This thread was spurred by another thread where we were discussing following (blindly) a pope or another prelate. That is NOT Catholicism. Catholicism is knowing intimately, and living to your best, the faith.
Fr. Hesse was appointed to the vatican as a theologian by JPII. Here he outlines many of these issues in detail.
According to the brief article on Wikipedia, the late Fr. Hesse was appointed as secretary to Cdl. Stickler. What theology post did he hold? Obviously, to say he "was appointed to the Vatican" has no clear meaning.
Alas, when I met him once, saying Mass in a ramshackle illicit chapel in Rhode Island, he expressed clearly schismatic sentiments: "We want nothing to do with those people" (in the diocesan cathedral). It was a Holy Thursday.
There is no such thing as a schismatic sentiment. There is truth and there is falsehood. We are not talking about people. We are not judging anyone's soul. That is for God. Many popes have been schismatics. We are not able to make those judgements as individuals.
If you follow the doctrine and the documents and the reasoning that has come down to us for centuries, it brings you to one conclusion. The truth.
If I am hearing you correctly, you are discounting the message because of the messenger? His personal life or beliefs? You cannot do that. Take what he is saying on face value... nothing more, nothing less.
Here is another very interesting post from a completely different perspective from B16. The comments are just as telling as the article. Let's not kid ourselves. The truth is very painful, I do admit. But the crisis is certainly upon us as in the days of Athanasius.
I had the good fortune to meet Canon Hesse quite awhile back, but I was rather young at the time. I seem to recall he had an engaging personality, approved of guns, and wasn't afraid to bluntly speak his mind.
yes... a priest after my own heart. doesn't mince words. his yes is yes, and no is no... and is from my homeland... must be cut from the same cloth. we can't let the enemy be the only that is armed.
You were asking about the credentials of Canon Hesse. In this video, Canon Hesse elucidates upon his credentials, some of which he does not take too seriously. However, at 1:22:15 he states that the pope appointed him a theologian by giving him a papal doctorate.
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