Automatically extracted text. OCR transcription may contain errors.
THE ATHANASIAN
A publication of Traditional Catholics of America t Editor: Fr. Francis E. Fenton, STL t Volume VIII, No. 3 t April 15, 1987
ON SUFFERING
Fr. Francis E. Fenton
E ver since the commission of original sin by our first
parents and as one of the consequences of that sin,
suffering has always been and will always be the lot of every
1991, four years from now, 484,000 people in this country
alone will be dying from AIDS and some five to ten million will
be infected with the AIDS virus. Could this be the ultimate
human being born into this world. Be it physical pain or sadness punishment of an all-just God upon the human race for its
or misfortune or anxiety, everyone suffers in one form or worldwide rejection of Him and His moral law?)
another. Some experience more difficult trials than others;
some live lives of more or less continual affliction – but But what should be the attitude of the true Christian towards
suffering is a fact oflife for all. suffering and how should he respond to it? Well, he should
certainly view it and react towards it in a spiritual, supernatural
Since suffering, then, is a reality of human existence, what manner as befits one who is truly a follower of the Son of God.
should be our attitude towards it? For multitudes, of course, He should realize that whatever trials, tribulations, afflictions he
suffering of whatever kind is an evil to be avoided if at all may have are either willed or permitted by God. He should strive
possible and, if unavoidable, to be reluctantly borne for its to offer up his sufferings in union with those of Christ and from
duration. If it be a serious and prolonged affliction, such a supernatural motives such as out of love for God and for His
negative attitude towards suffering breeds frustration, bitter- honor and glory, in atonement for sin, for the salvation of souls,
ness, even suicidal tendencies. Individuals who react in such etc. He should endeavor to look upon suffering with the mind
fashion are more likely to be irreligious people who live solely and spirit of Christ and to be resigned to the will of God. ("Not
for this world and its pleasures and for whom God and morality My will but Thine be done.") Whatever sentiments of bitterness
and heaven and hell mean little or nothing. And so their feelings and resentment may come his way should be banished at once
and reactions towards suffering of any kind are understandably for they are not of God and, if permitted to remain, would but
negative and resentful. negate the supernatural value of his suffering.
In the theological sense of the term, there is but one evil and But it's one thing to undergo affliction and to suffer adversity
that is the moral evil which is sin. The only real evil in the world with patience and submission to the will of God. It's something
is that which is offensive to God and a violation of His eternal else to be joyful in such circumstances, especially if one's suffer-
law. If suffering were evil, would Christ have suffered for us, ings are severe and prolonged. But are not the concepts of joy
would the saints and martyrs have suffered, would holy men and and suffering incompatible? Not in this context because the joy
women throughout the Christian centuries have sought and to which we refer here is an interior, spiritual, supernatural hap-
willingly endured trials and tribulations of all kinds to give glory piness which is completely independent of human sorrow and
to God and to atone for sin? If suffering were evil, would C~rist pain and misery and wretchedness. Sacred Scripture tells us
have preached the necessity of penance and sacrifice for those that the disciples rejoiced that they were accounted worthy to
who desire or claim to be His followers? suffer for the name of Christ. Do we not read in Church history
that the martyrs Oust as human as you and I) joyfully suffered the
Nor must we fail to note as a major cause of anxiety and concern most cruel persecutions out of love for Christ and in testimony
(and, hence, of suffering) for all honorable and conscientious to the faith? No, joy, true Christian joy, and suffering are not at
men and women the rampant immorality destroying our nation all incompatible.
and also, for us traditional Roman Catholics, the woeful human
condition of our beloved church. How much very real suffering Certainly, then, any truly traditional Roman Catholic who
these have caused to countless individuals, God alone knows – strives to live his faith to the fullest has every reason to be joyful
but it is considerable indeed. — even under the most trying conditions and most arduous of
sufferings. This short life is but a period of probation and trial in
(One can only wonder how long more the avenging hand of God which we prove our love for God – and the eternal happiness of
will be restrained, how long more before the wrath of God will the glorious Kingdom of Heaven awaits all who remain faithful
be released upon our perverse generation. Surely the Almighty unto the end. And how consoling and encouraging are the
will not permit His eternal law to be endlessly scorned and words of the martyr Saint Paul that "the sufferings of the
mocked. As distressful as the thought may be, is it not present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to
conceivable that the wrath of God is now beginning to manifest come . .. " (Rom. 8, 18)t
itself in the form of the horrendous AIDS disease? It is estimated
on very good authority that – if no cure for it is discovered and
if the present rate of increase of the disease continues – by
Viewing AIDS As A Symptom
John Kenneth Weiskittel
T he biggest news story of the past year, without question,
has been the rising tide of deaths related to Acquired
Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). More printer's ink and
And the homosexual lifestyle invites disease the way a rotting
carcass draws vultures. (The acts they commit are so profligate
that decency demands that no mention be made of them here.)
more television minutes have been used discussing AIDS than Sex researchers have found that, of "gays" surveyed, many-if
such subjects as "Irangate," South Africa or what a refreshing not most-admitted to having had over one thousand sexual
progressive leader Soviet dictator Mikhail Gorbachev is (a partners. Besides AIDS, such wantonness leads to higher rates
familiar media tune sung whenever the Kremlin makes one of of venereal diseases in homosexuals than in heterosexuals and,
its infrequent cosmetic "reforms"). writes Kirk Kidwell in the January 19, 1987 issue of The New
American, "over 20 'disease agents' (bacteria, viruses, fun-
While the national coverage has left much to be desired in its guses, protozoa, and parasites) have been identified as sexually
emphasis, there's no denying that AIDS is a very big story. Any transmissible among homosexuals." So while the "gay culture"
disease that can be reasonably likened to the Black Plague that may not be the cause of diseases, it is a veritable cesspool of
ravaged Europe in the Middle Ages had better be front page them.
news!
For many in today's "post-Christian" America the notion that
The Surgeon General's report shows an epidemic of frightening AIDS may be a divine retribution for sin is considered a form of
proportions. An estimated 1.5 million Americans have the bigotry. Certainly there are Christians who mistakenly confuse
AIDS virus, the report states, and 25,000 are known to have hatred of the act with hatred of the person, but these are surely
the illness. Of this latter group, half have died and, since there a minority because Christ's followers are morally bound to love
is no known cure, "the others are expected to also eventually the sinner while hating the sin. But the homosexual is less
die of their disease." One infectious-disease specialist predicts likely to feel bound by such demands and, although it is some-
that by 1991 – just ten years after the first case was reported- thing the mass media haven't touched upon, many possess a
the virus may have spread to anywhere from five million to ten hatred and resentment for "straights" (heterosexuals) that run
million. And the likelihood of an AIDS vaccine being discovered deep. Such animosity would explain why, in "AIDS Warning"
any time soon is, by all accounts, quite poor. (another article in the same issue of The New American), it is
reported that "some homosexuals have already publicly
Much has been written about AIDS the disease: what it is, announced their intention of contaminating the nation's blood
whom it strikes, how it is treated, what research is being done banks for the purpose of spreading AIDS(!) … "
for a cure and what precautions are needed to avoid contract-
ing it. But little has been said about AIDS the symptom. Every sin is pleasing to Satan but homosexuality all the more so
because it is contrary to nature and "an abomination" in the
More than anything, AIDS is a strong indictment of the moral eyes of God (Lev. 18:22). Saint Paul includes "the effeminate"
relativism that pervades much of American society and is a and "liars with mankind" among those who "shall not possess
symptom of spiritual decay. The vast majority of AIDS sufferers the kingdom of God" (I Cor. 6:9-10). And yet, in defiance of the
are not innocent victims but have become infected as a result expressed will of God, Modernist theologians construct spe-
of promiscuous sexual activities or intravenous drug user Yet cious formulae that argue for "gay love" and some Churches
the popular culture that helped spawn the "sexual revolution" have even "blessed" these unholy unions. The spiritual disease
doesn't repudiate this foul offspring; it simply shifts gears to of our times can hardly be better illustrated than by the role
promote "safe sex." that professedly Christian Churches have played in the "gay
rights" movement and the emergence of the homosexual sub-
According to the Surgeon General's report. "70 percent of culture as a political force.
AIDS victims are male homosexuals and bisexuals." The "gay"
(homosexual) connection is so clear that AIDS was originally As further evidence of this moral decline, the Surgeon
called Gay Related Immunodeficiency Disease. And bisexua'ls General's report was so "value-free" that it has even been
(those having relations with either sex) are responsible for the hailed by homosexuals. When appointed to the post by
spread of the disease to the heterosexual community. President Reagan, C. Everett Koop was viewed by conserva-
tives as a man who could be counted on to bring a strong pro-
The militant homosexuals refuse to accept responsibility. The life. pro-family point of view to the job. His AIDS report,
Gay Men's Health Crisis group, for example, has published however, amounts to a massive sellout for he expressly states
literature that states: "Being gay doesn't give one AIDS … life- that it is "devoid of value judgments."
styles don't cause disease, germs do." This is the sort of self-
deception common to homosexuals at every stage of their per- Yet how can a study concerned with articulating a national
verse activities. Germs do cause disease. of course, but certain strategy in the war against an illness such as AIDS avoid the
lifestyles give it exposure and help spread it. reality that AIDS is transmitted largely by illicit sexual practices
THE ATHANASIAN 2 APRIL 15, 1987
and drug addiction? Although Dr. Koop is an evangelical tive function, is often avoided in disc;ussions of this nature, as
Christian who, presumably, believes that homosexuality is im- it is too sober a reminder of what they would prefer to see as
moral, the tone of the report is that it is a legitimate "alterna- merely a pleasurable pastime. (The concepts of parent and
tive" lifestyle. He does advise against drugs, sodomy and pro- child imply responsibility, something abhorrent to the hedonist
miscuity but also calls for "safe" sexual practices. What Dr. whose only "duty" is satisfying his baser instincts.) Likewise,
Koop means by "safe" sexual practices is mutually faithful mo- "marital relations" are seen as too confining to those who
nogamous relationships or the use of "protection" in promis- uphold the "right" of fornication and to the "gay" subculture
cuous affairs. that cries discrimination.
In effect, the Koop report avoids the moral high ground in favor "O infernal fire, lust," writes Saint Jerome, "whose fuel is
of an "equal rights for all" approach. Accordingly, gluttony, whose sparks are brief conversations, whose end is
"monogamous" refers not only to the proper sense of man and Hell." Lust is surely a major cause of damnation for, according
wife, but also takes in unmarried couples (the February 8, 1987 to Saint Isidore, no sin enslaves men to the devil as much as
issue of Parade magazine reports 2.2 million such couples in impurity-and some of the Church's greatest lights, such as
the U.S.) and even "gay" pairings. The attitude is, "Well, you're Saint Alphonsus de Liguori. hold it to be the principal cause.
going to do it anyway, so just be careful." The report is also de- And it is instructive in the present context to note that, some
ficient in its failure to make recommendations for the quaran- 200 year ago, Saint Alphonsus could write: "We, at the present
tining of high-risk groups, the identifying of the carriers and the day, see more severe temporal punishment inflicted on this
closing of homosexual bars and bathhouses. (A fuller discus- than any other sin. Go into the hospitals and listen to the
sion of these and other important issues-outside the immedi- shrieks of so many young men who, in punishment of their
ate theme of this article-can be found in The New Amen'can impurities, are obliged to submit to the severest treatment and
articles mentioned above.) to the most painful operations and who, if they escape death,
are, according to the divine threat, feeble and subject to the
But it is Dr. Koop's advising in favor of "safe" sexual activities most excruciating pain for the remainder of their lives."
that is most questionable. Morally speaking, there is one and
only one instance in which such relations may be safely per- Could the AIDS epidemic be the first stage . of a great
formed-marriage. Any and all sexual unions outside marriage chastisement that God will send to punish America for its
are against the will of God and are thus proscribed as mortal sordid transgressions? Some U.S. cities are beginning to
sin. True, the AIDS report is a national health study and not a resemble nothing so much as modem Sodoms. Can they reason-
treatise on moral theology, but the emphasis seems to suggest ably expect to escape similar fates? There are few indications
the "separation of Church and state" mentality. that the process eroding our nation's spiritual strength has
begun to be reversed. The Supreme Court did make one of its
The report's recommendation for proceeding with caution in rare sane rulings with its decision that states were within their
liaisons has met with calls for prophylactic (commonly used as a rights to outlaw sodomy but, by and large, the role of our
contraceptive) ads on network TV. Such spots may soon be nation's government has been one of neglect (as with Dr.
seen in some cities as the decision is being passed down to local Koop's report) or outright hostility to Christian values (such as
stations. So far, the most notorious instance of the pushing of federally funded abortions, "family planning," sex education,
"safe sex" occurred on February 8, 1987, when the Rev. Carl etc.). It is a sad but appropriate commentary that our country's
F. Thitchener distributed boxes of prophylactics to the congre- capital, which should embody the best of the national spirit, is a
gation at his Amherst, New York church. What sort o~ man city in which over 50 percent of the births are illegitimate and
would do a thing like that? According to an item in the abortions outnumber live births. Religious values are more and
February 19, 1987 edition of the Tampa Tribune, the 54-year- more frequently the subject of public ridicule while a "do your
old Unitarian-Universalist minister had earlier in the month own thing" amorality, cloaked under a claim of Constitution-
been "convicted of parading naked in front of Brownies … He ally-guaranteed freedom, scorns the moral law of God. The war
also pleaded guilty in 1957 to second-degree assault and was against the divine law is clearly moving into high gear – but
found guilty of disorderly conduct in 1982." In other words, he this contempt for God has already begun to reap a bitter
would appear to have exactly the sort of "job qualifications" harvest.
needed to conduct such a "pastoral" giveaway. (But where is
the hue and cry of moral indignation from the liberal media, The spread of AIDS, then, provides Catholic parents with an
whose editorial pages and "60 Minutes" are full of exposes on excellent object lesson for their children on the soundness of
wrongdoings-sometimes real, more often imagined or fabri- Church teaching on purity, modesty and the sanctity of the
cated-of those who espouse traditional views? Could it be that marriage bond. Likewise, it can show them all the more why
this would be hitting too close to home?) Saint Paul admonished: "Walk in the spirit and you shall not
fulfill the lusts of the flesh" (Gal. 5: 16). Thus the great need for
For a large part of American society sexual activity has become constancy in prayer, penance and acts of charity. And let this
"recreational." Frequently it is described, simply, as "sex," and pestilence serve as a stem reminder to all that "God is not
is utterly divorced from the true meaning of the act. The use of mocked" (Gal. 6:7) and serve too as a prefiguration of the
the term, "procreative," which clearly indicates the reproduc- eternal ruin warned by the Apostle: "… the wages of sin is
death … " (Rom. 6:23) t
THE ATHANASIAN 3 APRIL 15, 1987
Saint Aloysius Gonzaga-Patron of Youth
Jill Wiesner
A great tragedy of our time is the wholesale scandalizing
of our youth. Besieged at every level by persistent
temptations against purity, our young people are in need of a
At the age of seven Aloysius was troubled with a recurring fever
which sometimes left him so weak that he was unable to sit up
in bed. He would then ask someone to support him while he
heroic example and a powerful intercessor. Both are found in said his prayers. His devotion to God increased to the point
Saint Aloysius Gonzaga. that he later referred to this stage of his life as the time of his
conversion.
Born on March 9, 1568, Aluigi (Aloysius or Louis in English)
Gonzaga was the eldest son and heir apparent of the Marquis When the Christian army returned unsuccessful from Tunis,
Ferdinand Gonzaga de Castiglione, General of the Army of Don Ferdinand found in Aloysius a wisdom and maturity be-
Philip II of Spain. The Gonzagas, whose ancestral home stood yond his years and was gratified to think what a fine prince he
between the Republic of Venice and the Duchies of Milan and would be for his people. He included his son in the pageants,
Ferrara, had through the centuries commanded the armies of banquets and parties participated in by the nobility but was
the Venetian Republic, the Emperor, and the Pope. The puzzled when Aloysius stayed only as long as politeness
Marquis Ferdinand had been offered the position of Com- required, excusing himself at the earliest opportunity and
mander-in-Chief of the Cavalry by Henry VIII of England but, returning to his prayers or spiritual reading. The honors of his
believing that to accept the honor would endanger his Faith, station were of no consequence to him and he replied to those
he refused it. who deferred to him, "To serve God is better than all the glory
of the world."
Aloysius was a bright and friendly child who was unspoiled by
the advantages of his rank. His mother taught him to pro- At age twelve, Aloysius, who had not yet received his first Holy
nounce the names of Jesus and Mary as soon as he could speak Communion, was able to receive the Sacrament from Saint
and instructed him in his prayers at a very early age. When he Charles Borromeo who was in Castiglione on a pastoral visit.
was old enough to find his way about the castle, he would seek The holy Cardinal also gave him instructions in the Faith and
out a quiet corner where he could say his prayers. He frequent- particularly recommended to him the Catechism of the Council
ly slipped away from his playmates, only to be found later by of Trent. Aloysius was ever afterward deeply devoted to the
his nurses in an out-of-the-way nook, his small hands folded in Blessed Sacrament and received Holy Communion often,
prayer. preparing himself for reception of the Sacrament during the
entire preceding day.
Don Ferdinand recognized in his son the energy and determi-
nation of a soldier and was eager to begin his training. When As he matured, Aloyusius defended himself from worldly
he received orders from Philip of Spain to ready the Italian temptations through mortification of the senses. He avoided
infantry to accompany Don Juan of Austria in an assault on dances and other activities to which the young ladies flocked,
Mohammedan-held Tunis, the Marquis took five-year-old hoping to catch the attention of the eldest son of the Marquis.
Aloysius along on the training exercises to give him a taste of He worried about the immoralities he observed all around him,
the military life. Aloysius was thrilled with the bright banners keenly aware of how deeply they offended God and how gravely
and colorful costumes of the soldiers but most of all he l~ved harmful they were to the souls of those who committed them:
the firearms and nearly got himself killed setting off a cannon
during the camp rest period. The men were all fond of their Ve,y many priests and religious think little of their vocation.
"little captain" and included him in many of their activities. How can God suffer such a devastation of His kingdom? The
However, in imitating the soldiers Aloysius picked up some of faithful rob Him of His honour by the great tepidity and
their rough language and ribald jokes. carelessness of their lives; who is to make reparation? Woe to
the worldings, who put off their penance till the hour of their
On his return to Castiglione Aloysius was reprimanded by his death; and woe also to the clergy who slumber on until then!
tutor for his language and was so shocked by the meaning of Such thoughts ought to rouse us from our lethargy and renew
the expressions he had been carelessly using that he was filled in us the resolution to do penance and serve God with
with shame. He saw that he had been on "slippery ground" and constancy and sincerity.
ever after described this period as his "sinful life."
In 1581. Don Ferdinand was called to serve at the Spanish
He launched a full-scale attack upon any sinful tendencies court and Aloysius and his brother Rudolph became pages to
within himself, strengthening his soul through prayer and James, the crown prince. When his duties did not require him
penance. He learned the Little Office of Our Lady and the at the palace. Aloysius was able to continue his studies at the
Penitential Psalms, reciting them daily. He knelt on the stone Jesuit college of Madrid. His confessor there found in Aloysius
floor without a cushion as he prayed. a practice he followed for "a prudence and maturity of judgment such as is rarely found
the rest of his life. even in elderly persons; he was a mortal enemy to idleness and
THE ATHANASIAN 4 APRIL 15, 1987
always occupied himself with something good and useful, in As his notes reveal, every action was directed by his love for
particular with the study of Holy Scripture … .In his God:
conversation, also, he showed great modesty and caution,
never saying an uncharitable word about others. Above all, you must remember that you are made for God, and
that it is your duty to live for Him, because He has created,
The priests and religious of the Society of Jesus inspired redeemed, and called you; whence it follows that you must ab-
Aloysius with their holy example, and he began to think stain not only from every bad action, but also from indifferent
seriously of taking Holy Orders. The Society of Jesus appealed or useless ones. On the other hand, you must zealously strive to
to him particularly because, in addition to the accounts he had let every interior or exterior act proceed from virtue, so that
read of their missionary successes in the East Indies and Japan, you may draw ever nearer to God.
the requirement that all who entered the Order cast aside all
worldly honors meant that his social rank would not accord him In 1591, a pestilence struck Rome, and the Novitiate of Sant'
any special advantages. To become a member of the Jesuit Andrea opened its doors to the sick poor who overflowed the
Order, he would be required to renounce his position as heir to hospitals. Though in poor health himself, Aloysius begged per-
the Marquisate. mission from his superiors to help care for those afflicted with
the disease. As in everything else, Aloysius did not spare him-
Aloysius waited until he was certain of his vocation and then, at self. Several of the other novices who helped in the hospitals
the age of fifteen, he approached his parents to tell them of his succumbed to the disease but Aloysius continued to care for the
decision. His mother was overjoyed at the news but his father most contagious patients, inspiring courage in all who worked
was furious. He scolded Aloysius for being impetuous and with him.
threatened to have him flogged if he brought up the subject
again. One day on his way to the hospital of Santa Maria della
Consolazione, he came upon a man ·stricken with the disease
For the next two years, Don Ferdinand remained adamant. He and lying helpless on the street. He picked the man up and
tried to convince Aloysius to forget the whole business by re- carried him to the hospital on his shoulders. Before the day was
minding him of all the advantages of secular life, as well as how over Aloysius too was ill. Though he survived the first crisis, he
important it was for the Marquisate to have a wise ruler. He suffered from a lingering fever and was too weak to get out of
enlisted the support of various priests, begging them to test his bed. For three months he prepared himself for death. Even- .
son's resolve. One priest later told his Cardinal, "I was to play tually, he told his companions he would die on June 20, the
the Devil's Advocate with Aloysius, and I did it too, but he stood Octave of Corpus Christi. On that day he seemed much better,
firm." At last Don Ferdinand relented and, with a heavy heart, however, and the Brother attending him was hesitant when
gave his permission for Aloysius to renounce the Marquisate of Aloysius requested that the Father Rector bring him Holy
Castiglione in favor of his brother Rudolph. Viaticum. Shortly before midnight, Aloysius, but 23 years of
age, gave up his soul to God, the last word on his lips being the
On November 2, 1585, Aloysius entered the Jesuit novitiate in Holy Name of Jesus.
Rome. Two months later his father died. Though he had often
been bedridden with gout, after granting permission for After his death, his confessor, Saint Robert Bellarmine, zeal-
Aloysius to enter the Society of Jesus, the old Marquis lost his ously promoted Aloysius' beatification and gave a number of
avid interest in the advancement of his family name as well as sermons encouraging the young to emulate his heroic purity.
his passion for gambling. He had the crucifix from Aloyiius' Devotion to Aloysius grew and numerous miracles were attri-
room brought to him and asked his family to join him in prayers buted to his intercession. On December 10, 1726, the decree of
every evening. He was able to prepare his soul for a happy canonization was signed by Pope Benedict XIII who, in imita-
death and was convinced that this grace had been obtained for tion of Aloysius, had renounced his title of Prince Orsini and
him through the prayers of his son. entered the Dominican Order where he kept a picture of
Aloysius in his cell.
In the novitiate Aloysius was grateful for every opportunity to
conquer self-love. As the novices cared for patients in the hos- Saint Aloysius Gonzaga was proclaimed "Patron of Youth" by
pitals of Rome, Aloysius, who had previously fainted at the sight Pope Benedict XIII. The angelic purity and heroic fortitude of
of blood, treated the most repulsive abscesses with no sign of this saint present a striking model for the young people of our
repugnance. "One must think," he said, "that one is receiving day in the face of the grossest immorality being thrust upon
the dead and wounded body of Our Lord from the arms of His them from all sides. May his fervent love of God and virtuous
Mother, and has the honour of washing and anointing it." life be an inspiration to our children towards the fulfillment of
the most important duty of their lives, the salvation of their
He kept constant guard over his tongue, avoiding all but spir- souls! Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, pray for us! t
itual subjects and strictly observing the rule of silence. Recog-
nizing that humiliation is the antidote for pride, whenever he
was reprimanded, even unjustly, he would ask pardon, promise
amendment and begin the task again.
THE ATHANASIAN 5 APRIL 15, 1987
JEHOVAH'S ~ E S : ARE THEY GOD'S ELECT?
John Kenneth Weiskittel
T he odds are very good that at one time or another you or
someone you know has received a visit from the Jehovah's
Witnesses. Although statistics for this are not readily available,
One reason for Russell's break with the Adventists was their
teaching of everlasting punishment. "He became distressed,"
writes William Whalen in Separated Brethren (Bruce, 1958),
it seems likely that only the Avon lady and the Fuller Brush man "at the thought of hell and his Bible searching convinced him
make as many door-to-door solicitations as Witness mis- that the Hebrew word sheaf should be invariably translated
sionaries. 'grave' instead of 'hell."'
Such tireless neighborhood canvassing has paid dividends. Armed with this and other supposed discoveries, as well as doc-
Since their establishment a little over 100 years ago, the trines lifted from Adventism, Russell presented himself as a
Jehovah's Witnesses have moved from being a tiny sect based in Scripture scholar. Was he? In Radio Replies (TAN Books,
the United States to a worldwide faith with over two million 1979), Fathers Rumble and Carty reveal that:
members in 216 countries – and they're still growing.
Throughout his books Russell pretended to deep learning,
Even more amazing is the fact that U.S. membership has gone quoting Greek words and frequently attributing a special sense
from a mere 6,040 in 1928 to the current total of 697,660. to them which they never possessed in the on'ginal language at
Staggering as it may seem, this represents an increase of better all. Challenged in an American Court, he had to admit that he
than 10,000 percent in less than 60 years! did not know Greek and he was unable to name the letters of the
Greek alphabet .. .
And if this sounds as though Witness "ministers" (which include
all members) have pounded a lot of pavements in search of con- Perhaps this is why the Witnesses allowed Russell's seven-
verts, they have. A former British member, W.C. Stevenson, volume Studies in the Scriptures to go out of print, and the
notes in his book, The Inside Story of Jehovah's Witnesses copies of it that still exist are guarded for use only by sect
(Hart, 1968), that it was once calculated that in a year they leaders. (Stevenson)
devoted 162,808,312 hours to ringing doorbells, with each of
their leaders expected to put in 100 to 150 hours a month. But Whatever the fate of his writings, the teachings of Russell are
that was 20 years ago when world membership was only half of still the basis of modem Jehovah's Witness literature. Among
what it is today. these is the familiar Adventist theme of the Second Coming of
Christ. Some American "prophets" had erred in predicting a
What is it about the Jehovah's Witnesses that attracts growing given time ·and place for the event. Russell learned from their
numbers of people and turns them into such dedicated prosely- mistakes and shrewdly proclaimed that the Second Coming
tizers? This is all the more puzzling when one considers that the began to occurr in 1874 … but invisibly and in heaven. When
sect opposes business, Christmas, flag salutes, blood transfu- Christ, a mere man, died, he was resurrected as a "mighty spirit
sions, voting and military service; denies the Trinity, hell, the creature." In the words of Milton G. Henschel, a member of the
immortality of the soul and the bodily resurrection of Christ; Witnesses governing body, "Christ is now invisibly present. He
and teaches that Satan was cast out of heaven in 1914, that will always remain invisible to humans, but his presence is
Christ was once Saint Michael the Archangel and that the proved by human events since 1914 which fulfill all the predic-
144,000 referred to in Apocalypse 7 is the literal number <tf the tions of Matthew 24." (cited in Leo Rosten's Religions of
saved in heaven, with Witnesses making up the ranks taken America; Touchstone, 1975) The significance of the year 1914
from today's population. An examination of the history of this comes again from Russell's novel reading of the Bible. He wrote
unusual religion (a term the Witnesses would repudiate since that it (1914) "terminated the limit of the Papacy's power to
they contend that all religions are "tools of the Devil") is as good oppress and the Time of the End began." (cited, Stevenson)
a place as any to shed light on the reasons for its popularity. The outbreak of World War I fa that year only helped confirm
this in the minds of his followers.
"Millions Living Today Will Never Die"
Almost every sect originating in America is the outgrowth of an Charles Russell's controversial career-which included such
earlier one. In the case of Jehovah's Witnesses the predecessor, scandals as his wife's divorcing him for cruelty and infidelity and
at least indirectly, was the Seventh Day Adventist Church. moneymaking schemes that ran afoul of the law (he was forced,
for example, to return money he had made selling $60-a-bushel
Witness founder Charles Taze Russell was raised in a Congre- "Miracle Wheat" to credulous believers)-ended with his death
gationalist home in Pennsylvania but, after a crisis of faith, re- in 1916. The direction of his religion remained the same with
jected his father's religion in favor of Adventism. He began the installation of his successor, "Judge" Joseph Rutherford,
preaching in 1872 at age 20 and shortly thereafter gathered five but its rhetoric became, if anything, even more shrill and
other men to form the nucleus of what in 1884 would be es- fanatical.
tablished as the Zion Watch Tower Society (now the Jehovah's
Witnesses).
THE ATHANASIAN 6 APRIL 15, 1987
Rutherford, an attorney in Missouri, had never been made a rejected this English translation as a misspelling of the Hebrew
judge. He appropriated the title after sitting in for an absent word for God-Yahweh. A different gospel is taught, as Our
judge on occasion; other lawyers, in tum, did the same but only Lord is held to be just a mortal who, contends Let God Be True,
Rutherford affixed "Judge" to his name. In 1918, he was "sen- " did not think himself to be coequal with Jehovah God." Nor did
tenced to twenty years' imprisonment for conspiracy and dis- He die on the cross. Every such reference in the New World
loyalty in promoting military revolt in America," but was freed Bible to Christ's death is to a "torture stake." Archaeologists
by an amnesty in the following year. (op. cit., Rumble/Carty. have shown that, while stakes were used by the Romans for exe-
Contrary to popular belief, the Jehovah's Witnesses do not cutions, they were not, as the Witnesses believe, the sole
preach pacifism; rather, they say they will not fight in the wars of method (the remains of crucified men have been found in recent
worldly governments but only when commanded by God, as, Middle East excavations). This insistence on "torture stake"
presumably, Rutherford claimed to be.) isn't centered on history, however, but on the claim that the
cross is a pagan symbol, "proof'' of an alleged link between in-
Under his leadership the movement took on a more belligerent stitutional Christianity and idolators. According to Stevenson,
posture, yet showed its first real growth. "Judge" Rutherford the contention is also made that the IHS, appearing on the
found that marketing the sect was hampered by the confusing crucifix and elsewhere, refers to the Egyptian gods Isis, Horus
number of names identifying it: Russellites, International Bible and Seb. Hell is said to be another pagan invention-but the
Students, Millenial Dawnists, Rutherfordites, and Watchtower concept of heaven, which is also found in heathen religions, is
Bible & Tract People. He hit upon a name that would give the not likewise proscribed by the Witnesses. (Readers will note
group instant recognition-Jehovah's Witnesses. This was that for similar reasons the sect's houses of worship are desig-
taken from the passage in Isaias 43: 12 in which God declares: nated "Kingdom Halls" and not churches.)
"You are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and I am God." Ruther-
ford also relied on catchy slogans, such as "Millions Now Living The Jehovah's Witnesses are particularly obsessive about the
Will Never Die," to attract converts. Some indication of his figure of 144,000 "saved." While Christ's affirmations of His
mental state can be seen by the fact that his San Diego mansion divinity and of the reality of hell are reduced to symbolic inter-
was deeded to Abel, Jonah and Abraham. His death in 1942 pretations in their tracts, this number is accepted as literal
prevented his being one of those millions who would never die. despite its being found in a prophetic book. For this reason, few
Like his predecessor, the works of "Judge" Rutherford are members-about one in 20-receive the annual Lord's Supper
largely forgotten today but, together with Russell's, they form communion; a majority believe they will each be one of the
the core of Witness dogma. "Jonadabs" destined for a life on the Eden-like new earth. Since
man has no immortal soul (another "pagan" belief), God will re-
Revising the Scriptures call each person from His memory and give a second chance to
Outsiders casually acquainted with Jehovah's Witness theology those who have not heard the gospel preached. As Stevenson
may conclude that it is simply one of hundreds of Christian puts it: "What the Witnesses are really teaching is a re-creation
sects. They rightly reason that it holds the Bible to be its holy of the soul, not a resurrection." There is no hell, only annihila-
book, Christ as the Savior, and man's relationship with God as tion, for the evildoers.
crucial in determining his eternal fate. Yet looks can be
misleading. Witnessing to the Witnesses
During "Judge" Rutherford's tenure, the Witnesses' anti-
The sort of "scholarship" practiced by Russell and Rutherford Catholic propaganda was at a fever pitch: Their New York radio
has been perpetuated by the Witnesses. The Watchtower, station WBBR was sometimes shut down in the early 1940's due
started by Russell in 1879, is their official semimonthly devoted to the virulence of its programming. And a 1940 pamphlet,
to spreading their doctrine and (according to its stated purpt se) Theocracy, carried a cover picture showing "the Devil, with
"the good news that God's Kingdom will soon destroy those Adolf Hitler at one shoulder and His Holiness the Pope at the
who oppress their fellowmen and that it will tum the earth into a other." (ibid.)
paradise … " It is now printed in 103 languages and has an
average press run of 12,315,000. A companion magazine, The "hear me or be damned" tone of the Witnesses' message
Awake, (10.6 million copies in 53 languages) presents the sect's has been replaced with a subtler approach under their current
view of current events and is also published twice a month. Also President F.W. Franz. Today's "ministers" are instructed to be
released from the Brooklyn, New York headquarters are books friendly and reassure those whose homes they visit with lines
sold or given away in the millions, with titles such as Is This Life such as "Well, we are always pleased to meet Catholics because
All There Is?, Things in Which It Is Impossible For God To Lie we find them to be sincere people who practice their religion."
and Babylon the Great Has Fallen! God's Kingdom Rules. And, (ibid.) Yet under the surface the themes are the same. The
to "clarify" key scripture passages, a New World translation of January 15, 1987 Watchtower condemns as unscriptural efforts
the Bible has been made. by Christian missionaries to build schools, hospitals and
orphanages, while ignoring the many admonitions for acts of
Inspection of such works exposes the distinctive character of mercy by Our Lord and His apostles. Of interest to traditional
the Witnesses. God wants to be known by His name, they con- Catholics is a passage that confuses what is being done in the
tend, which is "Jehovah." They insist on this (the New World Conciliar Church with the true Faith:
Bible repeatedly uses the term), yet Scripture experts have long
THE ATHANASIAN 7 APRIL 15, 1987
In China … Roman Catholics are allowed to continue their
ancestor worship, although this is forbidden elsewhere. Plaques SUBSCRIPTION RENEWALS
beseeching the blessing of the door god are often seen around The date on the envelope address label indicates the
doorways of "Christian" homes. month and year in which the recipient's subscription is
due for renewal. At the proper time, a subscription en-
It is argued that non-Witness missionaries fall under the con- velope will be enclosed with the newsletter. One may enter
demnation: "… depart from me, you that work iniquity" a new subscription at any time, of course, and will then
(Matthew 7:23). receive the eight following newsletter issues. t
And so, how are we to respond to the Jehovah's Witnesses?
With Christian charity, of course. As William Whalen writes:
…Angry words and slammed doors will not bring these souls to Keep Spreading the Truth
Christianity. Adult Catholics with Catholic high school or col-
lege educations should be able to demonstrate the divinity of The October 15, 1986 issue of The Athanasian contained
Christ or the fact of immortality to any Witness who calls at a four-page article on Martin Luther King, Jr. Some 7,000
their door. They should not buy or keep Witness literature. copies have thus far been purchased. Because the sordid
record of this man should not cease to be as widely
And we have some common ground, surprising as that may circulated as possible, we will continue to make the article
seem, since targets of Witnesses' opposition include abortion, available and we urge our readers to order as many copies
lodges, world government and evolution (their arguments re- as they reasonably can.
lating to evolution, notes the Cambridge-educated Stevenson, Additional copies of the article are available at the
are "for the most part sensible and thought-provoking"). following prices:
2 copies for$ 1.00 (minimum order)
The Jehovah's Witnesses sect has grown by its appeal to the 25 copies for $10.00
poor and uneducated (higher learning is largely frowned upon) 50 copies for $15.00
of a better life in the future. "All expect to see Armageddon in Please order from:
their lifetimes," writes Whalen. "Can the movement sustain it- Traditional Catholics of America
self with a continually postponed Armageddon?" And, based on P.O. Box 38335, Colorado Springs, CO 80937
their teaching that "the end of the present world would def- (Payment must accompany order)
initely take place by the year 1975," W.C. Stevenson predicted:
"It would seem that 1975 would be a year of doom, if not for the
world, for Jehovah's Witnesses."
That the movement continues to flourish is proof of the power Pray
apocalyptic "last days" teachings exert over many, usually
underprivileged, people. Consequently, in discussions with the Rosary
these or any others who dwell on the second coming, we need to
remind them that our Lord teaches: "But of that day or hour no Daily
man knoweth … " (Mark 13:32)t
THE ATHANASIAN
Published by Traditional Catholics of America
Eight issues a year: (Jan. 15, Mar. 1, Apr. 15, June 1, July 15, Sept. I. Oct. 15, Dec. 1)
Subscriptions: $ 8.00 per year (via First Class Mail) for the USA, Canada and Mexico; $12.00 per
year (via Air Mail) for all other countries
Additional copies: single copy – $1.00; 10 copies – $8.00; 40 or more to same address – $.70 each
Mailing address: P.O. Box 38335, Colorado Springs, CO 80937
Telephone: (303) 636-1575
Manuscripts sent to us for possible publication in The Athanasian should be typewritten, double-spaced and no more
than seven pages in length. If not accepted, they will be returned to the sender. No articles from this newsletter may be
reproduced either in whole or in part without the written permission of the TCA.