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A publication of Traditional Catholics of America t Editor: John K. Weiskittel t Volume XV, No. 1 t Spring 1994
NEWS FROM OUR OFFICE
John Kenneth Weiskittel
Much of importance to our readers has happened since the conversations; and "The Lighter Side Of Life" –
last issue of The Athanasian. Of foremost concern is Father contributions from a quality often in too short a supply
Fenton's health. As it now stands, he is, from all among traditional Catholics … humor.
appearances, in a weakened but stable condition. He is in
good spirits, all things considered, and is mentally sharp. Another "new" item you will find here is a reprint of "The
But Father has not improved to the point where he can Remnant Of The Remnant In Traditional Catholicism," an
return to the office, and it remains to be seen when he will article by Father Fenton that originally was published in
be able to. He is living now in a retirement home. Many the December 1, 1982 issue and has been included without
thanks to all who have included Father in their Masses, changes. This piece touches on matters every bit as
rosaries, novenas and other prayers, and who have called or relevant as the day it was written – considering that the
written to express your concerns and offer your encourage- apostate Vatican II sect is as strong today as it was back
ment for his recovery. It means a great deal to Father then and that it still falsely claims to be the Roman Catholic
Fention to know that so many of you are thinking of him. Church – and "authentic warriors for the Faith – those
Please continue to remember him in your daily intentions. who are truly soldiers of Christ – are precious few indeed,
a small minority at best, a remnant of the remnant."
My apologies for the lateness of this issue. Several factors
conspired to set back the publication date, not the least No one has ever become a saint through halfhearted
being some personal reasons, including a move I recently commitment to God, but only by surrendering to Him, in
made and some health problems of my own. The illness the words of Saint Ignatius of Loyola's prayer, "my entire
was severe enough to so impair my powers of concentra- liberty, my memory, my understanding and my will." It is a
tion that I could not write for days at a time. In addition, sad but all too evident fact that we Catholics have not done
there has been some uncertainty about the future of The enough for God and, in large part, this is because we have
Athanasian, given Father Fenton's absence. not really heeded or else have forgotten the bedrock truth
Father Fention expressed, when he wrote that "the
Now that I am starting to settle in after my move and am preservation and propagation of our divine Faith is the
feeling much better after some treatment and megadoses greatest cause in all the world …" I pray that Father's
of vitamins, the next issue should be fairly well back on article will elicit much serious reflection and soul-
schedule. As for the newsletter's future, I am happy to searching among our readers, and spur them to redouble
report that most of those readers expressing an opinion all their personal sacrifices to our Lord. More than
have enthusiastically supported its continued operation anything else, news that greater numbers of Catholics are
and some new readers are subscribing. Please help us go
forward with your renewals, gift subscriptions and committing themselves to actively fight the good fight (in
donations – remember, the subscription rate is barely accordance with their various stations in life) is the kind of
enough to keep the office open, the printer paid and each tonic Father Fenton needs to reinvigorate him – and it is
issue mailed, so donations over and above this really help something we can all do to help. · ·
us keep afloat. Any amount you can spare to help sustain It is my intention to carry something of Father F.enton's in
this apostolate is deeply appreciated. Even small offerings every issue: new material if, God willing, he· recovers
can help defray costs for stamps, envelopes, etc. sufficiently to contribute again, but reprints uritil such· a
As for the promised change in format from newsletter to time. I feel it is beneficial to include these; for one reason,
magazine, it, too, has been delayed for the same reasons as because I want to give new readers the opportunity to
given above. But to give you a taste of what to expect in the become acquainted with the writings of one 0£ the truly
magazine, I have included in the current issue a few (but original pathfinders of traditional Catholicism, without
not all) of the features, that are to appear regularly in The whom many souls might still today be searching for a way
Athanasian magazine. Briefly, the new features are: out of the Novus Ordo sect. But The Athanasian stalwarts,
"Rome Has Spoken" – a selection from the perennial who might remember when the articles originally came out
wisdom of the Popes, beginning this issue with Saint Pius X a decade or so ago, will find them surprisingly fresh to
teaching on the meaning of true devotion to the Blessed reread. And anyone reading them can gain insights and
Virgin Mary; "Food For Thought" – some adages and inspiration sure to renew or fortify their zeal and
short quotations designed to stimulate thought and fuel dedication for the cause of Catholic tradition. t
John Kenneth Weiskittel
etween the toe of Italy's boot and the island of Sicily lays a remnant more accurately resembles a handful and even those
narrow body of water called the Strait of Messina. From modest numbers are fast shrinking away.
ancient times it has been a most treacherous passage for sailor Across from Scylla is the ecclesiastical version of Charybdis,
to negotiate, and the site of many sinkings. What makes it par-
here in the form of pantraditionalists. Where the exclusionists
ticularly dangerous is that at one point mariners face a large place heavy burdens on their followers, the pantraditionalists
rock – Scylla, as it has been named – jutting off the Italian offer open arms to anyone who favors the Latin Mass and
coast, while opposite it on the Sicilian side is a whirlpool – rejects Vatican II (or, at least, decries its abuses): The enemy of
Charybdis. The life-and-death problem for navigators is how to my enemy must be my friend. There must be broad leeway
avoid one hazard without falling prey to the other. So perilous given the faithful because of today's confusion (pan-
was this area to those in pre-Christian times that Scylla and traditionalists maintain}; let us not cause them further
Charybdis entered the mythology of the Greeks as monsters. disturbance by making trivial distinctions between traditional
The expression "between Scylla and Charybdis" has come to groups or arguing about unimportant issues. And, like the
mean a situation where one is placed at risk by two equally eddy they resemble, those drawn to them are sucked into a
deadly threats, and so one must exercise extreme care to pass mentality that says: "All are welcome here; leave your
through it unscathed. Alternate renderings of it include "to be differences at the door."
between a rock and a hard place," "… between hammer and Where the exclusionist is an ultraconservative, the pan-
anvil" and "… between the devil and the deep blue sea." In traditionalist is an arch-liberal; where the former is rigorous
common usage it has come to mean being faced with a pair of and unbending, the latter is lax and carefree; there the former
intolerable alternatives. veers uncomfortably close to Jansenism, the latter careens
Today, traditional Catholics are faced with such a dilemma. toward the open-house "ecumenism" of the Conciliar Church;
Having fled the religion spawned by the Second Vatican where the former errs by overemphasizing order and justice,
Council, they sought a safe haven, one in which they could ride the latter strays from the safe path in the opposite way, stress-
out the storm until it pleased God to show them the rainbow. ing charity and liberty; where the former refuses to accept that
While the Protestantized "new Mass" is the imposture that the Church makes exceptions regarding Canon Law in times of
sent many of them scurrying from Modernist churches, the two emergency, the latter twists those same exceptions to be used
crucial issues have compelled them to stay out of it have been in instances where they do not apply. These extremes – or at
the pseudo-orthodoxy it has sought to impose in the name of least tendencies toward them – are not at all uncommon in
Catholic authority and the false unity it seeks with non- the traditional movement. Actually, every one of us has
Catholics. Paradoxically, they now find themselves faced with inclinations in one or the other direction that need to be kept
rather similar difficulties that also parallel the dangers found in from getting off line. While those at one end look with horror
the Strait of Messina. at the activities of those at the other, and vice versa, there is
really nothing for us to choose from, since deviations in either
On the one hand, they are confronted with certain Catholics direction are equally to be avoided and deplored. The
I'll call the exclusionists, who, much in the fashion of the following observations are offered to show where the roots of
Scylla, set themselves up as some exclusive rock of orthodoxy. these problems originate, to further identify the inherent
These Catholics spend much of their time paring down the dangers, and suggest the eventual solution to them.
remnant Church to those who fall in line with their
interpretation of orthodox doctoring: Do it their way or not at Where Is The Catholic Church?
all. For the exclusionists, great emphasis is placed on an Amidst the myriad well-publicized outrages committed by
ironclad reading of church law; even the slightest deviation those churchmen imbued with the spirit of Vatican II, there is a
may be construed as tantamount to a denial of the Faith or kind of damage that, though as v.~despread as the better
evidence of subversion. They have determined that only they known examples, is often overlooked in this regard, and that is
possess the capability of knowing the mind of the Church in its negative impact on the traditional Catholic 1novement This
the practical application of these teachings and disciplines and goes far beyond the obvious disruption caused by Catholics
respond with great rancor should anyone dare to suggest being forced out of neighborhood churches. All problems
another approach may be possible. From their standpoint, the unique to the traditional movement can be traced with
THE ATHANASIAN 2 SPRJNG1994
certainty to the Conciliar revolt, and this is because they all Church were then ill-defined. The Archbishop's purpose was to
revolve in one manner or another, around the question of what form a kind of theological seawall against the crashing waves of
to do and think in the absence of any truly Catholic teaching the neo-Modernist deluge (for example, the universal
authority – most especially in the absence of a Pope. (In corrupting of the seminaries) to which Vatican II opened the
general this happens to be true regardless of whether or not floodgates, until the hierarchy of the Church regained its
one happens to be sedevacantist in outlook, since many of senses. As we know, although the outline of the subversion
those who accept the legitimacy of John Paul H's claim to the became more and more evident, Archbishop Lefebvre
Holy See do so in word only. In their ongoing disobedience continued a course of negotiations with those same people he
toward him they clearly show an attitude that does not honor sometimes referred to as Modernist Rome. He felt compelled to
him as such and is more consistent with a vacant see in Rome. seek permission from Paul VI – the very man who had given
For all intents and purposes, they behave as if the Church is fmal approval to the same abominable, un-Catholic Conciliar
presently without a Pope – which, of course, it is.) documents that the Archbishop rebelled against. And while
Archbishop Lefebvre would later ordain priests against Paul
The post-Conciliar years have been a time of learning for
IV's express "command" and consecrate bishops against John
Catholics, whose awareness of the full implications of the
Paul H's, he still regarded each of them as "the Holy Father"
"reforms" has only increased in slow increments. In 1965,
(publicly, anyway) and urged that his followers do likewise.
there were very few who categorically rejected Vatican II as
non-Catholic. True, there were a few bishops and priests Many Catholics who today have sounder views about the crisis
who started to take exception (sometimes publicly) with came to traditionalism through the SSPX or were for a time
certain of its pronouncements, but even they did not see the affiliated with it. Yet the group's fantastic theory regarding the
profound rupture with tradition that these decrees actually Conciliar Church's identity – essentially, that it is still the
represented. Still, their voices alerted faithful Catholics that Catholic Church, but with a Jekyll-and-Hyde split personality
something was wrong. – not only is offensive to pious ears, but has exacerbated the
By 1969, for example, two members of the Curia, Cardinals confusion, rather than alleviated it. It has produced the utterly
Alfredo Ottavini and Antonia Bacci, endorsed a Critical Study un-Catholic practice of professing quasi-allegiance to the
of the "new Mass" composed by some Roman theologians that Conciliar "hierarchy," which it says is to be obeyed when
spoke, among other things, against the rite's ability "to gladden functioning in accord with Catholic teachings, but not when
following the Modernist line. Hence, for example, the Conciliar
the heart of the most modernist Protestant" and its
version of the Code of Canon Law is picked apart by the SSPX;
"insinuations or manifest errors against the integrity of the
only those canons it accepts as orthodox are followed.
Catholic Faith." Although this document, having been signed by
two of the Church's highest authorities, is even today one of the Again, questions have been raised about Archibishop
most important documents incriminating the false orientation Lefebvre's degree of responsibility for failing to take a stronger,
of the new religion, and has led to more intensive analyses of the unequivocal stand against the counterfeit religion. Few
pseudo-Mass, it falls short of anything approaching a traditional observers, save SSPX stalwarts for whom the late
categorical denial and neither cardinal ever took the step of prelate could do no wrong and who still largely hold to his
clearly disengaging from this new church. The charitable view is views, deny this failure. Today, the Society is still frozen in a
that they simply failed to see the extent of the revolt, reaching mentality that was understandable in the late 1960s and early
even to the highest places in the Church. How culpable they 1970s, but now is untenable given subsequent evidence that
were in this negligence is a matter of debate that I am not clarifies the situation. John Paul II is a mystery it has yet to
interested in pursuing now, since my purpose here simply is to solve. For this reason, the Society today continues to be the
show the planned confusion that has bewildered Catholics for embodiment of the confusion wrought by the Council.
the past thirty years. (The mere fact that the cardinals dared to It is this uncertainty generated by the SSPX position that has
commit such an act of "treason" against the Conciliar Church compelled a number of priests (including grnups pf clerics in
ought to count for something to the Faithful – excepting, of Italy and the United States) to take hard-line stands, which
course, those self-appointed watchdogs who keep a nervous eventually lead to their separation from the Society. Even here,
finger perched at all times over the anathema button.) however, there has been a divergence of stands. While all of
Following closely after this was the establishment of the them have in one way or another stood against the Vatican II
Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX), and its affiliate seminary in changes, at least three different postures have emerged: (1) a
Econe, Switzerland, by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Again, modified SSPX policy that tolerates attendance at Conciliar
the parameters of the Catholic Church vis-a-vis the Conciliar "Indult Masses"; (2) a "middle-of-the-road" stand that, while
THE A THANAS/AN 3 SPRJNG1994
more openly the new reduces many as an if anyone so
important questions about it to a "personal status; seemingly is, to Scylla's
and, (3) a tough, no-nonsense position that openly and determination what Church teaching means and how it
unequivocally opposes the Conciliar religion. (Number three, should be applied – to dot all their theological is or cross all
of course, is most consistent with our position at The their canonical ts, there is ample reason for Scylla to conclude
Athanasian; regrettably, few priests to date do so. Pray God that said individual is a conniver against all that is holy. It never
more will find the courage to stand up and be counted.) fazes Scylla that attacking the motives of other Catholics
But even this is not the end of the confusion engendered by without proof is rash judgment; he operates as though his
Vatican II. In addition to the SSPX's declaration that members judgment is nearly infallible. The exclusionist intuits that he
of the Conciliar hierarchy are legitimate – if unworthy – possesses a mastery over all phases of theology; hence
successors to the Apostles, is the counterclaim that those sees consultation with others is irrelevant or only discussed with
(including the Holy See) are occupied by apostates and, hence, those who appreciate the excellence of his "wisdom."
are vacant. These sedevacantists, as the latter have come to be Around fifteen years ago a seminarian at Econe is reported to
called, have their own disagreements. Some, who may be have declared of Archbishop Lefebvre: "He's the closest thing
called absolute sedevacantists, argue that the false occupants we have to infallible." While neither Archbishop Lefebvre nor
are bereft of any title to the offices, while others, though the SSPX represent the exclusionist stand as is being
equally rejecting the false authority held up by Conciliar discussed here, the quotation is indicative of how elements of
prelates. argue that they have a "material" – though not this mentality are commonly found in traditional circles. The
"formal'' claim to the sees. Betwixt those two are less certain Scylla "theologian" has, more or less, given himself the same
Catholics who lean toward one position or another. false aura that the impressionable seminarian once bestowed
The reason for this digression is to point out the very important upon his bishop, claiming exclusive rights to the "Catholic
fact that, for all the reams written about this or that aspect of the position." He may appear in the form of priest or layman, but
present cisis. the central problem is one yet to be fully resolved; the common denominator is his resolute assurance that he
namely: Where is the Church?The obvious answer is: Wherever possesses alone the truths that other traditional Catholics must
you find Roman Catholics. In practical terms, however. even profess. Hence, if anyone dare broach the possibility of an
this has become a subject of controversy. It is a question that has alternate solution, a no-holds-barred vilification of the skeptic
caused the great divisions among those generically known as is likely to ensue.
"traditional Roman Catholics." and it will continue to cause rifts Should a group or individual fall under his condemnation,
until a cogent solution is presented (more on this at the ashes and sackcloth represent the only acceptable manner of
conclusion of the article). It is the loophole that allows the reparation. But, even then, this may not suffice, since the
traditional Scylla and Charybdis to endanger the remnant. exclusionist is not easily humored. What is confronted here,
Hazard Number One: then, is one who (consciously or not) regards himself or herself
Scylla – "I'm Catholic And You're Not!" as a "super Catholic" to whom the other faithful had better
listen if they know what is good for them.
This error would reduce the remnant to an iota. Quick to
judge, slow to reflect. is the fallacy here. Most of us Some lay members of this extreme position have gone so far as to
traditionalists would readily acknowledge that the declare all sacraments to be off limits. Why? Priests have no bish-
unprecedented crisis the Church now suffers through has ops over them, and, therefore, no jurisdiction. Basing this on a
raised countless equally unprecedented situations that are by rigid reading of Canon Law, they conclude that the Masses are as
no means simple to resolve, yet the Scylla exclusionist illicit as the priests who say them. They then solemnly pronounce
contends that all is crystal clear. He begins with a valid that Catholics must stay at home, content with their Rosaries and
premise: Vatican II is a war against orthodoxy cloaked in the Brown Scapulars. These believers are variously known as
i•estments of the Church; therefore, all Catholics must be on "minimalists" (that is, using the "bare minimum" to save their
guard againt the mere appearance of orthodoxy. souls), "home aloners" or "Rosary Catholics." (For the record,
Unfortunately, this super zealot begins paring down even the not every minimalist is an exclusionist, and vice versa. Some, in
smallest details in the thinking of other traditional Catholics, fact, have stopped going to church simply out of disgust for all the
ever suspicious of even the slightest miscast phrase. infighting, scandal, and controversy among prit.sts.)
At his very worst, he can act quite viciously toward those who What motivates Scylla's adherents? First, as has already been
see things differently, since, in this mindset, there is no such mentioned, something positive – a love of orthodox
THE ATHANASIAN 4 SPRJNG1994
changes, they separated from the
to ditionalists can gravitate to him. If Lefebvre does not
this far beyond leave a successor, as shows no sign of doing, Tra-
nr"·"""''"" by their interpretations. ditionalist Movement will either die after this first
is a result of the other negative factor in this mix: Hubris. This generation (from lack of new recruits who remember a
all-too-human component of pride (entering, perhaps, through Latin mass), or it will tum to Old Catholicism for an epis-
the back door, so to speak) distorts the zeal for orthodoxy by copacy and be absorbed by the Old Catholic movement
targeting allies for destruction: The zeal for saving souls is
largely smothered by the zeal to be right. Obviously, in this passage Pruter shows himself to be ignorant
about a great many aspects of the traditional movement, since
Hazard Number Two: few Catholics would ever knowingly involve themselves with his
Charybdis – "I'm Okay; You're Okay!" sect But what recruits he and other Old Catholics are able to
Steering clear of Scylla's dangers, some Catholics are drawn to extract from our ranks will be precisely those whom the
what they mistake for a safe haven – the pantraditionalists of pantraditionalists unwittingly sent them. (The problem is
Charybdis. The siren call that attracts them is another partial compounded when it is remembered that the sect's chapels
truth, this one being the notion of unity – Catholics must be have no scruples about hanging a "Traditional Catholic" sign
united if they are to effectively stand up against the Vatican II outside their door.)
usurpers. But in the case of pantraditionalists, this laudatory
In a sense, Charybdis is the subtler, more seductive of the
aim has gone tragically awry.
errors, because of its easygoing style. It is the easier path to
The peril of Charybdis is the "open door" policy to any group take, yet no less dangerous. Instead of crashing into a rock,
or individual that calls itself "Catholic" (and a few that do not). one simply disappears into an all-encompassing whirl of water.
One pantraditionalist, paraphrasing Lenin, has declared that Instead of being shredded by an ad hoc "magisterium," one
traditionalists must have no enemies on the right. Unlike the simply blends into an amorphous body of "Catholics."
ironfisted dictums of Scylla, Charybdis coaxes Catholics with
dulcet tones of soothing conciliation, assuring them that all is Again, though far less apparently (even, perhaps, to its
well under their ill-defined "traditional" umbrella. While originators), the ultimate trouble involves pride. With Scylla,
orthodoxy is not entirely set aside, it is made to take a place the problem is with the assertion of its heads that a definitive
behind the policy of" ecumenical" togetherness. judgment can be established against its "enemies"; with
The pantraditionalists are all "hearts and roses," the Charybdis, it involves the suspension of judgment regarding its
embodiment of a confused charity. It is no more true "friends." Whatever their differences, each hazard ultimately
Catholicism than the syrupy sentimentalism of a cherub on a mirrors the other in its unwavering conviction that it is on the
Valentine's Day card (which it closely resembles). If there is a side of truth: Scylla, by writing people out of the Church, and
way that principle can be circumvented to "accommodate," rest Charybdis, by writing them into her. (This mirroring also sees
assured they will find it In the popular parlance this is known some exclusionists involved in activities with those of dubious
as "looking the other way." Priests of this persuasion have Catholicity, while certain pantraditionalists can match their
been known to advise traditional Catholics that they may take counterparts in the bitter denunciation department – a choice
part in Novus Ordo "Indult" and Unitate (Eastern Rite) slur is to accuse anyone who crosses them of being
Masses, Old Catholic Masses, or Eastern Orthodox Masses, if "uncharitable" or even "pharasaical.")
no other Masses are available. So, in total disregard to the "Bickering Priests"
perennial discipline of the Church – Catholics are forbidden
to worship with schismatics – these liberals, usually in the I am hardly the only one who has noticed with growing
name of" charity," put souls in harm's way. uneasiness the ongoing formation of the two extreme
positions. In the January-February 1994. isue Catholic
And make no mistake, the Old Catholics in particular are
Restoration an article by its editor, Father Donald Sanborn,
looking for any way to tap the traditional movement for new
touched on the dangers. (Ironically, a recent newsletter from a
followers to fill their ever dwindling membership rolls. Karl
pantraditionalist church actually touted his "excellent article,"
Pruter, a bishop in the sect, in his 1983 The Old Catholic
despite the fact that they are a prime example of one of the
Sourcebook is clearly hoping for such a day when he writes:
dangers he condemns. But that is another matter.) Entitled
[T]he Roman Catholic Traditionalist future will be "Bickering Priests," the article focused on the inability of
changed appreciably if Archbishop Lefebvre consecrates traditional clerics to resolve their differences in various
a successor. ff he does, his successor will unquestionably controverted issues; the underlying reasons for these priestly
THE ATHANASIAN 5 SPRING1994
disputes; the impact such conflicts have on achieving the goal no matter what error they profess or disciplinary
it is presumed they all share; and, suggested ways to find aberration they practice, they become "ecumenical" with
common ground. While continuing to lament Father all. This position has often been described as
Sanborn's unfortunate support for a controversial "episcopal "pantraditionalism." In this system, all that counts is some
consecration" last autumn in Cincinnati, I have elected to put vague common denominator: usually that you are for the
our differences aside for the sake of unity and offer a few traditional Mass. All other considerations, such as what
passages from it to better illuminate the present study. Church you belong to, who is the Pope or who is not, who
is validly ordained, whether Vatican II is acceptable or not,
Although Father Sanborn's terminology is different from mine
what conciliar reforms you accept or reject, what you
– in place of exclusionist, he writes of "surrogate authority,"
think about the New Code, whether you are una cum or
and refers to "free-for-all" instead of pantraditionalist – the
concepts are essentially the same (if not exactly so in all the not – to mention only a few major points – become
details). And the basic cause behind them is the same. He states meaningless trifles which are distracting. Unlike the
that "without the operation of the teaching authority of the surrogate authority approach which seeks unity through
dogmatism, this solution seeks unity through
Catholic Church, the Catholic becomes incapable of deciding
antidogmatism, as if the Church itself had no dogmas, no
with certitude of faith what should be thought about a particular
disciplines, and no morals. This solution is obviously
point of doctrine or moral teaching." But are not these teachings
self-evident? Anticipating such questions, he adds: unacceptable, since it seeks not to dispel the chaos of lack
of authority, and severely compromises the unity and
True, there is the entire deposit of faith, the pronounce- sanctity of the Catholic Church by the recognition of error
ments of Popes and councils. About these things there is in both the speculative and practical orders.
no dispute and no lack of certitude. Where the problems
arise is in the interpretation of and application of what Given the current woeful lack of authority, it is necessary, he
has already been set down. Thus we have seen a great concludes: "[To] strike a balance between the need, on the
deal of dispute about what to think about Vatican II, about one hand, to maintain order in the Church and to avoid, on the
whether the post-Vatican II Popes are true Popes or not, other, claiming a false, nonexistent authority… "
about whether to accept the new Code of Canon Law or The Lessons To Be Learned
not, about whether to accept Novus Ordo marriage
annulments or not, about the validity of Novus Ordo And yet, as important as it is that these problems be resolved,
sacraments or not, and so forth. the root cause is such as to greatly diminish the prospect of
settling them in the foreseeable future. For it is, once again, a
In the traditional movement as elsewhere, nature abhors a cause that reverts back to Vatican II itself – the nearly
vacuum, so "many have sought refuge in the surrogate universal defection from the Faith by the putative successors of
authority solution; that is, they have assigned the teaching and the Apostles. Given this fact, Catholics are pained to seek a
disciplinary authority of the Church to someone else besides way out of our difficulties and wonder who is to mediate
John Paul II. In this context, Father Sanborn specifically between rival traditional factions that sometimes scandalously
mentions the Society of St Pius X and Archbishop Lefebvre, resemble Old Catholics in their inability to stay united or to be
who, the Society maintains, "had … an extraordinary mission kept from heaping condemnations upon each other's heads.
from God, different from and independent of the mission Intimately related to a question asked earlier, the crucial
confided to the successor of Saint Peter, whereby the mystery upon which we all routinely ponder may be summed
Archbishop would filter or sift the teachings and disciplines of up as follows: Where is the Catholic hierarchy?
the Vatican II religion, selecting what was Catholic, rejecting
what was non-Catholic or harmful to souls." Others have taken No matter what the trouble – Scylla or Charybdis – one
a similar position, he writes: "[T]he telltale characteristic of chooses to address, it is ultimately a mere symptom of the
such groups are the fulminations against those who disagree sickness the Church is suffering: lack of a valid, functioning
with them, as if the dissenters were in some way opposing the hierarchy. If one seeks to challenge Scylla's charges that a given
authority of God or of the Church." group or individual is not Catholic, where· can he find a
competent authority to investigate the charges and ·make an
And then there is the laxist error. This position, too, is neatly official ruling? Similarly, if one is leery of Charybdis' claim that
defined by Father Sanborn: there is nothing to fear from certain of its "Catholic" associates
Opposite to surrogate authority is the free-for-all (in some cases, perhaps, even the same gr()up or individual
solution. Aware of the absence of authority, some priests condemned by Scylla!), where can he locate a bishop with the
adopt an "anything goes" attitude, as if no order or reason jurisdiction needed for a definitive determination? The answer,
should prevail. Assuming everyone is in good conscience, of course, is precisely the same in each instance: nowhere.
THEA THANAS/AN 6 SPRJNG1994
(Nowhere, in the sense that any truly Catholic prelates with too much of these virtues. Most critical is charity. If we
such authority have yet to stand up and speak out against the cannot be charitable to others in the household of our own
crimes of their supposed counterparts in the Conciliar Church.) Faith, then we are no better than the atheists and all our
efforts are for naught.
Readers of this study may well conclude that the adherents of
Scylla have an immediate need for more charity and less of Pray For A Pope!
an urge to go rashly damning presumed heretics and
It is given to the Roman Pontiff to tell the spurious and
schismatics. Likewise, readers may feel devotees of Charybdis
adulterated from the pure and orthodox belief, and to
need a solid dose of prudence in choosing those beside
teach without alteration the faith of our forefathers.
whom they kneel in worship. And, in both instances, the
There is no one but the Pontiff to whom we can tum
readers would be right
for help. (Saint Basil the Great)
In the former case, Scylla Catholics would greatly benefit by This quotation from a Doctor of the Church reflects very well
considering how, given the confused state of affairs, a degree on the problems of traditional Catholics, as well as the root
of leeway (though not the thoroughfare of the cause, and also points to how the answers for them will, in
pantraditionalists must be allowed in certain controverted God's good time, be found. It also brings to mind a
issues. At one time or another during the crisis, all thinking conversation I had a few months ago with a priest about the
traditional Catholics (including Scylla polemicists) have, to woeful situation in which the Church finds herself. I
some extent, revised or modified their opinions. The diversity emphasized how I always add special intentions in my prayers
of views mentioned earlier is proof positive of the enormous that God deliver her from her plight and how crucial I feel is
difficulties that must be surmounted by anyone who seeks to the need for all Catholics to commit themselves to such
decipher exactly why this inconceivable tragedy has befallen prayers. All that is fine, he said; but, even more than that the
the Church and to delineate precisely the scope of the faithful ought to be praying specificaly for a Pope (as in: pray
devastation. Such a fact should humble all but the most that we get a Pope). Nothing is really solved until the Church is
smugly arrogant of pontificators, who deny the fact that the
again governed by a true Pope, he explained, and once she has
Church has made allowances to the faithful in times of crisis.
one all of these problems will be quickly solved.
On the other hand, Charybdis Catholics, no less dedicated to
the cause, reverse the problem, and continually run the risk The more I have considered his statement, the more I see how
of blindly embracing every "Catholic" that comes their way. If eminently sensible it is. However one views this or that
the charge of false polemics can justly be leveled against traditional bishop, there is not a one of them (no matter how
Scylla for magnifying minor differences out of proportion in personally gifted or holy he may be) who has the capacity to
the name of "orthodoxy," that of false irenics is equally settle these problems in any binding way. Even if a bishop from
applicable to Charybdis for reducing critical distinctions to behind a "former" Iron Curtain country came forth and could
the status of mere trifles for the sake of "unity." prove he had jurisdiction, he could not, by such a fact alone,
settle them definitively. At best, his public denunciation of the
But the criticisms I have raised in this article suffer the same Novus Ordo sect would simply be an important first step for the
fate a<; the subjects they cover, and that is the lack of any Church's eventual recovery. Not even a group of such bishops
force of authority behind them. And this is true of every could do so on their own.
problem in the traditional movement. If there is anything for
Catholics to learn from this continuing crisis, it is that there No, the only way to finally resolve our differences in a way
will continually be unresolvable disputes between traditional agreeable to all those of good will is to have a Pope back at the
Catholics and the danger of further division, because no helm of the Barque of Peter to steer it safely through these
Church authority superior to them is present to settle the turbulent times. The words of Pope Pius IX are significant in
differences. Only when the hierarchy is restored, will we be this regard, when he writes that "without the Pope there is no
able to at last find peace regarding these dilemmas. Church, and no Catholic society without the Holy "
We must take care not only to exercise caution in how we In the Gospels, an incident is recorded that parallels .the
disagree with other Catholics, but prudence in how we current difficulties for the Church. Christ was asleep in a boat
choose our associates. The Church teaches that we are with his disciples, when a great storm came and threatened to
always to take the safer course, when uncertain how to capsize the vessel. Fearful, they awoke Him, crying: "Lord,
proceed – the "golden mean" of the ancients. All of us, but save us, we perish." Calming the sea, He rebuked them for
especially priests, who are to set the ideal examples for the their lack of faith. (Matthew 8:23-27) Let us, then, not tire in
rest of Catholics, really need to ask God for increases in our prayers, confident that our Lord will provide a pilot to
charity, humility, and prudence, since no one can ever have navigate us through the tempest and into safe harbor. t
THE ATHANASIAN 7 SPRING 1994
Office Box 38335 t Colorado Springs, Colorado 80937 t 719-636-1575
May 9, 1994
Dear Subscribers:
After this issue of The Athanasian went to the typesetter, Traditional Catholics of
America, Inc. decided to close the TCA office, effective Tuesday, May 31, 1994.
Please use this letter as a guideline for sending correspondence and donations until
the end of May.
As usual, you are receiving the white contribution envelope. We would appreciate it
if you would make a final contribution to the TCA so that we have enough funds to
close this office. Make your checks payable to Traditional Catholics of America.
After May 31, 1994, there will not be anyone in the office to answer correspondence.
Father Fenton has been approved for Colorado State Medicaid and will no longer
accept assistance. Therefore, effective immediately, we would appreciate it if you
would stop sending donations made out to him personally.
Father Fenton would very much like for John K. Weiskittel to continue publishing
The Athanasian from Florida. Those of you who need to renew your subscription
will receive a blue envelope with Mr. Weiskittel's address on it. Please make your
renewal checks payable to The Athanasian and mail them to the Florida address.
Thank you for your gracious support of Father Fenton, who remembers you and
your kindness.
Sincerely in Christ,
The Board of Directors
The
Catholicism
Fr. Francis E. Fenton
I n current. us~e traditional Cathol'.cism and the R~m~n
Cathbhc Faith mean the same thmg. Both terms signify
dedication to the Faith demanded of them in this our day. Such
individuals are traditional Catholics, yes, but they assuredly are
the totality of religibus truths or the body of religious doctrine not apostolic or truly dedicated ones.
taught the Church and accepted by all who are in
How explain this? To say that so it has ever been is not, to my
communion with the Church. Prior to Vatican Council II the
mind, an adequate answer in the present situation. I well
word "traditional" would have been redundant in referring to a
realize from my own experiences as a parish priest for many
Roman Catholic for the simple reason that all true Catholics
years that it has always been the few who were dedicated, hard-
were by that fact traditional. With the advent of the Conciliar
Church upon the world, however, as a consequence of Vatican working, self-sacrificing. But the Church situation is so
Council II, it became necessary to distinguish between drastically different today from what it was a mere generation
authentic Catholics and those members of the Conciliar ago. As a result of the several subversive and satanic forces to
Church who persist to this day in calling themselves such. which it has been systematically and so successfully subjected
Hence, the use of the term "traditional" to identify with the by its enemies for so long a time, the Roman Catholic Church
former, that is, the genuine Roman Catholic. has been reduced to a remnant – and that remnant is
traditional Catholicism. One, then, might logically expect to
A traditional Catholic, then, is one who firmly believes that the find practically all of the Catholics who are a part of that
Roman Catholic Church is the one true Church and who remnant to be the best in terms of their love for and dedication
professes, believes in, accepts in its entirety the doctrinal and to their God-given Faith. After all, are not these people
moral teaching of that Church. He will, of course, have no part traditional Catholics because they are well aware of what has
of the Conciliar or Novus Ordo Church because, if he is rightly happened to their beloved Church and are determined to
informed on the subject, he understands that that Church retain their total fidelity to it at all costs? In a word, are not
simply is not Catholic. Either the Roman Catholic Faith here traditional Catholics "the real thing," men and women who
and now is, and is found in, traditional Catholicism or that ardently strive to live their Faith to the fullest and who, if needs
Faith has ceased to exist. There is no other alternative. But, be and by the grace of God, are willing to die in testimony to it?
since we have the word of the Son of God Himself that His Indeed, do not they represent the sole human hope and
Church will live forever, then it follows that that Church today promise for the Church's survival in this our day?
is traditional Catholicism which alone possesses, preserves and
Until the past few years I would probably have replied to the
teaches the fullness of the Faith, pure and undefiled.
above question with an unqualified "yes." But not so today.
But there are many who, while they profess to be traditional Assuredly, traditional Catholicism is today the Roman Catholic
Catholics, do not manifest any genuine appreciation of the Church. Such a positive blanket statement, however, cannot be
Faith they profess. In other words, they firmly believe that the made in truth about traditional Catholics. Rather must a
Roman Catholic Church is the one true Church; they fully distinction be made between those who are fully dedicated,
accept its teachings and honestly strive to live their daily lives unreservedly hard core, truly apostolic, and those whose
accordingly, but their dedication to the Faith still leaves much traditionalism is of a limited or restricted nature. In all of my
to be desired. They are lacking, that is in any significant zeal or many dealings and contacts in recent years with traditional
apostolic spirit. The impression they give is that, while they are groups across the country, I have observed everywhere how few
obviously concerned about their personal spiritual well-being are the number of truly dedicated traditional Catholics, say,
and that of their families, they seemingly care little for the perhaps, some ten to fifteen percent of the total. The
preservation and propagation of the Faith otherwise. Indeed, it remainder just more or less go along. A typical individual in
is my strong conviction that the large majority of traditional this category, which is the vast majority, is a devout person,
Catholics fall short in varying degrees of the level and quality of never misses Mass, receives Communion regularly, recites the
THE ATHANASIAN 9 SPRING1994
rosary each day, etc. In other words, he does a highly Catholicism would be of the kind described in the preceding
commendable job in the matter of his own spiritual welfare. paragraph. Are they not the remnant, the informed and
This same type of individual, however, is likely to be one who dedicated minority of true Catholics who, in these days of
does little or nothing for cause by way of his time and labor unprecedented crisis for the Church, have committed
unless shamed into so; whose efforts are promoting or themselves to work and to pray to fight and, if need be, to
propagating at best; and who is – in the die for the Well, while one may reasonably expect this to
– likely to plain miserly. be case, the reality is something else. However frequently I
hopeless would be our effor't.S to preserve the Faith if all wish that it were otherwise, the distressing fact is that the large
traditoinal Catholics were of this kind! Thank God are majority of traditional Catholics are not truly dedicated,
not! Just most of them are! courageous, apostolic. Rather they are, in varying degrees,
provincial, self-centered, selfish. Of this I am thoroughly
But, to return to a thought previously expressed in this article,
convinced because I have observed it in many forms and on
why make an issue of a situation, however regrettable it is,
innumerable occasions. In the remnant which is traditional
which is found in every movement, in every organization
Catholicism, authentic warriors for the Faith – those who are
committed to the pursuance of some ideal or devoted to the
truly soldiers of Christ – are precious few indeed, a small
advancement of some noble cause? Has it not ever been so?
minority at best, a remnant of the remnant.
Have not the great feats of history been invariably accomplished
by the relatively few? When have self-sacrificing and And so it a situation one would not logically anticipate, a
courageous and dedicated people ever been in the majority? condition distressing to realize, that in the ranks of traditional
Why, then, expect any difference in traditional Catholicism? Catholicism are found so relatively few who are of the caliber
one would expect to find therein in the overwhelming majority.
The answer is that traditional Roman Catholics are those who But, because the Roman Catholic Church is today traditional
– in the face of the massive destruction inflicted upon the Catholicism, the traditionalist movement will survive,
Church over the past twenty years or so and despite the dependent, under God, for the survival upon those relatively
defection of multitudes of the former fellow Catholics from the few who comprise the hard core within the movement. As for
Faith – have supposedly remained unyielding and steadfast in the others, well, I fervently hope that at least some of them will
their loyalty to the Church. their churches have been in due time begin to realize that attending Mass, receiving the
occupied by the enemy and, in many instances, they have been Sacraments, saying the rosary, and leading morally good lives,
alienated from their families and friends for the stand they have as vital as these are, are not enough. The crisis in the Church
taken, yet they have adamantly refused to compromise or to demands that such traditional Catholics become crusaders,
have any part of the non-Catholic schismatic Conciliar Church. warriors, well-informed activists in the defense and promotion
Whatever the sacrifices involved, and in some cases they are of the Faith. Frankly though, I do not think this will happen. In
considerable, these people are fully detennined, with the grace my opinion, it is the remnant of the remnant of traditional
of God, to retain the totality of their precious Faith and to Catholicism through whom, under God, will be accomplished
practice it as best they can in the particular circumstances in the preservation of the Faith. t
which they find themselves. Whatever the cost, traditional This article originally appeared in the
Roman Catholics are unreservedly committed to the December 1, 1982 issue of The Athanasian.
preservation of the Faith not only for themselves and their own
locality but universally, and will do all they can to help their
fellow traditional Catholics in other areas. In other words, their The enclosed white envelope is for the convenience of those
outlook in matters pertaining to the Faith is not a provincial or who may wish to send a donation to the TCA. If a blue envelope
is also enclosed. that is to be used for subscription renewal.
parochial one because such an outlook is not Catholic.
Such, then, is the caliber and character of those individuals to
be found, with rare exceptions, in the ranks of the traditional SUBSCRIPTON RENEWALS,
Roman Catholic movement. Right? Wrong! Because the The date on the envelope address label indicates the month
Roman Catholic Church is what it is and because the and year in which the recipient's subscription
is due for renewal. At the proper time, a subscription
preservation and propagation of divine Faith is the greatest envelope will be enclosed with the newsletter. One may enter
cause in all the world, one might certainly expect that a new subscription at any time, of course, and
will then receive the four following newsletter issues.
practically all of those who are affiliated with traditional
THE ATHANASIAN 10 SPRING1994
The Lighter Side Of Life
You know you're in a tough neighborhood when you walk into To err is human, but when the eraser wears out before the pencil,
the confessional and there's graffiti on the wall. you know you're overdoing it
A radio announcer is a person who works for the love of mike. Teenagers express their burning desire to be different by
dressing exactly alike.
Lawyer: Occupation?
Witness: H{lusewife. A man has reached middle age when he is warned to slow down
Lawyer: Husband's occupation? by his doctor, instead of the police.
Witness: Manufacturer.
Lawyer: Children? Abird in the hand is bad table manners.
Witness: No, electronics.
"I know it sounds nutty, doc," the patient said to the psychiatrist,
Minutes at the table don't put on the weight- it's the seconds. "but I can't shake the belief that I'm a goat." "Oh," asked the
psychiatrist, "what makes you think a thing like that?" "Well, for
Baby … A loud noise at one end and no responsibility at the starters," the patient bleated, "whenever someone makes me
other. :\Ion,ignor Ronald Knox angry, I have a very strong desire to butt him with my head; and
I've grown this goatee just so I would resemble one." "Hmm,
By the time we have all the furniture paid for, we'll have genuine most interesting," the psychiatrist said; "is there anything else?"
antiques. "Yes, as a matter of fact, there is something; when I go to the
supermarket, I am irresistibly drawn to the canned food aisle – I
It will soon take only two hours to go around the world – one could care less about the contents – it's the cans that make me
hour for the flying and one hour to get to the airport. hungry!" "Extraordinary!" exclaimed the psychiatrist;" and how
long have you felt like you were a goat?" From the couch came
The most expensive vehicle to operate, per mile, is the shopping the reply: "Ever since I was a kid."
cart.
The father of the bride should realize that he isn't losing a
daughter, but gaining a bathroom.
A pessimist is a good person to borrow money from – he never
expects to be repaid. Bad luck is bending over to pick up a four-leaf clover and being
infected by poison ivy.
If the mind goes blank, be sure to tum off the sound.
Having a big family is a good way to make sure there will always
My neighbor accuses his wife of spending money like a drunken be someone around to answer the phone – and forget the
sailor. But is that any worse than spending like a sober message.
congressman?
Then there was the fellow doing his income tax return who, for
I won some stock in a company that pays quarterly dividends. the line marked "Dependents," printed: "Federal Government."
Every three months, they send me a quarter.
Bigamy is when two rites make a wrong.
A modem artist is one who throws paint on a canvas, wipes it off
with a cloth . and sells the cloth. After looking at the bill for my surgery, I now understand why
doctors wear masks in the operating room.
The Eiffel Tower is the Empire State Building after taxes.
These days there doesn't seem to be any arrest for the wicked.
Television is an invention that permits you to be entertained
in your living room by people you wouldn't have in your ShowmeatwinbirthandI'llshowyouaninfantreplay.
home. David Frost
A baby boomer is a man who hires someone to cut the grass so he
Nowadays, a dollar saved is a quarter earned. can play golf for the exercise.
THE A THANAS/AN 11 SPRING1994
Oswald
A poll among priests in France some time ago revealed
that only one-third of are in favour the ordina-
when, in a Pope was elected who was a genius and a
a born leader and an administrator. name was Hildebrand.
tion of women. The other two-thirds must be motivated by He became Pope Gregory VIL
prejudice. They are all of the Conciliar Church, whose "priest-
hood," together with that of the Church of England, has no Pope Gregory VII promptly took the offensive in the conflict. He
theological reason for the exclusion of women. Whereas, the forbade all priests who had married to function as priests, and
admission of women to the Catholic priesthood is a sheer forbade the laity to accept their ministrations. Where he could
impossibility. A much higher proportion of the French clergy, not trust bishops to carry out his orders, he sent his own legates.
83 percent, favour the ordination of married men. The He excommunicated Henry IV of Germany. The result was that
authentic Catholic Church, needless to say, insists on the married priests broke into open rebellion in various parts of
traditional celibacy for priests, and has not experienced, within Europe. They instigated riots, in which papal legates were
the Church, any opposition to the rule for a thousand years. beaten up, and loyal celibate priests and bishops were stoned
What we call the Iron Age in history, or Dark Age, was a period and slaughtered. Mobs even murdered laymen who defended
of about two hundred years, from the ninth to the eleventh the Pope's decree. All this occurred about 1080 A.D. Never at
century, when Europe was in a state of frightful disorder. Until any period has such a high proportion, the majority, of members
our own day, it was the saddest phase in the history of the of the Church sunk to such degradation. After years of violence
Church. Vikings from Scandinavia were raiding all Europe's and plundering, Henry IV's army marched on Rome. Pope
coastline, from Norway to Italy. Barbarian hordes were invading Gregory took refuge in a castle on a rocky crag overlooking the
and pillaging Germany. Civil war raged in France. In Italy, sea at Salemo where he died May 25, 1085.
Popes were imprisoned and even murdered. It was an age of Hildebrand's influence endured, and brought about a profound
blood and iron. Such was the violence and devastation that and widespread change of outlook. Within a few years the ideal
civilization all but disappeared. The powers that took over were of priestly celibacy was revitalized, and the rule has prevailed
robber barons, ruling in the ruins, governing vast territories. As ever since. In 1123, the First Lateran Council decreed:
time went on, in the tenth century, these barons began to rule
the Church also, largely by force of circumstance. If amid the We absolutely forbid priests, deacons, or subdeacons the
general desolation the poor people wanted a church, it was the intimacy of concubines and of wives, and cohabitation
baron who had to build it. When they wanted a priest, it fell to with other women, except those with whom for reasons of
the baron to procure one, and maintain him. In the same way, necessity alone the Nicene Synod permits them to live,
higher barons would appoint bishops. Then the barons began that is, a mother, sister, paternal or maternal aunt, or
to demand payment before the installation of bishops. Before others of this kind concerning whom no suspicion may
long the appointment to a bishopric went to the highest bidder. justly arise.
And so it went until eventually men of brutal nature and
unbridled passions became bishops, giving the very worst Not all shepherds of the flock are required by Our Lord to lay
example to the clergy over whom they ruled. Members of such a down their lives, but they are all called to a life of self-sacrifice.
degenerate hierarchy were not the sort likely to observe the law We do not find in the Gospels any precept of compulsory
of celibacy and chastity. celibacy for the priesthood, but we find ample warrant in the
language of Our Lord for regarding dedicated celibacy as the
The times produced a crop of writers, pamphleteers, demand- fitting state for priests. It establishes the dominance of the
ing permission for priests to marry. The campaign was spiritual cover over the material element in human nature.
supported by the barons, led by the German King Henry IV. If Marriage is a state of such devoted love that a husband and
the Church insisted on celibate, mortified priests, the barons father must give his first affection to wife children. The
feared a lower income from their auctioneering. But the priest sacrifices the joy of children of his own may give
professed reasons for an end to the rule of celibacy were just the all his human affection to his people. If the rule of c,elibacy were
same as those being urged in our own day: the need for more to go – if the priest could no longer point to the personal
priests; priests should be natural and like other men; the time sacrifice he makes at present – his influence would be gone; it
has come for wider freedoms; matrimony is a holy state; etc. In would be all over with him and the caus~ he represents. Priestly
the eleventh century the opponents of priestly celibacy formed work for souls demands a consecrated, single-hearted
the greater part of Christendom. Those in favour of the law of attachment of self to Our Lord that is ideally verified only in a
celibacy were a minority of the laity, fervent, high-principled, state of detachment from marital and domestic ties, that the
militant. Priestly celibacy became a pressing issue in those shepherd may tend the flock with an exclusive, affectionate
times, and the array of forces involved was very one-sided, concern for their well-being. t
THE ATHANASIAN SPRING1994
–
Make up your mind to become a saint Saint Mary Mazzarello The test of good manners is to be able to put up pleasantly with
bad ones. Unknown
If God allows you to suffer much, it is a sign that He has great
designs for you, and that He certainly intends to make you a The prevailing spirit of the household corresponds with the
Saint And if you wish to become a great Saint, entreat Him literature in the home. Salacious novels, magazines, and
yourself to give you much opportunity for suffering; for there is newspapers which offend our moral sense, are too often mental
no wood better to kindle the fire of holy love than the wood of the food in many homes. Alas, how many hearts have been poisoned
cross, which Christ used for His own sacrifice of boundless in their youth by obscene literature. Do not permit anything of
charity. SaintlgnatiusLoyola the kind to be brought into your home. SaintJohn Vianney
HewholendstothepoorgetsinterestfromGod. GennanProverb Disorder in society is the result of disorder in the
family. SaintAngelaMerici
If anyone shall say that because of scientific progress it may be
possible at some time to interpret the Church's dogmas in a The worst moment for the atheist is when he is really thankful,
and has nobody to thank. Dante Gabriel Rosetti
different sense from that which the Church understood and
understands, let him be anathema. First Vatican Council
It is necessary to fight Freemasonry with those weapons of divine
faith which in past ages vanquished paganism. PopeLeoXDI
One of the most important news stories of the twentieth century
continues to receive little attention from America's news media. Let us abandon even the thought of being Christians if
It is easily demonstrated that Communism has been sustained we tremble before the threats or traps laid for us by
for all its existence by the Free World. JohnF. McManus perverts. Pope Clement xm
Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves, If God permitted a Pope to be notoriously heretical and
and under a just God, cannot long retain it. Abraham Lincoln contumacious, he would cease to be Pope, and the Apostolic
Chair would be vacant Saint A lphonsus Ligouri
When liberty destroys order, the hunger for order will destroy How can they be in the Catholic Church who have shaken off the
liberty. Will Durant Apostolic faith and become authors of fresh evils. SaintAthanasius
The family is the most ancient institution that God founded in Withoutashepherd, thesheeparenotaflock. Russian Proverb
paradise, when He called the first pair of human beings into
existence. The first blessing that God gave was for the well-being The martyrdom of the heart is no less fruitful than the shedding
of the family. With family life the history of the world ofblood. SaintThereseoftheChildlesus
commences. SaintJohn Vianney
Always keep your words soft and sweet – one day you may have
The unit of the American life is the family and the home. to eat them. Unknown
Through it vibrates every hope of the future. It is the economic Afault once denied is twice committed. Unknown
unit as well as the moral and spiritual unit. But it is more than
this. It is the beginning of self-government. It is the throne of our Freedom suppressed and again regained bites with keener fangs
highest ideals. It is the center of the spiritual energy of our than freedom never endangered. Cicero
people. Herbert Hoover
If we possessed every virtue, but lacked humility, those virtues
It is easier to abstain than restrain. French Proverb would be without root and would not last Saint Vincent de Paul
THEATHANASIAN 13 SPRING1994
America's Christian lues
John Kenneth Weiskittel
A round the beginning of this year two Michigan judges In reality, they reflect the thinking of the atheistic "religion" of
scheduled to hear separate cases against Dr. Jack secular humanism and represent a particularly effective line of
Kevorkian, the retired pathologist whose assistance at an attack in its cultural war against the remaining remnants of a
estimated twenty suicides has led to his ghoulish nickname, rapidly dying Christian social order. One need only read the
"Dr. Death," declined to pursue the indictments. (A third "catechisms" of the humanists, such as their "Manifestos," to
judge, however, has chosen not to dismiss other charges see how these judicial attacks on God's Commandments and
stemming from his crimes.) They justified their decisions on the natural law are perfectly in keeping with their godless
grounds that laws criminalizing suicide are "unconstitutional." agenda. Abortion, birth control, suicide, euthanasia, divorce,
public nudity, legalized prostitution and pornography,
By what logic do the magistrates arrive at this conclusion,
homosexual "rights," and other forms of "sexual freedom" are
throwing out as they do over two hundred years of judicial
among the humanistic "religious values" that are being foisted
precedent? One of them actually speaks of the Constitution
on communities throughout America – all under the guise of
guaranteeing Americans a "right to die." The other judge
religious neutrality.
decries the desire by some citizens to "legislate morality" by
enacting laws based on "religious values." Now, of course, One Nation Under Men?
there is no pro-death provision in the Constitution, and the The enemies of Christ are so emboldened by recent successes
idea of including one would surely have seemed absurd to the as to publicly declare war on all things Christian. Atheist author
Founding Fathers. (Jefferson, for example, though not Gore Vidal, who two years ago published a novel, Live From
someone we usually approve of, once accurately asserted that Golgotha, that depicted our Lord as obese and mentally ill and
"the chief purpose of government is to protect life. Abandon Saint Paul as a tap-dancing homosexual, is one of the most
that and you have abandoned all.) [Italics added.] Likewise, the vocal belligerents. And what Vidal says is important, at least in
establishing of laws – any laws – presupposes the notion of terms of America's cultural and political elite, because he is
morality, for they owe their very existence to the fact that some widely regarded as our finest living writer and because he
individuals and groups do not respect the rights of others. happens to be the cousin of Vice President Al Gore. In his
Then there is the related contention that religious values have political essays, Vidal has promoted a revamped Constitution,
no place in legislative deliberation, and, hence, render "gay" rights (long before it was fashionable to do so), and a
"unconstitutional" any statutes influenced by them. A similarly world government he calls the Authority, which among other
argued ruling was made during a 1991 Florida murder trial, things would decide who will or will not be permitted to be
when the presiding judge ordered that a framed copy of the parents, so that "planned" (and perhaps anonymous) "breeding
Ten Commandments be covered so the jury not be "unduly will eliminate the family as we know it. .. " (Reflections Upon A
influenced" by religious teaching. And this past March a Sinking Ship, Little, Brown & Co., 1969, p. 248)
Massachusetts judge decreed that organizers of Boston's In 1992, Vidal wrote an article, "Going South," for the
annual Saint Patrick's Day Parade could not "discriminate" November issue of GQ (formerly Gentlemen's Quarterly), in
against homosexuals who wished to participate. (To their which he gave his grudging support to the Clinton/Gore
credit, organizers of the parade canceled it, but replaced it presidential ticket There, he says that Clinton was the best
with a legal – and gayless – motorcade.) These sorts of candidate because his "greatest asset is his perfect lack of
decisions are happening all over America with increasing principle" [!], urges that the U.S. have "economi<. union" with
frequency. They are being defended by liberal justices on the Russia, scoffs at "the sacredness of the fetus," and calls God
principle that "separation of church and state" demands "the Great Baron Frankenstein of the Sky." Even more
complete religious neutrality. revealing, however, was an article that had appeared four
THE ATHANASIAN 14 SPRJNG1994
months earlier in the ultraleftist pulp weekly, The Nation. In It is now publicly and overtly that they undertake to ruin
"Monotheism and its Discontents," an adaptation he had given the Holy Church, so as to succeed, if it is possible, in the
at Harvard that April, Vidal climbs the soapbox to inveigh complete dispossession of Christian nations of all the
against "[t]he great unmentionable evil at the center of our gifts they owe to Our Savior Jesus Chrisl
culture … monotheism."
The hidden hand ultimately manipulating the various elements
He argues there that the candidacies of the New Age of the present culture war is made clear in the same place,
Democrat, Jerry "Governor Moonbeam" Brown, and when Pope Leo writes that Masonry's goal is "the utter
traditionally oriented Conciliar Republican, Pat Buchanan, are overthrow of that whole religious and political order of the
the outer manifestations of a polarizing of political parties – world which the Christian teaching has produced, and the
one, "the party.of man," and the other, "the party of God" – substituion of a new state of things in accordance with their
that will end in some undefined open conflict between the two. ideas, of which the foundations and laws shall be drawn from
And Yidal welcomes it: "I preach, to put it bluntly, mere naturalism." What expression better describes the
confrontation." (In an interview the same year he said, of the ideology behind the relentless decay of our nation's values than
so-called party of God: 'Tm for all-out war. I'm taking them mere naturalism?
on.") And he is equally open about the goal: "[to] achieve a
The lower court rulings mentioned above are reflections of the
nation not under God but under men – or shall I say our
judicial thinking that has constantly emanated from the United
common humanity?"
States Supreme Court, since its 1941 Everson vs. Board of
When we see the damage done daily to the nation's moral and Education decision emphasized the continuing need for "a wall
ethical bases in all phases of society, it would be foolish for us to of separation between church and state." Since that time
dismiss Vidal's challenge too lightly. Especially sobering is the American society has plummeted with increasing speed toward
realization that he was given the podium at America's most ruin. Concerning the significance of Everson in subsequent
prestigious university to lecture her "brightest and best" in Supreme Court actions, Paul A. Fisher writes as follows in
virulently anti-Christian rhetoric. These, after all, will be many Behind the Lodge Door: Church, State & Freemasonry in
of the future leaders of our country. (For those wondering: Yes, America (TAN, 1991):
Vidal's address was an official university-sponsored event.)
As a consequence, the high bench: outlawed released
Rounding Up The Usual Suspects time for children to attend religious classes within public
Anyone familiar with the history of the euthanasia/assisted school buildings; declared atheism and secular
suicide movement is aware that there is much more to it than humanism to be religions protected by the First
Kevorkian, Final Exit author Derrick Humphrey, and their Amendment; prohibited recitation of prayer in public
supporters in the Hemlock Society. The American Humanist schools, even though the prayer in question was
Association made the "right to die" a plank of one of its approved by leaders of the three major faiths in the
Manifestoes. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has United States; and oral Bible reading as religious
been in the forefront of the fight for legalization. And other exercises in public schools.
assorted militant anti-Christians have pitched in their support. Related cases denied State funds to religious-oriented
This pattern of a "united front" to war against the social schools for teaching aids, periodicals, maps, etc.; banned
kingship of Christ is evident with abortion, feminism, "gay" singing of Christmas carols in public schools; prohibited
rights, etc. It is also a strategy that has long been used to destroy public school teachers from teaching in religious schools;
society. Over one hundred years ago, Pope Leo XIII, writing in and held that a law permitting employees to observe the
his anti-Masonic encyclicalHumanum Genus, warned: Sabbath as a day of rest impermissibly advanced a
particular religious practice, and thus violated the
Today evildoers all seem allied in a tremendous effort
religion clause. (pp. 2, 3)
inspired by and with the help of a society powerfully
organized and widely spread over the world; it is the Although the national values have never been strictly
Society of Freemasons. In fact, those people no longer Christian, the legal system of our country goes back to the
even try to dissimulate their intentions, but they English common law tradition, which in tum can be traced to
actually challenge each other's audacity to assail God's eleventh century Catholic England. Common law is largely
August Majesty. based on Biblical precepts. In fact, before the Supreme Court
THE ATHANASIAN 15 SPRING1994
turned radical, it acknowledged as much. In an 1944 decision it a war for the faint of heart, but to be waged in the same way
declared: "Christianity is part of our common Its divine our Lord teaches us to pray – always. Again, to quote Pope
origin and truth are admitted and therefore it is not to be Leo XIII: "The people have heard quite enough about what are
maliciously and openly reviled and blasphemed against, to the called the rights of man. Let them hear about the rights of God
annoyance of believers or the injury of the public." for once."
Seeing Through The Neutrality Myth
PRAYER FOR THE CONVERSION OF FREEMASONS
"Woe to you that call evil good, and good evil; that put
darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for 0 Lord Jesus, Christ, Who showest forth Thy omnipotence
most manifestly when Thou sparest and hast compassion,
sweet and sweet for bitter." (Isaias 5:20) Thus the Prophet Thou Who didst say, "Pray for those who persecute and
warned the worldly among God's Chosen People, to whom a calumniate you," we implore the clemency of Thy Sacred
verse later he refers as "wise in your own eyes, and prudent Heart on behalf of souls, made in the image of God, but most
in your own conceits." How readily these words also apply to miserably deceived by the treacherous snares of Freemasons,
the self-worshiping humanists of today. Basing their values and going more and more astray in the way of perdition. Let
not the Church, Thy Spouse, any longer be oppressed by them;
on some imagined self-sufficiency of Man, they live in the but, appeased by the intercession o[ the Blessed Virgin, Thy
fashion expressed by a character in Dostoyevsky's famous Mother, and the prayers of the just, be mindful of Thy infinite
novel, The Brothers Karamazov: "If God does not exist, mercy; and disregarding of their perversity, cause these very
everything is permissible." men to return to Thee, that they may bring consolation to the
Church by a most abundant penance, make reparation for
For anyone to hold such an empty philosophy is bad enough, their misdeeds, and secure for themselves a glorious eternity;
but, as we have seen, the militant humanists are intent on who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.
imposing their values on the rest of us. This is a concerted (One hundred days, once a day.) (The Raccolta, eighth ed., p. 410)
drive to supplant God with man, and the Commandments with
the "wisdom of the day." And it is a drive that is gaining
momentum through the courts and other branches of
ROME HAS SPOKEN
government, schools, the news media, liberal churches,
Masonic lodges, and other tainted fonts of popular culture. A true devotion to the Mother of God is one that springs
from the heart. Thus, bodily actions, if separated from the
Do not allow the lie of neutrality to go unchallenged. When the acts of the soul, are worthless and useless. The united ac-
court rulings deal with issues involving ethical precepts, tions of soul and body must strive to make us obedient in
someone's values are being imposed. The lie called "a right to all things to Mary's divine Son. If that love is real which
unites wills, our will must certainly be united with the Most
die," like all the others mentioned above, is humanist and, Holy Mother's in this total dedication of ourselves to Christ
consequently, absolutely contrary to Christian principles. It the Lord. For that reason the Virgin Most Prudent speaks
cannot be put into practice, except as a denial of the to us today in the same manner she spoke to the servants at
sovereignty of God. The courts choose which values they wish the marriage in Cana: "Do whatever He tells you." Now
Christ's command is simply this: "If thou wilt enter into life,
to advance, and at present those values are anti-Christian ones. keep the commandments." Everyone, then, can be certain
In the 1880s, French diplomat Joseph de Maistre wrote: "The that if this devotion to the Most Blessed Virgin does not
attacks against the Catholic edifice always grow stronger; one keep him from sinning and does not inspire him with the
desire of abandoning his evil ways, his devotion is decep-
is always mistaken when one says that things can get no tive and false since it does not produce in him the effects it
worse." And so it continues. We must not give up the fight, but should. (PopeSaintPiusX,AdDiemltlum, 1904)
use every morally permissible weapon at our disposal. It is not
THE ATHANASIAN
Copyright © 1994 The Athanasian. All rights reserved.
Published by Traditional Catholics of America
Fr. Francis E. Fenton, STL, Founder and Editor Emeritus John Kenneth W eistkittel, Editor
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