Mad Gods - Predatory Ethics: Book I (38 page)

Simultaneously, other teams looked into demonic
activity in the San Francisco and South Carolina areas, and a few never
reported back. Months went by and of the eight teams three converged on South
Carolina.
 
They went in and
discovered evidence of a battle between Templars and Luciferians, where both
sides had fought to the last man. The defenders died to keep something from
their enemy, and their attackers doing the same to take it.

All the bodies were removed; a thorough inquiry
ensued, unhampered by police or public knowledge. The home was purchased
outright and then taken apart board-by-board, nail and brick, leaving nothing
intact. In many hidden rooms, documentation, photographs and records were
found, detailing an intricate structure of the chapel, as well as its constant
correspondence with every other chapel across the globe.

The men who viewed this information were used to the
finality of violence and battle. They were not prepared for the commonplace
detailing of required depravity, which infiltrated the Catholic Church. Two men
committed suicide and another joined the laity, never to return.

Seneschal Quentin halted review of the evidence. Any
physical proof of clergy involvement in Luciferian practices, records,
photographs and correspondence, was sent to the Vatican, unviewed and with
armed and trusted guards. At the Vatican, hardened exorcists and clergy, used
to the demoralizing influence of evil, catalogued and recorded everything. They
sorted through papers of introduction and membership lists, revealing true
names, along with Luciferian titles that were used in mother chapels. Until
then, they had only guessed at their ceremonies. Now, they looked on the
reverse parody, stretching into daily sacraments of religious life. In the same
way that their own church would keep details of clergy and laity, in any way
connected to their work, the Luciferians had also recorded details of their
organization. Human and animal sacrifice were shown and described.

Once the photographs, names and descriptions had been
catalogued, it was decided to negotiate with the treacherous clergymen, rather
than to excommunicate them or terminate their existence. A full tenth of their
ranks were knowingly complicit, and mentioned in the evidence found. More knew
about their abomination, and did nothing, either for fear of harm, or in the
hope of advancement.
 
If everyone,
involved on any level were brought to light only a third of their ranks would
remain.

Both Father Quentin and Father Martin contacted Secretary
of State, Cardinal Ciriaci, to deal with these earth-shattering findings. In
turn, he called upon the Jesuit Master-general, Cardinal Bae, Templar Grand
Master, Hapsburg, and the Vicar of Christ, himself, Pope Paul VI. They all met
in the pontiff’s private office and listened to Fathers Martin and Quentin lay
out the unhallowed, stygian details, which cost so many Templar lives to
recover. Nothing was left out, and the sumptuous, lush décor, with which Pope
Paul had outfitted his office, began to appear shameful and contemptible.

“Was it worth it?” Cardinal Bae muttered under his
breath, when Martin and Quentin had finished. “After all of this, we could be
looking at the end of the church.”

After months of worry, Pope Paul’s normally robust
face had wasted away. In many ways, he still thought himself a simple man who
tended his flock in the inhospitable, intimidating wilderness. Even now, as he
recovered his mind he knew that he could not falter. The enemy was not only at
their walls, but ate at their table.

“It was worth it. The truth will always be worth it,
Cardinal Bae. The dilemma, which now faces us, is whether we do our duty to our
savior, or whether we take the easier path,” the pope said, articulating the
choices put before them. “No matter how much the voices of past popes tell me
to deal with all of them as the scripture and canons dictate, allowing God to
sort them out, I must face our current situation.”

Pope Paul faltered in his speech and drew concern
from the five assembled men. They waited as he gained control of his breath and
pitied their leader’s frailty.

“Grand Master Hapsburg, you will deliver God’s
justice to these usurpers, but we cannot expunge all of them, or we lose more
of the eroding faith of our believers.” He saw disappointment in Quentin who
kept quiet. “I wish I could launch a crusade that would make the Innocents
proud, but we are no longer that Church. Through goodwill, we hold position in
the hearts and in beliefs of Catholics. We cannot lose their love. We must find
a more moderate solution to our predicament.” He looked at Quentin and held his
gaze like a commander exerting dominance to a subordinate.

“What is your will, your Excellency?” The sixth man,
who remained silent, spoke.

“We have a two-fold plan, Grand Master. With utmost
discretion, you and your Templars will go and eliminate the vermin on this
list.” He handed over a page that Quentin took, though he didn’t look at it.
“They will serve as examples of our commitment to our canons.” The Secretary of
State continued, “I must stress they are to be dealt with discreetly, but
severely, so those who watch will see these terrors.”

Pope Paul added, “Father Quentin, you are to make an
example of them. On them, take out the frustration of your shackles. As the
Secretary of State said, do this so that no one from the press can construe it
is a systematic cleansing. Use the authorities sparingly, and if they get in
your way, refer them to us. We will show them justification for our actions.”

“What about the others, Excellency. What are we to do
with them? There are only about a hundred on this page. We routed out
thousands, what are we to do with them?” Quentin said, a trifle heatedly.

“Seneschal Quentin, that will be enough,” the Grand
Master stated bluntly. “They are to be left to the discretion of the Secretary
of State. They are no longer our concern.”

Cardinal Ciriaci looked at the Templars and knew he
just acquired bitter enemies. Hapsburg and Quentin were notorious for holding
grudges. It was as irrational as it was complete, and, without question he saw
it now in their stony expressions.

“As the Pontiff said, Father, there are issues,
beyond the necessary punishment, to consider. If we rout everyone, not only
would we decimate our ranks, but we would lose the trust and the faith of our
followers. They look to us for guidance and hope,” Cardinal Ciriaci stated
imploringly, seeking Quentin’s understanding.

“We are betraying that trust and hope they have in
us,” Quentin said. “They look to us, not only for guidance, but protection.
Here we are, confronted by true evil, and we do almost nothing?” Quentin let
the accusation hang in the air for a second. “Tell me, Secretary, if we were to
look further into those still unknown, black hoods, would we find more familiar
faces?”

“Seneschal Quentin, please. This is a time we must
stand together against this insurrection,” the Grand Master intoned and looked
at the Pope, who weakly agreed. His eyes had a film that made him tired, and he
slept more than twelve hours per night. Many continued to fear for the worst.

There was a knock at the door and Pope Paul nodded to
Cardinal Ciriaci, who bade them enter. The door swung open and Major Grand
Prefect, Cardinal of the Apostolic Penitentiary, Cardinal Raimondi, strode
forward to join the men who sat around the Pope’s grand desk. He was a shorter
man, plump with the good living of being Grand Penitentiary for years growing
overly comfortable with the luxuries of his office. Many argued he could pass
for the dictionary example of the third deadly sin, until they looked at his
eyes and his record of conduct in Papal service. He was tireless and fastidious
in the enforcement of the Pope’s will amongst his clergy. Quentin was glad to
welcome him to the fray.

The Secretary of State spoke first. “The Grand
Penitentiary has joined us to detail our plans to deal with the remaining
vipers in our ranks.” With that, the Cardinal took his seat and looked at each
of the people assembled, starting with the Pope and ending with Quentin.

“We know we will be unable to deal with all the
clergy on your list Seneschal. The reasons have already been made clear.” The
Grand Penitentiary went on, “In my capacity, I will ruin them ecclesiastically
— every last one of them. Each will be given a choice; they may either
take their own life, or they will be laicized with extreme prejudice.”

Quentin stayed silent and felt better after hearing
the proposed punishments. They fell well short of his direct methods but were better
than nothing.

“Anyone who is laicized will, in due course, fall
into your hands. Do with them what you will, but wait for a discreet time, so
that no parallels can be drawn to the consequences,” Cardinal Raimondi ended,
with the finality of the judgment being imposed.

The secretary watched Quentin and the Grand Master
closely. He knew he, too, was being observed. The Grand Master continued to be
a man of few words. When pressed for a response, he answered with a curt,
“Fine.”

Cardinal Ciriaci turned his attention to the Jesuit,
who sat quietly, watching everyone. Father Martin had been the Vatican’s chief
exorcist for a few years, and had also been under their order’s head, Cardinal
Bae, for four years. Ciriaci wondered if Bae told him everything about his
Jesuits. The higher offices of the church, Jesuits and Dominicans, had worked
for centuries to reestablish the absolute rule and glory the Church enjoyed in
the days of the Innocents, with crusades in the Holy Land and resolute stands
against heresy. They worked for a day on which all national governments bent to
the Papal will.
 
Such a plan would
be too insidious for the modern, politically correct world.

The return to world dominance remained the primary
motive for most of the actions of the Roman Catholic Church. In due course,
they used many questionable methods and inexcusable allies to further their
goal.
 
In the pursuit of their
goal, the Church became a bureaucracy, a political power, seeking a lost
supremacy. In far reaching plans, sacrifices had to be made. The names on list,
now in the Templars’ scarred hands, would be seen as martyrs to Rome’s renewed
reign. Unlike the Luciferians, the Papists could not afford to suffer rumors
and whispered conspiracies. It was imperative that their plans remain secret.

“Now to the matter of the prophesied child destined
to rule the world.” Pope Paul was vague, not wanting to name the Luciferian
Christ. As a child he always referred to the proverbial devil as the Fallen
One, or the Outcast, fearing he would appear if named. Even now, he would not
say his name, nor allow anyone else in his presence to utter his name.

Martin, who remained silent until now, answered, “We
are still looking into that, your Excellency. It seems we were sidetracked.”
Martin politely referring to the earlier conversation but continued, “Now that
we see how deep the enemy has infiltrated, we will need to make sure our ranks
are doubly impenetrable,” Martin added. “They planned an enthronement ceremony,
upon the coronation of a new pontiff.”

“How dare you?” the Secretary burst out in outrage.
“You speak of another Pope in his Excellency’s presence. Have you no decency”

With a raised hand, Paul called for his secretary’s
silence. “Don’t be so melodramatic, Pietro, Father Martin is right. I will not
be long for this world, and God willing, my actions will not keep me from His
grace. That is between me, Him and the Grand Cardinal Prefect.” He raised his
head and glanced at Martin and Quentin.

“You two have been invaluable in your dedication to
cleansing the Lord’s house. You have shown remarkable insight, resourcefulness
and indomitable will. You will have whatever resources you need, from anyone
under my rule, for as long as you need. You are to find this child and do
whatever needed.”

“Excellency, this is highly irregular.” The Secretary
saw catastrophe as a result of the proclamation, which gave complete autonomy
to two rebellious clergymen. “At least have them justify their actions to the
Signatura or Penitentiary.”

Cardinal Ciriaci tried to exert some authority over
the ranks, especially the always-troublesome Templars. “They are to renew their
mission each quarter annum and report to the Secretary’s office, or any one of
the other two mentioned — Signatura or Penitentiary.”

“In the interests of having their mission recorded
for future history, I concede to reports on a seasonal basis. This will go to
the Apostolic Penitentiary and the Secretary, who will give it to the reigning
pope.” Paul breathed shallowly. “As for their autonomy, they have their
consciences, and I am certain that they are both harsher administrators than
any you could muster, Pietro.” Everyone waited while the ailing pope smiled
apologetically and continued.

“Father Martin, regretfully, you will have to act within
the ranks of the Templars not your own Jesuits.” Martin nodded and added
confusion to his astonishment. “The Templars will go on crusade against the
true enemy, our ancient foe, agents, plans and schemes. You will take on the task
until it is finished, or you relinquish your responsibility.”

He took a few more moments to catch his breath and
continued with an authority that belied his weakening condition. “In all your
actions, and in the execution of the duties laid out before you, remember the
following — the Roman Catholic Church cannot be sullied by further
controversy. We have a solemn and holy duty to our believers to be above
reproach. I have faith that you will carry out God’s will and deliver us from
this evil.”