Thank you Mike. I very much appreciate you bringing attention to, and informing humble Catholics, of the heretics and false prophets that consistently preach against the Pope, and in many ways the Teachings of Christ.
To your point in your blog take, I think bad faith formation is one major symptom of the "traditude", along with a judgmental selfishness and power trip, making them modern day Pharisees.
As in todays Gospel according to St. Mark for the 25th Sunday in ordinary time, Jesus says: Taking a child, he placed it in their midst,
and putting his arms around it, he said to them,
“Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me;
and whoever receives me,
receives not me but the One who sent me.”
We all need to receive Jesus and the Church as through the eyes of a child, innocent and faithful, without the vanity and judgement that brings darkness, hatefulness, and division.
I think your support of Pope Francis is so well founded, it really is strange to me how good friends in tradistan won’t give him an ear. My theory on why that is, is mostly due to how much the current Pope is loved by people on the political left in America, who I do share an annoyance with, maybe because I take the whole “love your enemies seriously” but I never allow my own annoyance to push over to distain. But the political left in this country is arrogant and condescending, they really do push people away, but that is not Pope Francis fault, he has helped me incredibly, so keep up the great work of showing what he really says, not some fun house version
, disrespect against Pope Francis began a long time ago. It started just after his election. I was present. When it started and had to walk out of conference I was so disgusted at language. Even the retiring of previous pope wasn’t accepted. He’s the true pope. This one considered from then a false pope
There is so much more and it has gotten much much worse over years. The utter horror of that person Vigano calling the holy father “ Bergoglio” is horrific. And no one has been able to contain him.
The church is the heart, mind, morality, peace of the world. Even with its sinful members.
The church, led by “Peter” is the barque of Peter where all are welcome.
The followers who follow these “treasures” are led away and maybe even lost.
I agree with that, to modify my comment above a little , the right hates Francis because the left loves him, I’m not saying they’re correct for this, I’m just saying that’s what I think it is, the major news outlets fawned over Francis from day 1, again that’s not a good reason to question Francis, but the left in this country really is intolerant, close minded and joyless, that is not Francis fault, I love Pope Francis, he goes beyond a left/ right paradigm, he shows the way to Christ, and to true joy
I empathize with your frustration. There's nothing quite like filling your mind with demons to bring you down.
I think you may be on to something with apologetics and the combative nature of much of them. So many of my relatives are big fans of Bishop Strickland, Fr. Ripperger, etc because the popular apologists they listened to and trusted 20 years have endorsed them. It's difficult to contend with the idea that the guy you listened to on the radio who gave you all the Catholic answers and the people whose books you read to learn all about your faith are not the ultimate authority or necessarily trustworthy still. I've had to stop talking religion with family completely.
Honestly, we need to keep the litmus test of someone showing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, etc in mind for whether someone is worth listening to. I'll pray for your restored peace of mind.
Mike, greatly informative article, as usual, but 100 hours listening to Ripperger! Seriously, thanks to you and your selfless sacrifice for the rest of us, Ripperger is now in my radar and I have no desire to listen to one of his diatribes for even 10 minutes.
Your article did take me back to when Jesus was overjoyed and said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children." No, I'm not implying that you're a prophet, but simply that I'm convinced that Jesus was thinking of all the wise and learned people throughout the ages that were and are found unworthy of understanding God's wisdom.
Yes, it's sad indeed as you say, but on the other hand, it's up to God to share his wisdom with those he finds worthy.
I think tradism comes from getting hyped up about Catholicism, like for your favorite sports team. You buy the jersey, the flag, learn all the stars, etc. Your on team Catholic and the more catholic it is, the more awesome. So you start to love all the weird, quirky liturgical stuff, the apologetics, the theology of old councils, obscure saints, etc. Your so pro Catholic that you you view the mudir ages as the triumph of Catholicism and begin to pine for those days. Your Catholicism is filled with all the bells and whistles, like a house full of your teams paraphernalia. It may have all started with an encounter with Jesus and the Holy Spirit, but now it's almost pure Fandom. You have an apologetic ready for any critique, warranted or not, of your team (church). Then, add in the whole pro-life movement and you go all in with conservative politics as well. And, in the midst of all of this, the new life in the Holy Spirit with deep prayer, care for the least of these, compassion, love and community building. Somehow, the Gospel gets lost. You wind up reading Fr. Z blogs, and Taylor Marshall, rather than St. Mathew and St. John. I know, because I got lost down this road for some time.
You do incredible work Mike. Your commitment, hard hard work, dedication, integrity and fidelity is mind blowing. THANK YOU. And never doubt that you are truly on the mark. The charism of Mike Lewis is very close to Matthew 13:10-16... Eyes that can see, ears that can hear.... God Bless and keeping you in my prayers.
I don't know how you're swinging a Vatican slush fund and Soros bux these days, but it's quite amazing. Always grateful for how you step into breaches most of us are blind to.
Mike, it's Val writing - I'm not sure under whose name it will post.
To a secondary point in your post: I just linked to Bishop Strickland's letter, which includes the lament: “Fast forward to our day and the movement towards a 'synodal Church.' Once again, we see the concept of a 'people’s Church'.”
A mere two paragraphs later, we find quoted in conclusion this call from Archbishop Sheen: “Who is going to save our Church? Not our bishops, not our priests and religious: It is up to you, the people. You have the minds, the eyes, and the ears to save the Church. Your mission is to see that your priests act like priests, your bishops act like bishops, and your religious act like religious.”
How are we to understand this? Rightly or wrongly, Bishop Strickland has postulated (and condemned) a dynamic by which "the ‘Church of the people’ becomes the antagonist of the hierarchical Church.” Does he actually mean to invoke the dynamic he just condemned to advance his own vision? Moreover, would this not impute to the laity a sort of gnostic salvific role, by which they have a knowledge of the ideal execution of ecclesial office denied to those actually possessing such office and the graces specific thereto? It is hard to see how this is a coherent position for the bishop, or anyone, to be holding.
It is contradictory and disconnected from the reality of life and the Church.
I have come to realize that for many of those who seek to destroy Pope Francis's legacy and teaching, there is no endgame, and they aren't working towards any realistic goal. It would be one thing if this was an organized and proper schismatic movement - perhaps they would have reached the point of declaring that it's time to cast off the chains of Rome and that the authority of the pope no longer has any hold on them.
Instead, they sit, they stew, they spread conspiracy theories and attempt to persuade others that the pope is a heretic and everything coming out of the Vatican is evil and that they are the true Catholics upholding tradition. They've reached a point where they live for creating disruption, anger, and chaos. That's all they accomplish and it's all they ever can or will accomplish.
You approached the article with the express purpose of confirming your agenda and bias against Traditional Catholics and Fr. Ripperger, in particular. So sorry you found it so confusing and exhausting. That's not journalism. It's self-indulgence.
Anne, I wrote it after years of following his nonsense from a distance (especially during covid). Several bishops and seminary faculty have come to me with concerns about him and his dangerous and reckless message. Seeing the "five generals" thing was the final straw. Someone needed to call attention to his errors. Thankfully there are bishops and Cardinals who have taken notice.
There is nothing dangerous or reckless about the fact that generational curses and a demonic hierarchy exist. They may not be "5 generals" as he puts it, but there is definitely a hierarchy to angels and demons.
A generational curse doesn’t condemn anyone. No one is condemned by the sins of their ancestors. That’s not what we are talking about.
But absolutely a parent can give rights to Satan over their children. Ask any exorcist. It’s far more common than you’d think.
The same with Masonic oaths and other oaths that specifically mention ones children’s children. Particular Scottish houses on masonry.
Generational curses caused by masonry can cause many problems if not broken, from oppression, to sickness, to suicide etc. have you ever heard of a family where the males seem to commit suicide in every generation. Where they all die young? This COULD be a generational curse.
Ask the many, many exorcists who have seen generational curses caused by masonry in one’s bloodline superstitious?
I’ll stick what the church and the prayers available to exorcists say.
There is absolutely not doctrine or dogma in Catholicism against or for generational curses. But in the experience of exorcists, it is real, and many oppressed people can trace the origin of it to ancestral masonry, the occult etc.
Because they know that I follow Catholic traditionalism, fundamentalism, and conspiracy theorists closely. If they come across something that has become popular with their students or parishioners but seems corrupt, suspect, or heterodox, a lot of them will ask me if I know anything about it. Ripperger is a name that I have been asked about many times.
Your article about Ripperger falls off the rails I'm afraid.
Generational curses are absolutely a thing and there is absolutely NOTHING in Catholic doctrine that says otherwise. In fact, many victims are liberated by denouncing masonic oaths that were taken by their ancestors' generations ago. How? Why? Because these oaths specifically declare that all one's ancestors will be cursed. Because we have authority over our kids - otherwise an infant couldn't be baptized. And this isn't just the masons. Maybe you should listen to what exorcists actually say about liberation.
In addition, there is absolutely a demonic hierarchy. Maybe not exactly how Ripperger describes it, but again, this has been noted by exorcists and churchmen since the beginning - St Paul included. Do you know what principalities and powers are? A hierarchy of demons. Ephesians 6:12 "For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."
It's almost as if all you care about is attacking these people without actually doing the research, all while referencing heterodox prelates who don't even believe in demons or Satan.
We get it, you don't believe in Satan or exorcism, but us Catholics, including the Pope, do.
Your article about Ripperger falls off the rails I'm afraid.
Generational curses are absolutely a thing and there is absolutely NOTHING in Catholic doctrine that says otherwise. In fact, many victims are liberated by denouncing masonic oaths that were taken by their ancestors' generations ago. How? Why? Because these oaths specifically declare that all one's ancestors will be cursed. Because we have authority over our kids - otherwise an infant couldn't be baptized. And this isn't just the masons. Maybe you should listen to what exorcists actually say about liberation.
In addition, there is absolutely a demonic hierarchy. Maybe not exactly how Ripperger describes it, but again, this has been noted by exorcists and churchmen since the beginning - St Paul included. Do you know what principalities and powers are? A hierarchy of demons. Ephesians 6:12 "For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."
It's almost as if all you care about is attacking these people without actually doing the research, all while referencing heterodox prelates who don't even believe in demons or Satan.
Mike, I know that evil exists because I have seen it with my own eyes. I believe that the Devil exists and that he has evil followers roaming the world seeking the ruin of souls-to paraphrase the Prayer to St. Michael. I believe that exorcisms are necessary in some circumstances, but also believe that the Church hierarchy, not individual priests (regardless of their intentions), should determine whether the need is necessary or not. Unfortunately, I see too many Catholics who take a position that is really superstitious rather than religious. I don’t want to pick on Gus but I think his views about generational curses are really more pagan than Christian.
No, my views are Catholic - grounded in the Tradition of the Church. They aren’t pagan. It’s about authority, Bill.
I have authority over my children. That is how I allowed them to be baptized. Because I have authority over them, if I take an oath stating that harm will come to them if I betray said oath, it falls on them.
I don’t think any of you understand that.
It’s about RIGHTS - curses and possession. That’s how one is possessed or oppressed - via RIGHTS granted to the demon.
Examples of practices that can grant these right: freemasonry, paganism, the occult, yoga, and yes, sin.
These are facts Bill. Facts I can guarantee you most if not all exorcists will agree with.
Thank you Mike. I very much appreciate you bringing attention to, and informing humble Catholics, of the heretics and false prophets that consistently preach against the Pope, and in many ways the Teachings of Christ.
To your point in your blog take, I think bad faith formation is one major symptom of the "traditude", along with a judgmental selfishness and power trip, making them modern day Pharisees.
As in todays Gospel according to St. Mark for the 25th Sunday in ordinary time, Jesus says: Taking a child, he placed it in their midst,
and putting his arms around it, he said to them,
“Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me;
and whoever receives me,
receives not me but the One who sent me.”
We all need to receive Jesus and the Church as through the eyes of a child, innocent and faithful, without the vanity and judgement that brings darkness, hatefulness, and division.
I think your support of Pope Francis is so well founded, it really is strange to me how good friends in tradistan won’t give him an ear. My theory on why that is, is mostly due to how much the current Pope is loved by people on the political left in America, who I do share an annoyance with, maybe because I take the whole “love your enemies seriously” but I never allow my own annoyance to push over to distain. But the political left in this country is arrogant and condescending, they really do push people away, but that is not Pope Francis fault, he has helped me incredibly, so keep up the great work of showing what he really says, not some fun house version
Tony the dislike
, disrespect against Pope Francis began a long time ago. It started just after his election. I was present. When it started and had to walk out of conference I was so disgusted at language. Even the retiring of previous pope wasn’t accepted. He’s the true pope. This one considered from then a false pope
There is so much more and it has gotten much much worse over years. The utter horror of that person Vigano calling the holy father “ Bergoglio” is horrific. And no one has been able to contain him.
The church is the heart, mind, morality, peace of the world. Even with its sinful members.
The church, led by “Peter” is the barque of Peter where all are welcome.
The followers who follow these “treasures” are led away and maybe even lost.
Anne
I agree with that, to modify my comment above a little , the right hates Francis because the left loves him, I’m not saying they’re correct for this, I’m just saying that’s what I think it is, the major news outlets fawned over Francis from day 1, again that’s not a good reason to question Francis, but the left in this country really is intolerant, close minded and joyless, that is not Francis fault, I love Pope Francis, he goes beyond a left/ right paradigm, he shows the way to Christ, and to true joy
I empathize with your frustration. There's nothing quite like filling your mind with demons to bring you down.
I think you may be on to something with apologetics and the combative nature of much of them. So many of my relatives are big fans of Bishop Strickland, Fr. Ripperger, etc because the popular apologists they listened to and trusted 20 years have endorsed them. It's difficult to contend with the idea that the guy you listened to on the radio who gave you all the Catholic answers and the people whose books you read to learn all about your faith are not the ultimate authority or necessarily trustworthy still. I've had to stop talking religion with family completely.
Honestly, we need to keep the litmus test of someone showing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, etc in mind for whether someone is worth listening to. I'll pray for your restored peace of mind.
Mike, greatly informative article, as usual, but 100 hours listening to Ripperger! Seriously, thanks to you and your selfless sacrifice for the rest of us, Ripperger is now in my radar and I have no desire to listen to one of his diatribes for even 10 minutes.
Your article did take me back to when Jesus was overjoyed and said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children." No, I'm not implying that you're a prophet, but simply that I'm convinced that Jesus was thinking of all the wise and learned people throughout the ages that were and are found unworthy of understanding God's wisdom.
Yes, it's sad indeed as you say, but on the other hand, it's up to God to share his wisdom with those he finds worthy.
I think tradism comes from getting hyped up about Catholicism, like for your favorite sports team. You buy the jersey, the flag, learn all the stars, etc. Your on team Catholic and the more catholic it is, the more awesome. So you start to love all the weird, quirky liturgical stuff, the apologetics, the theology of old councils, obscure saints, etc. Your so pro Catholic that you you view the mudir ages as the triumph of Catholicism and begin to pine for those days. Your Catholicism is filled with all the bells and whistles, like a house full of your teams paraphernalia. It may have all started with an encounter with Jesus and the Holy Spirit, but now it's almost pure Fandom. You have an apologetic ready for any critique, warranted or not, of your team (church). Then, add in the whole pro-life movement and you go all in with conservative politics as well. And, in the midst of all of this, the new life in the Holy Spirit with deep prayer, care for the least of these, compassion, love and community building. Somehow, the Gospel gets lost. You wind up reading Fr. Z blogs, and Taylor Marshall, rather than St. Mathew and St. John. I know, because I got lost down this road for some time.
See my previous substack about how Catholics are like baseball fans 👍
You do incredible work Mike. Your commitment, hard hard work, dedication, integrity and fidelity is mind blowing. THANK YOU. And never doubt that you are truly on the mark. The charism of Mike Lewis is very close to Matthew 13:10-16... Eyes that can see, ears that can hear.... God Bless and keeping you in my prayers.
I don't know how you're swinging a Vatican slush fund and Soros bux these days, but it's quite amazing. Always grateful for how you step into breaches most of us are blind to.
Mike, it's Val writing - I'm not sure under whose name it will post.
To a secondary point in your post: I just linked to Bishop Strickland's letter, which includes the lament: “Fast forward to our day and the movement towards a 'synodal Church.' Once again, we see the concept of a 'people’s Church'.”
A mere two paragraphs later, we find quoted in conclusion this call from Archbishop Sheen: “Who is going to save our Church? Not our bishops, not our priests and religious: It is up to you, the people. You have the minds, the eyes, and the ears to save the Church. Your mission is to see that your priests act like priests, your bishops act like bishops, and your religious act like religious.”
How are we to understand this? Rightly or wrongly, Bishop Strickland has postulated (and condemned) a dynamic by which "the ‘Church of the people’ becomes the antagonist of the hierarchical Church.” Does he actually mean to invoke the dynamic he just condemned to advance his own vision? Moreover, would this not impute to the laity a sort of gnostic salvific role, by which they have a knowledge of the ideal execution of ecclesial office denied to those actually possessing such office and the graces specific thereto? It is hard to see how this is a coherent position for the bishop, or anyone, to be holding.
It is contradictory and disconnected from the reality of life and the Church.
I have come to realize that for many of those who seek to destroy Pope Francis's legacy and teaching, there is no endgame, and they aren't working towards any realistic goal. It would be one thing if this was an organized and proper schismatic movement - perhaps they would have reached the point of declaring that it's time to cast off the chains of Rome and that the authority of the pope no longer has any hold on them.
Instead, they sit, they stew, they spread conspiracy theories and attempt to persuade others that the pope is a heretic and everything coming out of the Vatican is evil and that they are the true Catholics upholding tradition. They've reached a point where they live for creating disruption, anger, and chaos. That's all they accomplish and it's all they ever can or will accomplish.
That's not of God.
Mike Lewis extra
You approached the article with the express purpose of confirming your agenda and bias against Traditional Catholics and Fr. Ripperger, in particular. So sorry you found it so confusing and exhausting. That's not journalism. It's self-indulgence.
Anne, I wrote it after years of following his nonsense from a distance (especially during covid). Several bishops and seminary faculty have come to me with concerns about him and his dangerous and reckless message. Seeing the "five generals" thing was the final straw. Someone needed to call attention to his errors. Thankfully there are bishops and Cardinals who have taken notice.
There is nothing dangerous or reckless about the fact that generational curses and a demonic hierarchy exist. They may not be "5 generals" as he puts it, but there is definitely a hierarchy to angels and demons.
Mike I often feel the same way too. You’re far from alone. Hang in there, my friend. You’re in my prayers, brother.
A generational curse doesn’t condemn anyone. No one is condemned by the sins of their ancestors. That’s not what we are talking about.
But absolutely a parent can give rights to Satan over their children. Ask any exorcist. It’s far more common than you’d think.
The same with Masonic oaths and other oaths that specifically mention ones children’s children. Particular Scottish houses on masonry.
Generational curses caused by masonry can cause many problems if not broken, from oppression, to sickness, to suicide etc. have you ever heard of a family where the males seem to commit suicide in every generation. Where they all die young? This COULD be a generational curse.
Ask the many, many exorcists who have seen generational curses caused by masonry in one’s bloodline superstitious?
I’ll stick what the church and the prayers available to exorcists say.
Where did you get this stuff? It's not Catholic.
From exorcists, Mike. And not Ripperger, who I’m not familiar with.
Want to know an example of a generational curse? Ask Adam and Eve. They caused the first.
https://youtu.be/An26QLOi8Ks
Here he talks about it
This guy talks a lot about this stuff in his podcast exorcist files https://www.catholic.com/profile/fr-carlos-martins
Doesn’t sound like a Rad Trad to me
There is absolutely not doctrine or dogma in Catholicism against or for generational curses. But in the experience of exorcists, it is real, and many oppressed people can trace the origin of it to ancestral masonry, the occult etc.
Martins is every bit as crazy. This is not scripture or tradition. It is reactionary nutjobs making stuff up.
Why would Bishops and seminary faculty come to you?
Because they know that I follow Catholic traditionalism, fundamentalism, and conspiracy theorists closely. If they come across something that has become popular with their students or parishioners but seems corrupt, suspect, or heterodox, a lot of them will ask me if I know anything about it. Ripperger is a name that I have been asked about many times.
Your article about Ripperger falls off the rails I'm afraid.
Generational curses are absolutely a thing and there is absolutely NOTHING in Catholic doctrine that says otherwise. In fact, many victims are liberated by denouncing masonic oaths that were taken by their ancestors' generations ago. How? Why? Because these oaths specifically declare that all one's ancestors will be cursed. Because we have authority over our kids - otherwise an infant couldn't be baptized. And this isn't just the masons. Maybe you should listen to what exorcists actually say about liberation.
In addition, there is absolutely a demonic hierarchy. Maybe not exactly how Ripperger describes it, but again, this has been noted by exorcists and churchmen since the beginning - St Paul included. Do you know what principalities and powers are? A hierarchy of demons. Ephesians 6:12 "For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."
It's almost as if all you care about is attacking these people without actually doing the research, all while referencing heterodox prelates who don't even believe in demons or Satan.
We get it, you don't believe in Satan or exorcism, but us Catholics, including the Pope, do.
Your article about Ripperger falls off the rails I'm afraid.
Generational curses are absolutely a thing and there is absolutely NOTHING in Catholic doctrine that says otherwise. In fact, many victims are liberated by denouncing masonic oaths that were taken by their ancestors' generations ago. How? Why? Because these oaths specifically declare that all one's ancestors will be cursed. Because we have authority over our kids - otherwise an infant couldn't be baptized. And this isn't just the masons. Maybe you should listen to what exorcists actually say about liberation.
In addition, there is absolutely a demonic hierarchy. Maybe not exactly how Ripperger describes it, but again, this has been noted by exorcists and churchmen since the beginning - St Paul included. Do you know what principalities and powers are? A hierarchy of demons. Ephesians 6:12 "For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."
It's almost as if all you care about is attacking these people without actually doing the research, all while referencing heterodox prelates who don't even believe in demons or Satan.
Gus, your rant is that of a superstitious person. Why would the Triune God condemn individuals with generational curses?
Mike, I know that evil exists because I have seen it with my own eyes. I believe that the Devil exists and that he has evil followers roaming the world seeking the ruin of souls-to paraphrase the Prayer to St. Michael. I believe that exorcisms are necessary in some circumstances, but also believe that the Church hierarchy, not individual priests (regardless of their intentions), should determine whether the need is necessary or not. Unfortunately, I see too many Catholics who take a position that is really superstitious rather than religious. I don’t want to pick on Gus but I think his views about generational curses are really more pagan than Christian.
No, my views are Catholic - grounded in the Tradition of the Church. They aren’t pagan. It’s about authority, Bill.
I have authority over my children. That is how I allowed them to be baptized. Because I have authority over them, if I take an oath stating that harm will come to them if I betray said oath, it falls on them.
I don’t think any of you understand that.
It’s about RIGHTS - curses and possession. That’s how one is possessed or oppressed - via RIGHTS granted to the demon.
Examples of practices that can grant these right: freemasonry, paganism, the occult, yoga, and yes, sin.
These are facts Bill. Facts I can guarantee you most if not all exorcists will agree with.