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A publication of Traditional Catholics of America t Editor: Fr. Francis E. Fenton, STL t Volume XII, No. 7 t October 1991
Disarming America
John Kenneth Weiskittel
their foes. In the drive to pass the Brady bill, however, the
J1989ustControl:
over two years ago this newsletter carried "Gun
The Corning Showdown" (September 1,
issue), a study that showed the way in which the
antigun fanatics have surpassed themselves in the amount of
disinformation they've managed to circulate.
American people were being psychologically conditioned to
seek the passage of new gun laws. Among the antigun myths The bill – officially named the Brady Handgun Violence
cited in that article were those destined to elicit emotional Prevention Act in the House of Representatives
responses, the propaganda equivalent of having a loaded (corresponding legislation in the Senate was part of the
revolver shoved into one's face. Biden Crime Package) -draws its name from James Brady,
\.. press secretary for former President Ronald Reagan. When
Further evidence of the deceitful way the gun control lobby an assassination attempt occurred in 1981, Brady was struck
operates was in full display earlier this year in its push for in the brain by an errant bullet and has spent the past ten
passage of the Brady bill. This federal legislation seeks to years confined to a wheelchair. In The Unseen Hand: An
establish a nationwide waiting period for the purchase of Introduction to the Conspiratorial View of History (Publius
handguns and to penalize states that do not impose Press, 1985), A. Ralph Epperson writes: ''There are many
background checks on prospective buyers. As this article who believe that one of the reasons that John Kennedy,
goes to press, the House's version of the bill (a seven-day Robert Kennedy, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King were
wait) and the Senate's (a five-day wait) must be reconciled assassinated by gunfire was to develop popular support for
before a final vote can be made. When this takes place legislation to either register or confiscate the weapons of the
passage is probable, and the showdown mentioned in the American citizen." (p. 394) It is difficult to believe that the
earlier study will grow nearer. (By the time our subscribers assassins took this into consideration although conspirators
read this article Brady may already be law.) did later use the killings to promote gun control. Whatever
the relative degree of validity of such a theory, the use of the
The Brady bill is significant for a variety of reasons: the Brady tragedy is one that the antigun lobby has successfully
extraordinary means used to secure its passage presents a used to generate support for its cause – and it is doubly
veritable textbook lesson in the use of propaganda; .the effective in that the object of pity is not in a grave somewhere
surprising – or seemingly surprising – support it received, but is able to speak out on behalf of the lobby. And speak
as well as the genuinely surprising counterproposal made by out is precisely what James Brady has done. One way has
the opposition; how its supporters include advocates of an been to appear in a newspaper advertisement for Handgun
outright ban on privately owned firearms; the dangers Control, Inc. (HCI), a group whose current .chairperson
ahead if the forces behind the Brady bill are allowed to happens to be Brady's wife, Sarah. The ad, entitled "This
proceed unimpeded to future projects. The following article handgun statistic just broke his silence" anq carried in such
seeks to provide our readers with some background material papers as the New York Times, features a photo of Brady
that can be utilized to fight any attempt at gun confiscation. sitting in his wheelchair and a statement attri}j~ted to him.
Without Warning "Ever since I was shot," the text reads, "I have watched
from my wheelchair as the gun lobby blocked one sane
The history of the gun control movement in America has handgun control proposal after another … " Brady goes on
been a chronicle of deception. Proponents of such to make the point that he is now supporting the "sane"
legislation have regularly resorted to factual distortion, proposal bearing his name, adding that 95 percent of all
manipulation of feelings and slanderous allegations about Americans (87 percent of handgun owners) and "every
major law enforcement organization in the country" also proposal," a Justice Department official told panel that
favor the law. President George Bush's Administration opposed the bill.
("The Campaign To Disarm America," The New American,
Although the figures cited above might not stand up to
June 4, 1991, p. 7) But that was before "the Gipper" made a
closer scrutiny, it is the overall impression that is in more
immediate need of a challenge. The implication of the ad is special appearance.
that it is reasonable to endorse such legislation – later in On March 28, Ronald Reagan shocked many by throwing
the text he refers to "sane handgun laws" – as if there is his support on the side of the measure. After longtime
something sick or evil about anyone who doesn't support opposition to federal gun control, he made a complete
them. Is this overstating it a bit? Hardly. Consider the about-face in a speech at George Washington University,
following: "In fact, it seems the only people against the declaring: "It's just plain common sense that there be a
Brady bill are psychopaths, criminals, drug dealers and the waiting period to allow local law enforcement officials to
gun lobby." It is sad to think that Brady's injuries have left conduct background checks on those who wish to buy a
him so embittered that HCI can persuade him to lump handgun … I support the Brady bill and I urge Congress to
groups representing millions of law-abiding Americans with enact it without further delay. With the right to bear arms
assorted kooks and crooks. comes a great responsibility to use caution and common
sense on handgun purchases." (Cited, James J. Drummey,
But the brunt of the Brady bill blitz was yet to come. In mid-
"Review of the News," The New American, April 23, 1991,
June, Home Box Office (HBO), Time-Life's cable television
p. 11) What made this all the more surprising to many is the
subsidiary, broadcast "Without Warning: The James Brady
fact that Reagan is an NRA member, but it was not,
Story," a "docudrama" starring Beau Bridges in the title
however, a spontaneous change on his part Lee writes:
role. Allen Hodgkins, HI, reporting on the film in the
July, 1991 issue of the National Rifle Association's (NRA) … His turnabout at such a crucial point in the debate
magazine, American Rifleman, notes that it was to premiere caught many gun owners by surprise. But it had actu-
in April but this "was postponed by HBO so that it would ally been carefully orchestrated over many weeks. In
coincide with debate in U.S. Congress on the Brady January, Mr. Reagan had called Sarah Brady to ex-
bill." ("Made-For-TV Movies Shill For Handgun Control, press support. Later, when Mrs. Brady learned that he
Inc.," p. 60) (The House passed the bill on May 8; the would be coming to Washington, she called him and
Senate, on June 28). claimed the film was a "family secured his firm commitment to endorse the bill. (p. 7)
story" and not a political one but, given the crucial timing, it
is hard to discount Hodgkins' allegation that it has, in fact, Joining Reagan in support for the Brady bill were former
"provided millions of dollars in free advertising to … (HCI), Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, both of whom
and its chief propagandists, Sarah and Jim Brady, are commonly perceived to be "moderate" to
"especially when he quotes its producer, David Puttnam, as "conservative" in their political philosophy. (Such a
saying "it would be marvelous if this film would put. .. perception, however, is untenable when their political
change into motion." (Ibid. Hodgkins also reveals that the careers are given close scrutiny – moderate, as in
NRA was tar-brushed as an "evil empire" by Brady when he compromising, perhaps; conservative … never.)
testified before lawmakers on Capitol Hill.) Naturally, such backing of the bill duped many ordinarily
Neutralizing The Opposition pro-gun people into believing that Brady was merely an
anticrime measure. This was followed by a typical flip-flop
The propaganda barrage described above was very effective by Bush. Donald S. McAlvany, writing in May, 1991
in rallying the support of the general populace to the Brady issue of his McAlvany Intelligence Advisor, a bit of the
bill. But the gun banners sought to target even those who background behind it:
would naturally be heavily in favor of Second Amendment
rights. The group in question? Well-meaning, but ultimately For years George Bush has pretended to be pro-gun
gullible, conservative Republicans. rights and against gun controls. As a lifetime member
of the National Rifle Association, it was supposed
During a "hearing" conducted in March, which, writes that he was a pro-gun advocate. He was, in fact,
Robert W. Lee, "was … heavily stacked to favor the courting the vote of the Republican right –
THE ATHANASIAN 2 OCTOBER 15, 1991
it's called conning the gullible. In 1989, he endorsed The Staggers bill simply provided that there be a
a ban on semiautomatic weapons and helped kick background check in every place in the country,
off the campaign to abolish so-called assault rifles. along with a statement that – though there was no
With Ronald Reagan's endorsement of the Brady provision for penalty for not complying – the police
Bill, Bush has found the excuse, or cover, to would not keep a registration list. So we had the
support that legislation as well and, on April 18, same problem with both bills, a gun registration
Bush came out publicly in support of the permanent opportunity for anitgun police. ("Gun Owners Fight
banning of nine types of semiautomatic weapons. Brady Bill," The New American, June 4, 1991, p. 12)
("Guns & Silver: To Have & To Hold," p. 7)
How, then, one may ask, did the NRA come to back
The effect of such apparently unlikely advocacy on conserva- Staggers? That question can only be answered in part here.
tive Republicans is to have them asking themselves, "If he's In the April, 1984 issue of American Opinion, contributing
for it, how can I be against it?" Through this same neutraliz- editor Alan Stang wrote an article entitled "There Is Serious
ing tactic, used again and again by those bogus conservatives Trouble Brewing At The N.R.A." which told of a faction
in the White House – from higher taxes and more socialistic inside the group that sought to see that "(t)he political
government programs to recognition of Red China and the battle against the subversion called 'gun control' was to be
weakening of our national defense by way of a series of muted." (p. 24) Stang recounts a supplement in the April
treaties with the Soviet Union – a plethora of leftist policies 22, 1983 issue of Gun Week by the Federation for the NRA
is being foisted on our country because "conservative" that challenged an amended version of the McClure-
Republican presidents have been able to persuade their Volkmer gun bill. According to the ad, Warren Cassidy,
followers that there were "good reasons" for embracing director of the NRA's Institute for Legislative Action (ILC),
them. As often as not, they were able to use their personal proposed "one that substantially modified or nullified every
popularity, charisma, position, or a mixture of these, to significant provision in the original bill; the NR.A. proposal
convince GOP faithful to cast better judgment to the wind. contained a 14-day waiting period and police background
check on handgun purchasers." (Cited, p. 25) Cassidy is no
"The Brady bill is a prelude to confiscation," contends the
longer ILA director but there is reason to fear that
NRA, "because it would start a nationwide list of gun
infiltrators may still be at work within the NRA. (Indeed, is
owners." Certainly concern over this influenced the group
there any reason to believe they would not be at work to
to support an alternative bill by Representative Harley
pervert its true purposes?) H. Wayne Sheets, writing in
Staggers (D – West Virginia). On this subject Lee writes:
American Rifleman for August, 1991, states: "NRA's many
…. The Staggers alternative would have established and diverse programs recently received a boost when the
a system for conducting instant background checks Internal Revenue Service … approved the NRA Foundation
for handgun purchases. It had been endorsed by as a tax-exempt, nonprofit organization." (The NRA
the NRA, but many gun enthusiasts were urging Foundation Receives Approval From IRS," p. 57)
lawmakers to support it only as a lesser-of-evils Whenever such government acceptance is granted, there is
alternative to the Brady bill. (p. 10) inevitable speculation over what strings are attached. NRA
members need to be vigilant concerning the direction in
It is amazing to find the most influential component in the which their group may be being steered. An emasculated
gun rights lobby coming down on the side of a gun control NRA or one that is actually subtly pushing for gun control is
bill sponsored by a less-than-conservative legislator. (In the capable of doing as much or more harm to Second
August 27, 1991 issue of The New American, Staggers fares Amendment rights than any openly antigun group.
no better than a lukewarm 42 percent in the magazine's
"Conservative Index." The higher the percentage, the more Brady And Beyond
the congressman "voted for constitutional principles of
limited government.") This article has not contained a refutation of the Brady bill
per se. Why? Well, most of the arguments put forth in favor
The similarity between the Brady and the Staggers bills is of gun control were examined in the earlier article. It hardly
exposed by Larry Pratt, executive director of Gun Owners of seems necessary to remind readers that, if the past quarter
America (GOA), in the course of an interview: of a century has proven anything, it is that gun laws
THE ATHANASIAN 3 OCTOBER 15, 1991
emphatically don't deter crime. In that period, literally able to enter a home, car or business a
thousands of gun control measures have been passed at every seize property,
level of government in our yet the rape, assault, .. ~··-·-· ..o,..r.w-ic or legislation,
robbery and murder rates increased at alarming "good
Waiting periods no on these statistics federal police performing duties not to abuse
simply because the vast percentage of legally purchased power," totally nullifies our Fourth Amend-
(over 95 percent) are never used in the commission of a ment protection against unwarranted search and
while most guns used criminally are illicitly obtained (stolen, seizure. In cases where law enforcement officers
black market, etc.). Then again, maybe it isn'tthe criminals the suspect the commission of a violent crime, drug-
Brady bunch wants to control. related activity or violation of gun laws, Fourth
Amendment protection will be completely eliminat-
While the lion's share of attention has focused on the Brady ed and no good faith by police is required. Never be-
bill, others being proposed are no less dangerous – perhaps fore has a single group, like U.S. gun owners, faced
even more sol For example, House Resolution (HR-19), states such an attack on their most basic constitutional
McAlvany, is "a comprehensive ban on nearly all rifles and rights. [Let's not forget the unbom's rights, Mr.
shotguns since it is cleverly worded to ban all semiautomatic or McAlvany – JKW.] Noncourt-approved wiretaps
single shot firearms which are not suitable 'sporting are likely to follow on a widespread basis. (Ibid.)
purposes …' " (p. 6) The Secretary of the Treasury and the
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) will be Anyone convinced that we can rely on the "good faith" of
determining what constitutes suitable use. (Ibid. The BATF police not to abuse their power would do well to ask a
defines this use as hunting.) Anyone not complying with HR-19 member of Operation Rescue about this.
would face fines and prison sentences. McAlvany writes:
Gun prohibition is something that is seldom spelled out,
It is important to understand that this is not a gun
though in recent years some of its advocates have dared
registration bill. This is a gun confiscation bill open avowals. Democrat Michael Dukakis, in the 1988
designed to confiscate almost all rifles and shotguns presidential campaign, was accused by the NRA as having
in America as well as most ammo magazines. Tens
declared: do not believe in people owning guns, only the
of millions of honest, patriotic Americans who
police and military." (That charge he never was able to
believe in defending their families, their homes and refute.) Former chairman Pete Shields once admitted
the U.S. and who believe in the to the CBS program 60 Minutes: "Yes, I'm for an outright
Second Amendment. .. , will not tum in rifles ban (on handguns)." (Cited, Lee, p. 5) Liberal
and shotguns if this bill passes. Therefore, tens of Representative William Clay (D – Missouri), two days before
millions of Americans will overnight be declared by he voted in favor of the Brady bill, called it "a minimum
our government to be criminals and tens of
step. We need much stricter gun control, and eventually we
thousands will be as well-publicized examples should bar the ownership of handguns except in a few
to intimidate the rest … (Ibid.) cases." (Cited, "Brady Bill Vote in House Emboldens Anti-
The impact of HR-19 is that the number of firearms Gunners," American Rifleman, July 1991, p. 61)
available to American citizens would be greatly reduced.
Sentiments like these are to be expected from such sources
Another unconstitutional measure that has been proposed is but, when a journalist widely r.erceived to conservative
HR-1400, known as the Bush Crime Bill. Among its echoes them, there is more cause for concern. And this con-
provisions is one that would "(o)utlaw all pistol or rifle gun cern was voiced by New Dimensions magazine reporter David
magazines with over a 15-round capacity." (McAlvany, p. 5) Kupelian, noting in an article about recent attacks on the Bill
This, however, is almost a minor inconvenience compared to of Rights (during that document's 200th anniversary):
another one, which would further secure the underpinning of
a totalitarian society. Again, Don McAlvany observes: a recent column entitled "The embarassing
Second Amendment," nationally syndicated
Police or government agents of the FBI, DEA, CIA, columnist and TV commentator George Will
BATF or CID will, under the Bush Crime Bill, be struggled to reconcile the fact that he favors both
THE ATHANAS!AN 4 OCTOBER 15, 1991
strict gun control and strict construction of the much crime today, there is talk about gun control
Constitution." Will suggests only legitimate approach for laws. Gun control laws might mean more laws will
"gun control advocates who want to square their policy have to be made about who can own guns and why
preferences with the Constitution" is to "deconstitutionalize they need to own guns. The Constitution may even
the subject by repealing the embarrassing amendment." Will need to have another amendment about guns."
reasons this way: "The Bill of Rights should be modified only (Cited, ibid., p. 23)
with extreme reluctance, but America has an extreme crisis
of gunfire … " ("An American Celebration: But who's Another textbook, Our Constitution: A Working Plan for
spoiling the party?", July, 1991, p. 23) Democracy, redefines "militia" as follows: "The Second
Amendment gives Americans the right to 'keep and bear
Shocking? Oniy to those who ignore the fact that Will is a arms' as part of 'a well-regulated militia.' That means the
member in standing of the New World Order Club, states can have their own troops and those troops can have
better known as Council on Foreign Relations. Repeal- weapons." (Cited, ibid.)
ing the Second Amendment fits the CFR's plans perfectly.
A Signpost To Slavery
Speaking of the Bill of Rights, a new book ostensibly
praising it succeeds in very nearly squeezing the life out of The right to keep and bear arms by private citizens is an
the Second Amendment. Kupelian states: essential part of any free nation. This is a lesson of history
that both the friends and enemies of liberty have learned. It
.. .In Our Defense: The Bill of Rights in Action, by is a lesson, however, that the gun control people want
Ellen Alderman and Caroline Kennedy (daughter of Americans to forget. Using the pretext of "fighting crime,''
the slain President), claims that the Second they would have law-abiding citizens voluntarily lay down
Amendment confers no right to private gun their arms, much as in the way U.S. treaties with the
ownership whatsoever. In an interview Kennedy Soviets, which involve scrapping weapons systems, are done
declared simply: "There is no right to keep and in the name of "world peace." In this sense, the antigun
bear arms pertaining to the individual." The lobby can be said to be advocating domestic disarmament.
Second Amendment, insist the two authors, refers
Registration of guns as a step towards their ultimate
only to a "collective right" to self-defense. In other
confiscation was utilized by both the Nazis and Communists.
words, Americans have the "collective right" to
defend themselves by means of an armed militia, (In Holland the Nazis and in Cuba the Communists simply
such as the police, Army, and National Guard, but used registration lists prepared by the preceeding
not to defend themselves personally with firearms. governments when they began to round up weapons.) They
(p. 22. Kupelian makes the good point that, if assured the populace that their only interest was in "fighting
Second Amendment rights can be interpreted to crime." In None Dare Call It Conspiracy, (Concord Press,
apply in only a "collective" sense, there is nothing 1972) authors Gary Allen and Larry Abraham listed
to stop the enemies of freedom from arguing that fourteen "signposts to slavery,'' those being warning signals
"the First Amendment, by the same reasoning, of abridgements of freedom on the way to a police state. The
must confer only a 'collective right,' but not an list, compiled with the assistance of Mike Djordjevich, a
individual right, to freedom of religion, freedom of refugee from Yugoslavian Communism, includes as its
the press, and free speech.") second signpost: "Abolition of private ownership of
handguns." (Cited, p. 132) How much more ought we to
And schoolchildren no less than their parents are being con- suspect, then, attempts to ban semiautomatic weapons,
ditioned to accept unquestioningly repeal of the Second weapons which would be essential if private citizens ever are
Amendment in textbooks such as The Constitution & the Bill called to resist the imposition (from without or within) of a
ofRights. How it does this is seen in the following quote: totalitarian government on our shores? (So far, attempts at
state and local gun registration in Colorado and California
… Amendment 2 gives the people the right to own have, thank God, met with virtually no compliance.)
guns. Today there's not much reason to fear an
army taking over the country, so there's no need to And this very point is the most crucial of all in the gun
own guns for that reason. . . Because there is so debate. David Kupelian underscores this quite well when,
THE ATHANASIAN 5 OCTOBER 15, 1991
calling the Second Amendment "the linchpin for the entire Certainly there is cause for real concern when the actions of
Bill of Rights," he writes: President Bush are examined. Donald McAlvany observes:
"Gun control in America is apparently to be a major
… As the Founding Fathers constantly asserted, cornerstone of George Bush's and Mikhail Gorbachev's New
citizens relinquish a part of their own right to self- World Order. It will be very difficult for the globalists to
determination when they form a government The establish their world government under the United Nations
ultimate check on that government they retain – without first disarming the American people." Clearly the
one that history has shown to be absolutely issue is one that is rapidly reaching the critical stages and it
necessary – is to deny government a monoply on may be time for American gun owners to begin to exercise
the means of force. A large, well-armed populace some mental reservation when asked to volunteer
historically has exerted a powerful influence on information about their firearms.
governments, preventing potential tyrants from
even entertaining certain dastardly ideas, let alone As for Catholics, there is a saint who might legitimately (if not
implementing them. (p. 23) officially) be called the patron of handgun enthusiasts –
.
Saint Gabriel Possenti. He was born in Assisi in 1838 and was
Similarly, syndicated columnist Walter Williams has noted a skilled marksman from his youth. While a Passionist semi-
that the "Second Amendment is not a deer-hunting or narian, Saint Gabriel rescued the town oflsola from terrorists
duck-hunting amendment. It affords us some protection by taking a gun from one of them and ordering the others to
against "wanna-be" tyrants. The people leading the attack drop theirs. He quickly commanded their respect by killing –
on the Second Amendment are the very people who want to with a single shot- a lizard that had darted across the street.
control greater portions of our lives and restrict our Pope Benedict XV canonized him in 1920. May Saint Gabriel
freedoms. Therefore, part of their agenda is to first disarm Possenti, by his merits and prayers, move God to come to our
us." (Cited, Lee, p. 10) aid in this hour of great need for our country! t
[ Pray the Rosary Daily The enclosed white envelope is for the convenience of those
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THE ATHANASIAN
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CAPSULE COM ENTS
Fr. Francis E. Fenton
( As is quite evident from a reading of the following items, they are no more than what the above title
indicates: brief observations on a few subjects of current interest and importance. No attempt is
made to document any of the statements. From my own reading and study, however, I believe them
to be true and simply offer them for what they may be worth to the readers of The Athanasian.)
To hold that Paul U is not a valid Pope is not a denial of newsletters of this kind can only have a distorted notion of
the Papacy. A person cannot be or ceases to be a Roman Cath- the reality of the situation. They are, in effect, being deceived
olic who rejects Church's teaching on the Papacy. This, through a selective type of journalism which excludes almost
however, is not the position of a sedevacantist As a Roman entirely any reference, say, to the sedevacantist position,
Catholic, he firmly believes in the Papacy while firmly believing much less any objective treatment of it. Even though a very
as well thatJohn Paul II is a non-Pope- and the two positions strong case is made – an irrefutable one, I contend – to
are perfectly compatible. "Where Peter is, there is the prove that John Paul II is a non-Pope, publications of the
Church." (Saint Ambrose) True enough. But, where Peter kind noted above simply ignore it. Not very honorable on
(that is, a true Pope) is not, there the Church is not their part, it seems to me.
ttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt ttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt
Over the past two or three years a number of articles have A survey taken some months ago reveals that 91 percent of
appeared promoting the thesis that, at the papal conclave in Americans routinely lie. Not surprising but a sorrowful
1963, the one who was really chosen as Pope was not Paul VI commentary indeed on the generality of the population of
but rather Cardinal Siri of Genoa (died in 1989) – and that the USA. And, because of the power and influence they
Cardinal Siri knew this very well. I certainly have no desire exert, among the foremost purveyors of falsehood are the
whatsoever to get involved in this matter but bring it up mass media and the federal government. No intelligent, well-
merely to make one observation. If indeed it were true, then informed individual will unquestionably accept as true the
this would mean that Cardinal Siri – even though he was statements of the national news media on vital current
personally convinced that he was the authentic Pope and events. Nor will he accept as true the words of official
that, consequently, Paul VI and his successors were spokesmen for the Bush administration in similar matters.
antipopes – remained silent about it for 26 years President Bush himself is, of course, the primary case in
(1963-1989) ! Despite the ongoing and utterly horrendous point here. While his dishonesty is of a subtle kind and so not
tragedy (surely unparalleled in history) that the Church was apparent to the naive or uninformed, it is readily obvious to
experiencing throughout that period, the true Vicar of Christ those who know the score. Although he employs such noble
refrained from publicly identifying himself as such! I, for one, terms as morality and principle and patriotism in some of his
find this most difficult to believe, to say the least. speeches and statements, one is grossly deceiving himself
who takes those words from Mr. Bush at face value. As for
ttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt the Constitution of the United States, "our" President, while
occasionally giving it lip service, couldn't care less about it
Conservative and self-styled traditional "Catholic" His beloved One World Order is what really counts – and
publications (The Wanderer, The Remnant, Fatima that Order will, for sure, obliterate the Constitution.
Crusader, The Angelus, New Jersey Catholic News, The
Catholic Voice, etc.) do inestimable harm to the cause of ttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt
genuine traditional Catholicism. Whatever may be their good
intentions, they mislead their readers on the most In their treatment of the subject most conservative writers
fundamental issues involving the Church, primarily John and publications seem to be of the mind that, if the trend or
Paul II and the Conciliar Church. Those whose reading on drive towards the New World Order continues at its current
subjects relating to the Church is limited to newspapers or pace, that objective will be accomplished by the end of this
THEA THANASIAN 7 OCTOBER 15, 1991
century. In my opinion, that abhorrent global tyranny will be at powers that be in the American government are undoubtedly
least substantially realized much sooner unless, per- among the activists and promoters in formation
haps, there should develop in the near future a massive protest of the tyranny – and given the fact too that the vast
by the rank and file of the American people in opposition to it, majority of Americans (thanks primarily to the mass media of
a prospect which appears highly unlikely at the moment The disinformation) remain in blissful ignorance of what is
USA is, I submit, the only country in the world which may still transpiring – the chances, I contend, seem very slim at
have the potential to halt the movement towards the satanic present that the USA can prevent the imposition upon the
New World Order, a movement now in high gear despite any American people of the godless, amoral, inhuman One World
appearances to the contrary. Given the fact, however, that the Order being prepared for them.
QUESTIONS D ANSWERS
Fr. Oswald Baker (England)
Question: humans? This question was not raised at that time. It has
Given the conviction that death is the gateway to eternal been since, in, for example, the writings of the Jesuit scientist
bliss in our true home, is there not something wrong with a Teilhard de Chardin, who maintained that a number of pre-
Christian who lives in dread and fear of death? human individuals crossed the threshold of humanity at the
same time. It was in our own day that the Church condemned
Answer: the works of Teilhard. Besides the Council of Trent, the other
Fear of death is natural. It is natural precisely because the key document on the subject is an encyclical of Pope Pius XU,
disruption of the union of body and soul is most unnatural. in 1950, which stated that it is difficult to reconcile with
Body and soul have been united since the first moment of Catholic doctrine the theory that the human race is
our existence, and their separation – which is what death descended from a number of first humans. Thus the Church
means – is a physical evil, a punishment brought upon still accepts (but not with an absoluteness and finality ruling
mankind by sin. It is understandable that we shrink from it. out all speculation) that Adam and Eve were two individuals
We also usually think of death as an event which overtakes – not general names for male and female but two real
others, not self. persons – from whom the whole human race has inherited
original sin.
The fear is natural. To recognize death as the gateway to
our heavenly home is supernatural. Consequently, the Question:
holier your outlook and way of life, the less your fear of
What of the charge that the Church is too much concerned
death, fear giving way to joy, till you say, with Saint Nicholas
with the next life to be of much help for social justice in this
of Tolentino, "I love life only because it leads to death."
life? If priests are not to be active in politics, how can they
To be obsessed with the thought of death is unhealthy, but implement the Church's social teaching?
we must keep death in mind so that we may live well and
merit the heavenly destiny which, Our Lord revealed, awaits Answer:
us hereafter and for which alone we exist. The Church is indeed primarily concerned with guiding us to
heaven because this was Our Lord's dominant care and
Question:
purpose. On special occasions He fed the. hungry and cured
Has there been any change in recent years in the Church's the sick, but he issued a general command, "Labour not for
teaching concerning Genesis chapters one through three – the meat which perisheth, but for that which endures to
the account of the creation of Adam and Eve and the first everlasting life." (John VI, 27) The Apostles arranged
human pair, and their sin, with its effect on the whole collections for needy communities, but they appointed
human race? deacons for social welfare work so that they themselves could
attend to their duties as priests. The duties for which priests
Answer: are ordained are to offer the Sacrifice of the Mass, to preach
The Church has spoken infallibly on this subject only once. and administer the sacraments, to teach and to sanctify,
This was at the Council of Trent, in 1546, which declared bless, absolve, console and pray. To engage in politics is for
that the entire human race was involved in the sin of our the layman. A pri~st must never, even remotely, be identified
first parents. Trent did not pronounce on the question: were with any political party. His concern must be with principles
our first parents one human pair, or were there several first rather than politics.