A group of Cardinals repeatedly gathered to discuss the future of the Church and the papacy. They met in a town called Saint Gallen, Switzerland. There is nothing nefarious about Cardinals meeting to discuss the Church and the papacy. Cardinals have a special role in the Church. While most Bishops are assigned to a particular See (or similar flock), Cardinals assist the Pope in presiding over the whole Church, and the Cardinal-electors vote in a conclave for the Roman Pontiff. It is entirely within the role of Cardinals to meet and discuss the future of the Church and the papacy.

They why are they called “mafia”? It is because this group of Cardinals was somewhat liberal, at least they are considered liberal by Catholics on the far right. Since these Cardinals do not agree with the ideas of the conservative or traditionalist subcultures, they are hated, maligned, and treated like criminals by Catholics.

[Luke]
{22:37} For I say to you, that what has been written must still be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was esteemed with the wicked.’ Yet even these things about me have an end.”

Instead of “wicked”, some translations have “criminals” or “transgressors”. Cardinals exercise the authority of Christ under the Roman Pontiff. To accuse them of being like criminals (“mafia”), simply for discussing the future of the Church and considering who might be a good future Pope, is a grave sin against Christ and His Church.

Whether you agree with the opinions of these Cardinals or not, referring to them as “mafia” is a grave sin. It is not merely rash judgment, but a false accusation. Even those who use the term maliciously know that these Cardinals have committed no serious offense, other than holding views contrary to their accusers (and the preferred subculture of those accusers). What do you think Jesus would say to one of the disciples, if he referred to another group of disciples as “criminals” or “mafia”?

[Luke]
{9:49} And responding, John said: “Teacher, we saw a certain one casting out demons in your name. And we prohibited him, for he does not follow with us.”
{9:50} And Jesus said to him: “Do not prohibit him. For whoever is not against you, is for you.”

[Matthew]
{10:40} Whoever receives you, receives me. And whoever receives me, receives him who sent me.

Calling a group of Cardinals “mafia” because they have a different point of view on the Church and the papacy than you and your peers is indefensible.

Now, there is a new sinful article at OnePeterFive, which inadvertently makes some true statements about the errors of those who attack the Popes and Councils, and who attack the Cardinals and Bishops:

Full quote: “Reading this book is as exciting as reading a novel, but everything in it is documented with a rigorous historical method. This aspect deserves to be underlined at a time when certain conspiracy theories are exposed in a superficial and sometimes fanciful way. To make up for a lack of evidence, theories such as these use a narrative technique, which appeals to the emotions more than to reason, and enwraps those who, with an act of faith, have already decided to believe the improbable.”

Accurate part: “Reading this book is as exciting as reading a novel…. To make up for a lack of evidence, theories such as these use a narrative technique, which appeals to the emotions more than to reason, and enwraps those who … have already decided to believe the improbable.”

These stories about the St. Gallen “Mafia” and other stories claiming conspiracies at Vatican II, at conclaves, within the papacy, etc., are comparable to a fictional novel. They lack evidence and make up for that lack by a “narrative technique, which appeals more to emotions than to reason”. They captivate or enwrap those who have already decided to believe what is “improbable”, due to the biases they have obtained by attachment to (or even worship of) a certain subculture. These claims against Popes, Councils, and the Church are not merely improbable, but are impossible as they contradict the dogmas of the Church on indefectibility and on the never-failing faith of the Roman Pontiff.

The article quoted above is called “the Historical Roots of the St. Gallen Mafia”. But it is not history. Rather, it is a narrative technique used to attack the Church, undermine faith in the work of the Holy Spirit within the body of Christ, undermine the power that Christ always has over His Church, and to convince the faithful to adhere to a subculture and to its leaders, rather than adhere to Christ, His Church, and Church leaders.

[2 Timothy 4]
{4:1} I testify before God, and before Jesus Christ, who shall judge the living and the dead through his return and his kingdom:
{4:2} that you should preach the word urgently, in season and out of season: reprove, entreat, rebuke, with all patience and doctrine.
{4:3} For there shall be a time when they will not endure sound doctrine, but instead, according to their own desires, they will gather to themselves teachers, with itching ears,
{4:4} and certainly, they will turn their hearing away from the truth, and they will be turned toward fables.

Do not listen to those who spin conspiracy theories in order to attack the Church.

Ronald L. Conte Jr.