Editor’s Note: The Economist broke the news that the promoter of the cult to Carlo Acutis is one of the former secretaries to the serial molester Cardinal McCarrick, from his time in New Jersey (see article below, which is behind a subscriber wall). But in the article above, we learn that the same ex-secretary, whose name is Monsignor Anthony Figueiredo was born in Kenya, and lost his license in the U.K. for getting in a car accident, with a blood alcohol level nearly 2.5 times the limit, in 2018. — Even more troubling is that the article above says he was a spiritual director of seminarians at the North American Seminary at Rome, which was exposed as having an entrenched culture of sodomites.
No one is saying that Carlo Acutis was a victim of pedophiles or gay. But such individuals normally get very excited at images of young boys, such that, even one with a modicum of holiness would be suddenly cast as the image of holiness for our age. Acutis dressed in a worldly and slovenly manner, so I really doubt he was a saint, because even teenagers know how to dress with Christian modesty and propriety when the have a strong faith.
The colored biography of the Monsignor is rounded out with this youtube video from July 13, 2021, with 171 views, where he explains, “Why a pandemic?” in Italian. He ends this 16 minute video with the blasphemy, saying that the Pandemic is a grace from God! — So it is quite clear that he has not the foggiest idea of what the order of grace consists in, nor did he even do the most minimal due diligence work to find out whether the Plandemic Narrative was true or not. The Monsignor is currently an “ecclesiastical assistant” to the “Brotherhood of Ardent Disciples of Jesus Christ” in the Diocese of Assisi, Italy, appointed in 2023 for a three year term. The Diocese of Assisi is scheduled to hold the ceremony of canonization of Carlo Acutis. “Ardenti” in Italian, means devoted, ardent, or burning. It’s a strange adjective to use for a religious community.
UPDATE: Close friends of Carlo Acutis deny he was religious
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Quite right that this Monsignor may have ill-intent in promoting the cult of Carlo Acutis.
Also, from your writings, I have learned that Pope John Paul II is not a saint if he was involved in covering up clerical sex abuse.
However, the casual attire of Carlo Acutis, and the bad intentions of lecherous clergy, in my mind, is not enough to disqualify him as a saint. I have prayed to Carlo Acutis. Whereas, I decidedly do not pray to JPII. I have also discarded all books of the latter – to the trash bin, not the library!
Or, at the very least, I believe that Carlo Acutis made it into purgatory because he offered all of his suffering as he was dying for Pope Benedict XVI. And, if he needed purgatory after death, he still is destined for the beatific vision. Doesn’t that make one a saint, once purgatory is finished?
No, it is of divine and Catholic Faith that Saints go straight to heaven and do not pass through purgatory. This is why, for this to happen, Saints have to have learned in a crucible of fidelity, betrayal and suffering, that nothing in this world is to be put before God. A saint wakes up in the morning and first worships God, get’s himself in order spiritually, and then in his appearance and goes out to serve God in the world. Slovenly is not holiness, unless you are so poor you don’t own a comb, a bar of soap and have no where to bathe. Perhaps I am too old, but I cannot admit any other possibility, than that holiness leads to order in everthing.
Cool story, bro. I guess John the Baptist wasn’t a saint, because he was quite slovenly as well. lol.
Your argument is a sophism, because it is founded upon your assertion that the Baptist was slovenly, and to my knowledge, having spent a life time reading ecclesiastical writers, I never ran into one that ever claimed he was. But nice try.
However, your manner of argumentation is at lest impious, since you are willing to slur the man Christ called the holiest ever born of women, to defend a computer nerd who was so lazy he did not comb his hair, when in fact, in his generation here in Italy, all the youth comb their hair. It is considered a sign of a mental problem, not to.
Finally, you seem not to understand what the discussion is about. I am not saying Carlo is not in Heaven, I am saying that he is not the role model of heroic virtue, which is the first criterion to be raised to the dignity of the altar and upheld as an example to all Catholics.
And if that is you, Msgr. I would advise you not to go online so late at night.
People who have been tramatized, even through narcissistic abuse have a really hard time ordering things. I’m sure that has nothing to do with Carlos.
Personally, I have had my doubts about the seemingly widespread devotion to Carlo Acutis; the whole process appears to have been done ‘in haste’ and based primarily on sentimentality/emotions/sympathies rather than on reputable, solid, evidence-based holiness.
In my experience this devotion appeals particularly to younger parents and their teenage children.
The whole process of beatification & canonization has been pruned so drastically that almost any regularly-practicing Catholic could become a saint under the current regulations – John Paul II is the ‘prime’ example and, if I recall correctly, it was he who ‘pruned’ the previous regulations and it was Bergoglio who canonized him……
Verily is truth oftentimes stranger than fiction!!
Thank you, Brother. This has been an enlightening discussion.