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A I
A publication of
Traditional Catholics of America, Inc. Vol. I, No. 5
Editor: Fr. Francis E. Fenton, July 15, 1980
HALT LL"
Francis E. Fenton
So reads the Fifth Commandment of God. one day to attain the eternal happiness for which
Although we can be certain that the Almighty man was created. There must be an authority here
understood perfectly the range and the and now which teaches and interprets infallibly,
implications of this precept when He delivered it unerringly, the revealed doctrine and moral law of
to Moses on Mount Sinai, yet its meaning and God. And that authority has to be the Roman
application are subject to manifold Catholic Church. There is no other alternative
interpretations by the various Churches and which can stand the tests of logic and history.
religious denominations of our day. Such is but
one more of so many examples the What, then, does the Roman Catholic Church
necessity of an infallible teaching authority in the teach concerning the Fifth Commandment of
area of divine revelation. The private God, "Thou Shalt Not Kill"? While such things as
interpretation of the Ten Commandments, as the hatred, revenge, unjust anger and excessive
private interpretation of Sacred Scripture, just drinking are among the prohibitions of this
doesn't make sense. For one religious body or precept of the Decalogue, this article is restricted
individual to contend that a particular passage of to a discussion of the action explicitly forbidden
the Bible means one thing and for another to hold by the Fifth Commandment – killing. Is one to
it means just the opposite – and each claiming to understand, then, that all killing is thereby
have the truth – this, of course, is ridiculous and contrary to the law of God and, hence, sinful? By
makes a shambles of truth, in this case, divine no means. It is morally permissible, for example,
truth. for man to kill animals, as is certainly indicated in
the very first book and chapter of the Bible (Gen.
Divine revelation is the sacred, eternal, 1,26,28). "Animals have rights too" is one of the
unchangeable truths revealed by God for man's sillier statements one reads on bumper stickers.
knowledge, sanctification and salvation. A Animals have no rights because they have no
correct understanding, then, of the doctrinal and souls, although man does have the duty not to
moral teachings of God is most certainly inflict undue suffering upon them.
something which can be left up to the necessarily
fallible interpretation of any individual a fact all On the matter of man's killing of his fellow man,
too conclusively demonstrated by the hundreds the Church teaches that this is justifiable in three
upon hundreds of religious denominations and instances: in self-defense (or in defense of
sects currently on the world ' scene – all another) against an aggressor, capital punishment
professing to teach in the name of the God of truth and in just war. Apart from these three cases,
and yet contradicting one another in so many however, the direct killing of one human being by
ways on the most vital of all subjects, divine another is murder and is always a grave violation
revelation. And so there must be a totally reliable of the divine moral law. A human being's right to
authority whereby man can know with absolute life is the most fundamental of all human rights.
certainty the mind and the will of God so as No individual, then, whatever his reason or
thereby to serve Him truly and well in this and motivation, may take the law into his own hands
I" Continued on page 2
PRay th€ ROS3.RY
'Thou Shall Not Kill'' continued from page 1
right to life nor of the means to preserve life.
and, on his own initiative, take the life of his fellow (Generally speaking, the use of the extraordinary
man. And this true even though that fellow means for the preservation life is not
man may, in a particular case, be the worst of obligatory). Indeed, so ineffably valuable is man's
villains. The more innocent the victim,.the more an immortal soul the sight of God that
heinous the murderous act. His only-begotten on Calvary for
man's redemption. And yet, in stark contrast, how
How unspeakable and abominable a crime, then, insignificant, how practically worthless is human
is the murder of the most innocent and life in this our day – the untold millions of
defenseless of all human beings the unborn. abortions which annually occur throughout the
Since the infamous Supreme Court decision of world, the countless more millions of human lives
January, 1973, an average of well over one million exterminated by the Communist barbarians (a
unborn children has been exterminated each year minimum of some 34 million in Red China alone).
by abortion in this country alone. How, I ask, can Human life: so infinitely to Almighty God;
we expect God's blessings on a nation where so very insignificant to the murderers, be they
such rampant murder of the most abhorrent kind abortionists, Communists or whoever!
is not only tolerated but sanctioned by law? Why,
even "priests" of the Novus Ordo Church Was there ever a time, I wonder, throughout the
countenance abortion, such as the deplorable entire span of history when the moral law of God
Robert Drinan in the U.S. House of has been more widely and flagrantly violated than
Representatives, and Charles Curran, a member it is at the present time? And, when all is said and
of the faculty of the School of Moral (!} Theology done, may not this-the general abandonment of
at the once-Catholic University of America in God and the rejection of His Commandments –
Washington, D.C. God help us! be the fundamental reason why Communism
continues its steady advance throughout the
The direct killing of an unborn child is murder. world and why it poses an ever more ominous
And this is true regardless of the stage of threat to America? Is any nation worthy of God's
development of the child and regardless of the intervention on its behalf where the divine law is
reason alleged for the termination of life. Once so brazenly and extensively flouted as it is here
conception occurs a human being exists and no and now in the USA? Specifically, in view of the
reason in the world can justify a subsequent theme of this article, can we rightly look: to the
abortion, be it rape or incest or anything else. But Almighty to protect any nation in which vast
supposing the continued presence of the infant in numbers of its people, through the abhorrent
the womb poses a grave danger to the life of the crime of abortion, are engaged in the wanton
mother? Not even then is an abortion morally destruction of the most utterly defenseless of all
permissible! Before God both lives and both human beings?
souls, mother's and child's, are equally precious.
Hence, it is just as much murder and a grave There are many Americans today – morally
violation of the Fifth Commandment of God to kill good, well-informed, truly dedicated people –
the child in order to save the mother as it would be who very strongly believe that this country is in
to kill the mother in order to save the child. grave danger in relation to Communism, a belief
However good or noble the ultimate end or which I most certainly share. Of the various steps
purpose of an act may be, this does not justify the which must be taken to counteract that threat,
use of a morally evil means to attain it. The direct surely one of the most urgent is the election to
killing of an innocent human being is murder. political office on all levels of government of God-
Abortion is the direct killing of an innocent human serving, competent, honorable, courageous men
being. Therefore, abortion is murder. Such is the and women. Especially is this true, of course, in
mind and will of God as presented by the Roman the area of the federal government. And, in the
Catholic Church and all of the sentimental and matter of a political candidate's moral
emotional arguments in the world cannot alter that qualifications for public office, his stand on
teaching one iota. abortion should be a consideration of the highest
priority among the American electorate. No
Of all human rights none is more fundamental and individual, I contend, is qualified to be elected,
more precious than the right to life. So very true is say, to the legislative branch of national
this that, with the three exceptions noted in this government who is not unalterably opposed to
article, no person or group of persons may abortion, however well qualified he may
deprive another human being of his God-given 2 otherwise be. Abortion is murder and the
continued on page 6
s
– R. Lance Lohr
"It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought There is a pleading in His (God's)
to pray for the dead that they may be loosed pensive eyes
from their sins." (II Machabees 12, 46) Will pierce thee to the quick and
trouble thee,
The Communion of Saints is indeed in a very sad And thou wilt hate and loathe
state. While the Blessed Virgin warned us at thyself; for, though
Fatima in 1917 that countless numbers were Now sinless, thou wilt feel that
being lost forever to the fires of hell, the situation thou hast sinned,
has hardly improved since then. It would be As never thou didst feel; and will
reasonable to suppose that countless numbers of desire
souls also languish in the torments of Purgatory To slink away, and hide thee from
– and at a time when few of the living obey the His sight;
admonition to pray for the dead. And yet will have a longing aye
to dwell
It is doubtful that the Church's teaching on Within the beauty of His Countenance.
Purgatory is the topic of many CCD classes or And these two pains, so counter
even religion classes in post-Conciliar Church and so keen –
schools. We are forced therefore to begin the The longing for Him, when thou
treatment of Purgatory presuming very little is seest Him not;
known. For even in the best of times (which even The shame of self at thought of
the most optimistic of our number could not call seeing Him –
our time) this doctrine, of the existence and Will be thy veriest, sharpest
purpose of Purgatory, is at best misunderstood, Purgatory.
and frequently attacked. And for the pseudo-
Catholic today, who is exposed to the "mass of Dream of Gerontius
the resurrection" with its presumption that
everyone who dies goes straightway to heaven, it The dogma of Purgatory has been rejected by
is hard to accept that even very good people may various heretics through the ages. While Luther
have substantial temporal punishment for which and Calvin were forced to reject it, so did the
to atone. At Fatima, Mary astounded the children Albigenses, Waldenses and Hussites. Most
by telling them that a teenage girl, whom they had Protestants deny the existence of Purgatory.
known and who had died, would spend the rest of Their total preoccupation with Luther's
time in Purgatory. And they had known her to be a misinterpretation of Scripture, that faith is all that
good girl. is necessary for salvation, compels them to do so
or appear inconsistent.
Purgatory is a place or condition where those who
die without mortal sin but have unforgiven venial Several of the Church Fathers wrote on
sin, or retain some punishment due to forgiven Purgatory. For example, St Augustine clearly
sins, are consigned until the justice of God is states:
served. One should not consider the existence of
Purgatory a product of God's wrath. It is Temporary punishments are suffered by some
commonly held that at the particular judgement in this life only, by others after death, by others
we commit ourselves, fully realizing our both now and then; but all of them before that
unworthiness to approach the Card last and strictest judgement. But of those who
Newman, the great 1 century convert to the suffer temporary punishments after death, all
Faith, expressed this sentiment I in verse: are not doomed to those everlasting ns
which are to low that judgement.
3 continued on page 4
"Purgatory" continued from page 3
frequently do we have Masses said for even
For some of the dead, indeed, the prayer of the deceased parents or friends? The Church
Church or of pious individuals is heard; but it is supplies for our laxity by commemorating the
for those who, having been regenerated in dead at every Mass during the Canon:
Christ, did not spend their life so wickedly that
they can be judged unworthy of such Be mindful, 0 Lord, of Thy servants and
compassion, nor so well that they can be handmaids who are gone before us with the
considered to have no need of it. sign of faith and sleep now the sleep of peace
(the name or names of the deceased are
The City of God mentioned here). To them, 0 Lord, and to all
who rest in Christ, grant, we implore Thee, a
And other Fathers, including Tertullian, Origen place of refreshment, of light, and of peace.
and St. Cyril, all defend the doctrine. Later, St. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Ambrose, St Thomas and St. Robert did the
same. It is this testimony of centuries that gives Of course the traditional Catholic laity can on
the tradition its substance. their own also aid these souls. In that our time of
trial is not over, we still have daily opportunities to
The punishment of the souls in Purgatory is a do good works that gain the very rewards that can
paradox. There is the remorse of full knowledge not only expiate the punishment we merit, but can
that they will not see God until their temporal also, if applied to them, relieve some of the
punishment has been removed. But at the same punishment burdening the souls in Purgatory.
time this remorse is not the despair of those Prayers, frequently with attendant indulgences,
unfortunate souls in Hell, who know that the fasting, and acts of charity are all available to us.
Beatific Vision will never be theirs. Secondly,
there is the fire which St. Catherine of Siena said Several years before his death Pope Leo XIII gave
causes greater pain than any pain of this life. Yet his approval to the "Catholic League for Constant
Father Walter Farrell tells us that" … these souls Intercession for the Poor Souls in Purgatory". To
see the justice of all this punishment; they submit be a member and gain a 200-days indulgence for
to it willingly, eagerly, even lovingly, for it means those in Purgatory one need only say three times
that the eternal Vision is brought closer every a day: "Eternal rest grant unto them, 0 Lord, and
instant." This is why they are both poor souls and may perpetual light shine upon them. May they
holy souls – poor because they are temporarily rest in peace. Amen."
denied God's presence, and holy because they
will, most assuredly, become part of the Church In an almost totally secularized society it would
Triumphant. indeed appear an anachronism, but through the
ages priests, religious and laity, as individuals or
Today good Catholics, both in charity and in groups, have devoted themselves to lives of
justice, should feel compelled not to be satisfied prayer and sacrifice for the benefit of departed
with just stating this truth of our faith. One should souls. And several Popes have given their official
make every effort to pray for the Church blessing on these activities.
Suffering. But do we really remember those who
have left this life and to whom we have a great The Church takes no official stand on whether or
debt, like our parents, other relatives and friends? not the souls in Purgatory can help us by their
Or, much to our own shame, is there a soul intercession. St. Thomas said they could not help
suffering because we gave bad example or failed us, but St. Robert and several mystics and
in our responsibility? In any case charity is the theologians disagreed. Regardless of this
greatest virtue according to St Paul. And is not dispute, would it not be unreasonable to suppose
the greatest love for another shown by a sincere that, once freed from torment by our action, the
concern for the welfare of his immortal soul? soul now standing with the choirs of angels in
Realizing that they cannot help themselves, the Heaven would forget his benefactor?
souls in Purgatory look to us for the relief that
only we can give them.
What is more elevating and transporting than the
generosity of heart which risks everything on
St. Thomas wrote that the Mass is the greatest
God's word?
prayer that could be offered on behalf of a soul,
since as the unbloody reenactment of Calvary it is Cardinal Newman
the perfect prayer of infinite value. But how 4
An Ignored Message
– Fr. Victor Mroz, O.F.M. Conv.
America today is in very grave danger. Within does not amend its evil ways, there will be a great
recent months we have witnessed one tragedy chastisement … "The Blessed Virgin went so far
after another throughout the world related to our as to name the instrument of God's punishment
country and its security. At home we have for mankind: Russia! This she said in 1917, before
experienced a series of natural disasters – the Communist revolution in Russia had even
tornadoes, hurricanes, floods and volcanic surfaced! Who could know that a bunch of
eruptions – resulting in untold hardships for Bolsheviks would multiply into a worldwide Beast
many people. Inflation, unemployment and of the Apocalypse? But she said this: "Its errors
economic problems continue to grow worse. Bad will spread throughout the world and nations will
as all this may be, we feel that much worse may be annihilated … "
yet come. Many believe that a time of great sorrow
is ahead for our beloved country. Wars are punishments for sins, said the Blessed
Virgin, but the Church leaders did not make
This is true because America's problems are not efforts to spread the Fatima Message. They were
basically political but moral. The root causes of not bothered with it.They still appear indifferent
our misery have not been removed. As a nation, now. Although catastrophe is closer every day,
we continue to turn our backs on God and His the leaders of the Conciliar Church remain silent
Commandments. We pay God lip service through at best, or actively participate in this evil work. I
pious words, then continue our wicked deeds: am quite sure they won't heed these warnings of
such as the continued wholesale slaughter of the Our Lady and tell the people the truth. One priest
innocents through millions of abortion murders in France wrote not so long ago: "Cardinal
of the helpless unborn in their mother's wombs. Ottaviani told me personally that the Third Secret
And all other crimes are growing rapidly, as of Fatima (which he read) is very important and
statistics show. God will 'not be mocked forever. that it is concerned with the Third World War".
Unless this nation turns to repentence and comes This is the Secret which should have been made
back to God and His laws through prayer, known to the world in 1960. The Vatican never
penance and Christian principles of living, we will published it although it might save the world from
eventually face a day of frightful reckoning. an atomic holocaust if its contents were known.
The Vatican has kept it in the vaults of its archives
When I see the people reading the daily papers for the last twenty years.
and magazines I am sorry for them. They seek to
understand the present situation through the It was on May 13, 1917 that the Blessed Mother for
Marxist, leftist, naturalistic or humanist opinions the first time appeared to three children in a field
and propaganda of the secular press. Even if they called Cova da lria near Fatima, north of Us.ban,
read so-called Catholic or diocesan papers they Portugal. It happened that, during that apparition
still are not told the total truth. In many cases, I and the five subsequent ones each month on the
think, the editors of the present post-Vatican era same date until October 13, the Blessed Virgin
in the Conciliar Church are just blind people, urged frequent recitation of the Rosary, asked for
trying to lead the blind sheep. They will never penance and mortification for the conversion of
admit it but they are infected with so many sinners, called for devotion to her Immaculate
diseases such as Modernism, naturalism, false Heart, asked that Russia be dedicated to her
ecumenism and other "isms". One World Immaculate Heart by the Pope with the world
Government, the Welfare State, even plain Bishops, and that the faithful make a Communion
Socialism and Communism seem all right to of reparation on the first Saturday of five
them. How many "Catholic" writers and Popes consecutive months. The apparitions of Fatima
sing hymns of praise to the United Nations were declared authentic 13 years later, in 1930,
although we know that that international body is after seven years of canonical investigation by
but a conspiratorial tool of communism to subject Pope Pius XI, who also authorized the devotion to
the world to satanic slavery? Our Lady of Fatima under the title of Our Lady of
the Rosary.
Our Blessed Virgin Mary in her message to the
three children at Fatima in 1917 said: "If the world continued on page 6
5
1.t is said that moral decadence has been the
principal cause the decline fall of most of
the world's civilizations throughout history. They
simply becausethedivinemoral law Pope who met
was ignored or contemptuously violated 1967, was very nervous when
prolonged the the to him.
Such is we should
respect to same moral law of God as hear
expressed in the Ten Commandments, of which was that 63
no better single example can be given than that of years ago is just unveiling before our eyes on the
abortion. "Thou Shalt Not . The murder of the world scene. "If the people will do penance Russia
innocent unborn is surely a crime which, above all will be converted and be given to the
others, cries to high Heaven for vengeance. world; if not, Russia will spread its errors all
Unless this wholesale killing is brought to a stop around the world". That means, of course, the
in the USA, how long more will the Almighty revolution of Communism. This is the story of the
with hold His righteous indignation and just all-important Message of Fatima, a Message the
punishment from so perverse and degenerate a world has scorned and Church has ignored!
nation? I do not know. I know only that there will
come a day of reckoning. Unless this nation gets
A Suggestion
down on its knees in humble submission to the
law of God and implores His mercy and This is the fifth issue of our newsletter,
forgiveness, the day may not be too far off, I Athanasian. Judging from the many
submit, when this nation will be forced to its knees complimentary remarks which have come our
by the just wrath of that same God! way regarding it, we can safely say that it has been
well received. This to be sure, very
encouraging and we are grateful. Wh
"lgnored Message" continued from page 5
each issue thus far has been eight pages in length,
it is our intention to make Athanaslan a 1
In October 1942, the middle of World II, publication in the near future, perhaps
… ~ …….. ~ with the next
I dedicated the world – and what a
world it was already then becoming! – to
Immaculate Heart of Mary, but very few Bishops
joined him Russia was not clearly
Only ten years later, in 1952, in the first apostolic
ever addressed directly to the peoples of
Russia, the same Pope dedicated in a
special manner to the Mother God.
continued on next column
6
"Keep
Requests "Keep the Faith" is an expression quite familiar to
Roman Catholics, the word "Faith" here meaning
Since I have at the moment a 6-month backlog of the totality of the truths taught by the Church.
Mass intentions to be fulfilled, I ask that no further Although the expression is probably centuries
Mass requests be sent to me for awhile, say, until old, it surely has a particular significance today
October 1. I always regret having to do this but, if I when this precious treasure of our Faith is
don't, I'll he perpetually behind in the fulfillment bombarded from all sides and some of its most
of my Mass commitments. While the law of the fundamental truths denied or compromised or
Church forbids the priest merely from accepting called into question – and this even by many of
more Mass stipends than he can satisfy within a those who are supposed to be its shining
year, I personally would not be at ease if I were to exemplars and most devoted practitioners,
have a year's accumulation of Mass intentions to namely, bishops and priests. The stark fact is that
fulfill. So, I will be grateful if no more Mass innumerable bishops and priests, God's elect,
requests were sent to me before October 1. have not kept the Faith, or, more bluntly, have
abandoned or lost the Faith during and since the
years of Vatican Council II, with literally millions
of the once-Catholic laity blindly following their
"spiritual" leaders. I, for one, do not know of a
single truly Roman Catholic bishop in this
country today.
But despite the Conciliar Church the true Faith is
being kept and gradually advanced by those
Roman Catholic clergy and laity in this country
and around the world who have remained
BUMPER STICKER steadfastly loyal to tradition. They are the
remnant of that historic Church which not so long
In red and black lettering on a white background, numbered hundreds of millions in its fold. But
it reads: "Traditional Catholics of America Save how singularly blessed by God is that remnant
the Traditional Mass". Also included is our and how humbly and profoundly grateful to the
address. The cost of these bumper stickers is two Almighty they must always be! They, the Catholic
for $1.00 (minimum order). The price covers remnant, have the most precious treasure in the
postage, and payment must accompany order. world – the Roman Catholic Faith! In the words
of Saint Athanasius, "they are the ones who are
the true Church of Jesus Christ"! Theirs is the
inestimable privilege and most solemn duty to
"keep the Faith"!
THE A THAN ASIAN
Published by Traditional Catholics of America, Inc.
-Fr. Francis E. Fenton, Editor
-Miss Ellen W. Soisson, Secretary
~Eight issues a year (Jan. 15, Mar. 1, Apr. 15, June 1, July 15, Sept. l, Oct. 15, 1)
~Subscriptions: ~$6.00 per year (via First Class Mail) for the USA, Canada and Mexico
$10 .00 per year ( via Air Mail) for other countries
-Bulk r,rriPrC -3 for $LOO (minimum order)
AO or more copies to same address: 30 cents each
( all include postage)
-Mailing address: P.O. 6827 -Telephone: (303) 575
Colorado Springs, CO 80934
7
– – – – – – – T C A TRADITIONAL LATIN MASS SCHEDULE——-
CALIFORNIA MINNESOTA
PETALUMA (San Francisco area) ROCHESTER
SAINT MARY'S OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY CHAPEL
Hermann Sons Hall 5820 Viola Road, NE
860 Western Ave. (at Webster St) (507) 282-5163 or 289-8522
(707) 823-3810 or (415) 924-2587 Mass at 10:00 a.m.:
Mass at 9:00 a.m. (every Sunday) 31
WALNUT CREEK (Oakland area)
OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY MONTANA
Veteran Memorial Hall GREAT FALLS
1250 Locust Street IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY CHAPEL
(415) 837-6499 2020 Second Avenue North
Mass at 11 :30 a.m. (every Sunday) (406) 452-8826
Mass at 10:00 a.m.
COLORADO 31
AURORA (Denver area)
OUR LADY OF VICTORY CHAPEL NEW YORK
2566 Sable Boulevard BUFFALO
(303) 321-3683 or 364-8040 OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY
Masses at 9 & 11 a.m. (every Sunday) Charter House
Weekday Masses at 8:00 a.m. 6643 Transit Road
(NY Thruway Exit 49-near Airport)
DURANGO (716) 537-9533 or 692-5308
OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY Mass at 10:00 a.m. on 1st and 3rd Sundays
Durango Savings and Loan of month
1101 E. Second Ave.
(303) 884-2878
PENNSYLVANIA
Mass at 10:00 a.m.
July 20, August 31 ESSINGTON (Philadelphia area)
OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY
PUEBLO Holiday Inn
IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY CHAPEL 45 Industrial Highway
1406 East 21st Street (one mile from airport)
(303) 544-0336 (215) 328-1348
Mass at 10:00 a.m. Mass at 10:00 a.m.:
10 July 27, August 10, August 24
FLORIDA UTAH
PORT RICHEY (fampa area) SALT LAKE CITY
ST JOSEPH'S OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP
Gulf Highland Club House Hilton Inn
900 Gulf Highland Drive 154 West 600 South
(613) 868-0166 (801) 278-7501
Mass at 11 :30 a.m. on 3rd and 5th Sundays Mass at 11 :00 a.m.: 24
of month
VIRGINIA
LOUISIANA RICHMOND
OUPELOUSAS (Lafayette area) OUR LADY OF FATIMA
OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY CHAPEL 3000 North Boulevard
Route 1, Box 195 (804) 737-8211 or 2624354
(318) 942-9053 Mass at 11:00 a.m.:
Mass at 10:30 a.m. on 2nd and 4th Sundays August10,August24
of month
8