By chance I read this entry before the one above. I can only share in the sorrow of the person who posted the video and corresponding comments. In my comment below I noted the ambiguous use of "baptism" by Pope Francis and I see that the poster has well discussed the point. In the light of the critical thoughts expressed I find my comments to be a bit redundant, except for the sociological contextualization. The more friendly the Pope becomes with "low Church" denominations, the more will Pope + Friends will develop their own theoretical vocabulary (using conceptually fuzzed-up "shared" terms) leading to their own dogmatics. Is it possible for Gloria.tv to propagate this disturbing video in particularly German, not to speak of other languages. It reveals the inner belief of the Pope so strikingly!

Magister is explaining the "Miracle of Unity", a posting directly below and already made sometime back--one that I commented then. I will repeat little and try a primitive sociological analysis. Not mine, rather that of Peter Berger, a protestant who has tried to understand the sources of secularization (and marvelous sociologist -- still activity at The American Interest in internet). Berger notes: In the everyday interaction of prelates, priests and pastors of various Christian denominations there evolves a common interest is doing good, helping the poor, social justice, etc. that induces a sense of "unity" in actual pastoral or Christian practice where most "true/false" truths (dogmas) are irrelevant. A common view of things evolves. On the other hand, the lay participants are Catholic or, say, Baptist becasue of truth commitments. A conflictual "diversity" arises between lay believers and their dogmatic "unity" and the "unity" of pastoral cooperation where dogma can only get in the way. That is the current situation reflected in Gloria.tv

I will go a step further and assert that the cooperating "bosses" of the various denominations begin to share a common vocabulary, terms which have no fully compatible meaning in a dogmatic sense, but whose verbal appearance is the same. Take "baptism". Pope Francis speaks of shared a "common baptism". The Pope has many times expressed his discomfort with sharp and neat definitions. He must be so thinking here or I must conclude that is is dogmatically uniformed or not intellectually honest. The term "baptism" is used by Catholics and Baptists in the US. Baptism for Catholicism in the sacramental entrance into the sacramental life of the Church. Hence, the necessity of infant baptism. Baptists reject sacramentalism. Baptism is according a symbolic act of adults (or sufficiently aged children) who pronounce their acceptance of Christ as the Savior externally by being baptized. Baptism becomes effectively a public assertion of faith. < Water is poured over the body> is common to Catholics and Baptists. The conceptual meaning of such an act is different to the point of dogmatic incompatiblity. Pope Francis, who has stated that those who stress diversity over unity are doing the devils work, uses the "common baptism" polysemically or ambigurouosly (and that is not intellectually clean) or he is ignorant of Catholic theology, not to mention the theology of "low Church" denominations such as Pentecostals and Baptists).

In the light of what I have written above, it is no mystery why so many lay Catholics, personally and in blogs, are upset. Traditional Catholics are interested in truth which underlies liturgical and pastoral activity. Pope Francis seems to stress pastoral activity + vagues and ambiguous, though emotionally loaded, vocabulary (and, alas, demeans those who follow the truth that necessitates diverity). It appears that the Pope is more amically at home with Pentecostal type Protestants than with traditional Catholics. Eventually, I predict, Pope Francis & Co + Protestant friends will produce their own shared dogmas and traditionalists will become heretics.

I can only think of the waterboy looking to make friends...

Hello friend...

Lol, the waterboy...

But pentecostals are brothers and all schismatics, traditionalists, lefebvrists are enemies... hypocrisy, hypocrisy,
hypocrisy.