The Jesuits In Current News Reports

[John317]

Here's a current news report on the Jesuits:

The Jesuits: 'God's marines'

By The Week's Editorial Staff | The Week – 10 hrs ago.. .

Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio has become the first Jesuit pope in Catholic Church history. How will that influence him?

Who are the Jesuits?

Formally called the Society of Jesus, they are the largest single religious order in the Catholic Church. The society was founded in Paris in 1534 by St. Ignatius Loyola, a Basque soldier who discovered his faith while recuperating from a cannonball wound. He and six fellow students at the University of Paris, including St. Francis Xavier, dedicated themselves to serving the pope as missionary soldiers of Christ. The order was originally organized along military lines, under the leadership of a "Father General." Early followers named themselves "The Company of Jesus," and were nicknamed "God's Marines," for their willingness to go anywhere in the world at the pope's command. Pope Paul III recognized them as an order in 1540; today there are over 20,000 Jesuits, including missionaries, teachers, and scholars.

What are they known for?

Primarily, for their missionary zeal and love for education. Inspired by the Renaissance, Loyola believed the best way of spreading God's word was through establishing Catholic schools. The huge success of a college in Messina, Sicily, prompted him to send members of the order out into Europe and beyond to inaugurate schools, universities, and seminaries. By the time he died, in 1556, the Jesuits had founded 74 colleges in Ireland, Germany, Poland, Egypt, India, and Japan. Today, they run 189 colleges across the globe, with 28 in the United States, including Georgetown University and Boston College. Jesuit colleges emphasize free-thinking and theological debate, which is why more-conservative Catholics consider the order to be dangerously independent. Vincent O'Keefe, an American Jesuit and a former acting Father General, used to joke that Catholics believe "the Jesuits know everything — but nothing else."

Are they respected?

They haven't always been. The Jesuits certainly were well regarded during the 16th and 17th centuries, when they were viewed as the most pious and most intellectual of priests. Kings of France chose Jesuit confessors for 200 years. But as Catholic Europe disintegrated amid much palace intrigue, the Jesuits' obedience to the papacy made them many enemies. Jesuits were widely viewed as conniving manipulators, and Father Generals were dismissively known as "Black Popes" for their supposed control of the Vatican. Anti-Catholics suspected the order of plotting to overturn governments at the pope's command. The order was eventually dissolved by Pope Clement XIV in 1773, at the urging of anti-clerical kings of Europe. The Jesuits survived in Russia and Prussia, until the pope's edict was rescinded in 1814. But suspicion lingered. "If ever there was a body of men who merited eternal damnation on Earth and in hell, it is this society of Loyola's," wrote John Adams to Thomas Jefferson in 1816. Adams feared the Jesuits would try to undermine the new republic's separation of church and state.

What's their current reputation?

The Jesuits are still viewed within the church as the most liberal of the clerical orders, with a rebellious bent. Because of their missionary work, particularly in Latin America, the Jesuits developed strong sympathy for desperately poor people subjugated by colonial or military governments. In 1974, the society decreed that its mission was the "service of faith, of which the promotion of justice is an absolute requirement." For some priests, this led naturally to a leftist movement called "liberation theology," which champions a revolutionary class struggle pitting the people against the powerful and wealthy. Some Jesuits actually fought alongside communist guerrillas in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. In 1981, Pope John Paul II, aghast at the political direction the order was taking, overrode the Jesuits' nominee for Father General and appointed a pontifical delegate of his own. That created a split between Jesuits and the Vatican that has not been fully repaired.

Will Francis be a Jesuit pope?

On matters of sexual morality and the role of women, Bergoglio is first and foremost a traditionalist, and not a reformer. In Argentina, he also distanced himself from the liberation theology movement, warning priests it was far too political. Still, Francis shares the Jesuits' intense identification with the poor and powerless; he has called "the unjust distribution of goods" a "social sin that cries out to Heaven." There's little doubt that Bergoglio's Jesuit concern for social inequality will guide the Vatican's direction in coming years. Like other Jesuits, he also has little regard for hierarchy in itself and the trappings of power; he traveled to work in Buenos Aires by public transport. Those who know him say that the new pope will use his position to do what Jesuits have always done — evangelize, especially in the church's new center of gravity in the Southern Hemisphere. The election of a Jesuit as pope sends a powerful message, said Father Kevin O'Brien, a Jesuit who is vice president for mission and ministry at Georgetown University. "The church has been sidetracked by sexual and financial scandals. Now, it's about getting back to the basics. It's about preaching the gospel and helping the poor."

The Jesuits' worldly achievements

Jesuits have been among the most fervent missionaries in history, evangelizing across the globe — and in the process, making a huge impact on the secular world. Jesuit explorers founded the city of São Paulo, located the source of the Blue Nile, and charted the Amazon and Mississippi rivers. Jesuit missionaries brought rhubarb, quinine, vanilla, and ginseng back from Asia and South America, and are believed to have introduced the umbrella to the West. The order's emphasis on learning has also helped it make significant strides in human knowledge. A Jesuit mathematician, Christopher Clavius, created the modern Gregorian calendar, while Jesuit scientist Athanasius Kircher was the first to discover that the bubonic plague was spread by microorganisms. There are 35 craters on the moon named after Jesuit scientists and astronomers. Less well known, perhaps, is their contribution to the theater: A 17th-century Jesuit teacher is thought to have invented the trap door.

[Naomi]

Quite interesting ... only time will reveal the results .. Thank you for this report

[Dr. Waite]

Who are the Jesuits?

Throughout Christendom, Protestantism was menaced by formidable foes. The first triumphs of the Reformation past, Rome summoned new forces, hoping to accomplish its destruction. At this time, the order of the Jesuits was created, the most cruel, unscrupulous, and powerful of all the champions of popery. Cut off from every earthly tie and human interest, dead to the claims of natural affection, reason and conscience wholly silenced, they knew no rule, no tie, but that of their order, and no duty but to extend its power. The gospel of Christ had enabled its adherents to meet danger and endure suffering, undismayed by cold, hunger, toil, and poverty, to uphold the banner of truth in face of the rack, the dungeon, and the stake. To combat these forces, Jesuitism inspired its followers with a fanaticism that enabled them to endure like dangers, and to oppose to the power of truth all the weapons of deception. There was no crime too great for them to commit, no deception too base for them to practice, no disguise too difficult for them to assume. Vowed to perpetual poverty and humility, it was their studied aim to secure wealth and power, to be devoted to the overthrow of Protestantism, and the re-establishment of the papal supremacy. {GC88 234.2}

When appearing as members of their order, they wore a garb of sanctity, visiting prisons and hospitals, ministering

to the sick and the poor, professing to have renounced the world, and bearing the sacred name of Jesus, who went about doing good. But under this blameless exterior the most criminal and deadly purposes were concealed. It was a fundamental principle of the order that the end justifies the means. By this code, lying, theft, perjury, assassination, were not only pardonable but commendable, when they served the interests of the church. Under various disguises the Jesuits worked their way into offices of State, climbing up to be the counselors of kings, and shaping the policy of nations. They became servants, to act as spies upon their masters. They established colleges for the sons of princes and nobles, and schools for the common people; and the children of Protestant parents were drawn into an observance of popish rites. All the outward pomp and display of the Romish worship was brought to bear to confuse the mind, and dazzle and captivate the imagination; and thus the liberty for which the fathers had toiled and bled was betrayed by the sons. The Jesuits rapidly spread themselves over Europe, and wherever they went, there followed a revival of popery. {GC88 234.3}

For more information:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDDa1RZdfLs

[Bravus]

Sigh. Most of the rest of the world has got beyond 19th century American antiCatholicism. Which, as I may have mentioned before, the early Adventists shared with the Ku Klux Klan. But no, since it's been written down, at the time, it's gospel forever... We're stuck with our ancient, irrational prejudices. Sometimes I think Gutenberg has a lot to answer for...

[CoAspen]

double sigh......I do understand peoples continued interest in the RCC because of it being at the forefront of theology for so long. The reason I lost interest in it was because of the ever changing landscape when it came to interpretations of last day events and the RCC. To me it seems, SDA's are being led astray in their continued zeal to prove that their interpretations are correct and everyone must get ready for the final events/ battles/ etc. What was the real message of Christ? Be ready at all times! Look at your ownself and not at others! Trust in God! He will take care of you! Yes, there can be found warnings in His words, but was that ever to be the focus of the christian life? What will happen, will happen! We don't need an "I told you so!"

What we need is changed lives that reflect Christ character and outlook towards others. I out grew the fear based theology of the past and embraced the good news of Salvation through Christ.

Don't fear no Jesuits or anyone else.....

[Tom Wetmore]

[Naomi]

Amen!

[Gordon1]

Not to forget their role in the Lincoln Assassination, and subsequent

evasion of justice with Vatican assistance & the churches of Québec.

Their influence has not yet crested.

[Naomi]

[CoAspen]

Not to forget their role in the Lincoln Assassination, and subsequent

evasion of justice with Vatican assistance & the churches of Québec.

Their influence has not yet crested.

...and lets not forget everything else that has gone 'wrong' in the world...they did that also!!!!

[Textus Receptus]

double sigh......I do understand peoples continued interest in the RCC because of it being at the forefront of theology for so long. The reason I lost interest in it was because of the ever changing landscape when it came to interpretations of last day events and the RCC. To me it seems, SDA's are being led astray in their continued zeal to prove that their interpretations are correct and everyone must get ready for the final events/ battles/ etc. What was the real message of Christ? Be ready at all times! Look at your ownself and not at others! Trust in God! He will take care of you! Yes, there can be found warnings in His words, but was that ever to be the focus of the christian life? What will happen, will happen! We don't need an "I told you so!"

What we need is changed lives that reflect Christ character and outlook towards others. I out grew the fear based theology of the past and embraced the good news of Salvation through Christ.

Don't fear no Jesuits or anyone else.....

I can certainly understand your sentiments. However, let us never forget that as Seventhday Adventist we have a very important message -- to propagate the Three angels message. Though I do understand that this message can be seen as apologetics on overdrive yet we are called to bring people out of Babylon. This is not a very popular subject for many. Though I do agree that we must also preach the truth, we must also be ready to show present truth. We are watchmen on the wall. You are indeed correct that SDA do want to prove that their interpretations are incorrect, and for good reason. We wish to show error and its consequential apostasy! This is not to suggest that those who LOVE pointing out error to those who have yet to find truth -- if they are doing it for their own pride this of course a sin, but if we stive to show error for the glory of God and want to ready a dying world -- this is are call! It can be said that most evangelical and charismatic church love to preach the love of Christ, yet in doing so they neglect messages of the Reformers -- That the antichrist does exist and the world will follow after the beast. And sharing how this will be exactly done is not zeal but a message that must be heard by all.