Catholicism rightly values testimony, and of course, the word of a subject himself. That is the way it's always been. I am thinking specifically of the meeting of Fr. Khoat with Cardinal Siri (do I have to explain that meeting?).
Believe me, "testimony" and "conclusion of the witness" are two different things (any lawyers on this forum?).
Fr. Khoat stalked Siri and suddenly faced him with the question, "Are you the pope?" Cardinal Siri answered, categorically, "No". The Cardinal was asked again (because Fr. Khoat didn't accept that categorical answer), and the same answer was given. Fr. Khoat professed he believed Siri was really the true pope, and then proceeded to accuse Cardinal Siri of being guilty of the "murder" of clergy in Vietnam! At that point Cardinal Siri had tears in his eyes (I would, too!). Seeing the man would not take "no" for an answer, and wanting the man out of his face, the Cardinal sarcastically gave the accuser of murder what he wanted, an affirmative answer....which worked, and Fr. Khoat left him alone. If I was Cardinal Siri at that moment, I would have felt my life was in immediate danger, and the sarcastic reply was understandable because the priest clearly would accept no denial. Siri merely humored the frightening stranger.
The conclusion of the witness is Fr. Khoat believing the extorted affirmation was the truth. However, the actual testimony was the denial given by Cardinal Siri. Cardinal Siri lived that denial his whole life both before and after that meeting. To think the Cardinal was really the true pope and would have revealed that truth ONLY to a stranger that accused him of murder, is just plain fantasy.
Yes, perhaps Cardinal Siri was elected, but he most assuredly resigned if that were the case. The promoters of Siri as pope say the resignation was under duress and therefore invalid. However, this doesn't hold water because he had no more duress than any other pope, all who knew well how many people hated him, and how the very gates of hell would be focused upon him. This is not a duress that counts. Duress means immanent danger of being killed within moments or hours, for example, and no hypothetical fear counts. In addition, he lived a life of resignation to his resignation in most peaceful years.
I look at the promoters of Siri as a huge distraction, waste of time and fantasy, and one that even resembles a cult like the Masons in that they go around hoping to make people profess fealty, faith and trust in unseen and unnamed men living who knows where today. Even in the bloody persecution days of the catacombs, Christians knew who the pope was.
Topic: Report on my 2 days of activism (Read 4605 times)