(LifeSiteNews) – An increasing number of Catholics are attacking Archbishop Carlo Mario Viganò for his analysis of the situation in Ukraine. Catholics I respect, and know, have accused His Excellency of being a “conspiracy theorist” pushing “Kremlin propaganda” and “carrying water for the KGB.”
The blowback Viganò is receiving deserves our attention, as does the way establishment traditionalists are talking about the Ukrainian conflict itself. We live in a significant moment in Church history. It would be a mistake almost beyond compare to cancel the archbishop at the exact time we need him most.
Firstly, let me say I believe Archbishop Viganò is the answer to decades of prayers and penance by Catholics who have begged God to send them a prelate who can see through the lies of the world and guide them through the fog that has enveloped the Church. In this regard, I view him as a sort of Old Testament prophet.
This isn’t to say he’s impeccable, for no human being is, but I can’t recall a single public statement His Excellency has made that doesn’t read like one of the great social encyclicals of the 19th century. Even his critics would be hard pressed to deny the gifts of the Holy Spirit are plainly visible in his writings. It seems to me God is giving him graces otherwise reserved for a pope.
What did Viganò actually say?
Far from being Russian “propaganda,” Viganò’s well researched summary of the Ukraine-Russia conflict is a balanced explanation of what’s going on in the region — and why it’s taking place. It’s less of an op-ed arguing for one side over the other and more of a 10,000-foot view of current geo-political realities. Few, if any, bishop statements I’ve read so far possess half the understanding of the situation as Viganò does.
It takes a decent amount of time to read through His Excellency’s analysis given its breadth and scope. I’ve done so twice now. Here, in perhaps a grossly overly simplified way, is what he said:
- The entire conflict is a trap designed by the global Deep State to purposefully provoke a war.
- The West knows expanding NATO upsets Russia but is doing it anyway, despite previously saying it wouldn’t.
- NATO and various other countries are illegally pouring ammunitions into Ukraine, thereby violating international law. This is making Ukraine a tinderbox ready to explode.
- There are many economic factors at play in Ukraine — gas pipelines, biolabs, technologies, etc. — that make it attractive to outside parties.
- President Zelensky is a corrupt individual acting as a puppet of Klaus Schwab and the Great Reset. He is selling out Ukraine to the West and not preventing neo-Nazi forces trained by the US from wreaking havoc on Russian-speaking Ukrainians.
- Joe Biden has been tied to Ukraine since his time as Barack Obama’s Vice President. His son Hunter is connected to the Ukrainian energy company Burisma.
- There was a Color Revolution in Ukraine backed by George Soros and other Western groups. This has caused great social unrest since taking place in 2013/2014.
- Rhetoric has been ratcheted up in the last several months by Zelensky (and the West) about nuclear and atomic weapons, thereby heightening Putin’s mistrust and prompting him to dissolve the Minsk agreement.
- The media cannot be relied on to report about what’s going on in Ukraine. Their COVID track record is proof they can’t do anything but lie. They are purposefully trying to entice Westerners to support an escalation.
- The US, EU, and NATO promise the Ukrainian people prosperity if they side with them but in reality, they seek to enslave Ukrainian citizens to the same freedom-robbing and culturally depressing policies that have destroyed the now godless West.
- The West needs to return to Christ and seek peaceful relations with Russia so all people can live in harmony. Rome has fallen silent about the true crimes being committed across the world. Perhaps God is going to use Russia as His bulwark against the secular West.
I do not see anything His Excellency has written that can be characterized as pro-Russian talking points or Kremlin “propaganda.” He’s charted a decidedly non-ideological course by taking into consideration a variety of factors.
In my estimation, his essay betrays a solid understanding not only of the behaviors (and corruption) of Ukrainian leaders — past and present — but also of the foreign and domestic policies pursued by Ukrainian lawmakers in recent years. He also has a sober grasp of the history and relationship between Europe, Ukraine, and Russia and how the current conflict fits into the larger goals of the Great Reset and the future plans of international elites.
If I’d been consulted by His Excellency on what to say in his statement before it went to print, I would’ve asked him to include some additional citations for a few of his claims, as well as to say something pastoral about Ukrainian Catholics and how he sympathizes with them and other innocent victims in this conflict. I would’ve also asked him to share more thoughts on the actions taken by Vladimir Putin. Perhaps he will do this in the future.
Pushback from unexpected places
His Excellency’s statement has not been well-received by establishment traditional Catholic media outlets and public figures. I needn’t repeat what they’ve said in this space. Most of their comments can be found online. Broadly speaking, they amount to nothing more than vague accusations and uncharitable remarks that fail to put forth a cogent counterargument. The only substantive response I’ve seen so far is this interview with Fr. Jason Charron on Matt Fradd’s Pints with Aquinas podcast, and even he gets a few of the archbishop’s remarks wrong. Ultimately, the personal attacks and snide comments made about Archbishop Viganò reflect more poorly on those who make them than on the archbishop himself, whatever his personal failings.
One possible reason Catholics aren’t seeing this conflict for what it is is the influence of Deep State-owned corporate news networks. For decades, Western outlets have been repeating Cold War-era talking points and using terms like “oligarchs” and “propaganda” only when speaking about Russia. This has had the lamentable effect of blinding many Americans to the reality that the same terms could be used for powerful businessmen like Bill Gates and outlets like CNN, the BBC, and many others. Americans are, by and large, also unable to see just how many revolutions, social discord, and unjust wars the US has had its hand in over the last several decades all under the guise of spreading “freedom.” Too many Catholics think that only Russia is evil and the US is good, when in reality things are far more complicated than that.
President Trump, for his part, was able to see through the media’s lies. In a 2017 interview with Bill O’Reilly, Trump was asked how he could work with Putin, a man O’Reilly called “a killer.” Trump promptly responded, “There’s a lot of killers. What, you think our country’s so innocent?…take a look at what we’ve done….[there’s] a lot of killers around, believe me.” Is it not the case that Archbishop Viganò is in a certain sense saying the same thing but in regards to the Ukraine-Russia conflict? And, like President Trump, is he also not being vilified by his critics as a Putin supporter for doing so?
Please read the latest from LifeSiteNews about the text of the Act of Consecration which was just released by the Vatican: 'BREAKING: Text of Pope Francis’ consecration of ‘humanity, especially Russia and Ukraine’ released'
PETITION UPDATE (3/23/22):
The Vatican has announced that Pope Francis will consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, on the feast of the Annunciation, March 25.
On March 15, the Holy See Press Office wrote:
On Friday 25 March, during the Celebration of Penance at which he will preside at 17.00 in Saint Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis will consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The same act, on the same day, will be carried out in Fatima by His Eminence Cardinal Krajewski, Apostolic Almoner, as envoy of the Holy Father.
This unexpected and monumental announcement comes after the Catholic bishops of Ukraine issued an urgent and heartfelt plea to the Holy Father on Ash Wednesday, asking that he make the consecration as Our Lady of Fatima had requested. The bishops wrote:
Responding to this prayer, we humbly ask Your Holiness to publicly perform the act of consecration to the Sacred Immaculate Heart of Mary of Ukraine and Russia, as requested by the Blessed Virgin in Fatima.
May the Mother of God, Queen of Peace, accept our prayer: Regina pacis, ora pro nobis! In July 1917, Our Lady of Fatima gave the three visionaries this message, asking for the explicit consecration of Russia to her Immaculate Heart:
To prevent this, I shall come to ask for the consecration of Russia to my Immaculate Heart, and the Communion of reparation on the First Saturdays. If my requests are heeded, Russia will be converted, and there will be peace; if not, she will spread her errors throughout the world, causing wars and persecutions of the Church. The good will be martyred; the Holy Father will have much to suffer; various nations will be annihilated. In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph. The Holy Father will consecrate Russia to me, and she shall be converted, and a period of peace will be granted to the world.
Our Lady of Fatima then repeated the request in 1929, when she appeared to Sr. Lucia saying:
"The moment has come in which God asks the Holy Father to make, and to order that in union with him and at the same time, all the bishops of the world make the consecration of Russia to My Immaculate Heart, promising to convert it because of this day of prayer and worldwide reparation."
While Pope John Paul II made an “entrustment-consecration” of the world, including Russia, to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on March 25, 1984, he deliberately avoided making the explicit mention of Russia as Our Lady had requested.
Following the announcement that Pope Francis will consecrate Russia and Ukraine, LifeSiteNews is now asking the Pope to ensure that the consecration is performed precisely as Our Lady of Fatima requested. In order to fulfil the request Our Lady made, the Pope must "order" the "bishops of the world" to make the consecration of Russia "in union with him and at the same time."
Along with this, the day of consecration must be a "day of prayer and worldwide reparation."
The importance of the specifications made by Our Lady was noted by Sr. Lucia. Having seen a copy of Pope John Paul II’s consecration text prior to the 1984 “entrustment-consecration,” she said “That consecration cannot have a decisive character.”
Then in 1985, following Pope John Paul II’s "entrustment-consecration," Sr. Lucia observed that:
"There was no participation of all the bishops, and there was no mention of Russia." She was then asked, "So the consecration was not done as requested by Our Lady?" to which she replied: "No. Many bishops attached no importance to this act."
With Pope Francis’ proposed consecration only days away, LifeSiteNews is urging him to fulfil the request of Fatima, to "order" the bishops to join him in making the consecration and to make the day one of “prayer and worldwide reparation.”
Bishop Athanasius Schneider has also composed a prayer to be said for the consecration of Russia, in the manner Our Lady asked for:
O Immaculate Heart of Mary, you are the holy Mother of God and our tender Mother. Look upon the distress in which the Church and the whole of humanity are living because of the spread of materialism and the persecution of the Church. In Fatima, you warned against these errors, as you spoke about the errors of Russia. You are the Mediatrix of all graces. Implore your Divine Son to grant this special grace for the Pope: that he might consecrate Russia to your Immaculate Heart, so that Russia will be converted, a period of peace will be granted to the whole world, and your Immaculate Heart will triumph, through an authentic renewal of the Church in the splendor of the purity of the Catholic faith, of the sacredness of Divine worship and of the holiness of Christian life. O Queen of the Holy Rosary and our dear Mother, turn your merciful eyes to us and graciously hear this our trusting prayer.
Amen.
+Athanasius Schneider, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Saint Mary in Astana
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PETITION UPDATE (3/2/22) -
The Ukrainian Catholic bishops have specifically asked Pope Francis to consecrate Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, according to the request of Our Lady of Fatima.
Here is a link to their Ash Wednesday letter: http://kmc.media/2022/03/02/yepyskopy-ukrayiny-prosyat-papu-prysvyatyty-ukrayinu-ta-rosiyu-sercyu-mariyi.html
Please WATCH the new John-Henry Westen show about this momentous event: https://www.lifesitenews.com/episodes/ukraines-catholic-bishops-ask-pope-francis-to-consecrate-russia-to-the-immaculate-heart-of-mary
Then, please read LifeSiteNews latest story on this amazing development: 'Ukraine’s Catholic bishops ask Pope Francis to consecrate Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary'
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The great drama now is the Russian invasion of Ukraine. How far will it go, how will the West and especially the U.S. respond, and will China now be tempted to attack Taiwan? These questions are on everyone’s mind, including fear that it might lead to a far greater war.
It is hard to know exactly what to say other than Russia’s invasion must be condemned. And, that the world must now pray for peace.
Keeping those things in mind, LifeSite now proposes to resurrect this petition - now, more urgent than before - asking Pope Francis to reconsecrate Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Please SIGN and SHARE this important petition to Pope Francis, imploring him to reconsecrate Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in the same way that Our Lady of Fatima asked in 1917.
We humbly ask Pope Francis to use the following wording:
“In accordance with Our Lady’s request at Fatima, I, Pope Francis, consecrate Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, in union with all the bishops of the world.”
And then:
“I also consecrate Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, in union with all the bishops of the world.”
The bishops’ wording should be:
“In accordance with Our Lady’s request at Fatima, I, _______________, consecrate Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, at the same time as, and in union with, Pope Francis.”
Speaking in Rome only 5 years ago, Cardinal Raymond Burke called on the Catholic faithful to “work for the consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary” in fidelity to the request by Our Lady of Fatima.
The Cardinal explained:
"Certainly, Pope Saint John Paul II consecrated the world, including Russia, to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on March 25, 1984. But, today, once again, we hear the call of Our Lady of Fatima to consecrate Russia to her Immaculate Heart, in accord with her explicit instruction."
This call, whether in 1917, or 1984, or in 2017, is EVEN MORE relevant today!
Pope Saint John Paul II himself wanted to name Russia explicitly in his Consecration, but in the end yielded to pressure not to from advisors. Cardinal Josef Cordes, former president of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, confirmed this fact on May 13, 2017, based on his own conversation with the sainted pope.
However, after several years of confusion, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith published "The Message of Fatima," on June 26, 2000, in which we learn that Sr. Lucia confirmed that the Pope's consecration was, in fact, done according to Our Lady's wishes (emphasis added):
Sister Lucia personally confirmed that this solemn and universal act of consecration corresponded to what Our Lady wished ("Sim, està feita, tal como Nossa Senhora a pediu, desde o dia 25 de Março de 1984": "Yes it has been done just as Our Lady asked, on 25 March 1984": Letter of 8 November 1989). Hence any further discussion or request is without basis.
But, Cardinal Burke explained why a consecration including Russia is so important: "[It] is at once a recognition of the importance which Russia continues to have in God’s plan for peace and a sign of profound love for our brothers and sisters in Russia."
For those who may object to calling for the reconsecration of Russia, on the basis that it has already been done, Cardinal Burke recalled the words of Pope St. John Paul II who, in 1982, during his consecration of the world to the Immaculate Heart noted: “Mary’s appeal is not for just once. Her appeal must be taken up by generation after generation, in accordance with the ever new ‘signs of the times’. It must be unceasingly returned to. It must ever be taken up anew.”
Burke, former prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, gave his address in the month of the centenary of Our Lady of Fatima’s first apparition to the three shepherd children.
Thank you for SIGNING and SHARING this urgent petition to Pope Francis, urging him to reconsecrate Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and imploring God to quell the hostilities.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
'Russia’s invasion is an opportunity to recall the message of Our Lady of Fatima' - https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/russias-invasion-is-an-opportunity-to-recall-the-message-of-our-lady-of-fatima
'Russia attacks Ukraine: explosions in multiple cities as troops move across borders' - https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/russia-launches-attack-on-ukraine-explosions-in-multiple-cities-as-troops-move-across-the-border/
Seeing things as they are is a gift of the Holy Spirit
Another point worth mentioning is the way in which Viganò’s analysis tracks closely with the views taken by many mainstream conservative reporters. The Columbia Bugle, Pedro Gonzalez of Chronicles, Raheem Kassam of The National Pulse, and Jack Posobiec from Human Events have been providing invaluable coverage of the Ukraine-Russia conflict. They all deserve an award for revealing Western media corruption. They’ve also been instrumental in explaining how neo-conservatives, Deep State actors, and Great Reset leaders are pushing for war in Ukraine.
And yet, when Archbishop Viganò puts forth statements similar to theirs, Catholics call him a “conspiracy theorist.” I do wonder how some traditionalists reconcile their low appraisal of Archbishop Viganò with their adulation for, say, Leo XIII, a pope who wrote an entire encyclical in 1884 on how global Freemasonry is trying to ensnare the world to its diabolical ways. Would they have laughed him off and called him a “conspiracy theorist” if they had been alive back then? If not, what makes them say such things about the archbishop today? The Holy Spirit gives us the graces needed to see through the empire of lies built by the devil. If COVID has taught us anything, it’s that evil men are plotting the destruction of not only the Church but the world as a whole and that the term “conspiracy theory” really isn’t an effective smear anymore. Most of the time, it’s a conspiracy fact.
Catholics are of course more than free to disagree with Archbishop Viganò’s analysis, but if they do decide he’s wrong and go public with their views they should at least provide a substantive critique of his statement and not be so quick to casually throw him under the bus. They should also humbly pray to God about whether His Excellency has been sent specifically for this moment in order to get us to see through the many falsehoods around the world. I for one support Archbishop Viganò’s statement and await the day the worldwide Church does as well.
