No Counsel Against the Church - Bp. Germán Fliess 06-26-23

Summary

Bp. Germán Fliess delivers a reflective discourse on the current crisis within the Catholic Church, focusing particularly on the aftermath and implications of the Second Vatican Council (Vatican II) and the pontificate of Jorge Bergoglio (Pope Francis). He begins by highlighting a significant shift in mainstream Catholic attitudes toward Vatican II and the papacies that followed it, especially under Bergoglio’s leadership. Previously, most Catholics who remained within the Church’s official structures accepted Vatican II as a legitimate council and the post-Vatican II popes as true leaders, disregarding any criticisms or claims of illegitimacy. However, over the past decade, especially during Bergoglio’s pontificate, there is a growing recognition—even within Vatican-controlled institutions—that serious problems exist with Vatican II reforms and the modern papacy.

Bp. Fliess attributes this change to Bergoglio’s overt modernism, his opposition to traditional Catholic morals, and his promotion of socialism and naturalism, which have made it impossible for many to deny the disruptive impact of Vatican II. This acknowledgment is seen as a crack in what the author calls the “sham” of Vatican II’s fidelity to the Catholic faith. Despite these crises, the discourse affirms the enduring indefectibility of the Church, grounded in Christ’s promises and the divine assistance given to the Church through the Holy Spirit. Bp. Fliess draws on biblical imagery, particularly the storm on the sea from St. Mark’s Gospel, to illustrate the Church’s current turmoil and the confident hope that Christ will ultimately restore peace and truth. The faithful are called to unwavering faith, prayer, and good works as they await the divine resolution of this crisis.

Highlights

• A marked change in Catholic attitudes toward Vatican II and its aftermath has emerged during Pope Francis’s pontificate.
• Previously, mainstream Catholics accepted Vatican II and post-conciliar popes without question; today, increasing criticism and doubt are openly expressed.
• Bergoglio’s radical modernism and opposition to traditional Catholic teachings have exposed deep divisions and problems within the Church.
• The legitimacy and orthodoxy of Vatican II and its popes are now widely questioned, even within Vatican-controlled structures.
• Despite the crisis, the Church’s indefectibility and divine protection remain assured by Christ’s promises.
• Biblical imagery of the storm and Christ’s calming of the sea symbolizes the Church’s current turmoil and anticipated restoration.
• The faithful are encouraged to remain steadfast in faith and contribute through prayer and good works while awaiting Christ’s intervention.

Key Insights

• Shift in Mainstream Catholic Perception: Bp. Fliess reveals a significant paradigm shift in how Catholics perceive Vatican II and the papacies following it, particularly that of Pope Francis. For decades, criticism was marginalized or ignored, but now it is becoming part of open discourse, signaling a crisis of confidence in post-conciliar Church leadership and teachings. This suggests a growing fragmentation within Catholicism and a reevaluation of Church history and doctrine by its members.
• Impact of Pope Francis’s Pontificate: Bergoglio’s outspoken modernism and explicit promotion of ideas contrary to traditional Catholic doctrine have acted as a catalyst for this shift. His radical approach has forced many previously compliant Catholics to reconsider the legitimacy and orthodoxy of the current Church hierarchy, highlighting the tension between tradition and modernity within the Church.
• Questioning Vatican II’s Authenticity: Bp. Fliess emphasizes that there is now a widespread, if sometimes implicit, recognition that Vatican II may not have been a true council in the traditional sense. The council’s reforms and the subsequent papal claimants are increasingly viewed with suspicion, indicating a theological and ecclesiological crisis that touches on the very identity and authority of the Catholic Church.
• Theology of the Church’s Indefectibility: Despite the crisis, the discourse strongly reaffirms the doctrine of the Church’s indefectibility—the belief that the Church cannot fail in its divine mission. This is grounded in Christ’s promises to Peter and the presence of the Holy Spirit, serving as a foundational hope that the Church will ultimately triumph over heresy and error. This theological anchor provides resilience and continuity amid turmoil.
• Use of Biblical Imagery as a Framework: The analogy of the storm on the sea from the Gospel of St. Mark is employed to frame the current ecclesiastical crisis. It portrays the Church as a ship battered by waves