Originally posted by golddragnet
Fair enough I guess. Actually I laughed when I read that, can't remember when anyone last called me "sunshine".
I'm glad you took it in the spirt in which it was intended. I was in no way accusing you of mis-direction, simply of re-directing my question back
at me. I want your opinion dammit not references to the opinions of others.
That said I'll play.
I have read excerpts of Eric John Phelps, notably from the Vatican Assassins. Also I have read Greg Symanzki (probable mis-spell there). while they
touch on some interesting facts, you can surely admit that they're skewed. I have attempted to find sources and in doing so have found that there is
none or that they have misquoted or in fact fabricated they're so called source. I am not going to spend money on a book that has no academic merit,
end of story. There are glimmers of truth, and in some ways I agree, but they are too targeted and that sends alarms bells to my ears.
SMOM. The history taken as a whole is interesting and for me, offers insight into how it has adapted and changed. It also demonstrates that it has
had less than holy progeny, as can be said of all the so-called pilgrim protectors that originated in the crusades (pull the other one, its got bells
on!!). The Vatican in my opinion has and continues to have, elements of corruption within it. The confering of the status of a Knight of Malta is
quite obviously and openly a reward for services to the protection and promotion of the Roman Church. In 1927, when an american branch was set up
they did so by amending the qualification that prevented anyone without noble blood from being given this award. This policy has been now spread
world wide it seems to me. I am unsure yet what this means. SMOM has permanent observer status, though as yet no vote, at the UN, but then so do a
number of other bodies.
Eric Phelps mentions a number of recipients of the OKOM and on the basis of the reward system this is a point to ponder. I am not sure that it
indicates control so much as a reward for collaboration. I certainly have found direct evidence of collusion between the US intelligence community
and the Vatican. It is not hard to find. Dulles and Donovan were both Catholics, Dulles' nephew is a Jesuit. More insightful still is that Gehlen
received similar honours.
I know that Ignatious Loyola was attracted to the tales of chivalry that came from this period, the romantic, cleansed version of events if you will
and that this is what drew him to service to the church. I also know that he had many conflicts with the Roman Church, although for his part his
loyalty did endure despite criticism and persecution. Just as can be said for the Dominicans, Thomas Aquinas, Jansenists etc etc at different points
in the church history. For that reason I do not preclude the possibility that the jesuits have adapted and fallen in line with the Vatican, as all
others eventually have when accused of heresy.
My chief reference on the Jesuits is The Secret and Power of the Jesuits by Rene Fulop-Miller. Though I cannot attest to its impartiallity, I have
been able to cross-check and verify much of its sources, so if nothing else it does use varied and balanced sources of information. Published in
1930, it is also unsullied by more recent events. It is merely a background though and I accept it as such. From this book and others, I got the
impression, that knowingly or otherwise the Jesuits were used to 'warm the bed' for the Church. The Jesuits were quickly discarded, persecuted and
murdered when they in fact put the welfare of their flock above the needs of state and church. But when it was fortutious to the church they were
quick to piggy-back the Jesuits success.
I accept that this may have changed. To me this could have gone two ways, they are now completely under control or they are more agressive in the
promotion of their ethos over that of the Vatican. The latter would make them a huge threat to the Vatican, the former a mighty tool.
Where I do agree with Phelps to an extent is his assessment of what a Zionist is. I have some variation, but on the whole I think he is on the right
track, I do though think that he misses the most important point of all (which is why I wonder what his motivations are). The state of Israel in many
ways since its assertion has served to escalate tension in the Middle East. The Vatican in my opinion, of all concerned, has the most to gain from
this, the entire middle-eastern and war on terrorism is to their benefit. No matter what I read, this is the clearest point that comes across.
Your turn?