I’ve been, as much as possible ignoring the Synod’s (“walking together”) document. First, I’ve wanted a pleasant day. Was the Synod really about producing a document? Or was it about creating smokescreens and providing cover for the placement of poison pills and landmines?

25000 words.

The document, with the voting tallies for the paragraphs, is HERE in Italian only. Gosh, I’ll bet that was helpful for the non-Italians. Let’s rush through voting on paragraph after paragraph – there are, after all, only 167 – how long could that take? what could go wrong? – in a language that not everyone is able to grasp in its subtleties. And, as the old phrase goes, “The Devil speaks Italian”.

My friend Fr. De Souza wrote:

The inability or unwillingness of the synod secretariat to provide translations of texts — despite repeated requests from the English-speaking bishops at least — was a point of friction. Multiple sources said that Cardinal Lorenzo Baldiserri, [Sssssssssssss] secretary general of the synod, was so annoyed during one meeting about requests for translations that he stormed out of the room, threatening to run the next synod entirely in Latin.

As if he were competent to do so.

Notice how this prelate derides every Catholic indirectly by deriding Latin, your patrimony.

Remember, the Devil also always tells you what he is doing.

Abandon Latin, and this, folks is what we get: Babel. The Synod is a sort of “bearded Spock Pentecost”, where everyone who ought to understand each other, are suddenly made unable to. But without the cooler clothes.

Here are a couple paragraphs that pooped out… ooooops …popped out at me. My o key stuck. Notice the number. By this point, the members’ brains are oozing out of their noses.

146. The Synod hopes that in the Church Offices and organisms for digital culture and evangelization are established at appropriate levels, which, with the indispensable contribution of young people, promote ecclesial action and reflection in that environment. Among their functions, apart from promoting the exchange and diffusion of good practices at the personal and the communal level, and to develop adequate tools for digital education and evangelization, they could also manage systems of certification of Catholic sites, to counteract the spread of fake news about the Church, or to seek ways to persuade public authorities to promote ever more stringent political positions and tools for the protection of minors on the web.

Certify Catholic sites? BWAHHHHAHAHAH!

Yeah, that’ll happen. And guess who would be in charge of something like that.

If they want to know the meaning of total, unrestricted and asymetrical warfare just try that. They won’t know what hit them.

In par. 150 – again, now the voting members’ brains are leaking out their elbows – we get the SEX landmine. Trans. Lifesite. VOTE: NO 65. 248 total.

150. There are questions concerning the body, affectivity and sexuality which require a deepened anthropological, theological and pastoral elaboration, [Oh… yes. We are so profound. We will study more and than have “pastoral elaborations!”] to be carried out in the most appropriate ways and at the most appropriate levels, [Which are…..?] from the local to the universal. [AH! THAT cleared that up.] Among these, those relating in particular to the difference and harmony between male and female identity [Wait for iiiiiiit….] and to sexual inclinations emerge. [There it is.] In this regard the Synod reaffirms that God loves every person and so does the Church, renewing its commitment against all discrimination and violence on a sexual basis. It also reaffirms the decisive anthropological relevance of the difference and reciprocity between man and woman and considers it reductive to define the identity of persons solely on the basis of their “sexual orientation” (CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF FAITH, Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons, October 1, 1986, no. 16). [Do you feel a “but” coming? Sorry, bad image. Do you sense a hedge down the line?] In many Christian communities there are already paths of accompaniment in the faith of homosexual persons: the Synod recommends that these paths be encouraged. In these paths people are helped to understand their own [personal] history; to adhere freely and responsibly to their own baptismal call; to recognize the desire to belong to and contribute to the life of the community; [What does that mean?] and to discern the best ways of achieving it. In this way we help every young person, no one excluded, to integrate the sexual dimension more and more into their personality, [leave it to a committee to produce word salad] growing in the quality of relationships and walking towards [“walking together”!] the gift of self.

The problem is, early in the document, we read that this must be read in conjunction with the awful Instrumentum Laboris which had all the “gay” stuff, you know, the LGBTQSJ stuff.

To give you an idea of how shallow, how bereft of value this document is, liturgy was lumped together with sport. Now, don’t get me wrong. There are other mentions of liturgy, especially with the word “accompagnare”.

A form of the word “accompagnare”, a brilliant example of an Italian word that means everything and nothing, sort of like the vaguely comforting, “I’m there for you”, appears 117 times in the document.

The word “anime”, souls, as in “salvation of souls” or “Give me souls and keep the rest!” appears ZERO times.

I thought, “No, it must be there. Maybe they said, “salus animarum”. Nada. Nope. Not there. “Salvazione”. ZERO. “Redenzione” and “Santificazione” 1 each.

25000 words.

Friends, I don’t know what’s next.

On the other hand, celebrated Mass this morning for the traditional Feast of Christ The King. I had a great lunch with friends. I went back to church and heard the Act of Consecration. Now I’m having a quiet supper of good wine, pasta, veg and cheeses.

Act of Consecration of the Human Race to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Most Sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us humbly prostrate before Thine altar. We are Thine, and Thine we wish to be; but to be more surely united to Thee, behold each one of us freely consecrates ourselves today to Thy Most Sacred Heart. Many indeed have never known Thee; Many too, despising Thy precepts, have rejected Thee. Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them to Thy Sacred Heart. Be Thou King, O Lord, not only of the faithful children, who have never forsaken Thee, but also of the prodigal children, who have abandoned Thee; Grant that they may quickly return to their Father’s house lest they die of wretchedness and hunger. Be Thou King of those who are deceived by erroneous opinions, or whom discord keeps aloof, and call them back to the harbor of truth and unity of faith, so that there may be but one flock and one Shepherd. Be Thou King of all those who are still involved in the darkness of idolatry or of Islamism, and refuse not to draw them into the light and kingdom of God. Turn Thine eyes of mercy towards the children of the race, once Thy chosen people: of old they called down upon themselves the Blood of the Savior; may it now descend upon them a laver of redemption and of life. Grant, O Lord, to Thy Church assurance of freedom and immunity from harm; give peace and order to all nations, and make the earth resound from pole to pole with one cry; praise to the Divine Heart that wrought our salvation; To it be glory and honor forever. R. Amen.