Editor’s Note: Michael Lofton has a Masters in Theology from Christendom College and began his apostolate, Reason & Theology in 2019; he is a convert. His friend in this interview is, Kevin J. Symonds, and he too has a MA in theological studies. — I am publishing this, because I want my readers to hear different view points and have the opportunity to ask questions which lead to a greater comprehension of the Catholic Faith and a greater understanding of Logic, Philosophy, and Jurisprudence. — I think this video is an excellent discussion starter, for “What is Faith? And does it require us to think differently?”, or better yet, “What is the duty of the Christian in regard to the consideration of facts, reason, and opinions?” — I would welcome Michael to do a live discussion with me on either topic.
Question to audience: I am not very knowledgeable about tattoos, but I do hold a B. A. in Cultural Anthropology, from the Unversity of Florida (1986), and thus very interested in pop culture;so if any reader can tell me what these tattoos that Michale Lofton is sporting on his arms are and if they mean anything, please comment below. — These images are crops of a photo from Lofton’s FB page and are used here on Fair Use policy for editorial commentary.
You ask, “What is Faith and does it require us to think differently?”
Faith is the substance of things hoped for…. Does it require us to think differently? Probably.
What I know most definitely it that Faith requires charity otherwise 1 Cor 13 comes to mind: “If I speak with the tongues of men or of angels and I have not love, I am a noisy cymbal or a clanging gong” and this episode of Reason and Theology was the Gong Show writ large. May God forgive them.
First, the assembly of the Right of Apostolic Election wasn’t a conclave, gentlemen, and yes, Bishop Emeritus Rene Gracida does accept the Successor of St Peter and the Successor of Pope Benedict XVI.
Mr. Symonds says, “…in some vain hope that grace would be released upon the world…”
Can you imagine these men talking to Our Lady?
SYMONDS: “Wait… An angel appeared to you and told you that you would be the Mother of God?! What?! Do you have some vain hope that grace will be released upon the world?!” LOFTON: “Mary, you must be crazy!”
Thank you to Eric for calling in and saying what you said.
These men don’t want to have a discussion, Br. Bugnolo. Perhaps their brains are so full of the knowledge of theology that their hearts don’t have room for Theos.
IslamIsIslam, I am quite impressed by your response. Are you sure you don’t have a MA in Catholic Theology?
HA!
I’ve met Kevin Symonds, I believe. The one I’ve met is a Jewish convert. He is also a rather obnoxious guy or at least he was the day I’ve met him. After our brief encounter I meditated at length on the stupidity of self righteousness.
For the Lord detests the perverse
but takes the upright into His confidence.
The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked,
but He blesses the home of the righteous.
He mocks proud mockers
but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.
The wise inherit honor,
but fools get only shame.
(Proverbs 3:32-35)
Brother Bugnolo: that uncharitable and un-Christian video has confirmed in my heart how correct your position is. “He who was to rebuild the Temple in three days! Come down from the Cross and we will believe in you!” You have been found worthy of the same mockery Our Lord endured. He must love you very much. The mockers of Jeremiah(?) were destroyed by two she-bears. One should always avoid mockery, it is not a thing God likes.
Excuse my many comments, please.
Regarding the tattoos. Catholics, I was instructed once, are not permitted to mark or deform their bodies on purpose.
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
Lofton is a convert, and I assumed he got these when he was in Louisiana, as his convert story seems to imply.
These two are speaking with a complete absence of charity. Their ad hominem arguments are not convincing. I had to shut it off. Not funny.
I did the same, Claudia. I have many friends from Christendom College. They are not like these two at all. Christendom College should order them to shut down that channel and do some productive thing instead.
Lofton does not teach at Christendom College, nor are they the producers of his video series, as far as I know.
I was raced as a RC, but I digressed.
I begged for forgiveness in 1992 about all my sins.
My live changed in many ways after this.
During my bible readings I read a passage that makes very clear that tatoos are a form of self-aggrandizement.
Which is not a thing to do. I have one too from before 1992.
But only your believe can set you free and our Lord is the most merciful for He is pure Good and full of endless love and adores His children.
Ridiculous program. I don’t know how any Catholic who has charity can listen to commentators speaking this way. Since they can’t refute the arguments they ridicule the message and the messager.
Here’s what I just posted in the YouTube version of their video:
“Go ahead and laugh, but genuine Fools for Christ under the guidance of the Holy Ghost led by Bro Bugnolo (expert in Latin and in Canon Law) squared the circle of saving the Church from an anti-pope and his illegimately appointed Bergoglio-clone Cardinals. They’ve now been made kosher. This doesn’t let them off the hook for their past turpitude (fun word, I’ve always wanted to use it!).
Now watch Pope Francis’s words and actions after 30 January, and see if he starts acting more orthodox because he’s now under the protection of the Holy Spirit. This doesn’t whitewash him; his status may move from “Anti-pope” to “bad Pope”; however the Church has historically survived many legitimate bad Popes, and we’ll survive him. Who knows, he might do a 180º and eventually die a martyr.
You are incorrect to say that those who doubted / denied that Bergoglio was pope before 30 January 2023 are guilty of schism. A person commits no sin if in sincere conscience s/he believes that the 2013 uncanonical conclave could not elect a pope while there was still a living Pope (Benedict, until he died).
Benevacantists like me could best be understood as “loyal to the Papacy without recognising antipope Bergoglio”. [Disclosure: I am 74, have BA degree in theology and philosophy. My Latin was never great, but I could follow Bro Bugnolo’s explication of Canon Law and its specifications on how its Latin should be translated; and his logic was impeccable.] Therefore Benevacanatists were never schismatic, and committed no sin. They are morally obliged to follow their conscience, even if it is wrong. My pastor, a holy priest who always accepted Francis as pope, agreed; though he thought me a conspiracy theorist. (“The difference between ‘conspiracy theory’ and ‘conspiracy fact’ is about 6 months” 😹) Happily, we always disagreed in charity. He was seriously glad when I told him that since 30 January last, I now accept Francis as pope. Note: I had been corresponding with several retired priests who told me that in their Masses, they either named Benedict as Pope, or simply refrained from naming the Pope in the Canon of their Masses. There were many priests scared to share with their Bishops their doubts about the legitimacy of Bergoglio’s 2013 election. (to do so would get them suspended from their parishes, or even laicised) Now they are relieved and at peace.
Just because Bergoglio and his degenerate appointees in the College of Cardinals are now legitimised, doesn’t mean they will suddenly become converted. We may pray for this, but it is by no means guaranteed. Time will tell.
There is a lot of prophecy from holy people over the last few centuries predicting terrible chastisements (see Julie Jahenny little known to English speakers) which, reading the “signs of the times” of current events looks increasingly probable. Yet we still have the promised Triumph of the Immaculate Heart in the future–. My heart is at peace accepting Francis as Pope.
The Holy Ghost is in charge of the Church, and no matter what disasters, wars and persecutions come to Europe and the USA, we know that the gates of Hell will not prevail. 😸 “
Great post.
I would not trust Lofton as I have noticed him flashing various masonic hand signals during a previous episode. The finger to the lips is a classic sign of his keeping the secret (the secret is typically their membership in the masonic cult and at the upper levels their secret transgenderism — where they seek to keep both genders in one body as they believe that Adam was bigendered in the Garden of Eden — and their goat god is also bigender). Also recent “converts” should not be schooling the faithful but instead should be spending time in the desert like St Paul doing penance and learning the faith (as Br. Bugnolo outlined in previous articles and OMC episodes).
One tactic I have noticed is that many of the higher profile new commentators will take ideas from strong Catholic commentators or writers, not giving them any credit, and then veer off and steer people away from the truth or orthodox teaching. This is also a tactic of the phony “conservative” political commentators (eg Ben Shapiro, Peterson etc).
I just notice the video length is 33 minutes (a clear masonic code signal).
should read “noticed”
The right arm reads “DEATH”
The left arm reads “METAL”.
He must be a college punk sometime in his youth.
thank you.