Many years ago, in the evening after the work day was over, I was sitting with two of my coworkers, chatting pleasantly about work and other topics. Then it came up in conversation that they were both non-denominational Christians. These were two good persons, whom I enjoyed working with, and we got along well. Then one of them said something like, “I think that when you die, there’s nothing. No heaven or hell. No afterlife. You just don’t exist anymore.” I was shocked that a practicing Christian, who seemed involved in his religious belief, would hold such an opinion. But before I could say anything, the other coworker said, “That’s what I think too!” And they both began to excitedly discuss this opinion of no afterlife for anyone, even though they were both practicing Christians. I was stunned, and just walked away quietly.
Christians can reinforce one another’s belief, or they can reinforce one another’s unbelief.
{6:14} Do not choose to bear the yoke with unbelievers. For how can justice be a participant with iniquity? Or how can the fellowship of light be a participant with darkness?
Catholic Christians, we who are believers, can sometimes have weaknesses in faith, which we might term “points of unbelief”, that are contrary to the true Faith. The faith held by us fallen sinners is not perfect. So we must be careful not to encourage others in error on doctrine or discipline.
Prior to the internet, if a person in a parish held a serious error on faith or morals, or misunderstood approved discipline, the parish priest or perhaps a few of the parish members could correct that person. And they might well listen to that correction.
With the rise of the internet, every error has a significant group of supporters, scattered in many places but gathered together electronically online. This allows anyone erring gravely to find support for that error on the internet, thereby making it harder for anyone to correct that person. Sometimes they resist correction even from the Pope and the body of Bishops. And having other persons supporting and encouraging their error or set of errors, makes them harder to correct.
This is one major factor in the current vehement opposition to Pope Francis. There is an extensive online culture that reinforces and encourages criticism, refusal of submission, and even serious accusations toward the Pope. Individual Catholics as well as whole Catholic media organizations have taken up the habit of seeking material to feed the anti-papal sentiment on the internet; they will excoriate almost anything Pope Francis says or does. And many such persons or media outlets have a large following on social media, who echo their errors and even make the errors worse. Some of these individuals have made opposing the Pope into a lucrative cottage industry and into a source of ill-gotten notoriety. They love being greeted warmly in the marketplace of ideas on the internet; they vie for the first seats in various conferences held to accuse and ridicule the Pope.
[Mark]
{12:38} And he said to them in his doctrine: “Beware of the scribes, who prefer to walk in long robes and to be greeted in the marketplace,
{12:39} and to sit in the first chairs in the synagogues, and to have the first seats at feasts,
{12:40} who devour the houses of widows under the pretense of long prayers. These shall receive the more extensive judgment.”
I’m concerned that these and other factors will worsen the current schism, and cause a complete break from the Church. There is one true Church, which is led by the successor of Peter with his brethren, the Bishops who are the successors to the other Apostles. The Pope has the charism of truth and never-failing faith, so he can never go astray, though he can err to some extent. The body of Bishops led by the Pope participates in this charism, so they too cannot go astray, but only as a body led by the Pope.
Beloved disciples of Christ, do not let the naysayers and complainers ruin your faith in the one true Church. And you don’t need to be a “Popesplainer”, finding good reasons (which usually exist) or in some cases just making up excuses, to approve of everything the Pope says or does. Popes can err to some extent in their non-infallible decisions of doctrine and discipline. But the Pope is protected from grave error by God, so that the faithful cannot be led astray by the very Church which is the sole Ark of Salvation. Therefore, you don’t need a reason or an explanation, when the Pope says or does something controversial. Just trust in the indefectibility of the Church, and in the work of Christ, the eternal head of the Church, and in the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Soul of the Church. Any possible errors are limited and will be corrected by a future Pope or Council. As for discipline, this can easily be changed; it is never set in stone.
Ronald L Conte Jr
the reproach of Christ 
What is going on is an open rebellion against pope Francis. He decided to take upon himself the burden of the good news that God loves and blesses everyone regardless of one’s sins. (How otherwise would Jesus die on the cross even for the most cruel people, even people like Vigano, if He didn’t decide that everyone should be blessed and offered forgiveness?). Pope Francis could instead publish a decision of the Synod where the question have been discussed and something was decided. We were not told details of the Synod. He chose to be the lonely victim of his opponents instead.
The result is shocking: many African bishops, Kazakhstan, Ukraine and now Hungary declare open rebellion! I don’t know how far the rights of individual bishops extend, when there is a decision by the pope following a lengthy Synod that stretched for 3 years. Moreover, we see a clear political pattern in those reactions. So much so as for cardinal Sarah to declare “the entire African continent”…maybe also cardinal Turcson who appears to be of the same color, if the color matters at all? Let me doubt it, cardinal Sarah! You are not the pope, not yet, not ever!
But what Vigano said surpassed the darkest nightmares: he called the successor of Peter the false prophet! His demonization attempts started sometime ago continue unrestricted and he reaches the limit of the vocabulary options. After the false prophet he doesn’t have any stronger word to use. Unless he declares pope Francis himself to be gay maybe? And here is the paradox: is the gay-thing the ultimate worst ever sin that throws people into Hell without any chance of repentance? Because that is what is implied here. Not even abortion drew so much condemnation and those who performed abortion were prayed for and expected to repent. Both the mothers and the doctors. And if someone thinks so, because people followers of Vigano obviously think so, where did Jesus ever say that? Ever? He didn’t. As simple as that. He blessed everyone, He forgave everyone even those who crucified Him, even Judas, even Pilate. Was Judas gay for example? I just ask because someone must be gay who definitely went to hell condemned by Jesus’ mouth. If not, Vigano and company have no strength to throw anyone to hell. We have the rise of anti-Bergoglian sect (if we reverse the name they give to the faithful priests now called Brergoglian priests). That new sect cannot be farther from what Jesus did and said. We shall see the result of that open rebellion pretty soon. I don’t understand what is waited for the excommunication of Vigano to be announced publicly because obviously he excommunicated himself on more than one occasion in the past. Lefebre would be like a child in comparison, although he bears his heavy responsibility one of the fruits of which is today’s rebellion. It cannot last forever. I would expect a reaction from the Vatican within a month or so. God is not for mockery. Neither is Peter. Whatever Peter loses on earth is loosen in heaven. Including the blessing of gay people on their way to return home, people who are clearly said in the teaching of the Church to be still part of the Church. They are not, were not and will not be excommunicated. That was and is the teaching of the ancient and modern Church. The gay people were found proper positions within the Church, they were not burned or banned then, they will not be now as well. Vigano on the other side de facto is banned. Let see when that will be announced, so his blind collaborators may hear it and be saved somehow.
Can a Catholic priest bless a same-sex couple? – Fr Joseph Edattu VC
In simplistic terms, I believe most of the world problems are due to loss of Faith and Love. Hatred has become the norm. Whether it be religion or politics, there are many groups who are not up to any discussion on any topic. They speak volumes on what they desire and inhibit any other point of view.
Ron,
This is a tough one, as I’ve had Catholic co-workers speak angrily about Pope Francis’s recent discipline on allowing blessings on irregular relationships. Trying to explain to them that it is not a liturgical blessing for same-sex or divorced couples is falling on deaf ears.
I support Pope Francis but I think he seriously erred on this decision.
It’s a decision on discipline that has sound theology behind it, but may not be prudent as some priests and laity might misuse this lenient and merciful discipline.