I hope Bp. Williamson provides a follow-up to this E.C. since it seems to have caused a good deal of contention in the ranks.

Or Garabandal or Malachi Martin?!   To say that Bp. Williamson appears to be a real enigma at times would certainly be an understatement.  The same, no doubt, could rightly be said of Putin, although I think to a lesser degree.  In any event, we can certainly agree on praying much for them both.

As far as any individual ever becoming a POTUS -- and I say this only half tongue in cheek -- I am tempted to recall something that I heard was attributed to Chesterton.  It went something like this.  If I ever had a daughter who became a prostitute I would never never stop praying for her, but if I had a daughter who became a journalist after 6 months I would abandon all hope.

[Chesterton, much to the reported disappointment and sadness of both he and his wife, had no children.]

Just because something can be, doesn't mean that it should.

For example, a Cultural Anthropologist might apply the word "Christian" as a category that a theologian might not.

I'd find the thinking of someone using words this way as suspect, but the academy doesn't particularly give a rip.

I am trying desperately to keep a grip on my emotions. Imagine the good bishop suggesting that Putin may

be more truly papal than the reigning pope of Rome; and that Bergoglio behaves more like a communist than a true pope.  Isn't Putin, after all, "Orthodox?"  He is, what is more,  a (yikes) schismatic.  So we really can't call him a Christian at all, except in "a very loose, secular sense."  Granted , there are some of us who refuse to call Bergoglio a Christian in even the loosest sense of the word. But that's another matter.  I mean, Bergoglio may not be a schismatic, but, at the very least, he seems to be an arch-heretic.  Does that count for nothing?
Meanwhile, This guy Putin carries on as if he were a real Christian.  Such cheek!  Why, I'll bet that Putin probably doesn't even know who true traditional Catholics like us are, much less anything about our  direct lineal descent from the Archbishop.  Shameful!  

I'm not sure a follow-up is required.  I don't think there is much contention among forum members who can
manage to think themselves out of a paper bag.

Feel better?

DZ:

Feel better?

Do you mean, DZ: do I feel better because I've been able to get it all off my chest?  Not exactly.  I would like to think that I might come among you all from time to time, and get some useful direction and positive enlightenment.  But that seldom happens.  To be told what a real Christian is or is not is really not what I'm after.  I find it disappointing when an average, uncredentialed forum member ,(a category into which I fall as well), starts to lecture us about the authenticity and quality of a very prominent world leader's Christian profession, which does not square with that forum member's own preconceived (trad) notions.  It is just possible that Putin, though he is not a Catholic, though he may not know anything about 'traditional Catholicism,' or about sspx perfidy, or about the heresies of pope Francis and the New Order, or about sedevacantism, or about the so-called "Resistance," etc. he may be more truly and wholesomely Christian than many of us who are well acquainted with these matters.  Just possibly, because Putin seems often to act and behave in an exemplary Christian manner, his faith may be far more than just a "secular" veneer. 
(BTW, I had no control over my last post appearing in 20pt type face. I should have previewed it before posting. This post should appear normal.)

It appears that your understanding of "Blessed are the peacemakers" is of a worldly nature.

So, I would like to share with you and others St Augustine's angelic view of "Blessed are the peacemakers" from book one Sermon on the mount:

9. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. It is the perfection of peace, where nothing offers opposition; and the children of God are peacemakers, because nothing resists God, and surely children ought to have the likeness of their father. Now, they are peacemakers in themselves who, by bringing in order all the motions of their soul, and subjecting them to reason— i.e. to the mind and spirit— and by having their carnal lusts thoroughly subdued, become a kingdom of God: in which all things are so arranged, that that which is chief and pre-eminent in man rules without resistance over the other elements, which are common to us with the beasts; and that very element which is pre-eminent in man, i.e. mind and reason, is brought under subjection to something better still, which is the truth itself, the only-begotten Son of God. For a man is not able to rule over things which are inferior, unless he subjects himself to what is superior. And this is the peace which is given on earth to men of goodwill; this the life of the fully developed and perfect wise man. From a kingdom of this sort brought to a condition of thorough peace and order, the prince of this world is cast out, who rules where there is perversity and disorder. When this peace has been inwardly established and confirmed, whatever persecutions he who has been cast out shall stir up from without, he only increases the glory which is according to God; being unable to shake anything in that edifice, but by the failure of his machinations making it to be known with how great strength it has been built from within outwardly. Hence there follows: Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Do you see how this would not be relevant to the prevention of war?

Thank you GJC for the informative and spiritually edifying contribution from St. Augustine.

Let me try to be as clear as I can be here.  In no way have I tried to "canonize" or "beatify" President Putin, although some may have rashly jumped to such a conclusion.  (I don't say or imply that you are one of those.)  At the same time, I don't think we can conclusively claim that even St. Augustine, himself, would deny to President Putin the name of  peacemaker.  I am in no position to say whether or not Putin's soul is in the state of sanctifying grace at this very moment or whether his soul is in the state of mortal sin.  Are you in such a position?  Furthermore, I am in no position to say whether or not Putin is a child of God at the present moment or whether he is a child of the devil.  Are you in such a position?

By your fruits you shall know them.  If Putin has indeed acted and or refrained to act in such a way to prevent the horrendous death of millions if not billions of people (including very possibly, of course, our very selves) do you think that God curses him for doing that or do you think that God blesses him for keeping the peace, i.e., being a peacemaker?  Surely, if he sinned in order to keep the peace that cannot be justified, but are any of us on this forum in a position to say that Putin sinned in acting to prevent the outbreak of war?

The Vatican will not discuss Fatima because it is discredited there. The shrine where Bp. Fellay and his party were recently confined to a car park has been converted into an ecuмenical centre a million miles from any restoration of Catholicism. If Putin broached the subject with Bergoglio it might cause problems with his Orthodox allies back in Russia. I am sure any discussion between the two would skate around their deep irreconcilable ideologies with Christian themes if any remaining on an highly superficial level. Modern Rome is tied to whatever the West disposes and its theatrical setting would only confirm to Putin what she once was while we can only speculate as to the degree Russia has restored Christianity. But there is at least a world leader who is prepared to state the obvious.    

Thank you, DZ, for giving us a glimpse into the remarkable depth of your intellect, and for confirming to all your unquestioned probity.   Another poster adds to your original contention that Putin's Christianity is merely on the surface and not very genuine.  This forum member suggests that even Putin's peacemaking efforts are suspect.  He is not a peacemaker in the Augustinian sense of the word.  I think you and GLC might get along very well together.  Through a joint effort you might even be able to set the good bishop straight.

Whether gilding lilies or polishing turds, BS is BS as much as we'd like ours to be noble, deeply significant, and chock full of pathos.

It doesn't take a PhD to know which end of the horse is for apples.

Remember, the next time you have a sniffle it probably isn't the plague. 

If you need to real talk whatever is really getting you all emotional, minus the fluff, then send it to someone. 

Till then, I'll have to make a note to talk to you like you're a girl; hopefully that won't be over long.