Stream of consciousness, so buckle up:

1. I think the mere fact of these is big news. Both are important, coming on the eve of the modernist synod. What comes of them is unknown, and we certainly have reasons to expect disappointment. But an avalanche has to start with some stones. An important bishop. Five Cardinals. Public. In the face of the cabal.

2. The new dubia, or “newbia” as I like to call them, should not be discounted out of hand as another futile exercise in weak sauce. Believe me, if you think that way, I get it. But you probably know I am not of the group that ascribes cowardice to Cardinal Burke. That is not consistent with the man I know. The approach is legal for he is at root a canon lawyer. But I think he would not issue these, knowing the non-outcome of the first dubia, and further on the eve of the so-called synod, without them being a last warning that if certain uncrossable lines are crossed, they will finally take action. Of course, we shall see.

3. Recall the rumors that at some prior dates Cardinal Burke was seeking other Cardinals to join him in issuing the previous formal correction but did not want to act on his own? Seems there are five Cardinals now.

4. Neither the newbia Cardinals nor Abp. Vigano hit at the root of the issue, the likely invalid abdication. Vigano clearly comes closer, as the Cardinals accept, at least publicly, that Pope Benedict XVI abdicated. By not getting at the root, the problem cannot be fully addressed. Cut weeds grow back.

5. Archbishop Vigano does make clear a great number of very helpful things that the hierarchy should have been saying from the start: there can only be one pope; the distinction between munus and ministerium has not been addressed; his belief that Bergoglio has made heretical statements, citing the death penalty/CCC change and the Amoris Laetitia debacle; that there were irregularities in the conclave; his belief that Bergoglio was deceptive, was the product of illegal lobbying prior to and during the conclave; and that he never intended to be the pope of the Catholic Church. The whole 30 minute presentation is well worth watching. Things should get interesting now.

6. That the Catholic Identity Conference would pull Abp. Viganó’s presentation after promoting it heavily to secure attendance and registrations speaks for itself. At some point, we are all likely to face that moment of decision on the legitimacy of this pontificate. It has not yet come definitively, in my opinion, for the majority of the lay faithful, but it will. Acts of cowardice and cold policy along the way will not make it easy to have that “profiles in courage” moment later on. I have watched Michael Matt’s video on this and I think his position is reasonable under the circumstances. Though I agree with Abp. Vigano’s position, Matt’s explanation makes sense to me in context. So, my apologies to him.

7. Finally, to echo the sentiments of these prelates and of every good priest and layman with whom I have discussed these matters, we need to pray harder and sacrifice harder for Holy Mother Church. And love her more. Never abandon her.

Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us!