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A publication of Traditional Catholics of America Tt Editor: Fr. Francis E. Fenton, STL t Volume XI, No. 7 + October 15, 1990

John Kenneth Weiskittel

C™“ince 1973, when the United States Supreme Court preferable that women have the “right” to choose when they
Jlegalized abortion, the forces of light and darkness have will have children rather than conceive them on “a random
advanced to a new phase of their age-old conflict. Now the basis under circumstances which are not favorable to a good
theatre of waris the fetal habitat. Or, to repeat the message parent-child relationship,” goes on to state: _
seen on a bumper sticker: THE MOST DANGEROUS
PLACEIN AMERICA IS THE MOTHER’S WOMB. | Virtually everyone involved in the abortion controversy
on both sides would agree that abortion is not the ideal
A Dead Issue? way to achieve this goal. Contraception without side
effects or other difficulties would clearly be preferable.
In pro-life circles there is very little said about theevil of birth
Of course, some people also object to contraception on
conirol, as it is seen to be a divisive issue. Some pro-lifers are
moral grounds but they are far fewer in number than
opposed to it but many accept it as the lesser of two evils (a those opposedto abortion.
stand which is in harmony with that taken by
pro-abortionists). In a front-page article, “Birth Control Another proponentofthis sort of “compromise”is Laurence
Choices Limited,” that appeared in the July 14 issue of the Tribe, the Harvard law professor whotestified against Judge
Posé-Bulletin, a Rochester, Minnesota daily paper, staff writer Bork at confirmation hearings. In his book, Abortion: The
Chris Herlingerstates: “ Anti- abortion organizations have not Clash of Absolutes, he writes that, besides abortion, women
taken public positions on contraceptives. Sheralyn Meddock, may choose “to prevent pregnancy through the only proven
chairwoman of the Olmsted County chapter of Minnesotans means for doing so: sex education and the wide availability of
Concerned for Life, said opinions vary within the “pro-life” birth control. Somewill no doubt think that the only moral
movement aboutthe use of contraceptives.” means of pregnancy prevention is abstention from sex. But it
doesn’t workas a policy because people don’t abstain. Thisis
But the pro-death forces aren’t squeamish about discussingit. the lesson of human history.” (Cited in Brian Robertson’s
Afterall, they are precisely the same anti- Christian forces that book review, “Tribal Superstitions,” National Review, July 9,
have pushed “free love,” sex education, homosexualrights, as 1990, p. 48. Tribe’s comment seems to say: Let’s not drag
well as abortion and birth control. As one writer put it, the morality into this; what’s important in human activities is
abortionists see the fight for contraception as partand parcel whether they “work as a policy.”) Not surprisingly, his solution
with the fight for feticide. Herlinger’s article, which cites a is to “pour significant sums of research and development
study by the National Research Council claiming that money into new forms of contraception,” not only because
contraceptive failures result in about two million unwanted they will be “safer” or “less awkward” but because
pregnancies and about half of the nation’s one and a half “development of such technologies has potential for
million abortions each year, quotes Lynn Skinner, a regional dramatically shifting our conception of what is ‘natural.’”
coordinator for Southern Minnesota Planned Parenthood,as (Emphasis added) In other words, such an innovation will
declaring: “I firmly believe that, if we had more choices in further the deception that the stigma of sin need not be
contraception, we’d see less abortions.” (Of course we expect attachedto artificially impeding the processof conception.
this from a Planned Parenthood spokesmansince that group
is in the business not only ofreferring teenage girls to abortion No Children Admitted
“clinics” — including those it runs itself — but in supplying The traditional Roman Catholic position on marriage
them with contraceptives as well.) In the same issue of the continuesto be whatit always has been (andeverwill be): the
Post-Bulletin there appears an editorial, “Abortion Dispute marital act must always remain open to its primary object of
Cuts Contraceptive Research,” which endorses development procreation and, should either spouse (or both) willfully enter
of “a more effective, more convenient and cheaper the act with the intention of preventing this object, then a
contraceptive,” arguing that it is a middle ground that most mortal sin has been committed. The contraceptionists have
Americans could accept. The editorial, suggesting that it is always recognized the Church as their chief enemy and charge
it with being behind the times. What they refuse to recognize, it is instructive to stop at this point and contrast Catholic
however, is that, while times change, God’s law does not teaching with that ofits antagonists. Such contempt for the
change — nor does human nature. Church is evident in the anti- Marian Alone Of All Her Sex:
The Myth and the Cult of the Virgin Mary (Alfred A. Knopf,
The battle over birth control isn’t new either. Indeed, one of
1976), in which convent-educated (!) and Oxford-educated
the common expressions for it a generation ago, onanism,is thar miarina
Marina Warn ine::
auuoor vvarner explains
taken from the name of an early practitioner of the vice who
suffered severely from the hand of God. (Genesis 38:7-10) …in Christian civilization, men and women do not
Also in the Old Testament we find in the book of Tobias the believe reproduction is unadulteratedly animal, but
model for a chaste, godly marriage as contrasted with the lust- maintain the special higher character of the species by a
– ful pagan union. The angel Raphael explains to young Tobias muddled [sic] but profound belief that all children come
why seven husbands died before consummating their marriage from God, whocreates in each individual a unique soul.
to the virgin Sara: “For they who in such manner receive So that, although the virgin birth of Christ is a single
matrimonyas to shut out God from themselves, and from their miracle that reveals His divinity, all births are considered
mind, and give themselvesto their lust, as the horse and mule, to some extent the work of the Spirit. There are
which have not understanding, over them the devil hath elements of this type of absurd thinking [sic] in the
power.” (Tobias 6:17. Given the wholly carnal nature of so Catholic ban on contraception: although sex under-
many modern marriages, we submit that, were God to exact taken without a view to conceive is sinful, the rhythm
the same severe punishment today that He brought upon © method is allowed, but any man-made method is
Onan and the seven husbands, there would be so markeda re- forbidden because it places human intercourse on the
duction in the census that the Zero Population people — or practical level of animal reproduction, and so God no
what was left of them — would soon be put out of business!) longer appears to determine and intervenein the origin
Raphael advises Tobias, who is to be Sara’s eighth husband, of every humanlife. (p. 46; Conciliar “Catholics,” whose
that — to avoid the fate of his predecessors — he must, after names are acknowledged on page xv of this book and
the wedding, “for three days keep thyself continent from her, who apparently support Warner's view that the Church’s
and give thyself to nothing else but to prayers with her.” moral teaching on contraception is “absurd,” include
(Tobias 6:18) Tobias, in later explaining this to Sara, uttered Fathers Eamonn Carroil, O.C., and Peter Levi, S.J.,
these noble sentiments aboutholy love: “For weare the child- Sister Benedicta Ward, O.L.G., and radical feminist
ren of saints, and we must not be joined togetherlike heathens “theologian” Dr. Rosemary Reuther.)
that know not God.” (Tobias 8:5) And likewise he prayed:
As statements of this sort go, Warner’s attack is fairly
“Lord, thou knowest that notfor fleshly lust do I take my sister
restrained but it comes as no surprise that in the work’s
to wife, but only for the love of posterity, in which thy name be
closing pages she beats the feminist drum again, assailing “the
blessed for ever and ever.” (Tobias 8:9) Also worth noting is
Church’s continuing indefensible ban on contraception.”(p.
the admonition to Tobias by his father: “Take heed to keep
338. Also on this page we find a New Ageinterpretation of the
thyself, my son, from all fornication and beside thy wife never
Blessed Virgin Mary: “Although Mary cannot be a modelfor
endure to know a crime.” (Tobias 4:14. In the biblical sense
the New Woman, a goddessis better than no goddess…”) _
“to know a crime,” as used here, refers to contraception.)
Turning to the New Testament, we find St. Paul’s famous
David Goldstein, LL.D., a Jewish convert to Catholicism and |
exhortation: “Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed
an ex-Socialist, echoing Raphael’s condemnation of unclean
undefiled. For fornicators and adulterers God will judge.”
marriages, writes:
(Hebrews 13:4) The writings of the Fathers and Doctors of
Those whopractice birth control deliberately “shut out the Church are unanimous in condemningthe vile practice.
God” by rejecting His cooperation in the act of Saint Jerome, in his Letter to Kustochium, writes that those
bringing a soul into the worid for, as the Catholic who “drink potions to ensuresterility are guilty of rebuffing
Church says, the soul comes directly from God. Such God’s own blessings” and calls the practice a form of“self-
birth controllers say, in act instead of by word, — “God, mutilation.” (Cited, George Grant, The Legacy of Planned
we are going to enjoy the pleasure You made possible Parenthood, Wolgemuth & Hyatt, 1989, p. 35. Grant, a
when You gave us organs and faculties and sexual conservative Presbyterian, quotes a number of earlier
desire. But You, You keep outofit, we don’t want any Catholic writers but omits the “Saint” before each name.
of those souls with which You impregnate women.” Among the Presbyterians are to be found some of the
(Suicide Bent: Sangerizing Mankind, Radio Replies _ stronger critics of the birth controlcult. Goldstein quotes a
Press, 1945, p. 139) Rev. B. Sinclair, who grudgingly acknowledges the Church’s

THEATHANASIAN OCTOBER 15, 1990
BO
iead in this battle: “God forbid that I should eulogize the blind, both fail into the pit.” (Matthew 15:14) Let us turn
Romanism, but the Roman Catholic is the Church which is a now to the purveyors of moral ruin, whose destructive policies
practical foe of this hell-born sin… Before God,I believe that are reaping a harvest of lost souls.
manyof the errors [sic] of the Roman Church are canceled by
The Plot Against The Womb
its loyalty to the great law of God whichenforces the truth that
the end of marriage must not beprofaned.” p. 175) In his Humansin is as old as theGarden of Eden, andthe sin of
Li; a

sermon On Marriage, Saint Augustine of Hippo speaks of the Onan is nearly as ancient. While someJewsbeforethe birth of
“lustful cruelty” of women who stoop “tosuch extravagant Christ and Christians since that time have broken Goa’s
methods as to use poisonous drugs to secure barrenness…” commands regarding a chaste marriage, there was never any
(Cited, Grant, p. 35) It is also Augustine who teaches that doubtthat the sinful nature of their acts was evident to them.It
“(i) ntercourse even with one’s legitimate wife is unlawful and was only in pagan societies that such behavior was deemed to
wicked when the conceptionofoffspring is prevented,” calling be acceptable. –
it “(as) impure as the conduct of Onan whowas slain.” (Cited,
During the centuries of Christian civilization, promotion of
Goldstein, pp. 147-148) The Angelic Doctor, Saint Thomas
contraception was limited to fringe groups — witches,
Aquinas, declares: “Next to murder, by which an actually
occultists and some heretics. The anti-Christian and neo-
existent being is destroyed, we rank this sin by which the
pagan forces did notreally begin to forge a strong movement
generation of a human beingis prevented.” (Ibid., p. 147)
along these lines until recently, as can be seen in thetitle of
Finaily, in our brief survey of Catholic teaching on the subject, James Reed’s sympathetic study, From Private Vice to Public
let’s turn to Pope Pius XI’s great encyclical, Casti Connubii Virtue: The Birth Control Movement and American Society
(Latin for “Chaste Wedlock”), written in 1930. That pontiffs Since 1830. (Basic books, 1978) Reed points out that from
inspired words on the subject are worthciting at length: 1873 — when the Comstock Act was passed by Congress to
tighten the ban on the use of the mail for the circulation of
No reason, however grave, may be put forward by which
obscene material until a Supreme Court ruling excluded it —
anything intrinsically against nature may become
the sending of contraceptivesorliterature promoting their use
conformable to nature and morally good. Since,
was Classed as the dissemination of obscenity.
therefore, the conjugal act is destined primarily by
nature for the begetting of children, those who in David Goldstein’s journey out of the Marxist-Socialist
e#ercising it deliberately frustrate its natural power and movement was largely based on his opposition to the sexual
purpose sin against nature and commit a deed whichis permissiveness he found being espoused there. For a while
shameful andintrinsically vicious. he remained in it, “believing that the things I found
objectionable therein were merely personal opinions…” (p.
Since, therefore, openly departing from the
3) He goes on to write:
uninterrupted Christian tradition, some recently have
judged it possible solemnly to declare another doctrine But these sex teachings in Socialist writings, which I
regarding this question, the Catholic Church to whom imagined to be merely personal opinion to which
God has entrusted the defense of the integrity and purity Socialism was not at all committed, became so
of morals, standing erect in the midst of the moral ruin numerous that I began to halt in my conception of what’s
which surroundsher, in order that she may preserve the what in Socialism as related to the family. I found that
chastity of the nuptial union from being defiled by this every book written on the subject, that had a worldwide
foul stain, raises her voice in token of divine standing in the Socialist movement, upheld the same
ambassadorship and through our mouth proclaims disruptive views… (pp. 3-4)
anew: Any use whatsoever of matrimony exercised in
Goldstein’s break with these groups occurred when he read
such a way that the act is deliberately frustrated in its
what was touted as “one of the great Socialist classics,” a
natural power to generate life is an offense against the
translation of a work by Friedrich Engels, The Origin of the
law of God andofnature, and those who indulge in such
Family, Private Property & the State, based on the notes of |
are branded with the guilt of a grave sin. (Cited,
his collaborator, Karl Marx. (p. 4) Goldstein became
Goldstein, pp. 19-20. The entire text can be found as
infuriated by statements such as one advocating: “A more
Appendix II, pp. 194-238.)
unconventional intercourse of the sexes and a morelenient
Pius’ strongest words arereserved for those priests who betray opinion regarding virgin honor and female shame.” (Cited,
the “sacred trust” by either condoning such evil or even ibid.) Deciding, then and there, “that the time had come to
promoting it, whom he castigates with the words of Our Lord: quit Socialism andto giveit battle,” in May, 1903, he wrote a
“They are blind and leaders of the blind: andif the blind lead letter of resignation that included this charge: “J am

THEATHANASIAN OCTOBER 15, 1990
convincedthat socialism, as organized iniernationally, stands and where birth control instruction is part of the regular
for the entire breaking down ofindividual standards ofmorai welfare of the government.” (Cited, Goldstein, p. 65)
responsibility; that the socialist philosophy of economic
From Margaret Sanger, let us briefly examine some of what
determinism stands for the substitution for religion principles
George Grantcalls the ilusions of Planned Parenthood:
of social standards of ethics set up upon the basis of mere
physicalsatisfaction.” (pp. 4-5) Privately Funded: In 1972, Congress passed the Family
Less than a decade after Goldsteinleft the Socialists, they were Planning Act which“provided federai subsidization of birth
to gain a promising recruit in the person of Margaret Sanger. controi clinics for all.” (Brigitte & Peter L. Berger, The War
Then in her early thirties, sne would go on to have her name Over the Family: Capturing the Middle Ground,
intimately linked to the birth control (a term she coined in Anchor/Doubleday, 1983, pp. 28-29) Through Title X of the
1914) movement and to Planned Parenthood(aptly described Public Health Services Act, Planned Parenthood (and other
by the Conciliar pro-life priest, Father Paul Marx, O.S.B., as birth control clinics and abortuaries) receives tens of millions
Banned Parenthood and Planned Barrenhood), which she of dollars — and it receives additional money from the World
helped start. Sanger was baptized and confirmed a Catholic Bank, the Agency for International Development and the
but she lived in a divided home, her mother being a Catholic United Nations Fund for Population Activities. (Grant, pp.
who was forced out of the Church by her father, an atheist and 20-21. As he notes, that’s our money we're talking about!
a freethinker. Soon she found herse!f siding with her father, Planned Parenthood aiso receives money from United Way
which led her to socialism. There she became a successful and March of Dimes.)
organizer and “learned the propaganda techniques that were Charity: The claim of the liberals is that we are obliged by
later to stand her in such good stead.” (Madeline Gray, compassion to see that the lower classes be given the
Margaret Sanger: A Biography of the Champion of Birth “benefits” of federally-funded abortions and contraceptives.
Control, Richard Marek, 1979, p. 37) _ Grant writes: “The truth is, Planned Parenthood appears to
Like Goldstein, Sanger would part company with the want to efiminate the poor, not serve them.” (p. 19) On what
Socialists. But, while he left out of moral indignation, she did does he base this? On the stated goals of Sanger (the quotes
so because she sensed that she had to do so in order to bring are hers): |
her message to a populace she couldn’t hope to reach as long Her alternative to charity was “to eliminate the stocks”
as sHe remained openly attached to radicalism. Gray writes that she felt were most detrimental “to the future of the
that “by 1928, she felt she had to use the kind of lecture that
race and the worid.” To that end, Planned Parenthood
would curry favor with people of wealth, those who could do-
has always targeted minorities, the unwanted and the
nate the much-needed cash to her cause as well as supply
disadvantaged for family limitation, contraception,
what they had learned in their long battle for woman suffrage.”
abortion andsterilization. “More children from thefit,
(p. 289) Andthe tactic worked; within a year she began receiv-
less from the unfit,” Sanger penned, “that is the chief
ing donations from the likes of John D. Rockefeller and
issue ofbirth control.” (/bid.)
George Eastman of the Eastman Kodak Company. (p. 303)
But even in her overtly Socialist days she had founda signifi- Pro-Choice: Planned Parenthood has loudly proclaimed a
cant source: In 1922, after a divorce, she entered into a free- woman’s “right” to choose abortions, but its counselors are
love “marriage” with J. Noah Slee, millionaire founderof the notorious for not advising teenage girls of alternatives to
Three-in-One Oil Company. For the Catholicism she re- abortion. And, of course, it does not want parents to be able to
nounced Sanger embraced Unity, a spinoff of Christian choose to have full medical disclosure of their minor children;
Science, and the occult Rosicrucian Society. (pp. 108, 306; fathers to be able to choose to save their unborn offsprings’
Sanger was paralleled closely in Britain by Annie Besant, a lives; pro-life activists to be able to choose to exercise their
– Socialist and leader of the New Age- oriented Theosophical FirstAmendmentrights in front of abortuaries, etc. It has also
Society, who was prosecuted in 1877 for publishing a pro- advocated “compulsory abortion for out-of-wedlock
contraception book.) When Sanger learned that the Soviets pregnancies,” “compulsory sterilization for those who have
had adoptedbirth control as their official policy, she visited already had two children” and “tax penalties” for existing
Russia in 1935 and, according to Gray, wrote uncompliment- large families — and it has praised Red China's forced
arily about the trip to her friends. (pp. 350-351) What Gray abortion and infanticide as a “model of efficiency.” (Cited,
doesn’t mention, however, is that she also stated, on returning Grant, p. 17) In 1934, Sanger proposed an “American Baby
to the States: “There are no obstacles to birth control in Code” that demanded a permit for any parent and added that
Russia… We would well take example from Russia where “(n)o permit shall be valid for more than one birth.” (Cited,
there are no legal restrictions, no religious condemnation, – Goldstein, p. 169) And in 1969, Planned Parenthood

THEATHANASIAN OCTOBER 15, 1990
President Alan Guttenmacher(signer of Humanist Manifesto Sacramento diocese have staged Secrets, an “AIDS
Il which supported birth control) asserted that “eventually education” play. While muchofthe dialogue includes mention
coercion may becomenecessary.” (Cited, Grant, p. 34) of specific contraceptives, we’ve excerpteda bitofit to give you
Overpopulation: The most successful deception used by the an idea of whatis being passed off as a “Catholic” education:
anti-family forces has been the myth of a population DENISE: I’m serious.if you like this guy, you should
“explosion.” Contrary to the myth,so serious has the popula- be prepared. |
tion decline actually been in Europe that France’s former MONICA: Prepared for what?
Prime Minister Jacques Chirac has warned: “Europe is van-
ishing… soon our countries will be empty.” (Cited, Grant,p. DENISE: Being naive is not a very good form of
26) And we've ail heard about the “graying” of America. birth control. (She reached into her
Even in Third Worid nations birthrates are falling — so purse.) Pll show you what I use. Two
much so, writes Grant, that “the worldwide birthrate is now kinds. You should always carry a backup.
falling faster than the mortality rate [excluding abortions, we Later, Denise advises, “You might as well sleep with
assume — JKW] for thefirst time in recordedhistory.” (Ibid.) him. Everybody's going to think you are anyway.”In the
Contraception advocates have long been called neo- final scene, Monica and her boyfriend Eddie are shown
Maithusians after English economist Thomas Malthus who, trying out one kind of contraceptive on a green banana.
in the late 1700’s, was predicting a dire future for mankind
The August 2, 1990 issue of The Wanderer carried an article,
because, he believed, the birthrate would soon outstrip the
“Teach Catholic Doctrine, Not Dissent,” regarding the sex
world’s ability to produce food — and so he soughtpolicies
education programs in the Milwaukee diocese. The reporter,
that would discourage the poorfrom reproducing. The error
Margo Szews, noted that in “one of these, the New Creation
propounded by Malthus and his followers is thoroughly de- program, eighth graders will learn no fewer than six methods
bunked by Dr. Jacqueline Kasun in her book, The War
of artificial contraception, and seventh graders can read that
Against Population: incest ‘may not be harmful — it is more like experimenting
‘Resources, far from being limited, are abounding. No with sex with your brother andsister before you begin to have
_ more than 1 to 3 percent of the earth’s ice-free land sexual relations with other people.’” Of course, The Wanderer
area is occupied by human beings, less than one- ninth crowd scream and shoutas usual and imagine that, if they do
foagricultural purposes. Eight times, and perhaps as so long enough and loud enough,their hero, John Paul II, will
much as twenty-two times, the world’s present intercede, throwing the villains out and restoring law, order
population could support itself at the present standard and the Angelus to these wayward dioceses. Troubleis, this
of living, using present technology; and this leaves half has been happening ¢hroughout the Conciliar school system
the earth’s land surface open to wildlife and for years — and what has Rome done aboutit?
conservation areas. (Cited, James J. Drummey, Weare presently fighting an uphill battle to keep our nation
“Correction, Please!”, The New American, December free, but we can hardly expect to win unless we restore it to the
19, 1988)
morai standards that give it the stamp of a godly nation. The
The problem of overcrowding in some countries could be Almighty commands nations as well as individuals to do His
lessened, as David Goldstein observed, if more sparcely will. And the single mostvital area of this fight is the family,
inhabited nations would open their doors to these people. (In which is the cornerstone of all human society and every
Canada, for example, there are fewer than seven people per nation.
square mile!)

Stand Up For The Family

The contraceptive mentality has spawned a generation of
monsters and has cutat the heart of the very idea of a family,
The date on the envelope address label indicates the
encouraging teenage promiscuity. How far has it gone?
month and year in which the recipient’s subscriptionis
Even into what claim to be Catholic schools. For a look at
due for renewal. At the proper time, a subscription
how serious a concern this is in the Conciliar schools we take
a look at the conservative weekly newspaper, The envelopewill be enclosed with the newsletter. One may
Wanderer’s “From The Mail” column of July 26, 1990. (We enter a new subscription at any time, of course, andwill
are not endorsing this publication for its weaknesses far then receive the eight following newsletter issues. +
outweighits strengths.) Two “Catholic” high schools in the

TihATHANASIAN OCTOBER 15, 1990
Fr, Oswald Baker (England)
7 he Incarnation means that God the Son, Second Person actively cooperated with Jesus in the offering of His life for
ai, of the Blessed Trinity, came on earth in human form, our salvation. As Eve, by her sin of disobedience, forfeited
Jesus Christ, true God and true Man. The Church has always our state of grace, Mary, the second Eve, by her cooperation
._. emphasized that the Incarnation took place throughthefree with God, wrought our restoration to grace. This is a fond
~“consentof Mary, the Motherof Christ. The place of Mary is parailel found in the writings of the Fathers. Since it was
clearly unique in all creation. She is essentially and Mary who freely brought Our Lord, Author of all graces,
incomparably superiorto all other creatures. Unique as the into the world, she is clearly the channelofall graces from
Mother of God, she is unique in the holiness which God to mankind. This is the meaning of Our Lady’s titles:
necessarily accompanied that ineffable privilege. All the Mediatrix of Ail Graces, Mother of Divine Grace, Refuge of
honour given to Mary in the Church is the natural Sinners, Solace of the Afflicted. It has always been Catholic
consequenceofthe initial honour conferred on her by God. belief that Our Blessed Lady is, dependently on Christ our
Mediator, coredemptrix with Him. As Christ came on earth
As with the doctrine of the Real Presence and devotion to the
through the consent of Mary, so, we believe, all the graces
Blessed Sacrament, public devotion to Mary in the Church
He merited come to us through her mediation.
was of gradual growth. Did you know that, for thefirst five
hundred years of the Church’s history, there was no public Mary stood by the Cross, silent, impassive, fulfilling a role
devotion to saints other than martyrs? About 500 A.D., a providentiaily appointed to her, completing in that hour the
church was for thefirst time dedicated to a saint (Syivester)
offering of her Son which she made on the day of His
who was not a martyr. The early Christians concentrated on Presentation in the Temple, fulfilling Simeon’s prophecy
the martyrs. After the great persecutions ceased, devotion to that a sword of anguish would pierce her soul. She knew her
other saints began to be practised, including public devotion suffering Son was the Redeemerof the world. She loved the
to Our Lady. The Council of Ephesus in 431 defined the doc- souls that He loved. It was her privilege as well as her
trineof the Divine Maternity. Mary was truly the Mother of undoubted desire to suffer in union with Him for them.
God. This was to settle a controversy concerning the divinity
of Christ’s Person and His dual nature. The Lateran Council, _ The Crucifixion was not onlythe Sacrifice for sin. It was also
649, under Pope Martin I, defined Mary’s perpetual virginity. the vital action which regained our supernatural life,
forfeited by the sin of ourfirst parents. Our Lord’s Sacrifice
Mary is the Mother of God because she is the Mother of
began with His birth into the world and was completed on
Christ, our God and universal Saviour. She is thereby Mother
Calvary. Mary was concerned in both, Mother of our
to all for whom our Saviour died, spiritual Mother to the
Redeemer and Mother of mankind. Secondary to that of
human race. To be baptised is to accept her as our Mother.
Jesus, her mediation is universal and includesall the graces
By baptism we are incorporated with Jesus Christ, God the
given to man since the fall of Adam. Pope Benedict XV
Son, and become by this union adopted children of God.
appointed a Mass in honour of Mary, Mediatrix of All
Since Jesus is equally the Son of Mary, our union with Him
Graces. The doctrine is, therefore, safe and we can make
makes us her children too. Mother of our King, Mary is our
practical use of it. It can and should inspire us with
Queen and Queen of Heaven.
boundless confidence in Mary. t
It is important for us to understand that Mary had an active
part in our Redemption. “Thou shalt bring forth a Son and
thou shalt call hisname Jesus — and Mary said: ‘Be it done
unto me according to Thy word.’” Knowing His name, Mary
was, from the beginning, consciously associated with Our
Lord as Our Saviour in His Passion. “Thine own soul a
sword shall pierce.” (Luke 2:35) Pope Saint Pius X and Pope
Benedict XV explicitly taught that Mary consciously and

THEATHANASIAN OCTOBER 15, 1990
Fr. Francis E&, Fenton

7,irst, for the benefit of those few subscribers to The others couldn’t careless whether they are or not. While
a. Athanasian who may notfully understand the meaningof ignorance or lack of knowledge of what happened
the word, what exactly is sedevacantism? The term is derived during and since Vatican Council II may have long been
from two Latin words, sede vacante, meaning vacantchair or an excusing cause for multitudes remaining in goodfaith
seat. A sedevacantist, then, is one who believes that the Chair in the Conciliar Church, it is today increasingly difficult
of Saint Peter is presently vacant, who believes, in other to justify in many such casestheir staying therein on the
words, that John PaulIl is not a valid Pope either because his ground that they still don’t know the score 25 yearsafter
election in 1978 was not valid or, if it was, that he has ceased to Vatican Council [I. And then there are those in the
be such because of his formal heresiesin the years since then. Conciliar Church, from the Vatican on down, who know
Because | have always thoughtit to be far simpler to make the very well what has happened because they are the ones
case against the validity of John Paul II by way of the formal who made it happen by wayofinfiltration and subversion
heresy approach,I have never given any considerationin these (the Freemasons, the Communists, the modernists, the
– pagestothe other (the papal conclave of 1978). In anycase, a secular humanists, the One Worlders,etc.).
sedevacantist is simply a person who holds the position that
John Paul II is a non- Pope. But what is the relationship between the Conciliar
Church and sedevacantism? Well,it is obviously a purely
Having discussed the subject of sedevacantism in a number of negative one and is mentioned merely to emphasize the
issues of this newsletter over the past few years, I would much veritable chasm that exists between the Conciliar
prefer to write on some other topic — such as, for example, Church and John Paul II and those outside that Church
the decline and approaching fall of our former American (the sedevacantists) who firmly believe it to be one more
republic. (The great American sellout is now in high gear.) non-Catholic sect and John PaulII to be an impostor.
However, both because I consider the matter to be of such
fundamental importance and because so few other editors and The Self-Styied Traditional Publications
writers who share my conviction regarding sedevacantism are Aligned With The Conciliar Church
willing to declare themselves publicly, I feel a measure of (The Wanderer, The Remnant, The Angelus And
compulsion to continue to dwell onthe subject. The reasonfor The New Jersey Catholic News Among Others)
this latest article is to try, from the perspective of a committed All of them recognize the Conciliar Church as the true
or convinced sedevacantist, to categorize various groups as Church and acknowledge John Paul II as a true Pope.
they relate to sedevacantism. Roughly, these groups would, I While they do not hesitate to provide numerous
think,fail into four categories. A few comments on each: examples of how bad things are in their Church, theyall
The Members, Clergy and Laity, Of The Conciliar Church stop short of facing up to the essential problem, John
Paul II. However much, for example, they maycriticize
These people, of course, aren’t Roman Catholicsat all and attack the bishops of the Conciliar Church, never
although many of them still think they are and many once have I seen the point made that practically all of
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My contribution to the Traditional Catholics ofAmericais $

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City

State and Zip
Fr. Francis F-. Fenton

-irst, for the benefit of those few subscribers to The others couldn’t care less whether theyare or not. While
=. Athanasian who maynotfully understand the meaning of ignorance or lack of knowledge of what happened
the word, what exactlyis sedevacantism? The term is derived during and since Vatican Council II may have long been
from two Latin words, sede vacante, meaning vacant chair or an excusing cause for multitudes remaining in goodfaith
seat. A sedevacantist, then, is one who believes that the Chair in the Conciliar Church, it is today increasingly difficult
of Saint Peter is presently vacant, who believes, in other to justify in manysuch cases their staying therein on the
words, that John PaulII is not a valid Pope either because his ground that they still don’t knowthe score 25 years after
election in 1978 was not valid or,if it was, that he has ceasedto Vatican Council Il. And then there are those in the
be such because of his formal heresies in the years since then. Conciliar Church, from the Vatican on down, who know
Because I have always thoughtit to be far simpler to make the very well what has happened because theyare the ones
case against the validity of John Paul II by way of the formal who madeit happenbywayofinfiltration and subversion
heresy approach,I have never given any consideration in these (the Freemasons, the Communists, the modernists, the
pagesto the other (the papal conclave of 1978). In any case, a _ secular humanists, the One Worlders,etc.).
secevacantist is simply a person who holds the position that
John Paul Iis anon-Pope. But what is the relationship between the Conciliar
Church and sedevacantism? Well, itis obviously a purely
Having discussed the subject of sedevacantism in a numberof negative one and is mentioned merely to emphasize the
issues of this newsletter over the past few years, | would much veritable chasm that exists between the Conciliar
prefer to write on some other topic — such as, for example, Church and John PaulII and those outside that Church
the decline and approaching fall of our former American (the sedevacantists) who firmly believe it to be one more
republic. (The great American sellout is nowin high gear.) non-Catholic sect and John PaulII to be an impostor.
However, both because I consider the matter to be of such
fundamental importance and because so few othereditors and The Self-Styled Traditional Publications
writers who share my conviction regarding sedevacantism are Aligned With The Conciliar Church
willing to declare themselves publicly, I feel a measure of (The Wanderer, The Remnant, The Angelus And
compulsion to continue to dwell on the subject. The reasonfor The New Jersey Catholic News Among Others)
this latest article is to try, from the perspective of a committed All of them recognize the Conciliar Church as the true
or convinced sedevacantist, to categorize various groups as Church and acknowledge John PaulII as a true Pope.
they relate to sedevacantism. Roughly, these groups would, I While they do not hesitate to provide numerous
think,fall into four categories. A few comments on each: examples of how bad things are in their Church, theyall
The Members, Clergy and Laity, Of The Conciliar Church stop short of facing up to the essential problem, John
Paul Il. However much, for example, they maycriticize
These people, of course, aren’t Roman Catholicsatall and attack the bishops of the Conciliar Church, never
although many of them still think they are and many once have I seen the point made that practically all of

ee & & & & 8 & GG & &€ BB & &F € @ & BB & © 8 © 8 @ © © © &8 8 & © &© B® © & &@ &© &© &© © © © © @ @ & o ¢ # @ ef G6 8 He Be Hee ee lel hhh hlhUhhlUhhlUhlUh hl hlhlUhlUh hl lhl ell hl el klhlchlhlUr hl lll

My contribution to the Traditional Catholics of Americais $

Name

Address

City

State and Zip
those bishops are appointeesof either John Paul TI or, in although such individuals firmly believe that John Paul If
his words, of his “illustrious predecessor,” Paul VI. Nor is not a valid Pope, they refrain from openly or publicly
have I ever seen in these publications any effective declaring their conviction. And why? Well, they
refutation of the charges made by sedevacantists of the contend, while a person may be convinced that John
instances of formal heresy which have marked the Paul II is a non-Pope, he may not publicly say this
course of John Paul Il’s twelve years in the Vatican. As because, by doingso, heis Judging the Pope and only
far as the publishers and editors of such “traditional” the Churchcan mi Ke sucha declaration. Because of the
journals are concerned, it is apparently inconceivable conditions which currently exist, however, that official
that John Paul Il is a bogus Pope and so — no matter declaration cannot be made by the Church. regarding
how strong a case is made of his formal heresy — they John PaulII until some future date. Such is the general
simply ignore the issue. line of argument used by the “secret” sedevacantists to
explain their silence or secrecy. In the meantime, John
The Society Of Saint Pius X
Paul Il continues unimpeded along his destructive,
Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre and the bishops, priests heretical, subversive path while those who know him for
and laity of his Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) also ac- whathe is must keep quiet!
knowledge John Paul II as a true Pope and are, of
Now the above position held by the “secret”
course, members of the Conciliar Church of which heis
sedevacantists is, I submit, a nonsensical one. It defies
the recognized head. How this can be has ever been a
common sense. Even though the formal heresy of John
mystery to me in view of the strong language which
PaulIl is perfectly obvious and even though a personis
Archbishop Lefebvre has employed from time to time
absolutely convinced of this, yet he must not dare to
over the years in reference to the Vatican and John Paul
state his conviction publicly. Preposterous!
IL. It was, as I recall, back in 1976 that the archbishop de-
clared: “The Conciliar Church is not Catholic” — and It is imperative that John Paul Il be unmasked for the fraud
those are his exact words. Since that Conciliar Church that he is as a counterfeit Pope and for the major part that he
has hardly become Catholic in the years since then,it is is playing in the formation of the One World Order. Indeed,
impossible for me to understand howthe continuing af- far from being silent on this most vital matter, I have a moral
filiation of the SSPX with that Church can bejustified in obligation to speak out while there is yet time! Thereis, |
any manner. Surely at least some of the Society’s mem- maintain, no more deceptive and dangerous individual on the
bers, especially among its clergy, ought long since to world scene today than John Paul II! +
have realized that sedevacantism is the only sensible and
logical position to be taken underthe circumstances.
The “Secret” Sedevacantists
“The unholy trinity ”:
While I could not even hazard a guess as to how many
sedevacantists there are, say, nationwide, | am much George Bush
inclined to think that there are far more today than there Mikhail Gorbachev
were even two or three years ago. A numberof them,
John Paul If
however, are “secret” sedevacantists. In other words,

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