Commentary by Br. Alexis Bugnolo
This video was published by the Fatima Center 17 hours ago. I will comment on the strengths and weaknesses of its presentation of the question. It is good, that for the first time we have more than one priest, in the English speaking world, discussing this topic in public, together.
That being said, remember that The Fatima Center was founded by the crusading Marian priest, Father Nicholas Gruner, who gave a wonderful example of Marian piety, priestly fidelity and zeal in the service of Our Lady of Fatima for more than 40 years.
He was one of the first to say, that Pope Benedict XVI did not abdicate, and did this in 2014.
After his untimely death, the center he founded was headed by Father Paul Kramer who continues this approach to the controversy. But soon afterward he was ousted by pro-Bergoglian laypersons, who changed the public position of the organization on this point.
COMMENTARY ON ABOVE VIDEO
First, I will say that I know nothing about these two priests. And I will not judge what they say, on the basis that those who say it are priests, but only on the basis of whether what they say is founded upon facts and laws and logical argumentation, or not.
The speaker opens up with a very praiseworthy statement, that this question, Who is the Pope? needs to be asked, and answers should be given. The discussion of this should not be shut down.
Father Mawdsley opens with an error, by constricting the discussion to the level of opinion, as if nothing more than an opinion could be had. But no one has an opinion regarding 1 +1 =2, since an opinion is a holding of a judgement with the possibility that the contrary thesis might be true. But he is true when he says the Cardinals are yes men and that there is a lot of gas lighting on this topic.
Father Rodgriguez opens also with another grave error, by saying, “We will never know all the truth and facts”. He apparently does not understand that in a legal dispute one can have certainty, when a valid syllogism can be constructed by certain facts and laws.
I can from this point, for example, conclude with certitude that the discussion of these two priests cannot arrive at the truth, since they have eliminated truth, as a possibility, from the get go. Even though they both affirm that they doubt that Bergoglio is the true Pope and heretic. — I gather, from this point, that neither has studied canon law or logic.
And since I am only interested in the truth, I will leave it to you my readers to watch the video and see what you find in it, since you won’t find it in this video.
However, I must respond to the most grave errors, which are these:
That Father Mawdsley who says that only for the Cardinals and higher clergy will be required for their salvation to adhere to the true pope, not the lower clergy and laity! That contradicts Unam Sanctam of Boniface VIII.
Having listened to the entire video, I can say, that ironically, these two priests never actually answer the question: they merely give reasons to remain calm until the answer is declared by the Church.
Oh my!
