As you hint at, it seems to me, especially after reading Nathan Pinkowski's piece linked below that the goal of synodality was to install a permanent hidden bureaucracy or "deep church" that would make the decisions and focus on fluffy marketing campaigns of little substance whilst a "celebrity CEO" Pope would pretend to run things.
Their goal, managing a managerial takeover of the Church in the vein of James Burnham's "The Managerial Revolution," is problematic less because it would have corrupted the Church towards professing actual heresy but more because it would make the Church stand for and preach nothing of substance. Just as with Vatican II, so also here with the synods and Amoris Laetitia (etc.). The goal of the liberal infiltrators has been bureaucratic and managerial, not to profess specific, clear positive heresies but to say nothing of meaning, ask for nothing of meaning, and leave people only with "warm and fuzzy" marketing fluff.
Luckily, it didn't work, because even the meaningless marketing fluff stopped being appealing to most people.
Well, the apparatus is in place and has already done a lot of damage. Even the energy, time, and money is already damage! But the damage is to the mind and the soul.
I guess I am in an overly-optimistic mood right now, mostly because I think the last twelve years have backfired from the plans of the "synodal syndodalists" and led to the radicalization of many Catholics, with Francis, in an indirect way, actually strengthening tradition because of how hard he came down on it.
Purging the Church of the synodal mindset that we've subconsciously imbued is, of course, a far larger project, as I worry that the modernist/Protestant mentalities therein have even affected many right-wing conservatives and traditionalists in far more subtle ways.
The risk seems to be now that we get a conservative Pope who uses the methods of Pope Francis for traditional ends without fixing the root problem of false ecclesiologies, which seem to go back to the unfinished application of and clarifications for Vatican I, almost as much as the issues with Vatican II.
Indeed synodality needs to be undone. If we had tried synodality in the Orthodox sense it might have been positive. But we went whole hog for the Anglican sense, the one that has all but destroyed Anglicanism and is destroying Catholicism in real time.
So many things of the Francis papacy that need to be undone, revoked, withdrawn, shredded. But synodality, that attempt to re-invent how the Church works, is paramount.
Personnel is policy too. So many powerful Francis appointments will have to be promoted to the Antarctic mission, replaced by faithful Catholics. And some faithful cardinals will need to be created. Some of the present ones, once sent to Antarctica would be unavailable for future conclaves.
But this I think is critical for US to do if the new pope is even marginally adequate. And I’ve said this before. We need to do a financial rescue of the Vatican. $50 million in a month. Another $100 million before the end of the year. And enough after that so the Vatican is no longer beholden to China.
I’m not a big money guy. But I will put up a chunk and ask my friends to do the same. And if the new pope turns out to be a good pope he needs to know we’re going to have his back financially well into the future. If the new pope is Francis II then not one penny.
So now I’m contemplating whether pope Leo XIV is going to be adequate enough for me to attempt organizing a major financial rescue package for the Vatican. The one I mentioned above with a short term $50 million goal. With other people’s money, of course, because I’m rather impecunious. Is this the pope I have been waiting for or should I continue to wait as the Vatican financial disaster pot continues to stew? Any ideas? I have time and some friends. I can figure out the ‘how’ part. I just need to know the ‘whether’ part.
I appreciate mulling over your thoughts on this subject. Especially in response to your request for comments, I did listen to your warm and peaceful voice read what you have written here. I know it must be an extra layer of effort after the writing and publishing, but your narration brings a much better experience to the listener than the male AI voice that reads some of the other articles I listen to while cleaning up the breakfast table on a Saturdaymorning. If I were limited to reading only, I would miss a lot of quality content as I'd rather dedicate that time I have for reading books.
Thank you for this comment. I appreciate it. I know what you mean -- I too accompany many of my daily chores with some auditory content, now that my children are gone. I find it helpful to have the option, but I don't think there's a way for me to know who is listening as opposed to reading, so your experience helps me!
As you hint at, it seems to me, especially after reading Nathan Pinkowski's piece linked below that the goal of synodality was to install a permanent hidden bureaucracy or "deep church" that would make the decisions and focus on fluffy marketing campaigns of little substance whilst a "celebrity CEO" Pope would pretend to run things.
Their goal, managing a managerial takeover of the Church in the vein of James Burnham's "The Managerial Revolution," is problematic less because it would have corrupted the Church towards professing actual heresy but more because it would make the Church stand for and preach nothing of substance. Just as with Vatican II, so also here with the synods and Amoris Laetitia (etc.). The goal of the liberal infiltrators has been bureaucratic and managerial, not to profess specific, clear positive heresies but to say nothing of meaning, ask for nothing of meaning, and leave people only with "warm and fuzzy" marketing fluff.
Luckily, it didn't work, because even the meaningless marketing fluff stopped being appealing to most people.
https://www.compactmag.com/article/pope-franciss-managerial-revolution/
Well, the apparatus is in place and has already done a lot of damage. Even the energy, time, and money is already damage! But the damage is to the mind and the soul.
I do not use the past tense as you do!
I guess I am in an overly-optimistic mood right now, mostly because I think the last twelve years have backfired from the plans of the "synodal syndodalists" and led to the radicalization of many Catholics, with Francis, in an indirect way, actually strengthening tradition because of how hard he came down on it.
https://grainofwheat.substack.com/p/thank-the-holy-spirit-for-choosing?r=1mcpmt
However, this article:
https://catholicfamilynews.com/blog/2025/03/17/the-unexpected-conservative-cardinal-electors/
as well as Christian Wagner's video on the papabile seem to bode well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8Fj8FlA0vQ
Purging the Church of the synodal mindset that we've subconsciously imbued is, of course, a far larger project, as I worry that the modernist/Protestant mentalities therein have even affected many right-wing conservatives and traditionalists in far more subtle ways.
The risk seems to be now that we get a conservative Pope who uses the methods of Pope Francis for traditional ends without fixing the root problem of false ecclesiologies, which seem to go back to the unfinished application of and clarifications for Vatican I, almost as much as the issues with Vatican II.
I am chuckling at recalling my pastor 's consternation at the idea of a synod on synodality.
I mean it is a cause for consternation!
Indeed synodality needs to be undone. If we had tried synodality in the Orthodox sense it might have been positive. But we went whole hog for the Anglican sense, the one that has all but destroyed Anglicanism and is destroying Catholicism in real time.
So many things of the Francis papacy that need to be undone, revoked, withdrawn, shredded. But synodality, that attempt to re-invent how the Church works, is paramount.
Personnel is policy too. So many powerful Francis appointments will have to be promoted to the Antarctic mission, replaced by faithful Catholics. And some faithful cardinals will need to be created. Some of the present ones, once sent to Antarctica would be unavailable for future conclaves.
But this I think is critical for US to do if the new pope is even marginally adequate. And I’ve said this before. We need to do a financial rescue of the Vatican. $50 million in a month. Another $100 million before the end of the year. And enough after that so the Vatican is no longer beholden to China.
I’m not a big money guy. But I will put up a chunk and ask my friends to do the same. And if the new pope turns out to be a good pope he needs to know we’re going to have his back financially well into the future. If the new pope is Francis II then not one penny.
So now I’m contemplating whether pope Leo XIV is going to be adequate enough for me to attempt organizing a major financial rescue package for the Vatican. The one I mentioned above with a short term $50 million goal. With other people’s money, of course, because I’m rather impecunious. Is this the pope I have been waiting for or should I continue to wait as the Vatican financial disaster pot continues to stew? Any ideas? I have time and some friends. I can figure out the ‘how’ part. I just need to know the ‘whether’ part.
I suppose we have to wait for him to ask us?
I appreciate mulling over your thoughts on this subject. Especially in response to your request for comments, I did listen to your warm and peaceful voice read what you have written here. I know it must be an extra layer of effort after the writing and publishing, but your narration brings a much better experience to the listener than the male AI voice that reads some of the other articles I listen to while cleaning up the breakfast table on a Saturdaymorning. If I were limited to reading only, I would miss a lot of quality content as I'd rather dedicate that time I have for reading books.
Thank you for this comment. I appreciate it. I know what you mean -- I too accompany many of my daily chores with some auditory content, now that my children are gone. I find it helpful to have the option, but I don't think there's a way for me to know who is listening as opposed to reading, so your experience helps me!