An appalling and irreligious "Christmas" greeting from the Franciscan Order (OFMs) refers to the Visitation of Our Lady to St. Elizabeth, but shows the Blessed Virgin Mary and the pachamama idol together, as if somehow trying to do the impossible: conflate Christianity with paganism.
Even if done out of some misguided intention to unite people, this kind of deliberate attempt at syncretism cannot be allow to pass unnoticed because it is scandalizing the faithful
This petition, therefore, is urgently calling on the OFMs to apologize for this syncretic and irreligious depiction of the Blessed Virgin Mary with this pagan symbol.
Franciscan Martin Heinze, Executive Director of the Franciscans International, says in the greeting that:
"In this picture you see Mary, who we honor as the ‘new Eve’ or Mother of Life, together with Pachamama, who some indigenous peoples honor as the ‘earth mother’. Francis of Assisi too describes the earth as our mother in the Canticle."
But, this type of syncretic act - which deliberately tries to confuse the God of revelation and his Blessed Mother with the false idols - inspires only revulsion, especially as it is, again, deliberately being mixed-up with the story of Christmas and Our Savior's birth.
As recent as December 10th, Cardinal Raymond Burke backed a call to prayer and reparation for the pachamama idolatry that took place at the Vatican during the Amazon Synod, saying that "diabolical forces" have entered St. Peter’s Basilica that need to be "vanquished."
Commenting on the pachamama scandal which happened during the Amazon Synod, Cardinal Burke stated:
"Something very grave happened during the special assembly of the Bishops’ Synod for the Amazon region. An idol was introduced into St Peter's Basilica – the figure of a demonic force. Therefore reparation is necessary and also prayers, so that the diabolical forces that entered with this idol are vanquished by the grace of God, by Christ who wants St Peter's Basilica to be purified of the sacrilegious act that took place during the Synod."
It is obvious, therefore, that the Franciscans have made a terrible mistake deliberately trying to conflate the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary with a visit of a "demonic force", like a pachamama idol.
What more can be said? This very sad mockery of the Blessed Virgin must be acknowledged and apologized for.
Please SIGN this urgent petition, today. Thank you!
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Blasphemous "Christmas" Greeting from the OFM Franciscans International: https://mailchi.mp/fiop.org/franciscans-international-wishes-you-a-merry-christmas-4jpx3bd2c4-1217907?e=bec09c4b66
