Excursus 2B: Grok's & Britannica's reports on suppression of the Jesuits by a Pope

      This continues from "Excursus 2A" (Table of Contents in Part AG1a) and follows Walther's 1886 essay in Part AG11b. The following is Walther's quote from the Jesuit Constitution that I first published 2 years ago, in his account of the defection Prof. Ed. Preuss to the Roman Catholic Church:

Thus, for example, in the constitution of the wicked Jesuit mob, [Jesuit gang] is written: “That no determination, explanation, or orders of any kind to live to a commitment can lead to a mortal sin or a venial [forgivable] sin: except when the superior commanded it in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, or in the power of obedience. (See the Constitution of the Jesuits, according to the Prague edition, which they themselves provided: Institutum societatis Jesu autoritate congregationis generalis XVIII recusum. Pragae 1757. Vol. I, fol. 414-415 [2025-12-15: "nullas Constitutiones, Declarationes, vel ordinem ullum <page 415> vivendi, posse obligationem ad peccatum mortale vel veniale inducere; nisi Superior ea in Nomine Domini Nostri JESU Christi, vel in virtute Obedientiae juberet"])  The Jesuits themselves refer to this passage in the index of this edition under the title: “Obedientia et obedire” as the determination of their principle: “The superiors can make it binding to sin in the power of obedience, if this brings many benefits”.

Now many writers, even Lutheran theologians, will largely deny Walther's reporting, certainly most of the narrative on much of the Internet defending the Order of Jesuits (or the "Society of Jesus" so-called). But I would publish what the AI tool from Elon Musk, Grok, gave as the "answer" when I gave it the following text: "Pope Clement XIV said, when he signed the Bull of Suppression: 'I am signing my death warrant.'" (with my comments inserted in red text):

Authenticity of the Quote

The quote appears in some 19th-century historical accounts [an admission that there were "historical accounts" of this], often [but not always] in anti-Jesuit or sensationalist sources, portraying the pope as reluctantly sacrificing himself for peace while fearing Jesuit retaliation [again an admission of these "historical accounts".]. However, it is likely [but possibly not] apocryphal or legendary rather than verifiable from contemporary records. Reliable modern sources (e.g., Catholic Encyclopedia, Britannica, scholarly histories) do not confirm [or deny] he uttered these exact words, though they describe his deep reluctance, remorse, and fear in his final years. [So non-papist sources "Britannica, scholarly histories" report this pope's "fear in his final years". What fear would he have from the state leaders if he followed their directions? But he would naturally fear the Jesuits because they were the ones being suppressed!]

This report by Grok is unlike Google Gemini's outright denial (see Excursus 2A) that there was such a statement made.  Here is what Britannica reports on the "suppression" Pope Clement XIV, in part (emphasis mine):

Fearing that France and Spain would resort to open schism, he finally yielded and on July 21, 1773, issued the brief Dominus ac Redemptor (“Lord and Saviour”) dissolving the Society of Jesus, which from its inception had dedicated itself to the service of the pope. Clement asserted that he did so because the Society could no longer attain its original ends and because he wanted peace within the church. The suppression lasted until 1814. Clement lived his last year in ill health, remorse, depression, and dread of assassination.

So we see that even with the "toned down" modern reporting of these events, Walther's reporting is not far from the truth. But those who understand the actual "spirituality" of the Jesuit Order (see Excursus 2A) will know that they are utterly to be condemned for their "exception clause" giving superior Jesuits the power to command others to sin if there are sufficient "benefits".

      In the concluding Part AG12, we combine all 11 essays from 1873 to 1886 into one complete book, and provide a download to another "BTL book".