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I
A publication of
Traditional Catholics of America, Inc. Vol. Ill, No. 3
April 15, 1982
Editor: Fr. Francis E. Fenton, STL
MARYKNOLL AND MARXISM: AN UNHOLY ALLIANCE
– John Kenneth Weiskittel
It is the ongoing task of The Athanasian faithfully to
to uphold the authentic teachings of the Roman called Catonsvil!e Nine. The Nine were those radicals
Catholic Church in all of their fulness. In these days who set fire to draft records in a Selective Service of-
of unprecedented confusion and upheaval, it has fice during the Vietnam War, and were found guilty of
been necessary for us to defend and preserve these
teachings by contrasting them at times with what the conspiracy and of destroying government property.
Conciliar "Catholic'· Church (or Novus Ordo Church) The Jesuits Daniel and Phillip Berrigan are the two
espouses as Catholic. conspirators remembered by most, but Thomas
Melville, a former Maryknoll priest; Melville's "wife",
Periodically we return in these pages to certain Marjorie, a former Maryknoll nun; and John Hogan, a
issues that are of such vital nature that we are
obliged to extend our discussion of them. These are former Maryknoll brother, were among the others. (1)
issues – such as exposing the differences between
the True Mass and the Novus Ordo "Mass" – that are Had it not been for the death of two Maryknoll sisters,
simply too big to go away; issues that help to clarify, Maura Clarke and !ta Ford, a little over a year ago in
and even define, the contrasts and distinctions war-torn El Salvador, however, it is possible that
between the True Church and the Conciliar Church.
Maryknoll would not be making today's headlines.
Of all the marks showing the fundamental falseness The shooting brought Maryknoll's involvement with
of the Conciliar Church, few reveal it as well as its Marxists to the fore since the two were reputed to be
continuing collaboration with the evil forces of Inter- open sympathizers of the revolutionary forces. The
national Communism. Indeed, it has proven itself to order's reputation in association with Marxism is now
be the Church Pacifist in the war "against the
Principalities and the Powers, against the world- widespread. One Maryknoll priest has candidly writ-
rulers of this darkness. against the spiritual forces of ten: " 'subversive' and 'communist' are our whispered
wickedness on high". With this in mind, we re- nicknames." (2)
examine a leading group in this sad compromise: the
Maryknoli Order. (For more on Maryknoll, see articles Today Maryknoll is the largest missionary order in the
in the September 1, October 15 and, especially,
March 1, 1981 issues of The Athanasian.) United States, sending about 200 priests, sisters,
brothers, and lay missionaries to over 25 foreign
The Maryknoll Controversy nations. But just how is Maryknoll doing – or rather,
what is it doing in those countries. How is America
Maryknoll, which celebrated its 70th anniversary a and, more importantly, how is the Catholic Church
year ago this month, has only become controversial in being represented by this order? Never mind, for the
the last decade or so. Before that, it was exemplary in moment, that Maryknoll is actually part of the
its role as the Catholic Foreign Mission Society of Conciliar "Catholic" Church; the fact that it is
America (still its official name). The order sent – and perceived as Catholic by the average person is what
continues to send – missionaries to Latin America, is of importance here, since it is the Catholic Church
Africa, and Asia. When the Communists enslaved that gets blamed for such behavior.
China, Maryknollers were among the Christians who
were persecuted and martyred for the Faith. liberation Theology: Jesus as Insurrectionist
Although it is difficult to pinpoint exactly when To understand Maryknoll is to understand "liberation
Maryknoll lost its commitment to traditional theology" for it is the engine that makes the order run.
Catholicism and began to radicalize, it is likely that "Liberation theology" is a post-Conciliar develop-
Vatican Council II gave any latent radicals in the ment that has taken as its starting point the premise
order the official go-ahead to begin the jettisoning of that the Church, in order to be "relevant" to modern
Catholic social teachings. As far as we are able to culture, needs to take a more active role in political
determine, the first public acts of radicalism in any movements, and this to help emphasize Christ's role
way connected with them occurred in 1968 with the so- continued on next page
cont. from page 1 affairs is compatible with the new "Catholicism".
of "Liberator". The developed by Latin Fr. Arrupe's heretical remarks were made
American and was expounded over a year John Paul ii has yet to condemn
at an of those them. The fact that Jesuits working in Latin America
Columbia in 1968. Eleven years were recently called to Rome does not
another conference of Latin American bishops anything, since John Paul II called them the
meeting in gave an ambiguous for the teachings of the liar
endorsement of the "liberationists", a statement church. Whatever can be said of his immediate
which many conservatives in the Conciliar Church predecessor as occupant of the papal throne, John
mistakenly as a condemnation of Paul !, at least he made an attempt openly to de·
radicals. (This is a technique that he uses time and nounce premise that "the kingdom of God is the
again to greatest success, traditional while same as the kingdom of man, or that, where Lenin is,
implementing the agenda. To borrow a there is Jerusalem." To our knowledge, John Paul ll
phrase from the political arena: "Conservatives has not)
the rhetoric, but 'Liberals' end up the action.")
the
So how does "liberation theology" stand in agree- Maryknoll, official monthly magazine of the order,
ment with Marxism? To better see the connection, let and Orbis Books, the order's publishing house, have
us read what a prominent Conciliar theologian has been leaders in the field of "liberation theology" in
said about the "liberationist's" view of Christianity: America. The boasts a paid readership of
… Christ becomes an inspired human deliverer of 400,000 and a total circulation of over 1,000,000. It is
the weak and the oppressed; God's a slick, professional-looking publication with high-
centers on this world, and not the next; sin is quality color photographs dotting its pages. Most of
essentially a social evil and not an offense the used throughout the rEimainder of this
against the Church's mission is mainly article have been taken from the pages of Maryknoll
sociopolitica! and not eschatoiogical (Le. con- but for now we quote from it only to note that it
cerned with the Judgement, and Man's final end); claims "Jesus announced a moral revolution", and
and objective divine revelation is subordinated to that it views our redemption as "the absurdity of
experience. (3) God becoming man and dying for His fellow human
He goes on to tell us that "liberationism" is a "new
beings." (5, 6)
approach to theology" whereby Church teachings are
"reassessed" and "revised" in order to bring about "a Orbis Books has published nearly 200 books, with
reinterpretation" of Catholic thinking. (4) about a quarter of them written by "Third World"
authors and an equal amount devoted specifically to
This reinterpretation, as we have seen, tends to de- the problems of Latin America. Many, too, deal with
emphasize the spiritual in people, while exalting the or were written by authors who espouse "liberation
natural in them, turning people's thoughts from theology": Christian Realism and Liberation
Heaven to life on earth. This view of life is certainly Theology by Dennis Mccann; To Set at by
compatible with Marxist materialism. Father Pedro Delwln Brown; The Desert is Fertile by Brazil's "Red
Arrupe, the former Superior General of the Conciliar bishop", Dom Helder Camara; and Alfredo Fierro's
Jesuits, publicly stated several months before he The Militant Gospel.
retired that, while the atheism of Marxizm is to be
condemned, a "Marxist analysis" of sociopolitlcal cont. on next page
§~~~~.q..q….a–.,.q,~.q,~.q,,.q,,.q,~~.q..q,~~·~'°§
ATHAN ASIAN
Published by Traditional Catholics of America, Inc.
t
§
Fr. Francis E. Fenton, Editor §
Mrs. Marcia A. Fields. Secretary §
1
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$12.00 per year (via Air Mail) for all other countries
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Additional copies: single copy – $LOO §
10 copies $8.00 §
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Mailing address: P.O. Box 6827, Colorado Springs, CO 80934-6827
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2
continued from page 2
told the French Marxist,
Two Orbis books we would like to examine a little John XXlll's "socialization"
more are Fr. Gustavo Gutierrez's A
really meant and that the "third wav" that
of and a
both he and John Paul II advocate as an ·"alter·
Patrick M.M. Father Gutierrez can
native" to communism and in
called one of the creators of this new . {11, 12) Socialism was con-
writes as lows: demned in ali without exception,
Pius XI in his encyclical Anno.
Cathol at the time he wrote, knew that
have been becoming
it was to be both a Catholic and a Com-
more and more aware that if the Church wants
munist, some held out a faint hope that
to be faithful to God of Jesus Christ, it has to
make certain as to their participa-
rethink from the of
tion in so-called "moderate" or "Christian" socialist
the poor of this world, the exploited
organizations, providing that those groups
the races, the marginal cultures. It
renounced the more extreme Socialist planks, such
must descend into the world's hells and com-
as their attack of private property and call for class
mune with the poverty, injustice, the struggles
warfare. At that time, Pius gave the definitive Church
and hopes of the dispossessed, because of
teaching on the whole matter of Socialism when he
them is the kingdom of heaven. (7)
wrote:
Not only is the theology contained in this quote
… We pronounce as follows:
questionable but the whole is to be taken as a slap
whether Socialism be considered as a doctrine
or as a movement, if it'
in the face to the traditions to our Mother, the
or as a historical
Church, since it ignores the heroic charity such
really remain Socialism, it cannot be brought
saints as Martin of Tours, Francis of Anthony
into with the dogmas of the Catholic
of Elizabeth of Hungary and Vincent DePaul.
Church, even after it has yielded to truth and
The inspiration that these saints have been to
justice in the points We have mentioned; the
millions of Catholics is cast the wayside while we
reason being that it conceives human society
are invited by Fr. Gutierrez to "rethink" our position.
in a way utterly alien to Christian truth. (13)
Needless to say, this is not part of the social
While Fr. Gutierrez simply asks us to reassess teaching of the Conciliar hierarchy. We can,
Church teaching, Fr. Bascio tells us with what we therefore, readily believe Fr. Paul Newpower,
are to replace it. "Communism: the Christian Ideal" Maryknoll's director of media relations, when he
is the concluding chapter of a Just Society tells us that "criticism (of Maryknoll's "Christian
and, sounding very much like Karl Marx, it informs Socialism") hasn't come from the bishops, or any of
us: "The ownership of the production the ecclesiastical authorities". It should be noted
facilities of a nation is nothing more than institu- that during his 1980 visit to Brazil, John Paul II
tionalized egoism and we must get about the apparently confirmed Dom Helder's appraisal of him
business of replacing it with the communal owner- by publicly embracing him, saying "Dom Helder is
ship of such facilities. is a historical and the brother of the poor and my brother" before an
religious imperative. It is the process of liberation estimated 800,000 Brazilians in Camara's diocesan
and humanization." (8) Contrast that statement with city of Recife. (i4)
this one by Pope Leo XIII that "the main tenet of
Socialism, the community of goods, must be
rejected; for it would injure those whom it intended for
to benefit, it would be contrary to the natural right of
mankind, and it would introduce confusion and
disorder into the commonwealth. Our first and most To hear Marykno/f tell it, the revolution in Nicaragua
fundamental principle, therefore, when We under· was a "Christian revolution" to create a society
take to alleviate the condition of the masses, must based on what has been variously described as
be the inviolability of private property." (9) It is ironic "socialist democracy" and "democratic and anti-
that "Christian Socialists" such as Fr. Bascio imperialist socialism". It is a mistake, we are told,
attempt to use Novarum (the encyclical Just to think that the Sandinistas are hard-line Com-
quoted) as supporting their false beliefs, particularly munists for, as the radical Canadian Bishop Aerni J.
in light of the fact that Pope Leo XIII attacks that vile
DeRoo, a recent visitor to Nicaragua, assures us:
doctrine at its most basic tenets.
"Marxism to them is less an imported ideology than
a pragmatic system of social analysis and a
Dom Heider Camara, a hero of the Maryknollers
political program to transform reality"; and,
has stated quite frankly that it is his intention t~
"make the Church accept socialism". (10) This he
continued on next page
3
cont. from page 3
to clearly Marxist countries – though for anti-
Communist nations the order urges us to pressure
elsewhere in the article, "a form of liberation
theology is being lived by Nicaraguans as they con- them with "economic boycotts" until those govern-
struct a new society." (15) ments respect "human rights". Naturally,
Maryknoll supports the revolutionaries in
Guatamala, El Salvador and elsewhere in Latin
Another article, "Nicaragua update: 'Generosity in America.
victory' ", claims that the slogan contained in the ti-
tle is "not empty phraseology", and that the fact that Maryknoll in Africa: A.N.C., S.W.A.P.O. and
the author, Fr. Ronald Saucci, M.M., was unable "to
Mugabe
uncover even one case of an atrocity committed" by
the Sandinistas shows beyond a doubt that the
country isn't going Communist. (16) Maryknoll priest South Africa's Prime Minister P.W. Botha has
and new Nicaraguan foreign minister, Fr. Miguel described the terrorist war against the nation as "a
d'Escoto, when asked of the unmistakable Marxism struggle of Christian Western civilization against the
of the movement, replied: "We are Sandinistas. We powers of darkness and Marxism, not just a
have no need of foreign ideologies … " (Fr. d'Escoto black/white struggle." (19) This is the sad fact that
later was invited to visit the U.S.S.R. as a the pro-Western, anti-communist black leader of the
"comrade", at which time he placed a wreath on a Congo, Moise Tshombe, learned over twenty years
huge memorial dedicated to the goals of Com- ago when the United Nations staged terrorist
munism.) attacks on that little country to help install a Com-
munist black into power (while the "moral con-
science" – including Pope John XX!II – of the world
turned its back on Tshombe). The biracial govern-
What the reader is not told is that refugees from the ment of Namibia – also pro-Western – is learning
Nicaraguan revolution appeared with New York Con- this today as the U.N. is recognizing the Soviet-
gressman John Murphy before U.S. media to tell of backed South West African People's Organization
some 3,000 atrocities committed there by the (S.W.A.P.O.) as the "authentic representative" of the
Sandinistas against young and old, men, women people there, even though S.W.A.P.O. is supported
and children (for details see Nicaragua Betrayed by by less than a quarter of the population. If Mr. Botha,
Anastasio Somoza, available for $15.00 from by some miracle, is able to pn=iserve order in South
Western Island, Belmont, MA 02178). A genocidal Africa, he will have to do so without the help of
campaign is now being waged on Indians in Maryknoll, since the order supports the revolu-
Nicaragua's rural areas who resist state-enforced tionary African National Congress (A.N.C.), another
courses in atheism. One refugee has recently Communist-backed organization. (20)
described this new wave of terror as "Hitlerian".
Generosity in victory, indeed! Naturally, besides its support of S.W.A.P.O. (the
February, 1982 Maryknoll praises that group)
But are the Sandinistas really Communists? In 1971, Marykno/1 is a strong supporter of the dictator of
the leader of the newly formed group, Carlos Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe. They scoff at sugges-
Fonseca Amador, wrote the Communist Party tions that the leadership in Zimbabwe is
Congress in Moscow to state that the Sandinista Communist, and go so far as to say that Mr. Mugabe
movement was "successor to the Bolshevik Revolu- is a "devout Catholic" who is working for "Christian
tion", and that "the ideals of Lenin are a bright Socialism". (21) The only trouble with this is the fact
guiding star in the struggle which the revolu- that, according to the April, 1979 issue of Current
tionaries in Nicaragua are waging." (17) In 1979, the Biography, Mr. Mugabe describes himself –
Sandinista newspaper, Barricada, covered its front remember, these are Robert Mugabe's words, not
page with a large photo of the Russian dictator V.I. ours – as a "Marxist-Leninist-Maoist". In Tanzania,
Lenin and a bold headline reading: "OCTOBER Maryknoll sisters are helping Marxist dictator Julius
REAFFIRMS THAT THE ROAD TO REVOLUTION IS Nyerere further to impoverish that nation by means
THE ARMED FIGHT". (18) The occasion? The 62nd of "village-based socialist policies". (22)
anniversary of the Communist takeover of Russia. In
1980, at the first anniversary of the Communist
takeover of Nicaragua, the Soviet Union sent an
ambassador to "celebrate", and Cuban dictator Maryknoll in Asia: "The celebration of austerity
Fidel Castro instructed the Sandinista government and self-sacrifice"
to conceal its true ideological identity from Western
powers so that it could gain more foreign aid. Mean-
while, Maryknoll tells us that if we don't help the The heading of this section – Maryknoll's descrip-
Nicaraguan Marxist government we will force them tion of life in Red China – is a clue to the inherent
into "the Soviet camp". In fact, that is Maryknoll's contradiction running throughout Maryknoll's world
answer to all problems of this sort, more U.S. help
4
continued on next page
cont. from page 4
order in the October, 1981 issue of Maryknoll. Why?
and to the ideology behind "liberation Partly, we because of the doubts that have
theology" in general. Namely, is only to been expressed in countless letters from readers,
be condemned in nations having a free – or rel- many of whom cancelled their subscriptions. One
atively tree – market, poverty in socialistic such letter fumed in righteous indignation: "Why
countries being somehow sacrosanct and, don't you call Mao a mass-murderer like
therefore, beyond reproach. What is called heartless the blood of his victims calls for? You make him
and say, in South Africa is magically sound like a Chinese George Washington or Thomas
into a "celebration of and self- Jefferson. Your rendering of history is entirely too
in All this brings to mind the quote sweet." Auxiliary Bishop Agustin Roman (Miami), a
from Praco, periodical of the Czechoslovak native of Cuba, wrote a letter covering over one page
Communist worker organization which pronounced: in Maryknoll, noting: "After the publication of
"To work on Saturday in a capitalist country is "Religion in Cuba" in your August, 1980 issue, I have
exploitation; to work on Saturday in a People's received many complaints alleging that the articles
Democracy is a duty and a privilege. (24) were partially inclined towards the Castro regime."
The bishop went on to say that the issue did give a
slanted view because it concentrated on the
Maryknoll magazine praises Mao Tse-Tung, the "positive aspects" (sic) of Marxism in Cuba, while
worst mass-murderer In history, for his "pursuit of minimizing or omitting such negative aspects as the
virtue", and speaks of "a hope rooted in the Judeo- refusal of the state to allow more priests to enter
Christian tradition". (25) This hope is for "a truly into the country; the indoctrination of children to
classless community of equal persons." The author, value loyalty to the government above loyalty to
a Dr. Richard Madsen, argues that this parents, and to accept atheism and materialism; the
classlessness is both a Christian and Marxist lack of religious freedom; and the lack of freedom of
concept. While it is one of the professed goals of expression. Father Noonan responded to such com-
Marxism, it has always been condemned by the ments when he wrote:
teaching authority of the Church as an error. . ..We are not Christian Marxists, nor are we
Christian capitalists. We advocate no specific
economic mode; we offer no partisan political
Is MaryknoH Marxist? program. As missioners we join the local
Church in presenting the vision and values of
the Gospel to provide the spirit for the
When the Liberal Catholic columnist, Michael
reconstruction of a new social order.
Novak, visited the Maryknoll Missionhouse in New
York to do an article on the order, he naturally felt
that the Marxian influence connected with that order
would be a valid line of questioning. According to Fr.
Paul Newpower, Mr. Novak asked a priest who had In the final analysis it matters not how Maryknollers
belonged to the order for 50 years his opinion, and choose to identify themselves; their actions have
the latter replied: "Your remarks accusing already identified them. What the order seeks to call
Maryknollers of being Marxists has been the most itself is less important than what they do. While the
painful criticism in my life. I resent that. I don't know Maryknollers are not all Marxists, certainly many of
any priest in Maryknoll that's a Marxist, and I don't the or!ier's members have shown themselves to be
know where you got your information." Father duped into an unholy alliance with Marxism and
Newpower has maintained that such a charge is "a many have befriended it. Clearly this is a ludicrous
distortion of reality". arrangement, for what we are being told, in effect, is
that St Michael and his angels have thrown away
But the charges continue unabated. Such countries their swords and shields and have joined forces with
as Bolivia, South Africa and Taiwan, to name a few, Satan. As Pope Pius IX wrote, "REVOLUTION
have deported or imprisoned Maryknollers for aiding INSPIRED BY SATAN HIMSELF. Its object is to
what those governments saw as organized revolu· destroy from top to bottom the edifice of Christiani·
tlonary Marxist groups. The charges are too ty, and to construct on its ruins the social order of
widespread to be totally unfounded. When paganism." (26)
Maryknoll magazine gives moral support to such a
range of clearly Marxist causes, it is obvious that it However angry we may be at some of the actions of
is "tainted" with Marxism. There can be no other the Maryknollers and others (almost all major
reasonable explanation. religious orders have at least some "liberationists"
in their ranks) involved with the "liberation
theology" movement, let us not give up hope that
But, the question is repeated: is Maryknoll Marxist? they may yet return to true Catholic social teaching,
Maryknoll Superior General Father James P. and let us not forget that many of them may have a
Noonan, in an unprecedented move, defended the
5 cont. on next page
continued from page 5
genuine love of the poor- and it is this love that is be-
ing exploited by an unscrupulous few for wicked
tttttttttttttttttttttt
sChemes. Pope Pius XI saw the danger, and his en- TCA BUMPER STICKER
cyclical on Atheistic Communism, Divini Redemp-
toris, included a passage specifically addressed "to In red and black lettering on a white background, it
those of Our children who are more or less tainted reads: "Traditional Catholics of America Save
with the Communist plague". the Traditional Mass". Also included is our TCA
We earnestly exhort them to hear the voice of address. The cost of these bumper stickers is two
their loving Father. We pray the Lord to for $1.00 (minimum order). The price covers
enlighten them that they may abandon the slip- postage, and payment must accompany order.
pery path which will precipitate one and all to
ruin and catastrophe, and that they recognize
that Jesus Christ Our Lord is their only Savior: tttttttttttttttttttttt
"For there is no other name under heaven given
to man, whereby we must be saved." (27)
And may we, following the good example of Pope
Pius XI, pray with fraternal love for the souls of these
pour lost sheep, and appeal to St. Joseph, the pro-
pRay
tector of the Holy Family and of the Holy Catholic
Church against the forces of world Communism, to
intercede for us that our divine Lord may look with
the R saRy
favor upon our prayers.
ba1ly
The final word we have for the moment on
Maryknoll comes from Marykno/1 magazine. Oddly
enough, the November, 1981 issue has a cartoon
that unconsciously strikes at the very heart of the
problem. And too, indirectly, it can provide
Maryknollers with part of the answer to that pro-
blem. The cartoon shows two missionary priests
walking along together, with one explaining to the
other, "I've mastered the language, understand the
medium of exchange, know the history and the
socio-economic realities, but my faith is weak."
tttttttttttttttttttttt
1) Francis X. Gannon, Biographical Dictionary of the Left, V.2 (Boston:Western Islands, 1971) p. 228
2) Victor J. Schymeinsky, M.M., "A seed is growing", Marykno/1, September 1981, p.31 (Marykno/1 capitalizes only the first word and proper
nouns in article titles)
3) John A. Hardon, S.J., Modern Catholic Dictionary (Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1980) p.318
4) IBID
5) Philip Scharper, "Beatitudes, lost and found", Marykno/1, December, 1980,p.9
6) Elaine A. Williams, "Cease the repression", Marykno/1, December 1980, pp. 13-14
7) cited in "Theirs is the kingdom", (a photo essay), Marykno/1, December 1980, p.23
8) Patrick Bascio, M.M., Building a Just Society, (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 1981) (quote taken from taped radio broadcast. No page given)
9) Five Great Encyclicals, (New York: Paulist Press, 1951), p.7
10) Jose De Broucker, Dom Helder Camara: The Conversations of a Bishop, (London: Collins, 1979) p. 187
11) IBIDp.186
12) "Interview: Dom Helder Camara", Our Sunday Visitor, June 7, 1981
13) Op. Cit., p. 157
14) Penny Lernoux, "The Church in Brazil", Marykno/1, September 1981, p.6
15) Aerni J. DeRoo, "New venture, new hope", Marykno/1, June 1981, pp. 59, 61
16) Ronald Saucci, M.M., "Nicaragua update: 'Generosity in victory'", Marykno/1, November 1979, pp. 58-59
17) Anastasio Somoza (with Jack Cox), Nicaragua Betrayed, (Boston: W.1., 1980) p.90
18) IBID p. 90
19) Elizabeth Schmidt, "God knows no apartheid", Marykno/1, February 1982, p. 61
20) "Voices of South African churches", Marykno/1, February 1982, p. 31
21) Moises Sandoval, "Building a new Zimbabwe", Marykno/1, February 1982, p. 7
22) Edward Dougherty, M.M., "Africa's challenges", Marykno/1, April 1981, p. 16
23) General Council, Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, "Meeting again in a spirit of trust (editorial), Marykno/1, July 1980, p. 35
24) cited by Peter Viereck, Shame and Glory of the Intellectuals, (New York: Capricorn, 1969) p. 139
25) Richard Madsen, Ph.D., "China's pursuit of virtue", Marykno/1, July 1980, pp. 21-22
26) cited by Fr. Delaporte, The Devil: Does He Exist? What Does He Do?, reprint, (South Bend, IN: Marian Pub., 1978) trans, from the French, p.
124
27) Five Great Encyclicals, p. 206
6
THE AND
– Fr. Francis E. Fenton
All mankind seeks happiness. Nobody in his right
mind wants to be unhappy. Because of sin, But why the cross? Isn't there an easier way of going
however, and the distortion of human nature which about all this? The plain answer is: NO. There is no
followed upon it, so many seek happiness in the other way to Heaven, no other way to happiness
wrong places. many think happiness is to be than the royal and painful and very unpopular way of
found in wealth, fame, fortune, luxury, sensuality, the cross. Happiness consists in peace of soul,
etc. Some of these aren't necessarily sinful but none sanctifying grace, union with God, and to attain this
of them give lasting happiness. Some of the richest we must wage unceasing warfare against sin and its
people are very unhappy. Some of the most famous proximate occasions. But to wage this warfare
commit suicide. Misery, remorse, humiliation so successfully means penance, self·denial, mortifica-
often follow upon sins of the flesh. tion, suffering. In this way comes purification of soul
and so union with God. It has been said that no
Worldly objectives and pursuits can never bring worthwhile life has ever been lived without sacrifice.
lasting happiness. They never quite satisfy. The This is indeed true and it is eminently true in the
reality never quite measures up to the expectation. work of saving our souls, the accomplishment of
The fact of the matter is that nothing in this world, which is the only really successful kind of life that
nothing created, be they persons, places or things, means anything in the final analysis.
can give us that supreme happiness which we all so
ardently seek for the very simple reason that they Of course, it's understood that it's not penance or
just don't have it to give. Saint Augustine expressed suffering as such that has any supernatural value.
the idea as well as anyone in his famous words: The importance of all this lies in the motive, the
"Thou hast made us for Thyself, 0 God, and our intention, one's pure condition of soul, that is, being
hearts are restless until they rest in Thee". The in the state of grace and offering up our thoughts
capacity of the soul for happiness is infinite and and words and deeds, our Masses, Communions,
nothing less than the infinite can adequately and Rosaries, our daily lives for the glory of God and for
permanently fill that capacity. God, Heaven, the the salvation of our souls and those of our fellow
Beatific Vision· these are the only answer, the only men. "Whatever you do in word or in work, do all in
objective which can fully satisfy the yearnings of the the Name of the Lord Jesus." "Whether you eat or
human soul. So the Church has always taught. So drink or do anything else, do ali for the glory of God."
human experience has proved since the fall of our The message of Fatima put the same thing another
first parents. Yet how comparatively few seem to way, devotion to daily duty. In a word, whatever you
learn that lesson well. do, do it as Christ would, were He in your place.
Holiness consists not in doing extraordinary things
It is, then, literally impossible to be perfectly happy but in doing ordinary things in an extraordinary way
this side of eternity. But this does not mean that ·and it is the motive, the intention which makes the
man is born to be miserable. While perfect ordinary extraordinary or supernatural.
happiness is found only in Heaven, yet we can attain
at least a vague foretaste of it here on earth. We can Such, in brief, is the significance of the cross in
be truly happy in this life to a degree, indeed, our daily lives. Only through the Cross of Christ,
perhaps to a high degree. And where is that lovingly borne, is true, authentic happiness to
happiness to be found? In the answer to that ques- be found in this life, a happiness which, in turn,
tion we have the great paradox, the great, though is a faint foretaste of the Beatific Vision, the
only apparent, contradiction of Christianity. Our true ineffable, perfect, eternal happiness of the
earthly happiness is found in the Cross of Christ, the Kingdom of Heaven where, in the words of Holy
extent of that happiness being in proportion to the Scripture, "eye hath not seen nor ear heard,
spirit, the dispositions of soul, the good will with neither hath it entered into the heart of man
which we carry our cross in union with that of the what things God has prepared for those who
Master. love Him".
Granting that God is the Source of all authentic
happiness and that His possession by us is the only
way that we can be perfectly happy, if anyone would
even begin to approach the attainment of this ideal
in this life, he must take up his cross and follow
Christ, which is to say he must suffer with Christ "If
anyone will come after Me, let him deny himself,
take up his cross daily and follow Me." 7
AND
– Fr.
Communist nations continues such staunch
free-world allies as Taiwan are treated little better
"That infamous doctrine of so-called Com- than they were under administrations. To
munism which is absolutely to the call the current U.S. Government anti-Communist is
natural law itself and, if once would simply not true if its record to date is any indication.
utterly destroy the rights, property and posses-
There is no question but that the conspiracy of Com-
sions of all men, and even society itself." (Pope
munism poses a greater threat today to the freedom
Pius IX· 1
and survival of the USA than ever before. At just
what point will this nation to fight the Com-
"the fatal plague which insinuates itself into
munist enemy? Are we to wait, say, until they invade
the very marrow of human society only to bring Florida or Texas?
about its ruin." {Pope Leo XIII -1878)
There was once a time when, despite our nation's
"Communism is intrinsically evil, and no one political leadership, most of the Churches of
who would save Christian civilization may America could be counted upon to take a firm stand
collaborate with it in any undertaking what- against godlessness and immorality in any form,
soever." (Pope Pius XI – 1937) including atheistic Communism. With a few excep-
tions, however, those days are gone. Today
America's Churches in general are, at best, neutral
towards Communism or are actually furthering it in
Scores of papal quotations such as the above could one way or another. Imagine – those allegedly on
readily be given to indicate the mind of the Roman God's side aiding and abetting the advance of mili-
Catholic Church over the years in relation to tant godlessness, as, for example, the National
atheistic Communism. {The 1937 encyclical letter, Council of Churches and a number of the bishops of
"Divini Redemptoris", of Pope Pius XI is one of the the Conciliar "Catholic" Church in this country. The
most accurate and authoritative treatises on Com- authentic Roman Catholic Church (traditional
munism ever penned). With the accession to the Catholicism) is, of course, and will ever be
papal throne of Pope John XXIII in 1 however, adamantly and unalterably opposed to Communism.
pronouncements on Communism emanating from It could never be otherwise.
the Vatican became far less frequent and
aggressive. From a position of total opposition and More and more "the cry is peace" and a spirit of
uncompromising hostility to this satanic evil – the pacifism increasingly pervades what's left of the
only honorable and logical position the True Church free world. But pacifism (a position whose adherents
could take, of course – the Vatican gradually and advocates are opposed to all war and armed
became, in effect, an actual collaborator with Com- conflict) Is a false belief for there is, although a last
munism. (To my knowledge, Pope John Paul II has resort, such a thing as a just war. So the Church has
never condemned Communism by name). So always taught. But the current clamor for peace,
pathetically deteriorated is this situation today that disarmament, the banning of nuclear weapons, etc.
it is no exaggeration to say that the Communist con- is an evil thing and certainly not a manifestation of
spiracy has, as one of its principal allies, the Con- the sincere sentiments of the generality of people.
ciliar "Catholic" Church (not to be confused with the Rather it is the result of a well orchestrated and
One True Church of Jesus Christ). financed world-wide Communist propaganda
campaign to neutralize the nations of the free world
The ultimate objective of international Communism and render them incapable of effective military
has always been world conquest and domination opposition. Through all the spurious pleas for peace
-and that remains its objective to this very day, the and pacifist demonstrations the Red apparatus con·
enslavement of the human race. There are now some tlnues its unrelenting drive toward world domina-
40 nations and some one-half of the world's popula- tion.
tion under Communist control. And the Communist
threat moves ever closer to the . Cuba,
Nicaragua, El Salvador, and then Honduras, Perhaps especially noteworthy in this latest
Guatamala, etc. Nor has the Reagan administration and most ambitious of the Communist peace
taken any truly effective action to halt the advance campaigns is the extent to which some of the
of the Communist menace. There is much anti- Churches and clergy are involved. This has
Communist rhetoric, yes, but aid and trade with always been true to some degree, of course, but
continued on next page
continued from page 8
And if, God forbid, our nation falls victim to
that involvement has never been as pronounced Communist conquest (a not unlikely
as it is today. Witness especially the pacifist possibility), no group will pay a greater price as
and pro-Communist words and actions of some a consequence of that tragedy than traditional
of the clergy and laity of the American Conciliar Roman Catholics. And, I might add, what a rude
"Catholic" Church who would evidently prefer awakening could be in store for those good peo-
our nation's surrender to Communism than to ple who suppose that the Communist threat to
fight this satanic menace; who would prefer, the USA is presently a more or less remote one
that is, to "be Red than dead". because Ronald Reagan is in the White House.
How uninformed and naive such people are!
Because Communism is militantly atheistic;
because it is utterly ruthless and totally im-
moral, having absolutely no redeeming features CHRIST THE KING SCHOOL –
whatsoever; because its objective is nothing ITS FIRST YEAR AND ITS FUTURE
less than the enslavement of the world; -W. Dean Gray, School Principal
because it is, in the words of Pope Pius XI, "in-
trinsically evil" – for such reasons it is the duty On June 4 the first year's students of Christ the
of every man and woman of honor and good will King School in Colorado Springs, Colorado will
to oppose the satanic menace of Communism begin their summer vacation. How true the
in every morally lawful way at his or her trite expression "time passes quickly"! It
disposal. Nor is there any group or segment of seems such a short while ago that these
people upon whom this obligation is more in- children took part in the beautiful opening day
cumbent than traditional Roman Catholics. And procession in honor of Christ the King to begin
why is this? For two reasons: (1) because the the school year.
Roman Catholic Church (that is, traditional
Catholicism) is the One, True and Eternal Well over a year ago the goals for this school
Church of Christ and, as such, has the para- were formulated. They called for a traditional
mount duty and responsibility to oppose im- Roman Catholic day school for grades K-12, a
morality in all forms – and Communism is im- training center in traditional Catholic methods
moral to the core, an evil of horrendous propor- for teachers and an informational center for
tions; and (2) because there is no organization groups planning to open their own traditional
the world over against which the atheistic, schools. How has Christ the King School
amoral, inhuman conspirators of Communism worked to meet these goals?
and their allies have a more deadly hatred and
By midsummer a beautiful school had been
implacable hostility than against the Roman
leased. Restored to its original 1902 grandeur
Catholic Church. (The truth of this statement is
and declared an historical landmark by the
beyond question although it is a well-kept
government, this building seemed to be the
secret in even the best of non-Catholic and
most suitable location for our school. Indeed,
secular publications and the same can be said
the choice has proven wise. From the magnifi-
regarding Freemasonry).
cent crucifix with its 6-foot Corpus on the main
Obviously then, since traditional Catholicism is floor to the simple but beautiful chapel on the
diametrically opposed to, and is the archenemy top floor – this building has been transformed
of, Communism, traditional Roman Catholics into a genuine landmark for traditional Roman
should be in the forefront of the forces arrayed Catholic education and offers quiet testimony
against this satanic conspiracy. But are they? of our determination to preserve and to promote
Well, a significant number are but so many are the Faith.
not. in other words, traditional Catholicism has
not particularly distinguished itself to date as a The students who are receiving their education
group or body of informed anti-Communist ac· in the school have been learning sound
tivists. And yet each and every individual who academics taught through the tried-and-proven
considers himself a traditional Roman Catholic traditional methods that were used successful-
is not truly such unless he is a dedicated anti- ly in Catholic schools for years. The Baltimore
Communist as well. If every honorable person Catechism – which is the foundation of the
has a moral obligation to oppose Communism school's religion instruction – is studied daily.
– and he has – no one has stronger reasons In addition, high school students are taught
and a more pressing obligation in this regard practical ways of explaining and defending the
than one who is a traditional Roman Catholic. Faith.
9 continued on page 10
continued from page 9
Situation
Some seventeen years since the
of Vatican II, a relative
handful of have seen fit to stand and be
on the side of our traditional Roman
Faith. Of the several tens of thousands of
in the USA who remain in the Conciliar
"Catholic" Church a percentage of
them (the majority?) are more Protestant than
Catholic· and most of the
bemoaning and
state of affairs, go
wishing to destructive process
own
you know.
schools. some progress
been a veritable
in those areas the school's them with a
operation, efforts along for their refusal to take a forthright
planned for months ahead. stand on the traditional side and to join the ranks of
the fully traditional Catholic clergy. It is simply
This first year of the school's how any real priest can remain a
seen much To be sure, part of the Conciliar Church and honestly
been difficu few things his doing so by that he must be
accomplished without them. obedient Does not the duty of preserving and
the school to undergo our divine Faith, and exposing and
nature (the cost of those who are and destroying
school 1 month). As we move into it, take precedence over any of obedience
an expansion our efforts financial which stands in the way? Does not plain common
needs will continue. sense tell such a priest that his being obedient in
the circumstances which exist today means that he
is thereby collaborating with those who are trying to
School renews its the Church and humanly speaking,
Roman have met with such alarming success to date? That
and months so ly few priests at this late date have taken an
and financial adamant stand on the of the One, True and
assistance Eternal Church by making a break with the
accomplish non-Catholic Conciliar Church · this is surely the
the Kingship of most hard-to-believe phenomenon in the entire
that has befallen our beloved Faith over the
20 years or so.
On Catholics
"In our time more than ever before, the chief
strength of the wicked lies in the cowardice and
weakness good men … all the strength of Satan's
is due to the easygoing weakness of Catholics.
Oh, if I might ask the Divine Redeemer, as the
prophet Zachary did in spirit: 'What are the wounds
In the midst of Thy hands?' The answer would not be
doubtful: 'With these was I wounded in the house of
them that loved Me. I was wounded by My friends,
who did nothing to defend and who, on every
made themselves the accomplices of My
, and this reproach can be levelled at the
and timid Catholics of all "
discourse delivered
December 13, 1908 at the
of
10
– Fr. Francis E. Fenton
schools are today our Christ King School sorely
preserving nc~'""' far more monetary support than it
Being aware their that's I might mention
responsibility this matter, a group of (and I do so for sole purpose of, hopefully,
Catholics last summer secured a motivating some of those who read this article
a cost of $2,000 a month) on to help us) that i myself have given to the TCA
a ng tor the school here in Colorado and the school whatever little money I had. As
ri Colorado. After much arduous of this writing, my total possessions are a
preparatory work on their part Christ the King year-old Maverick car, a few furnishings in my
School (K-12) opened in September, 1981. Since residence and about $400. I like to think that
the regular readers this newsletter are, some traditional Catholics, being made aware
presumably, more or less familiar with our of this, will see fit – and even make some
school from the literature they have received sacrifice to contribute to our school.
concerning it (Mr. Gray's article in this news-
letter issue restates some that information), however significant may the potential of
we refrain from any repetition that material our Christ the King School, it is imperative that
here. Suffice it to say that Christ Ki we have the financial support required to make
School is thoroughly traditional in every respect that potential a reality. A people have
and that it has the potential of being second to helped us a great deal; others have helped us as
none among all such institutions the best they could. But, if we are to build upon the
solid foundation we have worked so hard to
Our school has been in operation for some establish, we simply must have more financial
seven months now. That it has had its growing assistance. And to whom can we go for this ex-
pains since inception no one closely in- cept to our fellow traditional Roman Catholics?
volved with it will deny. But, far and away, the For their much needed support then, and for
biggest pain of I has been and remains the their ardent prayers as well, I earnestly appeal
problem of getting the funds necessary to on behalf of Christ the King School. All of our
finance the school's operation. Expenses have benefactors are remembered in my Mass each
been approximately $11,000 per month each day.
month since the school started last September.
Thanks to rather substantial contributions from
some seven or ht individuals and/or families
here and elsewhere – and to regular or ir-
regular donations from a number of others PLEASE NOTE
around the country – we have managed, until
last month, to pay all of our bills. Last month, Following is the address and telephone number of
however, it became necessary to borrow $5,000 Christ the King School. They should be used for all
to meet expenses. That such action would ever correspondence and telephone calls relating to the
required certainly never occurred to me school.
when we began making plans for the school
about a year ago. I guess I just took for granted Christ the King School
that I would have no problem raising the
6428
necessary funds for so eminently worthy a pro-
Colorado Colorado 80934-6428
ject from traditional conservative Roman (303) 635-9183
Catholics whom I knew around the country. I
have since learned, to my dismay, how
presumptuous and naive I was in taking that for
granted.
u
TCA TRADITIONAL LATIN MASS SCHEDULE
COLORADO
AURORA (Denver area) MINNESOTA
OUR LADY OF VICTORY CHAPEL ROCHESTER
2566 Sable Boulevard OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY CHAPEL
(303) 364-8040 5820 Viola Road, NE
Masses at 9 & 11 a.m. (every Sunday) (507) 282-5163 or 289-8522
Weekday Masses at 8:00 a.m. Mass at 10:00 a.m. Apr. 25, May 16, May 23,
June 20
COLORADO SPRINGS
OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY CHAPEL
815 South 25th Street MONTANA
(Christ the King School) GREAT FALLS
(303) 636-1575 – Call between 9:00 a.m. IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY CHAPEL
and 5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday 2020 Second Avenue North
Masses at 8:30 and 10:00 a.m. May 2, May 16, June 6, (406) 452-8826
June 27 Mass at 10:00 a.m. Apr. 25, May 23, June 20,
June 27
DURANGO
OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY
Durango Savings and Loan PENNSYLVANIA
1101 E. Second Ave. ESSINGTON (Philadelphia area)
(303) 884-2878 OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY
Mass at 10:00 a.m. Apr. 25 Ramada inn
Airport South, Route 291
STRATTON (215) 876-8737
OUR LADY OF FATIMA CHAPEL Mass at. 10:00 a.m. Apr. 18, May 9,
(303) 348-5454 May 30, June 13
Call for time of Mass Apr. 18, May 9, June 13
UTAH
SALT LAKE CITY
FLORIDA OUR LA'DY OF PERPETUAL HELP
PORT RICHEY (Tampa area) Hilton Inn
ST. JOSEPH'S 154 West 600 South
Gulf Highland Club House (801) 278-7501
900 Gulf Highland Drive Mass at 11:00 a.m. May 30
(813) 868-0166
Mass at 7:00 p.m. on 3rd and 5th
Sundays of month VIRGINIA
RICHMOND
OUR LADY OF FATIMA CHAPEL
LOUISIANA 5217 Futura Avenue
OPELOUSAS (Lafayette area) (804) 737-8211 or 262-4354
OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY CHAPEL Masses at 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. May 2, May 23,
Route 1, Box 195 June 6, June 27
(318) 942-9053
Mass at 6:00 p.m. on 2nd and 4th
Sundays of month
12