Automatically extracted text. OCR transcription may contain errors.
THE ATI-IANASIAN
/\ pul'·Iit·ation of
Traditional Catholics of America, Inc. Vol. I, No. 1
EJitnr: Fr. Francis E. fen ton, STL January 15, 1980
"Lay Rescue" is the title of an article by Father Robert
McKenna, O.P. which appeared in the November 1, 1979
Saint Athanasius
issue (#45) of the ORCM Newsletter. To be as brief as I
can, by way of the following numbered paragraphs I offer
Of all of those in the course of Christian history whose
a few comments and clarifications relating to Father
lives of heroic sanctity have led to their eventual
McKenna's statements in the article mentioned above:
canonization by the Roman Catholic Church, there is
surely no one whose life better qualifies him as the patron ( 1) Some two months ago I and the priests associated
saint of traditional Catholicism than Saint Athanasius, with me separated ourselves completely from the ORCM.
fourth century Bishop of Alexandria in Egypt. Hence the While the corporation lawyer we had retained in Connec-
name chosen for this new publication, The Athanasian. It ticut seemed to be quite certain that I could regain my
is , I believe, an appropriate name in view of the intended position in the ORCM as a national officer if I so wished,
function and purpose of this periodical and it is one the fact is that, if I did, I would be very much a minority on
which, to my knowledge, is not used to identify any other the national board and would quite certainly be outvoted
traditional publication, at least not in this country. on just about every issue because of the composition of
the rest of the board. As the lawyer put it, the cards would
be clearly stacked against me. Were I to be one of the
Traditional Catholics of America national officers, then, or a member of some ORCM priest
board of directors, rt would be a hopeless case and an
As of this writing (December 20, 1979), we (I and the exercise in futility on my part because I know all too well
priests affiliated with me) are in the process of incorpora- the positions and the attitudes on numerous matters of
ting under the above name as a non-profit. tax-exempt those men (both priests and laymen)who would certainly
corporation in accordance with the laws of the State of compose the -majority of any such group. Hence, the
Colorado. Since no impediment is forseen, it is likely that decision to make a complete break with the ORCM.
this legal incorporation will be an accomplished fact by
(A lady by the name of Maude Fairchild died in Tucson,
the time this first issue of The Athanasian appears.
Arizona some three years ago. One of the bequests in her
Traditional Catholics of America will have three national
estate was a sum of about $28,000 in securities for the
officers. all priests.
ORCM. Of the ORCM national officers and priests, I was
the only one she knew. Because we had mutual friends in
Arizona and because she found the ORCM at that time to
Subscription Envelope
her liking, she bequeathed those securities to the
organization in her will. The ORCM will be receiving, or
Whenever one is enclosed with any particular issue of this
has already received by now, the bulk of that bequest
newsletter, it means that the recipient"s subseription is
(approximately $26,000 in value). Legally, there is
due for renewal. One may enter a new subscription at any
nothing I can do about this for the securities were willed
time, o1 course, and will then receive tile eight following
to the ORCM, not to me. Under the circumstances though
newsletter issues.
I find this story somewhat ironical and worth relating).
(2) It is correct that several of the Mas~ circuit locations
For the Record (six to be exact – three in Florida and three in Washington
State) which were listed in my interim letter of October
Although tam sure I can make some better contributions · 16, 1979 were locations not served by me and thE priests
toward the preservation and advancement of thE True associated with me. I did not list them "mistakenly"
Faith than that of correcting or clarifying statements though, nor with any intent to deceive. but simply out of
appearing in the ORCM Newsletter, yet it seems to me consideration for the lay leadership in those areas, most
that I have some obligation along this line. After all. I was of whom I had good reason to supposE were in sympathy
the editor of that publication fo1 some 5·. years. during with me in the ORCM crisis. To include t110se places in my
which period the truth and c1cc tH 3q of what was pr ir, tee newslette1 Mass schedule was misleading, however, and
in its pages w d s a Iv, a y s a rn a tt c- r cf vi 1a I co! 1c e rn 1c r""1 ( th~.,v will he ornitted henceforth.
<,-:r 1 '"lJf'(; :11~ ;-;age 2
continued from page 1
But in the #45 ORCM Newsletter, of the fourteen Mass McKenna, in his derogatory reference to my handling of
locations served by the priests affiliated with me, nine are the ORCM's temporal affairs, is not suggesting or
listed as though they were part of the ORCM Mass circuit. implying any dishonesty on my part. But surely he knows
(Those in charge in several of those locations have better than even to hint at so gross an untruth.
already made it quite clear to the national officers that
they want no part of the ORCM). To include those nine
Mass centers in the ORCM listing then is somewhat less
than honest, is it not? Further, in the article "Lay Rescue",
Father Mc Kenna writes that the "majority" of the "chapels
and groups" have remained with the present ORCM
priests. If the listing in the ORCM Newsletter is accurate, Whether all of the time and space consumed in my writing
then ·F ather McKenna is correct, the margin being fifteen this particular newsletter article has been worthwhile, I
to fourteen. But I wonder how many of those fifteen just don't know. To those who feel it has not been, I
locations would remain with the ORCM if all of the apologize for it and will strive to avoid this type of article
congregation in each place were truly informed as to the relating to the ORCM Newsletter in the future unless, in a
fundamental "why" the ORCM 'c risis erupted in the particular matter, I feel r have a grave obligation to make
first place. some comment. I ask only that you understand why I have
written here as I have done. You see, I have never before
(3) When the ORCM began I was not for some few
in my life been in a position where my reputation is being
months one of the national officers. These were laymen
progressively maligned in the minds of those who do not
and at the time this was quite agreeable to me for, as I saw
know me – and ~his in the pages of a national newsletter.
it, thts would allow the ORCM priest members to devote
their full time to the duties of their state in life. It was not Frankly, I am at a loss as to how I should react in this
long:, ·however, before I began to receive protests from matter. Some who have written me in recent months have
around the country from people who stated that they did commended me for my silence or restraint; others have
not want to be a part of any Church organization of the urged me to speak out. At least for the most part though,
nature of the ORCM which was run by laymen. And so it those in this latter group do not know what my speaking
was that I at some point became the ORCM president. out would entail. But I would have neither fear nor
Whether I. "insisted on assuming the presidency of the hesitancy rn doing so if I were to become convinced that I
Board". as Father McKenna puts it, I do not recall. must. In other words, which of two alternatives poses the
graver obHgation: to speak out at tong last, as distasteful
(4) As to the "financial crisis" of the ORCM and my as it would be to do so – or, in view of the nature of the
"handJing of its temporal affairs" prior to the takeover by subject matter, to remain silent, thereby allowing a state
Messrs. Hobert Cleary and Francis Maney, this is so much of affairs to continue in the ORCM which is detrimental to
humbug and, because it is, l have neither the time nor the the cause of authentic traditional Catholicism? Such is
inclination to discuss it. I trust, however, that Father my dilemma.
THE" ATHANASIAN
Published by Traditional Catholics of America, Inc.
-Eight issues a year (Jan. 15, Mar. 1, Apr. 15, June 1, July 15, Sept. 1, Oct. 15, Dec. 1)
-Subscriptions: -$6.00 per year ( via First Class Mail) for the USA, Canada and Mexico
-$ 7 .00 per year ( via Air Mail) for all other countries
-Bulk orders: -3 copies for $1.00 (minimum order)
40 or more copies to same address: 30 cents each
( all prices include postage)
-Mailing address: P.O. Box 6827
Colorado Springs, CO 80934
-Telephone: ( 303) 636-15 7 5
2
POPE JOHN PAUL II ,Father Francis E. Fenton, STL
Until recent months, while myself feelino ever increasing anxiety on the subject, I have always suggested withholding
any judgment on the present Pontiff in my writings and to anyone who sought my opinion. Even though I was hardly
favorably impressed by the portion of his record which I knew, it was my thought that no decisive judgment should be
made concerning him for some time. Perhaps he might surprise even the most pessimistic among us and turn out to be
the great Pontiff so sorely needed in these days of unprecedented ordeal and travail for the Church. And so, whenever
I had the occasion to do so, I would urge prayer for him and recommend a period of watchful waiting until there was
sufficient evidence to warrant a conclus ive judg ment pro or con. Time would tell for sure.
Well over a year has now passed since Cardinal Karol Wojtyla of Poland became Pope John Paul 11- and that, I think, is
ample time to allow to pass in order to form a sou nd estimate of him. Sad to say, that estimate, in the opinion of this
writer, is a low one indeed. Consider the followi ng:
(1) The very name which he adopted upon his accession to the papal throne, John Paul 11, was chosen as a tribute to
his three immediate predecessors. This choice of name in itself was very revealing, plus the fact that he made it clear
that he intended-to follow their policies – policies which have wrought massive destruction upon the Church in the
past two decades.
(2) Pope John Paul II was made a Cardinal by Pope Paul VI who, I am sure, never appointed any conservative or
traditional individual to that office during his entire pontificate. Although the fifteen years of Pope Paul Vi's pontificate
were among the most disastrous in the nearly 2000 years of the papacy, Pope John Paul 11 has extolled him time and
time again, referring to him as his mentor and spiritual father.
(3) Poland has been a Communist country for several decades now but I, for one, never heard the name of Karol
Wojtyla as an anti-Communist fighter in Poland during his many years there as a Bishop an·d Cardinal. When he was
chosen to be the Pope in 1978, the Communist leadership in Poland hailed his election. In the years following the
death of Pope Pius XI I, the Vatican has increasingly followed a policy of accommodation with Communism and Pope
John Paul II, despite his occasional statements which might indicate otherwise, has followed that policy. Indeed,
when a group of bishops proposed a condemnation of Communism at Vatican Council II, the man who is now Pope
John Paul. II was one of the leading spokesmen for those members of the hierarchy who successfully opposed such
. a e:ondemnation. ·
(4) Not long after his election to the Papacy Pope John Paul II reappointed at least QDe Freemason, Cardinal Jean
Villot, as papal Secretary of State. Following Cardinal Villot's death, the present Pontiff named another Freemason to
that vital position, Archbishop Agostino Casaroli. Nor, to my knowledge, has Pope John Paul II, since becoming the
Supreme Pontiff, removed any of the Masonic and _pro-Communist Cardinals and Bishops from their _Q_Q§i!!Qo_$ eitber
in the Vatican or any place else in the world. Qn the contrary, the papal envoy sent to Iran in November, 1979 by Pope
John Paul H fc>plead for the release of the Americans held captive in Tehran was none other than the notorious
Archbishop Annibale Bugnini, ~he principal architect of the Novus Ordo "Mass". Archbishop Bugnini, who became a
Mason on April 23, 1963, has been acknowledged as such even by some of the more moderate and "respectable" tra-
ditionalists.
r
(5) Perhaps no one thing has done more harm to the Church than the false ecumenism so widely in evidence over the
past fifteen years or so in the Church's relations with non-Catholic denominations of all kinds. The practice of this
false ecumenism, which is nothing else but the ·heresy of religious indifferentism, is now, in one form or another, an
almost common occurrence in the Novus Ordo Church, thanks primarily to Pope Paul VI. Not only has Pope John
Paul II done nothing to eliminate this heretical practice, but he has sharply encouraged it by his own "ecumenical"
words and deeds, all of which, of course, are an implicit denial of the One True Church.
(6) Some three months ago Pope John Paul II visited the USA. That he received a tumultuous welcome wherever he
went and that he was given massive coverage by the communications media, there is no question. In the course of the
numerous sermons and speeches he delivered during his tour in this country, he said many things which could not fail
to app.eal to traditional Roman Catholics. True enough, but what has he done, in the approximately 1114 years of his
pontificate to date, to rectify at least some of the grave wrongs that sorely afflict the Church at the present time? Has
he censured any of the Red bishops and priests, so notorious in Latin America, who have openly collaborated with
Communism – Cardinal Silva Enrique in Chile, Archbishop Helder Camara in Brazil, Bishop Mendez Arceo in Mexico,
the priests who belong to the Communist Sandinista organization in Nicaragua, etc.? (Incidentally, in the tens of
thousands of words uttered by Pope John Paul II while in this country, I do not recall his even mentioning the word
Communism, much less any condemnation of it by him). What has the present Pontiff done to any extent to date to
penalize heretical priests or to restore the teaching of the Catholic Faith to once-Catholic schools? Does one get the
message from listening to him or reading his words that the Roman Catholic Church is the One True Church founded
continued on page 7
3
Our Lady of the Rosary Chapel
Opelousas, Louisiana
General View of Chapel
Close-up of Altar
Father George Musey Saying the True Mass
A Portion of Congregation Awaiting Mass
4
Our Lady of the Rosary Chapel
Rochester, Minnesota
Father Victor Mroz, OFM Conv. offers
the Holy Sacrifice
"Ecce Agnus Dei … "
The Congregation in Devout Attendlance
at Mass
Statues of the Blessed Mother, and Old
Glory
5
THE NATLTRAL LAW
-a consideration of its potential
by R. Lance Lohr
Joseph Gorres was a German historian of the early 19th Now God's lesser creatures cannot be untrue to their
century. In 1838 he wrote a pamphlet that among other nature. They are compelled to be what they are. This drive
things ridiculed the Hegelian philosophy of his day. The is Natural Law. In man's case, St. Thomas writes that
description he gives of his age could easily be given of Natural Law is "nothing else than the rational creature's
our own. He writes: participation in the eternal law." Put simply, Natural Law
is for man his ability to use his reason to determine what
It has reached the stage at which we find ourselves
actions are consistent with his nature and thus consistent
everywhere enveloped and surrounded by lies as if
with the will of God.
by an atmosphere: they are breathed in and out …
Thus it has come about that in the most important
Pope Leo XIII clearly treated this concept and what
matters we are living in a world of fiction; in an
happens when men choose to violate their nature:
artificial realm of fable which we have conjured up
for ourselves out of our narrowminded notions, our It is a divinely appointed law that whatsoever things
pre-conceived opinions, our shallow thoughts and are constituted by God, the Author of nature, these
shabby emotions; a world so far removed from the we find the more useful and salutary, the more they
reality of things that they are no longer recognizable remain in their natural state, unimpaired and
in the slovenly and distorted copy. unchanged; inasmuch as God, the Creator of all
things, intimately knows what is suited to the
Why does man so frequently find himself living in a constitution and the preservation of each, and by
distorted copy of reality? His will and mind has so ordained all things that
each may duly achieve its purpose. But if the
When one observes the confusion around us it should be boldness and wickedness of men change and dis-
asked why so many people who appear to be reasonable turb this order of things, so providentially disposed,
cannot resolve the problems that trouble them. How is it then, indeed, things so wonderfully ordained, will
that social disorder continues to grow? We cannot help begin to be injurious, or will cease to be beneficial,
but pity so many of our fellow humans who seem to lack either because, in the change, they have lost their
the ability to find solutions to take them from where they power to benefit, or because God Himself is thus
are to where they should be. pleased to draw down chastisement on the pride
and presumption of men.
Our consolation comes from our realization of why we
are here and where we are going. But how many of us Is it any wonder that so many suffer mentally and
would enjoy the relative peace that comes from the physically in our world where such moral aberrations as
Catholic Faith if it had not been God's gift to us? In homosexuality, abortion, promiscuity, etc. are not only
today's world, the odds of our somehow tripping into tolerated but condoned by multitudes?
salvation would not be good at all.
In the last century theologians vigorously debated
In many ways primitive peoples have an advantage. They whether man could come to a full realization of right and
must confront disease, famine and death daily. They ar& wrong unaided by revelation and tradition. Most con-
not as remote to natural devastation as the industrialized cluded that man could not. But few men today would be
world where "man is the measure of all things." completely insulated from Catholic truth, if Catholics
were really the missionaries Christ told us to be.
In a country that revels in the quest for immediate self-
gratification, it is difficult to "admonish the sinner" or lead The point we are trying to reach is that many, if not most,
a friend to the Faith (many of us have tremendous diffi- of the people around us have lost sight of what actions are
culties with even close relatives). really consistent with Natural Law. And short of lightning
striking the average American and knocking him out of
What is it then that should bind men to God even when his easy chair in front of his color television, he may never
they lack the Faith that has been our gift? regain his senses.
St. Thomas Aquinas believed that men could come to the But if we missionaries try to revive the dulled reason of
knowledge of the existence of God by reason alone – our neighbor and present the Catholic moral code in light
something disputed by theologians of his day. He also of Natural Law, we just might succeed, not only in getting
concluded that the will of the Creator is imbued in every him to act consistent with his nature but also, with God's
one of His creatures. Animals act by instinct, that is, they help, to bring him to the Faith.
act according to their nature. Even inanimate objects
have a nature that makes them what they are. Man then It may sound like somewhat of a debasement to lead a
also is imbued with a nature – a human nature – including man ultimately to what we feel is the sublime center of our
a quality that makes him unique: free will. Faith, the Mass and Sacraments, by way of reason.
6 continued on page 7
7
But you may be surprised. Men are proud creatures. If Whether we succeed or fail in bringing men to the Faith is
you can show that their way of life is irrational and that not really the point. We have an obligation to try to make
they suffer in the long run because it is irrational, they the future a better place in which our children and those
will be hard put not to change. And a man who finds that of our fellow men can save their souls through the
"virtue is its own reward" will be more inclined to come to Catholic Church. Faith alone is not enough. Indeed, as
the Faith . Even if we fail in the end, we will at least have Holy Scripture tells us, faith without good works is dead .
helped to make the world a better place. To St. Thomas Hence, we must at least attempt to propagate God's will
has been attributed the belief that a society governed by among men.
Natural Law would be outwardly no different than a
society governed by Divine Positive Law. The only differ-
ence would be why people do things and not what they
do. In the society governed by Natural Law, people would
obey the Natural Law because it led to a better life. And in "Not only cars are recalled by their maker."
the society governed by Divine Positive Law, people
would do good because it was God's will.
'To keep standing up after being counted is the true
Do not be misled into thinking that simple adherence to test of courage.''
Natural Law as it is approached by our reason is sufficient
for salvation. For the pagans around you it may be,
because it is the only guide that they may have. For us "They say the world is full of apathy – but I don't
traditional Catholics, we have added the burden of acting care!"
in accord with the Faith.
" … if God doesn't live in Colorado, I'll bet that's
where He spends most of His time.''
continued from page 3
by the Son of God tor the salvation of all? What has he done to outlaw the desecration of divine worship that occurs in
"Catholic" churches through_out the world and to restore the True Mass to its rightful place of preeminence in the
Church? A multiplicity of similar questions could be asked. A final one here: How.could any Pope br~ng himself to
address the United Nations except for the purpose of condemning that godless monstrosity· and principal instru-
mentality of the New World Order?
That "liberal" "Catholics" and "Catholic .. publicati_ons might be enamored of Pope John Paul II is readily
understandable, but how any truly traditional Catholic or Catholic periodical should be so captivated escapes me.
Such is the case though. There are certain publications, almost invariably referred to as traditional Catholic, which
continually speak of the present Pontiff in a laudatqry manner, rarely, if at all, bringing to the reader's attention
anything of a negative nature concerning him. Why is this? Surely the editors and publishers of the periodicals I have
in mind know better. Is it because a false sense of the sublimity and grandeur of the Papacy prevents them from writing
in a critical manner of the current occupant of the papal throne? Whatever the reason, it is my contention that such
publications are doing a grave disservice to their readership by their failure to present the full picture. They are
misleading their readers and giving them a feeling of hope and security which simply is not justified in the
present matter.
And then there are some traditional priests (how many, I do not know) who are of the mind that Pope John Paul 11 is not
a legitimate or valid Pontiff at all. Now, if they know this, tt seems to me that, in a matter of such grave import and
having such profound implications for the Catholic world, the cause of truth would demand that this vital information
be disseminated as widely as possible, ~<;companied, of course, with conclusive proof. While I am considerably less
than enthusiastic about Pope John Paul 11, I take the same position regarding his legitimacy as I did regarding that of
Pope Paul VI, namely, I must assume that he is a valid Pontiff because I have never seen or heard any decisive case
made to prove he is not.
But the belief or the assumption that the current occupant of the Chair of Peter is a vaHd Pope does not mean that one
must thereby concur with all of his statements or condone all of his acts or blindly obey whatever he might command.
Such is not, and never has been, the teaching of the Church. The humanistic Pope John Paul II is not only a far cry
indeed from a Pope St. Pius X or a Pope Pius XI but, in my opinion, he may well prove to be in the long run far more of a
disaster to the Church than was Pope Paul VI. For informed traditional Catholic spokesmen and publications to refuse
to face up to the reality of, and to publicize, the negative side of the record of Pope John Paul II is the consequence of
wishful thinking at best – and outright dishonesty at worst.
TCA TRADITIONAL LATIN MASS SCHEDULE
CALIFORNIA MINNESOTA
PET ALU MA {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) 823-3610 or (415) 924-2587 Mass at 11 :00 A.M.:
Mass at 9:00 A.M. (every Sunday) Feb. 10, Feb . 24, Mar. 9, Mar. 23, Apr. 6
WALNUT CREEK (Oakland area)
OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY MONTANA
Veteran Memoriar Hall
1250 Locust Street GREAT FALLS
(415) 837-6499 IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY CHAPEL
Mass at 11 :30 A.M. (every Sunday) 2020 Second Avenue North
(406} 452-8826
Mass at 11 :00 A.M .:
COLORADO Feb. 3, Mar. 2, Mar. 30, Apr. 6
AURORA {Denver area) NEW YORK
OUR LADY OF VICTORY CHAPEL
2566 Sable Boulevard BUFFALO
(303) 321-3683 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) 897-3755 or 692-5308
OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY Mass at 10:00 A.M. on 1st and 3rd
Florida Grange Hall (SE of Durango) Sundays every month starting
(303) 8-84-2878 in February
Mass at 10:00 A.M.:
Feb. 24, Mar. 30
PENNSYLVANIA
PUEBLO
IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY CHAPEL ESSINGTON {Philadelphia area)
1406 East 21st Street OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY
(303) 544-0336 Holtday Inn
Mass at 10:00 A.M. . 45 Industrial Highway
Feb. 3, Feb. 10, Mar. 2, Mar. 30 ( one mile from airport)
r . (215) 328-1348
Mass at 10:00 A.M.: ·
STRATTON
OUR LADY OF FATIMA CHAPEL Feb. 24, Mar. 16, Mar. 23
(303) 348-5454 UTAH
Mass at 5:00 P.M.:
Feb. 3, Mar. 30 SALT LAKE CITY
OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP
Hilton Inn
LOUISIANA 154 W. 600 So.
(801} 278-7501
OPELOUSAS (Lafayette area) . Mass at 11 :00 A .M.:
OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY CHAPEL Feb.17, Mar. 9
Route 1, Box 195
(318) 942-9053 VIRGINIA
Mass at 10:30 A.M. on 2nd and 4th
Sundays of month RICHMOND
OUR LADY OF FATIMA
NEW ORLEANS Jefferson Hotel
Quality Inn Midtown Main & Jefferson Streets
(504} 454-3449 or 834-0730 (804) 737-8211 or 262-4354
Mass a1 5:00 P.M. on 2nd and 4th Mass at 11.00 A .M .:
S1 1· d3 v ~ c f ri1c, r~,,-
1
r: F b . 1 I ~J1 3 f . 9 f·v1a r 2 3