The encyclical, issued on July 25, 1968, was entitled, Humanae Vitae
("Of Human Life"). The negative reaction was so severe and widespread
within the Church (even national episcopal conferences greeted it
without enthusiasm) that Paul VI vowed never to publish another encyclical,
and he did not --- for the remaining ten years of his pontificate.
So, faced with a global crisis of morals and faith, Paul VI went off and sulked for ten years because people didn't like what he said.
Nice.
Meanwhile, the world went mad without a peep from Pope Miseriguts until we got a rock star to replace him.
Is it any wonder..?
12 comments:
Don't know if that's quite fair. It is true he didn't do any more encyclicals, but he didn't stop writing.
There were a lot of strategic fumbles with Humanae Vitae. At the press conference, for instance, the archbishop he entrusted to explain the encyclical said it was not infallible, and not irreformable. Which is kind of strange thing to say about the Pope speaking as Pope on a matter of morals, in a way that is entirely consonant with the Tradition handed down.
Incidentally, I think that was part of the reason that the Pope just dropped Summorum Pontificum without a press conference and went on vacation. Initial perceptions matter.
Read Cardinal Stafford's tale of how Humanae Vitae was greeted by the priests of Baltimore.
I've been told that when Cardinal O'Boyle threatened his dissident priests, he was told by the Curia to "cool it."
When a Pope is faced with almost universal disobedience, it's probably not wise to incite more disobedience.
Pope Paul VI didn't stop writing encyclicals. He was, it is a well known fact, locked in the dungeon and replaced by a look-alike double. Probably a space alien.
You should know this. Some trad you are.
By the way, my word verification leaving this comment begins with "IVF". Blogger is clearly a freemasonic plot. Don't be surprised if you never see this comment.
Naw, not the worst. Not even close.
Paul VI's problem was that he had been groomed to be Pope since the early 50s, when Pius XII had a firm hand on the tiller. From what I've read, if he'd been a cardinal in 1958, he'd have been elected first ballot.
Unfortunately, by 1963, a guy who was the perfect candidate for being a 50s pope reigning over a placid Church, he was not at all ideal--much less ready--for the tsunami heading for him.
Oh, and while he stopped writing encyclicals, he did crank out other stuff of value, such as the Credo.
If he'd cracked heads in his own curia, things would have been much, much different. Instead, he spent the last 10 years of his papacy looking like a deer in a spotlight.
Richard McBrien, brave defender of helpless secularists
Oh my Lord! What a beauty! I'm cutting and pasting that for posterity.
Meanwhile, the world went mad without a peep from Pope Miseriguts until we got a rock star to replace him.
You write as though you believe the Gates of Hell have prevailed, Stop it.
Paul VI's problem was that he had been groomed to be Pope since the early 50s, when Pius XII had a firm hand on the tiller.
Sooooo not true!
Pius XII specifically refused to give him the red hat because he wanted to make sure the man he knew to be doctrinally compromised would never become pope.
It was "Good Pope John" who gave it him.
Dale, Hilary, how do you even know these things you assert?
Pius XII specifically refused to give him the red hat because he wanted to make sure the man he knew to be doctrinally compromised would never become pope.
Didn't work, though.
What Hilary says about Pius XII and Paul VI is actually true but I always wonder why Pius XII gave Montini, the grand diocese of Milan which was traditionally a red hat position.
What Hilary says about Pius XII and Paul VI is actually true
How do you know?
You can read Peter Hebblewaite's biography of Paul VI.
Also a book that came out a few years ago in Italian called Paolo Sesto Beato? by Rev. Dr. Luigi Villa (English translation here) explains at great length the case against the beatification of Paul VI. It details Montini's betrayal of Pius XII when he was secretary of Extraordinary Affairs.
Thankyou, Martin, that's what I wanted to know.
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