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THE ATHANASIAN
A publication of Traditional Catholics of America t Editor: Fr. Francis E. Fenton, STL t Volume VII, No. 4 t June 1, 1986
IS THE AMEmCAN GOVERNMENT
ANTI-COMMUNIST?
Fr. Francis E. Fenton
T here is no question but that the rank and file of the
American people are anti-Communist is varying de-
grees. If a cross section of average Americans were to be
the American government has been pro-Communist and
that pro-Communism has become more and more pro-
nounced with each succeeding administration in Washing-
asked if they were opposed to Communism, they would un- ton. But, with the "conservative" Mr. Reagan at the helm, is
doubtedly reply in the affirmative without hesitation. As far not the current administration an exception? Hardly. As any
as multitudes of these people are concerned, however, their informed and honest person well knows, R<:>rial4-.R~~~!L~
anti-Communism is not an informed one. While their oppo- oeitb.er a)} authent.ic..J:,911~~!Y<!t:ive nor a genuine anti-Com-
sition is sincere enough, it is based primarily on sentiment or munist. Indeed, one wonders if international Communism
emotion rather than on a knowledge of Communism itself. woulcCactually be in any worse position today if Mr. Carter
Further, the vast majority of Americans are passive anti- were still in the White House. To be sure, President
Communists and, because they are, they pose no significant Reagan's anti-Communist speeches and comments are often
threat to Communism and its steady advance towards world gems of anti-Communist rhetoric but his lack of action belies
domination. his words. His lip service to the cause of anti-Communism is
one thing; his dismal failure to follow through· is something
The principal cause of this ignorance of Communism on the else. The Red menace has never been in a better position
part of so many Americans is, far and away, the "conspiracy than it is today in its relentless drive towards world domina-
of silence" about Communism by the American press, the all tion. It has never been closer than it is here and now towards
but total control of the mass media in this county by hostile the attainment of its prize goal, the conquest of the USA.
forces. The American people are not told the ghastly truth
about Communism by the communications media because Apart from the American military action in Grenada some
the powers that be therein do not want them to know the time back, just what has the Reagan administration accom-
truth. What passes for news in relation to Communism (on plished of any substance to stop the Communist advance?
TV and radio, in the daily paper and in weekly and monthly To my knowledge, nothing. How many a nation over the
magazines of mass circulation) is usually comprised of h~ past several decades has had the USA as an "ally" and has
truths, innuendoes, outright lies, false propaganda-but ac- been taken over by Communism? As of this writing,
cepted without question by millions of the gullible public as Nicaragua is being given the treatment. Even though the
gospel truth. Since they depend upon the mass media for Sandanistas in control there are out-and-out communists,
their information then, there is no reason to wonder why the American government refuses to take effective action
Americans in general are ignorant of Communism. How against them, a condemnable stand supported by many of
vastly different, for example, is the stark truth about the the clergy (bishops and priests) of the Conciliar Church. One
criminal, murdering, barbaric Communist Sandinistas in thing's for sure: as long as the Reds have enemies like the
Nicaragua from the media propaganda being fed to the USA, they have no need of friends.
American public. (The best example in recent times, I sub-
mit, of the lying, prostitute American press has to be the Those of us old enough to do so recall the days when the
continuous, overwhelming, repulsive propaganda poured Roman Catholic Church was the great bastion against Com-
forth a few months back on behalf of pro-Communist Martin munism. It was in 1937 that the classic encyclical of Pope
Luther King, Jr. Surely the American communications Pius XI on atheistic Communism was published and wherein
media reached a new low in that one. With a national holi- his oft-quoted statement appears: "~.omrnunism is intrit1st
day in his "honor" Martin Luther King, Jr., now has the c::ally evH and no one who would save. Christian civilization
same official recognition in the USA as the birthday of Jesus piay collaborate with it in any undertaking. whatsoever."
Christ!) Who of us in those days could possibly have imag1ned–the
current situation in which the Conciliar Church is in fact a
The average American actually believes that the government collaborator with Communism (a Church whose hierarchy
of the United States is anti-Communist. Nothing could be includes, among many others, the likes of such as the de-
further from the truth. For the last several decades at least, plorable Rembert Weakland of Milwaukee, Peter Gerety of
Newark and Thomas Gumbleton of Detroit)? Who of us them of the true Christian, the genuine Roman Catholic?
could possibly have dreamed that there would be countless Why, we must love them and pray for them with a super-
"bishops" and "priests" and "nuns" openly and brazenly natural charity while at the same time being actively and
promoting Communist causes in a variety of ways? Who of unalterably opposed to the evil they represent. Love the
us fifty years ago could possibly have foreseen the day when sinner; hate the sin. Christ was crystal clear on this:
there would be sitting in the Chair of Peter a man who_. "… Love your enemies: do good to them that hate you: and
never so much as utters the word Communism, to say pray for them that persecute and calumniate you."
_no_thing of exposing and c<mdemnil}g tt?. _ — ·- –· (Matthew 5, 44) Although it may well appear to be a contra-
diction to speak of loving and praying for our enemies on
As for the government of the USA being anti-Communist, the one hand and, on the other hand, to speak of liqui-
anyone who honestly thinks it is would be well-advised to dating them, this is not a contradiction in reality. We are
start doing his homework because such a person is either morally obligated to withstand the militant godlessness
woefully uninformed or living in a dreamworld. The shame- which is Communism. But militant godlessness is em-
ful record clearly proves otherwise. If the USA doesn't stop bodied in those who espouse it, in this case, the Commu-
Communism, what nation will or can? At what point will nists. It follows, then, that, if we have the obligation to
America go on the offensive at long last? Nicaragua would counteract this militant godlessness-and, of course, we
be a good place to start but it will take much more than a do-then we have the obligation to take whatever morally
relatively paltry (under the circumstances) sum of money to justified action is necessary effectively to oppose the mili-
do the job. And it most certainly is going to take a lot more tantly godless.)
than strong words from the actor in the White House to do
the job. If those words are not backed up by proportionate- Please God, the day may not be far off when the govern-
ly strong action, the Red thugs in Nicaragua and elsewhere ment of this nation of ours will become an anti-Communist
will assuredly not be deterred from pursuing their nefarious one; a government whose leaders are humble, God-fearing
goals. men of honor and principle and conviction and courage; a
government which will take any and all morally permissible
But our opposition to Communism must not be motivated action required against the "evil empire" of atheistic Com-
solely by concern for our own preservation and survival. munism. Despite the depth of moral corruption of every
While such concern is very understandable, self-preserva- imaginable kind in which this nation is presently wallowing,
tion being the first law of nature, yet to fight Communism and despite the extent to which its enemies are already in
merely because we will certainly be its victims if we don't is control, and despite the pro-Communism of the body of
a far cry from the duty we have as followers of Christ in re- Conciliar Church bishops-despite all of this and much,
lation to this satanic menace. Communism is a criminal, much more, the USA still has the capacity to stop and to re-
militant, atheistic conspiracy. It is the incarnation of evil verse the advance of Communism and, in due time, de-
with no redeeming qualities whatsoever. Truly committed cisively to defeat this utterly satanic evil. Whether it has the
Communists are amoral, mass murderers, inveterate liars, will to do so remains to be seen. t
godless. Even if Communism, then, were to pose no threat
to us, we have an obligation to expose and to oppose it with
every morally lawful means at our disposal. To do anything
less is to be derelict in our duty to God and to be unworthy
to be called Christians. r
Pray·
Nor must we forget or take lightly the responsibility which
is ours towards those millions of our fellowmen who are
the Rosary
enslaved under the ruthless tyranny of Communism
throughout the world. To read of the utterly inhuman, re-
volting tortures being inflicted upon the native population
Daily
by the Communist savages in Afghanistan alone should be
enough to move even the hardest hearts to compassion and
to a resolve both to pray for these poor people and to be- SUBSCRIPTION RENEWALS
come activists in the fight against their brutish oppressors. The date on the envelope address label indicates the
And what is happening in Afghanistan is occurring in di- month and year in which the recipient's subscription is due
verse ways and in varying degrees in every country in the for renewal. At the proper time, a subscription envelope will
world under Communist domination. The victims are our be enclosed with the newsletter. One may enter a new sub-
fellowmen, created by God and redeemed by His divine scription at any time, of course, and will then receive the
Son. We cannot ignore or abandon them. eight following newsletter issues. t
(What, in view of the fact that Communists are definitely
our enemies, what must be the spirit, the attitude towards
THE ATHANASIAN 2 JUNE 1, 1986
THE FISH: G A CATHOUC SYMBOL
John Kenneth Weiskittel
Y ou're stopped at a red light when you notice an em-
blem on the car ahead of you. There upon the
bumper is a sticker bearing a fish design, perhaps with an
offering at a table where sit six other people. But by far the
best-known of these is the symbol of the fish.
accompanying "born again" Protestant slogan next to it. The fish is one of many ancient emblems depicting Christ.
Or you see the same fish in an ad while thumbing through Others still used today and familiar to Catholics include
the Yell ow Pages. Or in the Church Section of the local IHS (in Greek, the first three letters of the name of Jesus)
newspaper. and I.N.R.I. (the inscription atop the cross at Christ's cru-
cifixion: the first letters of the Latin (l)esus (N)azarenus
The use of this has become increasingly widespread among (R)ex (l)udaeorum-Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews).
Protestants. They say they've taken an ancient Christian As to the origin of the fish symbol, Monsignor J. D. Conway
symbol and are employing it as a means of identifying writes in Facts of the Faith: "The Greek word for fish was
themselves as Christians. The sign of the fish is indeed one ichthus. And if we took all the letters of that word, they
that can be traced back to the earliest days of the Church- would stand in Greek for the name Jesus, or even more
but the Roman Catholic Church. completely for Jesus our God and Savior." (p. 208) In
Donald Attwater's A Catholic Dictionary we read that the
Catacomb Art fish was "the chief of the symbols of the early Church,
The development of the fish as a Catholic symbol goes back representing our Lord, and, in association with loaves of
to the Roman persecutions of the first centuries A.D. and bread, the Blessed Sacrament." (p. 205)
to the catacombs. Originally built beneath the city as
primitive Christian cemeteries, the catacombs were a Concerning this last application, the Irish Archbishop M.
network of intersecting passageways, with recesses to the Sheehan writes in Apologetics and Catholic Doctn'ne that,
sides for tombs. Sometimes they would be expanded, one due to fear of desecration, "it was the custom among Chris-
layer atop another "ranging from 22 to 80 feet below the tians during the first centuries, and particularly from the
surface." (Father Newman Eberhardt, A Summary of end of the second to the beginning of the sixth, to conceal
Catholic History, vol. I, p. 154) Though the most famous from the heathen the more sacred and mysterious rites of
catacombs are in Rome, others were used by Christians "at religion and especially the real nature of the Blessed
Naples, in Sicily, at Alexandria, and throughout Northern Eucharist." (part II, p. 160) He then cites:
Africa and Asia Minor." (ibid.) It was in catacombs that
relics of the martyrs were first venerated. As an instance of the veiled language used, we may
quote the following from an ancient inscription:
In times when merely being a Catholic could endanger "Take the food sweet as honey of the Saviour of the
one's life, these subterranean systems took on another holy ones, eat and drink holding the fish in thy
role. During these periods of crisis it became too risky to hands. " The true meaning of this was plain to a
celebrate Mass in private homes, as was then the practice, Christian, but not to an unbeliever. The "fish" was
so vaults were hollowed out in the catacombs to serve as the secret name of the Saviour. The "fish" is said to
chapels for secret ceremonies. (It is clear that the expris- be held in the hands, because in those days the
sion, "going underground," that is, a group or person who Sacred Host was received in the right hand supported
conceals identity and whereabouts to avoid detection by a by the left, and then conveyed to the mouth. "(ibid.)
government, literally comes from the catacomb Christians.)
The use of such a code was known to early Catholics as
Upon the torchlit walls of these burial chambers were Disciplina Arcani-"the discipline of the secret." (Con-
sketched some of the first examples of Catholic art, art we trary to what modern Masonic writers have claimed in de-
cherish not so much for the skill of the draftsmanship as for fense of Lodge secrecy, the discipline of the secret "does
"the dogmatic value of these drawings, (which) is immense not imply" that within the Church as "an inner circle ·of
for they provide lasting evidence of Christian beliefs … initiates into esoteric knowledge." -Attwater, op. cit.)
(ibid.) Among the Catholic motifs found are frescoes of the
Nativity, the marriage feast of Cana, the raising of Lazarus, A Spiritual Copyright
and of the Holy Eucharist such as pictures in the catacomb "Fine," we might hear our Protestant friends respond, "we
of Domitilla depicting the Good Shepherd carrying a pail of agree with what you've said about the history of the fish as a
milk (the early Christian writer Clement of Alexandria religious symbol, but we take exception to you classifying it
wrote: "The Church nourishes her children with milk, and as one that is peculiarly Roman Catholic. After all, we're
this milk … is the body of Christ.") In Saint Priscilla's Christians too. Do you have any evidence to show that the
catacomb there is the fresco of the Fractio Panis, the Roman Catholic Church should have any exclusive right in
Breaking of the Bread, showing a priest consecrating an using it? continued on page 8
THE ATHANASIAN 3 JUNE 1, 1986
THE MIDDLE AGES:
DARK AGES OR THE AGES OF FAITH? (PART III)
Jill Wiesner
I n the cynical world of today there is still a yearning for
the heroism of the knights of the Middle Ages. The
word "chivalry" is a part of our language and is meant as a
at the age of twenty-one. The knighting ceremony was long
and solemn and was held on some great feast of the
Church, such as Christmas, Easter or Pentecost. On the
high compliment. But how many of those who speak of evening before the ceremony the squire donned a red
"knights in shining armor" are aware that what they find garment, indicating his willingness to shed his blood for
so admirable is entirely a Catholic institution? And how the Church. He then put on a white garment, symbolizing
many Catholics understand what chivalry really is? purity of mind and deed. Last, he clothed himself in a
black garment as a reminder that all men must die.
The feudal period was a time of rivalry among nobles and
revolts against kings. In battle, quarter was neither asked Proceeding to the castle chapel, he knelt down and placed
nor given. The Church, unable to prevent the warfare, his armor on the altar steps as a sign that it would only be
placed restrictions upon it. Battle was only justified in de- used for a just and holy cause. He then kept a nightlong
fense of the Faith, in defense of women and children or for vigil on his knees before the Blessed Sacrament, praying
some similarly just cause. The Christian knight was to be that God would help him to be a worthy and true knight.
"sans peur et sans raproche" (without fear and without
reproach). "Chivalry" was the name given to the ideals and In the morning the squire went to Confession and, at Mass,
principles according to which the true knight was to live. received Holy Communion. After Mass he took the oath of
Though some knights slipped into cruelty, immorality and knighthood, a promise to defend the Church with honor;
treachery, chivalry inspired nobility of character in many, to protect the poor and oppressed; and to lead a life of
and even those who betrayed its ideals were restrained by purity. In the courtyard he put on his bright new armor
its influence. and went before the lord, who tapped him on the right
shoulder with the flat of his sword, saying, "In the name of
Most of the warfare among feudal lords was to protect or to God, of Saint Michael, and of Saint George, I dub thee
acquire property. The serfs who farmed the lands de- knight; be brave, bold, and loyal."
pended upon the knights for protection from invaders, as
did the families of the nobles. As a result, the castle was a Louis IX, King of France, was an example of a true Chris-
training academy for knights. tian knight. His mother, Blanche, had educated him her-
self, giving him a proficiency in Latin, public speaking,
The sons of the nobility were chosen to serve as pages at writing and history. He was also instructed in the art of war
the age of seven. The page was taught that it was his duty and of good government. But most important to Queen
to serve God and his fellowmen. He waited upon the lord's Blanche was the purity of her son's soul. She often
table, ran errands, held the lord's and lady's horses whil~ reminded him that, though she loved him "with all the
they mounted and accompanied them when they went . tenderness a mother is capable of," she would "rather see
hunting. The page was taught how to read and write and you fall down dead at my feet than that you should ever —
play a musical instrument and was instructed in manners -commit a mortal sin." .He remembered this admonition- .
and courtesy by the lady. The lord trained him in riding, throughout his life.
hunting, boxing, swimming and use of the bow. Most im-
portant, the page was educated in the truths of the Louis was an able ruler who maintained order in France in
Catholic Faith. He assisted at Mass and religious cere- spite of a number of revolts among the nobles. His devo-
monies and was instructed in the lives of the saints and of tion to the Church did not blind him to the character of
herioc knights. · bishops who used their authority unjustly and he opposed
them when necessary. He consistently sought the company
At fourteen the page became a squire, the personal at- of priests and religious and listened carefully to their
tendant of a knight. He acquired skill with the lance, sword advice. He set aside several hours each day for prayer and,
and spear while in this service. He polished the knight's when criticized for spending too much time at his devo-
armor, went with him to battle and cared for him if tions, replied that his critics would not fault him for
wounded, as a knight in heavy armor was unable to help spending that time in hunting, tournaments or plays.
himself when wounded.
Though he practiced rigorous self-denial, he did so quietly
A squire who had served well was eligible for knighthood so as not to offend others, and he always had a cheerful
THE ATHANASIAN 4 JUNE 1, 1986
manner. At the dinner table he kept the conversation light, Though a ransom for the Christian knights was finally
saying to those who tried to introduce serious subjects, "All agreed upon, quarreling and assassinations among the
things have their time." Saracens delayed the release of the captives. Pope Inno-
cent N wrote Louis a letter of comfort, declaring:
His devotion to the poor was such that, in addition to help-
ing them with all the facilities available to him, he often If this disgrace was a trial to render thy servants
invited poor persons to dine at his table and served them worthy of heaven, what thanks do they not owe thee
himself with such sincerity and dignity that those who saw for such a favor? If it be temporal chastisement, to
him were inspired to imitate rather than belittle his actions. preserve sinners from the more dreadful punishments
Lewd behavior or language in any member of his court re- in the other world, who will dare to call so advan-
sulted in immediate banishment for the offender. tageous a mercy severe?
In the year 1242, a Mohammedan cult whose leader was Upon their release Louis and his men returned to France
called Prince of the Assassins sent agents throughout the where he had the image of his chains stamped into the
world with orders to poison or to stab anyone judged to be coins of the realm. France again prospered under his rule
an obstruction to the spread of Mohammedanism. Tuo of but the depredations of the Saracens increased to the point
them were sent to France with orders to assassinate the that Louis was persuaded to march against them once
king. The plot was discovered in time but the incident filled more. On July 1, 1270, he set sail for northern Africa. It
Louis with a zeal to join the Crusades, which had been un- was not long, however, before the French army began to
dertaken to free the Holy Land from the yoke of succumb to disease in the debilitating heat of the African
Mohammed. desert. Louis' twenty-one-year-old son John was among the
first to die. Louis and his eldest son Philip were also
By 1245, he was able to form a Crusade and was joined by stricken. Philip recovered but the king grew weaker each
three of his brothers. When they reached the island of day. Finally, he called Philip to him and gave him a list of
Cyprus, Louis sent the Sultan Saleh a message declaring instructions:
war on the Saracens unless Palestine was freed. Saleh
promptly dispatched agents to Cyprus to poison the provi- My son, before all things I recommend to you that you
sions of the Christian army but the agents were appre- love God. Be always ready rather to suffer all manner
hended. The English earl, William of Salisbury, with 200 of torments than to commit any mortal sin. When
knights, joined the French and Cypriot armies and on sickness or any other affliction befalls you, return
Trinity Sunday they set sail for Egypt. thanks to God for it, and bear it courageously, being
persuaded that you deserve to suffer much more for
On the Egyptian shore the sultan waited, his immense army having served God ill, and that such tribulations will
arrayed before him. Louis calmly surveyed them and said be your gain … Confess your sins frequently, and
that, as the Christian knights were there to do God's will, choose a wise and pious ghostly father, who will teach
"we shall glorify Him either by the prosperity of our arms you what to follow, and what to shun; let him be one
or by the sacrifice of our lives." that will boldly reprehend you and make you under-
stand the grievousness of your faults. Hear the divine
Under the leadership of King Louis the Christian army de- office devoutly-meditate affectionately what you ask
feated the Saracen forces and took possession of the city "f of God with your mouth; do this with more than ordi-
Damiata. Louis entered the city, walking barefoot and ac- nary application during the holy sacrifice of the Mass,
companied by the clergy. Giving thanks to God, they went especially after the Consecration … Love to converse
to the principal mosque which the priests purified and dedi- with pious persons; never admit any among your
cated to the Mother of God. Louis exhibited leniency to the familiar friends but such as are virtuous and of good
prisoners and guarded them against the vengeance of some reputation; shun and banish from you the vicious …
of his knights. Wherever you are, never suffer anyone to detract or
to say anything sinful in your presence … Hinder, to
In the ensuing battles Louis and his knights were captured, the utmost of your power, all blasphemies, rash
his brother Robert was killed and the Christian army was oaths, games of chance, drunkenness, and
ravaged by disease. Louis himself was stricken and, while impurity …
he was incapacitated, some of his officers were tricked by
the Saracens into surrendering. He recovered while in cap- The king then asked God to enlighten and have mercy on
tivity and won the admiration of his captors with his pa- the Saracens and to guide his army safely back to France
tience and courage. He never complained or spoke in "without falling into the hands of the enemy, that none of
anger to anyone. With a quiet dignity and unmoved by them might be tempted through weakness to deny Christ."
threats of hideous torture, he told those who held him cap-
tive that, as they possessed his body, they were entitled to On Sunday, August 24, he received Extreme Unction and
do with him as they pleased. continued on page 8
THE ATHANASIAN 5 JUNE 1, 1986
HOPE: ONE OF THE GREATEST .OF ALL VIRTUES
T ogether with faith and charity, hope is one of the
three greatest virtues. It is that virtue whereby we
firmly trust that God, who is all-powerful and faithful to His
Whatever else may be involved in the solution in a p1articu-
lar case, let us when tempted to discouragement tum at
once with humility and confidence to God in prayer who, as
promises, will in His mercy give us eternal happiness and Saint Paul assures us, will never permit us to be te:mpted
the means necessary to obtain it. Through this super- beyond our strength. Indeed, the words of Holy Scripture
natural virtue of hope, which all and only those possess are very much to the point: "Pray always and do nlOt lose
who are in the state of sanctifying grace, we can with confi- heart."
dence look forward to Heaven as our final destiny through,
as we recite in the Act of Hope, "the merits of Jesus Christ, Now it may well be that the sin of despair or at least the
our Lord and Redeemer." At the moment of death all hope t~mptation to despair is far_niore pr~valent today tlhan in
comes to an end for in Heaven our most ardent yearning various times past. The pathetic Conciliar Church, the in-
and longing for happiness are realized to perfection, while numerable difficulties and problems involved in the preser-
iri hell all hope is abandoned, forever lost. vation of our traditional Faith, the gross immorality sio ram-
J!ant in ou~ na~o11, _tl}_e~ver a~va1_1sing threats of Commu-
The two chief sins _opposed to the virtue of hope are pre- nism and Freemasonry-surely all of these are cause for
sumption and despair. The first of these, presumption, has grave concern on the part of every informed, truly' tradi-
-its origm in the capital sin of pride and consists either in a tlorial Roi:riari Catholic. And-so,-·coiicem-;anxiety~- distress;
person's taking for granted that he will attain salvation with yes, and it speaks very poorly for the standards amd the
little or no effort on his part, that God will, in effect, take sense of values and the sound judgment of any Catholic
care of everything; or in a person's relying upon himself who would take these things lightly. But grave C(J)ncem
and his own efforts in the working out of his salvation while about such matters is one thing; desNir is somethirng else
ignoring God and His grace in the process. In the one case again. TQ give_µp,J9 abanqo._nJ19p_~, Jo _g~~miit=thte very
the individual presumes on the goodness and mercy of God thought of this, regardless of the situation, is to be shiunned
while conveniently forgetting that the Almighty is likewise for deliberate despair is a sin against one of the greatest of
all-just and that, as Saint Augustine put it, "although God all virtues, the supernatural virtue of hope. To be sure, in
made us without us, He will not save us without us." In the view of the number and gravity of the difficulties andl prob-
other case the individual arrogantly takes for granted that lems confronting traditional Catholics today, temptations
he can handle things pretty well on his own and really has to despair, to succumb to a sense of hopelessness are
little need for the help of God in the business of getting to bound to come. But the sound traditional Catholic, recog-
Heaven. A presumptuous person has a tendency to make nizing at once the danger of such temptations, wiill not
his _ow.n rules and to take portions of the moral law rather allow them to linger but, by the grace of God, will dispel
lightly .if they happen to conflict with his own ideas. He un- them without delay.
doubtedly prays from time to time but probably could never
be accused of overdoing it. He loves God, yes, and he cer- And so again, despite the very trying circumstances in
tainly wants to save his soul, yes, but he is content to work which we traditional Catholics find ourselves today nn our
at th~se things in moderation, periodically assuring himself efforts to preserve our divine Faith, let even the mere
that God understands. And, like the vice of pride from thought of de~pair be far removed from us. Sad and sorrow-
which it proceeds, those who are most tainted with the sin ~! though we are at the present woeful pfight <0Tilie
of presumption may well be the least aware of it. Church, God .forbid that· our sadness turn to despaiir and
thereby divert us, perhaps permanently, from the noble
– And then there is the sin against the theological virtue of apostolate to which we are committed. Rather let us lift up
·hope which is despair, the giving up, or the loss of, confi- our hearts and souls to the God of all consolation and take
dence and trust that God will give to us all of the Help nec- courage from the words of Saint Paul in his Epistle to the
essary to do His will and to save our souls. But the fact is Romans (8, 18) _that "the sufferings __ .of_ trns _time arre not
-tliat, whatever we have a moral obligation to do, God gives worthy to be compared with the glory to come … " Fo1rtified
us the grace to accomplish. If we fail to do God's will in a by the great virtue of hope, may we remain loyal and true to
particular matter, it is simply because we did not, or did not our beloved Faith until death! t
sufficiently, cooperate with the grace of God in one way or
another. And even if we fail habitually, it is assuredly not
the will of God that we give up, that we become discour-
aged, that we lose heart. Such a reaction is or leads to de-
spair and, if the conditions for mortal sin are present, the
loss.of the virtue of hope. Although temptations to despair
may well come our way from time to time, never must we
permit them to gain a foothold or to take root within us.
THE ATHANASIAN 6 JUNE 1, 1.986
The "Theology" of Subversion
John Kenneth Weiskittel
~n article with the above title dealing in large part with conditions than under the dictatorship of Somoza."
liberation theology was submitted by Mr. Weiskittel for in- Former Sandinista militant Humerto Belli has chronicled
clusion in this issue of THE A THANAS/AN. Lack of space his disenchantment with the movement in Breaking Faith:
precludes our carrying it in its entirety. The following are a The Sandinista Revolution and Its Impact on Freedom and
few excerpts from the article. – Editor) Christian Faith in Nicaragua. He reveals, in a section
regarding how the party used rich and influential Chris-
O f all the disorders that have emerged in Catholicism
as a result of Vatican II, it is safe to say that none has
produced more confusion and controversy than so-called
tians, both the naivete of the Christians and the contempt
the Sandinistas had for their benefactors:
liberation theology. Equally safe to say, none likely has I was pleased to see these Christians coming closer to
such far-reaching implications upon the course of world Marx and revolution. In no way did I experience any
politics. · encouragement from them to consider the validity of
Christian views. It was not we Marxists who had the
The tumult in Latin America over the past 20 years, cul- identity crisis. They did. And the fact that they were
minating in the 1979 Sandinista conquest of Nicaragua, is moving in the direction of our philosophy was one
traceable in large measure to the influence of liberation more piece of evidence of the soundness of our phi-
theology, an ideology that seeks to wed revolution and reli- losophy … There was no reciprocal process of con-
gion and that is being propagated mainly by the Conciliar version. Sandinista atheists were not becoming
"Catholic" Church. Proponents of this subversive "theol- believers.
ogy" are to be found at all levels of the Conciliar Church in
Latin America, from cardinals to lay leaders of the "base Thousands of refugees have similar stories, such as the
communities" -the incubators of insurrection. Miskito Indians who have escaped Nicaraguan concen-
tration camps.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
In March a Nicaraguan named Aristides Sanchez Pavon ap-
peared at a Capitol Hill press conference to appeal for aid What a telling indictment of the U.S. House, the mass
to the Contras. He told of how he had been imprisoned by media and Church groups that they have been some of the
the Sandinista government for three years, during which he staunchest defenders of Daniel Ortega's dictatorship in
was "savagely treated" by his jailors. Pavon accused that Nicaragua. Most sickening and reprehensible was a declar-
regime of being "just a puppet of the Cuban government," ation of the pro-Sandinista Witness for Peace, signed by
saying "the communists talk about poor people but they some 200 American religious figures, which reads in part:
live like rich people, like capitalists." He fled Nicaragua to "The (U.S.) government's distortion campaign is to pre-
the U.S. in 1982. pare the American people for further U.S. action in Nica-
ragua … A scaffold of deception is being constructed
Pavon is a dangerous man as far as the Sandinistas are cottt- around Nicaragua." Among those signing was the ever-left
cemed and they are no doubt glad he's gone. His testimony bishop from Detroit, Thomas Gumbleton, who went so far
is an embarrassment, a searing scourge upon them (per- as to appear on PBS's MacNeil-Lehrer Newshour to deny
haps more stinging than any other they've received) for that the Sandinistas were guilty of human rights abuses and
Pavon is the grandson of General Augusto Cesar Sandino, religious persecution, that they were anything other than a
the man after whom the Sandinistas are named. "My peace-loving regime that crossed its borders only to defend
grandfather was never a communist," Pavon said (accord- against incursions by the "terrorist" Contras and to deny
ing to the March 14, 1986 issue of The Washington that they were a Marxist state. If any "scaffold"-building is
Inquirer, a conservative weekly). "He was against all foreign taking place, it seems Bishop Gumbleton is one of the main
influences, including the Americans and the communists architects.
who tried to manipulate his movement He would have
been violently opposed to the Cuban and Soviet influences ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
in our country today."
The fall of the Ferdinand Marcos government in the Philip-
Other Nicaraguans are also stepping forward to denounce pines was largely due to politicizing by Manila's Cardinal
the junta. Managua's Cardinal Miguel Obando y Bravo, a Jaime Sin. Whatever the faults of the Marcos regime, the
friend of the Sandinistas when they overthrew the govern- rise of Corazon Aquino and her self-proclaimed "revolu-
ment of President Anastasio Somoza, laments how there is tionary government" is likely to be "out of the frying pan
now "persecution against the Catholic Church with worse and into the fire" for the Filipino people. One of her first
THE ATHANASIAN 7 JUNE 1, 1986
official acts was to free all Communists jailed by her prede- representative upon the earth the volume of the law
cessor. (The Communists say they want to cooperate with of the New Dispensation. There is a painting on the
her government.) Now, according t6 John Burgess of The same subject in the Catacomb of St. Priscilla, and on
Los Angeles Times, South Korea's Cardinal Stephen Kim a gilded glass now in the Vatican Museum the volume
is following suit and working for a constitutional revision actually bears the title, Lex Domini (i.e., The Lord's
that would likely topple the government of President Chun Law) … (quoted, Father Eberhardt, op. cit., p. 155)
Doo Hwan. And black radical Jesse Jackson has publicly
urged John Paul II to visit South Africa in the belief that So the Protestants can't have it both ways. It is not proper
such a trip would help put an end to apartheid (and that they take a symbol that appeals to them without also
freedom?). acknowledging the symbol of papal primacy. And to
acknowledge both of them should mean that they cease
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• being Protestants.
When Contra aid was sought by President Reagan in 1985, The continued use of the fish by them, then, is every bit as
the United States Catholic Conference-including New misleading as for Anglicans to dub themselves Anglo-Cath-
York's "conservative" Archbishop John O'Connor (then olics. In either case we are dealing with the unjust appropri-
chairman of its Committee on Social Development and ation of something that belongs solely to the Church,
World Peace)-opposed it as "immoral" and "illegal," and which now exists only in traditional Catholicism. Although
spoke of "a great vitality in the Church (in Nicaragua)." the spiritual "copyright" of this symbol is plain enough to
see, such "trademark" protection isn't on the U.S. law
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• books. This, of course, allows Protestants to display their
falsely acquired property to their hearts' content.
In his encyclical on Communism Pope Pius XI wrote: "The
evil which today torments humanity can be conquered only What can we Catholics do in view of this? Well, we can
by a worldwide crusade of prayer and penance." Such inform people of what commentator Paul Harvey would call
weapons are certainly still needed today but now the situa- "the rest of the story." Specifically, we should see it as an
tion also calls for a worldwide awakening of the crisis opportunity to lead Protestants towards the Church by
through education and Catholic Action. The gravity of it is demonstrating to them that the catacomb heritage they so
so profound that, if we do not expend ourselves today with revere is an indisputably Catholic heritage. t
enlightening and activating others, tomorrow we may well
find our backs to the wall. God help us if we fail!t
''Middle Ages" conh'nued from page 5
insisted upon kneeling by his bed to receive the Blessed
Sacrament. He died the next day, August 25, being 55
"The Fish" conh'nued from page 3 years of age. In 1297, in the reign of Philip the Fair, his
grandson, Louis IX was canonized by Pope Boniface VIII.
Fortunately we do, and some of this evidence can be found
in the same catacombs in the form of representations of Saint Louis IX, the ideal Christian knight, strived to live
papal primacy. In Early Church in the Light of the Monu- always in the presence of God. He kept our Lord constantly -'. .
ments, Catholic historian Arthur S. Barnes writes: in his heart, loving Him above all else. In his time, the Age
r of Chivalry, the Catholic Church was the guiding influence.
Of this class of representation a good many instances Today, amid the flagrant vulgarity and ugliness which sur-
have come down to us. The most famous is perhaps round her, the traditional Roman Catholic Church still
the well-known sarcophagus which came originally stands bright and pure-the one, true and eternal Church~
from the Vatican Cemetery and is now in the Museum which numbers among its many illustrious heroes down
of Christian Antiquities at the Lateran. On this sar- through the centuries the great Saint Louis IX, King of
cophagus Christ is shown already ascended into France. How sorely needed in our decadent day is another
heaven, but handing over to St. Peter as His visible Age of Chivalry! t
THE ATHANASIAN
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