the resurrection of physical bodies but of persons…” (Introduction to Christianity, San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1990, p. 277.)

This is a rejection of a fundamental Catholic dogma defined by many popes.

Pope Gregory X, Council of Lyons II, 1274, ex cathedra: “The same most holy Roman Church firmly believes, and firmly declares that nevertheless on the day of judgment all men will be brought together with their bodies before the tribunal of Christ to render an account of their own deeds.” (Denz. 464)

RATZINGER SAYS THAT CATHOLICS CAN VOTE FOR PRO-ABORTION CANDIDATES FOR CERTAIN REASONS

In a confidential memorandum titled Worthiness to Receive Holy Communion: General Principles that became public in July 2004, Ratzinger said that Catholics could vote for a pro-abortion candidate for certain reasons:

 

“A Catholic would be guilty of formal cooperation in evil, and so unworthy to present himself for Holy Communion, if he were to deliberately vote for a candidate precisely because of the candidate’s permissive stand on abortion and/or euthanasia. When a Catholic does not share a candidate’s stand in favor of abortion and/or euthanasia, but votes for that candidate for other reasons, it is considered remote material cooperation, which can be permitted in the presence of proportionate reasons.”

RATZINGER AUTHORED DOMINUS IESUS WHICH CONTAINS MANY HERESIES AND APOSTASY

Dominus Iesus – authored by “Cardinal” Ratzinger – teaches that schismatic sects (e.g., the “Orthodox” sects) have the Church of Christ present in them, even though they reject the Papacy.

 

Dominus Iesus #17, approved by Antipope John Paul II, Aug. 6, 2000: "Therefore, the Church of Christ is present and operative also in these Churches, even though they lack full communion with the Catholic Church since they do not accept the Catholic doctrine of the Primacy, which, according to the will of God, the Bishop of Rome objectively has and exercises over the entire Church."

 

This is formal heresy.  It is a dogma that those who reject the Papacy are totally severed from the Church.

 

Pope Pius IX, Amantissimus (# 3), April 8, 1862:

“There are other, almost countless, proofs drawn from the most trustworthy witnesses which clearly and openly testify with great faith, exactitude, respect and obedience that all who want to belong to the true and only Church of Christ must honor and obey this Apostolic See and the Roman Pontiff.”

 

Pope Pius VI, Charitas (# 32), April 13, 1791:

“Finally, in one word, stay close to Us.  For no one can be in the Church of Christ without being in unity with its visible head and founded on the See of Peter.”

 

Pope Leo XIII, Satis Cognitum (# 13), June 29, 1896:

“Therefore if a man does not want to be, or to be called, a heretic, let him not strive to please this or that man… but let him hasten before all things to be in communion with the Roman See.”

 

There are many other heresies in Dominus Iesus, such as its teaching that Protestant sects are a means of salvation (#17), which is a denial of Outside the Church There is No Salvation.  Ratzinger’s Dominus Iesus (#14) also teaches that:

 

“theology today, in its reflection on the existence of other religions and of other religious experiences and on their meaning in God's salvific plan, is invited to explore if and in what way the historical figures and positive elements of these religions may fall within the divine plan of salvation.”

 

Translation: this means that it’s possible that the false prophets and originators of non-Christian religions (e.g., the false prophet Mohammed) may have been the product of the divine plan (i.e., a result of God’s will).  This means that the Holy Ghost may be responsible for religions of Satan – thus confusing the Spirit of Truth with the Spirit of lies (the Devil).  This is total apostasy.  The same apostasy is also taught explicitly by Antipope John Paul II in Redemptor Hominis #6 and elsewhere.

 

All of this proves clearly that Ratzinger is not Catholic, but a total apostate.

RATZINGER WROTE THE PREFACE FOR THE BOOK THAT SAYS THAT THE JEWS WAIT FOR THE COMING OF THE MESSIAH IS VALID

In late 2001, the Pontifical Biblical Commission released a book entitled The Jewish People and the Holy Scriptures in the Christian Bible.  This book argues that the Jews’ wait for the Coming of the Messiah is justified and validated by the Old Testament.  Ratzinger wrote the preface for the book. So, just a few years ago Ratzinger denied that that Jesus Christ is Messiah. 

RATZINGER REJECTED THE MESSAGE OF FATIMA IN HIS COMMENTARY ON THE “THIRD SECRET” 

When the Vatican released the phony “Third Secret of Fatima” on June 26, 2000 Cardinal Ratzinger wrote the interpretation for it in a document entitled The Message of Fatima.  In this document, Ratzinger cited only one authority on Fatima; he cited the Flemish theologian Fr. Edouard Dhanis.  Ratzinger called Dhanis an “eminent theologian.”  Fr. Edouard Dhanis was a vicious opponent of the Fatima message, who made a career out of attacking it.  Dhanis rejected almost every prophetic aspect of the message of Fatima as “unconscious fabrications.”  By quoting Dhanis in a positive way (and as the only authority on Fatima he cites) Ratzinger shows that he also rejects the message of Fatima.

POPE PAUL IV TEACHES THAT A HERETIC CANNOT BE ELECTED VALIDLY

Pope Paul IV, Bull Cum ex Apostolatus Officio, Feb. 15, 1559: “6. In addition, [by this Our Constitution, which is to remain valid in perpetuity We enact, determine, decree and define:-] that if ever at any time it shall appear that any Bishop, even if he be acting as an Archbishop, Patriarch or Primate; or any Cardinal of the aforesaid Roman Church, or, as has already been mentioned, any legate, or even the Roman Pontiff, prior to his promotion or his elevation as Cardinal or Roman Pontiff, has deviated from the Catholic Faith or fallen into some heresy:

(i) the promotion or elevation, even if it shall have been uncontested and by the unanimous assent of all the Cardinals, shall be null, void and worthless;
(ii) it shall not be possible for it to acquire validity (nor for it to be said that it has thus acquired validity) through the acceptance of the office, of consecration, of subsequent authority, nor through possession of administration, nor through the putative enthronement of a Roman Pontiff, or Veneration, or obedience accorded to such by all, nor through the lapse of any period of time in the foregoing situation;
(iii) it shall not be held as partially legitimate in any way;

(iv) to any so promoted to be Bishops, or Archbishops, or Patriarchs, or Primates or elevated as Cardinals, or as Roman Pontiff, no authority shall have been granted, nor shall it be considered to have been so granted either in the spiritual or the temporal domain;
(v) each and all of their words, deeds, actions and enactments, howsoever made, and anything whatsoever to which these may give rise, shall be without force and shall grant no stability whatsoever nor any right to anyone;
(vi) those thus promoted or elevated shall be deprived automatically, and without need for any further declaration, of all dignity, position, honour, title, authority, office and power.

7. Finally, [by this Our Constitution, which is to remain valid in perpetuity, We] also [enact, determine, define and decree]:- that any and all persons who would have been subject to those thus promoted or elevated if they had not previously deviated from the Faith, become heretics, incurred schism or provoked or committed any or all of these, be they members of anysoever of the following categories:
(i) the clergy, secular and religious;
(ii) the laity;
(iii) the Cardinals, even those who shall have taken part in the election of this very Pontiff previously deviating from the Faith or heretical or schismatical, or shall otherwise have consented and vouchsafed obedience to him and shall have venerated him; (iv) Castellans, Prefects, Captains and Officials, even of Our Beloved City and of the entire Ecclesiastical State, even if they shall be obliged and beholden to those thus promoted or elevated by homage, oath or security; shall be permitted at any time to withdraw with impunity from obedience and devotion to those thus promoted or elevated and to avoid them as warlocks, heathens, publicans, and heresiarchs (the same subject persons, nevertheless, remaining bound by the duty of fidelity and obedience to any future Bishops, Archbishops, Patriarchs, Primates, Cardinals and Roman Pontiff canonically entering).

To the greater confusion, moreover, of those thus promoted or elevated, if these shall have wished to prolong their government and authority, they shall be permitted to request the assistance of the secular arm against these same individuals thus promoted or elevated; nor shall those who withdraw on this account, in the aforementioned circumstances, from fidelity and obedience to those thus promoted and elevated, be subject, as are those who tear the tunic of the Lord, to the retribution of any censures or penalties…

9. In order, however, that this document may be brought to the notice of all whom it concerns, We wish it or a transcription of it (to which, when made by the hand of the undersigned Public Notary and fortified by the seal of any person established in ecclesiastical dignity, We decree that complete trust must be accorded) to be published and affixed in the Basilica of the Prince of the Apostles in this City and on the doors of the Apostolic Chancery and in the pavilion of the Campus Florae by some of our couriers; [we] will [further] that a quantity of copies affixed in this place should be distributed, and that publication and affixing of this kind should suffice and be held as right, solemn and legitimate, and that no other publication should be required or awaited.

10. No one at all, therefore, may infringe this document of our approbation, re-introduction, sanction, statute and derogation of wills and decrees, or by rash presumption contradict it. If anyone, however, should presume to attempt this, let him know that he is destined to incur the wrath of Almighty God and of the blessed Apostles, Peter and Paul.

Given in Rome at Saint Peter's in the year of the Incarnation of the Lord 1559, 15th February, in the fourth year of our Pontificate.

+ I, Paul, Bishop of the Catholic Church…”

 

With the fullness of his authority, Pope Paul IV defines that we must reject as invalid the election of a heretic as “Pope,” even if it takes place with the unanimous consent of the Cardinals. Catholics must reject anyone who has been promoted to the Papacy as a heretic because the election is totally null and void.  Catholics should treat such a one as a warlock, heathen, publican or heresiarch.  This is the solemn teaching of Pope Paul IV; and he tells us that if anyone contradicts his decree and accepts a heretic as a legitimate Pope he “is destined to incur the wrath of Almighty God and of the blessed Apostles, Peter and Paul.”

And for those who attempt to “get around” the authority of this document of Pope Paul IV (which is clearly solemn), it must be pointed out that this Bull is not actually necessary to prove that the election of a heretic is invalid.  A heretic could never be validly elected Pope because it is a divine law (and a dogma) that a heretic has ceased to be Catholic and is outside the Church. 

 

Pope Eugene IV, Council of Florence, “Cantate Domino,” 1441, ex cathedra:

“The Holy Roman Church firmly believes, professes and preaches that all those who are outside the Catholic Church, not only pagans but also Jews or heretics and schismatics, cannot share in eternal life and will go into the everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels, unless they are joined to the Church before the end of their lives; that the unity of this ecclesiastical body is of such importance that only those who abide in it do the Church’s sacraments contribute to salvation and do fasts, almsgiving and other works of piety and practices of the Christian militia productive of eternal rewards; and that nobody can be saved, no matter how much he has given away in alms and even if he has shed blood in the name of Christ, unless he has persevered in the bosom and unity of the Catholic Church.”

 

One who is outside cannot head the Church.  Therefore, if they elect Ratzinger or any other Novus Ordo “Cardinal” he will be an Antipope.

 

The Catholic Encyclopedia, “Papal Elections,” 1914, Vol. 11, p. 456: "Of course, the election of a heretic, schismatic, or female [as Pope] would be null and void."