Read original issue (PDF). Machine-generated transcription for search; consult the PDF for accuracy.
Full text
THE ATHANASIAN A publication of Traditional Catholics of America + Editor: Fr. Francis E. Fenton, STL + Volume XIII, No. 7 + October 15, 1992
America’s Descent Into Paganism (Part I) John Kenneth Weiskittel
Ww the historians of the future look back on ridiculed as a medieval horror story invented to control American society in the final quarter of the simple minds. In short, while consideration could be made twentieth century, what will be the hallmarks that make of the influence of various Christian denominations, the up such studies? Upon which aspects of our society will truthful historian would be forced to conclude that, by and such chroniclers focus? And what kinds of conclusions large, little more than lip service was accorded them, and will they make about us as a people? The answers to that the overall picture points to a ‘“post-Christian” these questions will depend, of course, on who those society. (The term post-Christian must be regarded as an historians are and the particular perspective that each accurate description only in the sense that a sizable brings to the subject, since the emphasis largely will rely Portion of the population has discarded all but the nominal on the viewpoint. title “Christian,” rejecting the rule of Christ in the life of their nation. Nevertheless, in the broader sense, ail history Whatever the slant, however, certain issues would have to has been Christian — and will continue to be so to the end be cited in any truly comprehensive analysis: of time — from the moment of the Incarnation, even in environmental concerns, the controversy over abortion those countries which never embraced the Gospel or those and euthanasia/assisted suicide, the emergence of the New that once did only to reject it, since Christ is the divine Age movement, attempts to redefine the family, the sovereign of all mankind.) sweeping rejection of established religious and moral principles, and the drive for a New World Order, to name a Bowing Down To Strange Gods few of the more obvious examples. Likewise, our twenty- first century analysts would need to devote space in their What conclusions the historians of tomorrow might make histories to the license in entertainment — no matter how is anyone’s guess but, from the traditional Catholic vile, obscene, blasphemous or inflammatory the message perspective, the upshot of all this social turmoil is that produced for public consumption, anything goes (so long America of the 1990s has become unmistakably pagan in as a profit is to be made). its day-to-day life. No doubt many Christians would find such a judgment harsh, but are they really facing reality? In addition, attention must be given to the intellectual Let the evidence speak for itself. underpinnings that have made modern society what it is. Before examining that evidence, it is worthwhile to These would include: humanism — man is self-sufficient consider what is meant by paganism and in what way it can in all things and so the very idea of God is, at best, optional, and paradise is to be sought in the creation of an be fairly said to apply to modern society. For the theological definition, Father C. C. Martindale, in his earthly utopia; relativism — man may think and do as he article on the subject in the 1913 edition of The Catholic pleases (one man’s opinion is as good as another’s), the Encyclopedia, writes: only “absolute” being that there are no absolutes; egalitarianism — all men are equal, and authority is Paganism, in the broadest sense, includes all regarded as an artificially-maintained evil; and so-called religions other than the true one revealed by God realism (or naturalism) — the only things considered real and, in a narrower sense, all except Christianity, and to be desired are those that can be detected by the Judaism and Mohammedanism. It is also used as the senses, so the belief of ordering one’s life according to equivalent of Polytheism [that is, the belief in more God’s Commandments is called empty idealism and a waste than one god, as opposed to monotheism or the of time, Heaven is mocked as a pipe dream, and hell is belief in one God — JKW]. It is derived from wh o have never the Latin pagus, whence pagani (that is, those who Many Christians in Western countries, still worshiped, live in the country), a name given to the country made visits to lands where the old gods are ni sm as lit tle mo re th an qu ai nt mythology: folk who remained heathen after the cities had regard pa ga subject of art, Plays become Christian… Cupid on Saint Valentine’s Day; the ra cycle, Der Ring and operas, such as Wagner’s four-ope many The names of the ancient gods and goddesses have come des Niebelungen, about Germanic deities; the root of down through history. Baal, Molech, Astaroth, Diana, gl is h wo rd s (fo r ex am pl e, Ma rc h fr om th e Roman god. En . Nothing, Jupiter and Mercury are among those false deities men- Mars; Thursday from the Norse god Thor), ete tioned in the Bible; today, their long-abandoned altars are ion. then, to take seriously. But this is a mistaken not buried far beneath the sands of time. Other peoples in every tan in the Monsignor Leon Cristiani, in Evidence of Sa part of the world have offered sacrifices to Odin, Shiva, Modem World, warns: Chango, Buddha, Osiris and Quetzacoatl. Some still do. We cannot stress too often the fact that in the Sacred Scripture is quite clear on the subject of pagan Gospels Satan is given the incredible title of Prince gods. Through Moses God commanded the children of of this world, yet the title must be justified, since Israel, whom He knew were given to abandoning Him for Christ Himself accords it. Yet such a title could not the deities of the heathen: “And they shall no more be given to Satan if the pagan deities were not sacrifice their victims to devils, with whom they have purely and simply devils. The Fathers of the committed fornication. It shall be an ordinance forever to Church were unanimously agreed that this was so. them and their posterity.” (Lev. 17:7) Again, in his The pagan oracles of Delphi and Dodona, and canticle for remembrance of God’s law, Moses declares: others that were less celebrated, were demonic They provoked Him by strange gods, and stirred Him oracles and manifestations. up to anger with their abominations. They sacrificed Christian theology has naturally adopted this point of to devils and not to God: to gods whom they knew view. The historical description of paganism, not: that were newly come up, whom their fathers whether ancient or modern, is not, for us, an worshipped not. Thou hast forsaken the God that intellectual amusement, a form of literary curiosity, begot thee, and hast forgotten the Lord that created but the unhappy observation of Satan’s dominion thee. (Deut. 32:16-18) over man. David, in a great song of praise to God for the future In his closing words of the passage cited above, Saint Paul coming of Christ and His Kingdom, proclaims: “For the echoed Christ Who, in the Sermon on the Mount, teaches: Lord is great, and exceedingly to be praised: He is to be “No man can serve two masters. For either he will hate the feared above all gods. For all the gods of the gentiles are one and love the other: or he will sustain the one and devils: but the Lord made the heavens.” (Ps. 95:4-5) In despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” the New Testament, Saint Paul elaborates on this, pointing (Matt. 6:24) Our Lord’s statement bears more than a little out that while the idols before which the pagans prostrate relevance to the modern pagan upsurge. He admonishes themselves are merely graven objects, the spirits that stir us not to trust in earthly riches so they become a god for up such unholy devotion are indeed quite real, quite alive, us — had He lived in our times He might have phrased it: and quite evil: “You cannot serve God and the dollar, which for some is What then? Do I say, that what is offered in sacrifice ‘almighty’.” Significantly, many later writers in the Church to idols, is anything? Or, that the idol is anything? personified “Mammon” as a demon of greed. And how But the things which the heathens sacrifice, they Sreatly has this wicked pursuit of the “ ‘good things in life” sacrifice to devils, and not to God. And I would not at any cost become an all-consuming passion for millions. that you should be made partakers with devils. You It becomes a religion for social climbers, who get their cannot drink the chalice of the Lord, and the chalice weekly Jet-set “sermons” from television’s Lifestyles of the of devils: you cannot be partakers of the table of the Rich & Famous, but whose frantic reach for the golden Lord, and of the table of devils. (I Cor. 10:19-21) ting that will “end all cares” and “make life real”
THE ATHANASIAN OCTOBER 15, 1992 Th o a nN<— “ZY YRS O
frequently involves selling out their family, friends, witches’ sabbaths for Diana and cast spells for Satan. All church and country to achieve their goal. “The greatest part of that wonderful “pluralistic” society of America in temptatiforth on e Christians of ourtimes,” writes the 90s! Monsignor Cristiani, “and no petty temptation at that, but the most widespread, general and dangerous of K America’s Legacy: Religious Indifferentism temptations,is that of preferring things to God.” It comes as a shock to many Americans to find their This leads to the conclusion that paganism can be found beloved country in such a sony state. But should it? in forms other than the specific worship of false deities, After all, one of the cornerstones upon which its social such as any excessive self-love or attachment to the life is built is the premise that anyone should be able to things of this world. It is certain from Scripture that the preach and practice whatever belief he or she pleases. devil can transform himself “into an angel of light,” (The practicing what one believes is less guaranteed: late (Il Cor. 11:14) and there is much truth to the in the 1800s the Supreme Court forbade polygamy contemporary statement that Satan’s greatest triumph in amongst the Mormons, and more recent court rulings modern times is to convince the world that he does not have prohibited parents in faith healing sects from exist. Before the time of Christ, babies were sacrificed in refusing medical care for critically ill children. Still, if the fire to placate the god Molech. Today, unborn babies are current trend continues in the U.S., it seem only a matter sacrificed in abortion mills before the altar of the gods of time before little else but Auman sacrifice — abortion Choice and Convenience. Although the modern excepted, of course — will be off limits). It was only a “worshipers” would probably scoff at belief in the ancient matter of time before this policy of religious deities, they are nonetheless very much under the sway of indifferentism caught up with America. the gods of humanism. When the United States was established over two centuries Other examples stand out as well. Earlier this year in ago, it immediately became unique among those nations Florida, the judge in a murder trial ordered that a framed which were overwhelmingly Christian in population. The copy of the Ten Commandments hanging on a wall European settlers in the colonies had come from every outside the courtroom be covered (this is not being made imaginable denomination, and the newly formed up!) lest the jury be unduly prejudiced against the government made religious neutrality a key tenet, so that defendant. Pre-Christian Rome had its bread and the First Amendment of the Constitution begins: circuses; modern America, its Big Macs and Super Bowls. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment (this is not to say that such things are wrong in and of. of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…” But themselves but only that they have become obsessive in the neutrality expressed by the Founding Fathers went far the minds of many). Then there are the extremists in the beyond this to the point of denying Christianity as even the ecology movement that insist on calling Earth “Gaia” basis of the system of government of the new nation. In after the goddess of ancient Greece (they talk about a fact, this rejection was made official only five years after “spirit” pervading the globe, making it all one — guess the Bill of Rights was signed. As part of a 1796 treaty with where that is leading). But wait! These are only the Tripoli the adminstration of President (and Freemason) “moderate” extremists; a group in the Northwest has George Washington declared: “The government of the now proposed that the entire human race commit species United States of American is not, in any sense [italics suicide because of all the horrendous atrocities added], founded upon the Christian religion.” committed against the planet (again, this is really happening). And the push for homosexual “rights” is So, almost from the very beginning of America, the merely an updating of the pagan belief of ancient Greece teachings of Our Lord were cast out of the halls of that the sexually perverted were somehow in communion government as having no place there, and the seeds of with the gods — now they are foisted upon the public as religious indifferentism, which have Produced a now full y being somehow more caring, sensitive and artistic than grown noxious weed, were sown. Father Konrad others. Of course, there are quite a few pagans of the Algermissen, writing nearly fifty years ago in his boo k more classical mold, who do chant to Krishna, conduct Christian Denominations, touches on this potentially fata l
THE ATHANASIAN OCTOBER 15, 1992 in th os e st at ut es ea rl ie r in th is century that animals; flaw in the American system, as well as another reason it em in at io n of bi rt h co nt ro l de vi ces and forbade the diss could fall prey to paganism: pr om ot in g th em ; in th e ba nn in g of immoral literature po li ci es aimed at repelling After the American colonies obtained their books an d mo vi es ; an d in th os e mm un is ts an d ot he r anti- independence from England, the equal rights of all the subversive acti vi ti es of Co religions became a principle in the States. Thus the un -A me ri ca n fo rc es , bo th wi th out and Christian and various Christian Churches and denominations could countless acts of within the country. Then there have been develop without restriction upon American soil. This e ch ar it y ei th er on th e in di vi du al or institutional privat kful to live in a liberty brought in its train consequences that were not level. And, as Catholics, we can be than always desirable… The height of the Christian spirit wh er e we ar e pe rm it te d to pr ac ti ce ou r Faith in nati on [in the U.S. — JKW] is largely gauged by the number lly, traditional relative freedom and peace. (Ironica of Bibles distributed and the amount of money Catholics have actually benefited in a sens e from the amassed. To this pronounced, practical, fundamental rced to attend religious liberalism, insomuch as no one is fo American idea is added the lack ofa religious tradition il ia r “C at ho li c” ch ur ch es an d ma y sp ea k ou t against Conc and of an ancient Christian and medieval culture. them. How long this situation is allowed to cont inue, American Catholicism possesses this tradition by however, remains to be seen. There is already a movement lly virtue of its living connection with the Church to restrict what can be said from the pulpit to politica universal, its magisterium, its canon law, its worship, correct “theology,” such as that which would be pro- and its head. The Protestantism of Europe possesses homosexual, pro-abortion, would reconstruct the words of it in the pre-Reformation history, which is the history the Passion in a manner that would absolve the Jewish of a homgeneous Church. But the Protestantism of authorities of all blame in the Crucifixion, etc.) America does not possess it, or atleast has very little of it. American Protestantism lacks the clarity and the Butt is important to note here that almost all the examples keenness of scholastic speculation, as well as the cited in the preceding paragraph represent the public depth and fervor of genuine mysticism. .. morality of America’s past. One need only contrast them with what passes for today’s “ethical principles” to see that This lack of any much religious tradition worthy of the whatever faults the nation had in earlier eras (for example, name, when coupled with the inbred rebellion of by 1915 its divorce rate, though nowhere near what it is at Protestants against the principle of ecclesiastical authority; present, had already grown to one divorce filed for every ten religious indifferentism and official rejection of Christ by marriages), they are dwarfed by the current flood of the government; and the eagerness with which many corruption and immorality. In the span of a generation the American Catholics embraced their nation’s heritage of situation rapidly grew worse — dramatically worse. religious liberalism and, ultimately, the Vatican I revolt — all this practically assured the present state of affairs. One Rebels Without A Cause would not needed to have been a prophet, but only a keen- The decade of the 1960s was a period of unprecedented eyed student of history and current events, to have change in the history of the United States. Wherever one foreseen the direction in which America was heading. turned could be found protest demonstrations. Marchers The preceeding points are not meant to suggest that the took to the streets to call for the abolishment of the House influence of Christianity (here used to include non- Committee on Un-American Activities (unfortunately, this Catholic denominations) in America’s past was Communist-endorsed protest was successful); denounce insignificant but only that it had no official status. In truth, discrimination against blacks (although the goal was all the things we proudly can hail in our country’s public laudable, some of its key leaders, like the Reverend Martin morality bear the unmistakable imprint of that influence. Luther King, Jr., exploited it to advance a radical agenda); This can be seen in laws protecting the rights of blacks, better the condition of farm workers (here used by Cesar native Americans and other minorities held by some to be Chavez ala King); promote “free speech” (that is, dirty little more than animals; in laws prior to 1973 protecting language) on college campuses; and, above all, push for the lives of unborn babies held by some to be /ess than the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Vietnam. Radicalism \’
THE ATHANASIAN OCTOBER 15, 1992 became fashionable for some middle-class university and a business force in her own right, thanks to her students who joined the SDS and other openly pro- bestselling workout videos. Communist groups. They could be seen sporting wire- Publications like Rolling Stone and Mother Earth News, be- rimmed “Trotsky” glasses, wearing protest buttons with gun as organs of the “counterculture,” later became staples @ x “peace symbol” design or “NLF” (National Liberation of almost any newsstand. Twenty years ago, to observe Front) to show solidarity with the North Vietnamese “Earth Day’ was looked upon as the activity of kooks; nowit Communists, and carrying around “‘the little red book” — is a nationally promoted holiday. Then, only ex-druggies Quotations of Chairman Mao. looking for a “better high” sought out the “wisdom” of Still, political upheaval was only a phase of this rebellion, Hindu swamis; today, corporations and schools encourage and not necessarily the most important one. A more “meditation” as a way to achieve better production. lasting type of unrest was that aimed against traditional morality — its slogan: “do your own thing.” Many of the In entertainment, there is an effort by performers, writers same students who participated in these marches also and producers to see if they can top the previous year’s influenced other, less politically motivated youths by their crop of movies, books, recordings, etc., in their capacity to promotion of a new set of values, including drugs, “free shock and outrage. Television shows regularly attack love,” communes and Eastern religions. This “Age of fundamental values. For example, in the popular animated Aquarius,” as advertised in the song of the same name, sitcom The Simpsons, much of the “humor” is derived promised a new age in which America’s youths would be from the way the boy Bart disobeys and ridicules his freed from the shackles of their parents’ “outdated” father, whom he regularly calls “Homer.” Bart — whose beliefs. For them, Christ was not the Savior but a likeness is now featured in toys, T-shirts, school “superstar” — part hippie, part revolutionary, part New notebooks, etc., and who appears in a candy bar Age master — Whose life and teachings were twisted to commercial — has become a role model for countless conform to the crazed ideology of the radicals. The values teens and preteens around the country. At the theatres, revolt had succeeded largely due to the realization of the The Little Mermaid, a “family” movie (rated G) that was e subversives behind it (sometimes members of the very released by Disney Productions, has as its title character, Establishment against whom the students believed they Ariel, who is far from a little mermaid; she is, instead, a were fighting) that, for the anarchy to have a lasting effect well-endowed young woman (from the waist up) in a bikini on society, it must concentrate on young people, whose top, who foolishly makes a pact with an octopus witch so characters were still in a formative stage and could thus be that her romantic yearnings for a human young man might molded into social rebels. If the transformation was be answered. Who was supposed to be the audience for permanent, then this newly created “change agent” would this? The plot would be next to meaningless for small be able to adversely affect society in the future as well. children, but the older ones get the message that it is all right for girls to dress in skimpy clothes — after all, if such Back in the ’60s, Harvard professor-turned-LSD a sympathetic figure as Ariel can do it… propagandist Timothy Leary “enlightened” young people to “turn on, tune in, and drop out.” And they heeded Movies with New Age themes are not uncommon. The Star him… for awhile. Many of yesterday’s hippies have since Wars trilogy helped popularize some of the movement’s discarded their sandals and love beads for three-piece concepts (it perverted “May God be with you” to “May the suits. They became ‘‘yuppies” (young urban Force be with you”; the Illinois State Lottery has taken professionals), who have worked their way up to the this blasphemous step further by having an animated highest levels of media, corporate, educational and wizard declare: “May the odds be with you”). Dead Again governmental ladders. Tom Hayden, the student anti-war has a plot that blends whodunit with reincarnation. And in agitator who declared, “We are all Vietcong!”, is today a the past ten years there has been a disturbing number of successful politician in California. His ex-wife, actress Jane anti-Catholic films released in the U.S., such as Fonda, who was nicknamed “Hanoi Jane” by Gls Monsignor, Hail Mary, Sister Act, Agnes of God, Nuns on infuriated at her friendly visits into the enemy’s camp, is the Run and The Last Temptation of Christ. It would seem 1 Now the wife of New Age television magnate Ted Turner that Catholic-bashing is one of the few socially-accepted
THE ATHANASIAN OCTOBER 15, 1992 a
-Christi ans. The forms of prejudice tolerated in America today (in general, sacrilegious “art” of some of these anti n the day! anyone who takes a stand against abortion, homosexuality, “do your own thing” thinking has wo pornography, promiscuous sex and other vices must be sue ) (to be continued in the December 1 is prepared for public ridicule — it comes with the territory). The Conciliar “Catholic” Church, of course, is helping @ fuel the anti-Catholic bigots’ attack against the priesthood with the alarmingly high number of clerical pedophiles its seminaries are churning out. (In Chicago alone, 21 Novus ch lays Ordo “priests” are under investigation after allegations ‘The State cannot be built unless the Chur … You that they sexually molested children!) the foundation and supervises the work cannot build a society without God… While society once rejected abortion and nonmarital cohabitation as immoral, now they are accorded legal There is no true civilization without a moral protection (for example, in the U.S. more than a quarter of civilization, and there is no true moral civilization live births in 1988 were to unwed mothers — a high price without the true religion. It is a proven truth, a for “free love”). The divorce rate has risen from about one historical fact. (Excerpt from Pope Saint Pius X’s per three marriages in 1970 to the current ratio of one for “Our Apostolic Mandate”) every two (only recently have secular “experts” started to declare publicly that the chances of a couple living together hg te testa ghea haattagel before marriage will divorce after marriage are much higher than for those who wait until after the wedding). In many …The partisans of error are sought not only areas, then, there has been a discernible shift towards an among the Church’s open enemies but, what is acceptance of what only two decades ago was considered to be most dreaded and deplored, in her very outside the norm. This shift has been brought about largely bosom, and are the more mischievous the less because those who two decades ago identified themselves they keep in the open. (Excerpt from Pope as anti-Establishment, in great measure, have become the Saint Pius X’s encyclical letter, On the Establishment or at least have shown themselves capable of Doctrines of the Modernists) significantly influencing it. Granted, the America of twenty years ago — or even fifty years ago — had problems that could be justly attributed to its leaders, they usually gave at least a grudging nod in the direction of traditional values. The ruse shamelessly exploited in this year’s presidential election revolved around the term “family values,” which Pray the Rosary Daily was used cynically by politicians whose only purpose was to attract votes. The enclosed white envelope is for the convenience of Now, even overt manifestations of this paganism are those who may wish to send a donation to the TCA. If a everywhere in evidence: a “reincarnation expert’’ blue envelope is also enclosed, that is to be used for advertises his 900 phone number on television, promising subscription renewal. viewers knowledge of who they were in “past lives”; rival ads push the services of astrologers and “psychics”; and SUBSCRIPTON RENEWALS witches, Krishna cultists, Satan worshipers, etc., are free to openly defy God as they see fit (it is their right, so- The date on the envelope address label indicates the called), One may publicly blaspheme Christ, His Blessed month and year in which the recipient’s subscription is due Mother, the saints and the Church, and be afforded the for renewal. At the proper time, a subscription envelope double protection of freedom of religion and of speech. will be enclosed with the newsletter. One may enter a new The federal government, through its National Endowment subscription at any time, of course, and will then receive for the Arts, has even funded the blatantly decadent and the eight following newsletter issues.
THE ATHANASIAN OCTOBER 15, 1992 I EEEEEESSS’S<S3:=r —~r –r -~-~
Questions And Answers Fr. Oswald Baker (England)
Question: [emphasis added] Such an error is assuredly the most What exactly was the error taught by Vatican II concerning diabolical enormity ever Perpetrated in the name of the human liberty? Church. “Right of conscience” is the error denounced by Gregory XVI as sheer “insanity.” It is straight Vatican II and Answer: has undoubtedly made a dire contribution to the moral havoc now around us. (In New Delhi, India, the number By conscience we mean our judgement that a particular act is of right or wrong, good or bad. Every normal person, having Prostitutes is estimated at 4,000. A Catholic (Conciliar) nun, of the Sisters of Charity of, Nazareth, distributes condoms to come to the use of reason, has this instinctive capacity for judging right and wrong. It is the reflection of the Will of God them, on the principle that “What is medically necessary is in our human nature. But original sin so deranged the morally right.” Again, this horror is straight Vatican II. It is human soul that this reflection of God’s Will is distorted. still not widely realized what a completely Satanic plot for the Consequently, our individual judgement can be mistaken. destruction of the Catholic Church was Vatican I. Conscience has to be trained and formed, under the Question: guidance of Mother Church, to operate correctly, and to ensure this is our first obligation in its regard. But, so long as In time of war citizens are entitled, even required to risk thei r we have done our best to eliminate any possible error, lives in defense of the nation. In the war against disease, why whatever conscience commands, this we are bound to obey. is it not permissible, in the course of research, to sub mit Conscience is the ultimate director of duty. oneself to risky medical experiments which may cost one’s life? Oris it? Distinct from a duty is a right, which means a claim to Cs) Possession or action accorded by law. Duty and right are Answer: quite distinct and different. Duty is an obligation imposed by conscience. A right is a claim conferred by law. Rights It is not permissible. In war, risking your life is incidental to are Created by law, exclusively. A dictate of conscience is never the essential purpose of fighting the enemy. It would not be the basis ofa right, permissible to stand directly in the line of fire in order to test whether your vest is bulletproof, In submitting to a possibly Vatican II introduced a revolutionary innovation, dec laring lethal medical experiment you directly and of set purpose, by that every individual has a right to follow his consci ence con- way of a test, court the risk to your life, whereas, in engaging cerning religious practice — and, therefore, concerning in war (as also, for example, in tending the victims of a everything else, for all else is of lesser gravity. Accordingly, contagious disease), the risk to your life is an unfortunate side commenting on Paul VI’s Humanae Vitae (which rep eated the issue. The difference is between accepting a risk involved in Perennial condemnation of contraception), the bishops of your essential purpose and taking a risk as your essential England and Wales, together with many other hie rarchies, af- purpose. It is never permissible directly and of‘set purpose to firmed that “neither this document nor any other takes away imperil your life or health or bodily integrity. To do so is to from Catholicstheir duty‘and right to follow the ir conscience.” exceed the limits of our God-given rights over our bodies,
THE ATHANASIAN Published by Traditional Catholics of America Fight issues a year: (Jan. 15, Mar.1, Apr. 15, Jun1, e July15, Sept. 1, Oct.15, Dec.1) Subscriptions; $12 per year (via First Class Mail) for the USA, Canada and Mexico; $16 per year (via Air Mail) for all other countries. S Additional Copies: Single copy – $1.50; 10 copies – $12.00; 40 or more to same address – $1.00 each Mailing Address: _P, 0. Box 38335, Colorado Springs, CO 80937 Telephone: (719) 636-1575 ‘ties appearing inthis newsletter may be reproduced providing no changes of any kind are made in The Athanasian for them, The adequate credit preferred would be the inclusion with the articles repr those articles and adequate credit is given to oduced of the information contained in this box. CAPSULE COMMENTS Fr. Francis E. Fenton
o are The 1992 version of the quadrennial political farce called It has long puzzled me how conservative authors — wh the presidential election is but a few weeks away as these otherwise, I feel reasonably sure, honorable individuals — lines are being written. Just about the only feature which can write (sometimes at length) on, say, the subject of the distinguishes this particular rehash of the charade from that French Revolution without so much as mentioning the of its many predecessors is that, with the reentrance of H. Masons or Freemasonry. Surely the Masonic conspiracy was Ross Perot, there are three major actors (candidates) in one of the most — if not the most — powerful of the forces this year’s performance. He is, to be sure, essentially no involved in that satanic Revolution. Why, then, the blackout, different from George Bush and William Clinton. Among the cover-up of Freemasonry by conservative writers — not other things, he is pro-abortion, pro-gun control, pro-— only relating to the French Revolution but in other areas as homosexual “rights” — and he is, I have no doubt, every bit well? Is there any acceptable justification for this? I am as qualified as are the other two to be the Insiders’ front convinced there is not. man in the White House to bring the USA fully into the New te t ae eta ae fo teitet t het shot ta tiiteis World Order. Although which one of the three political superhypocrites attains that “distinction” on election day From its very beginning, interminable novelty and change remains to be seen, the chances are that the outcome has have been characteristic marks of the Conciliar Church. Still already been determined by the powers that be. another example of this occurred at a Conciliar Church wedding in Oregona few months back in which two dogs were APR de ah Te MPS ape ati, Sty a part of the ceremony, the bride’s great dane being the The abandonment of God and His eternal law on the part of ringbearer and the bridegroom’s golden retriever the multitudes of the American people is the root cause of the flowerbearer. One more step, albe it one, in the steady a small all but incredible condition of spiritual and moral ascent of the animal world to attain its “rightful” place of degradation which currently pervades the USA. Certainly, equality with us humans. Since there has already been at many scores of liberal, subversive, anti-Christ, amoral least one Conciliar Church animal funeral, it would not organizations and movements have contributed in various surprise me if more such “funerals” were in the offing. Just ways and degrees over the past several decades to bring about anything goes, you know, in that “wacko” Conciliar about the horrendous and revolting spectacle we now Church — and animals do have “rights,” don’t they? behold onall sides.
But there is one body of men who — though rarely, if ever, mentioned in this regard — must bear a major share of Humility — The Foundation Of The Virtues responsibility and censure for the present utterly abhorrent According to Saint Benedict, a humble person avoids situation to which I refer. And they are the cardinals and singularity, knows how to be silent, observes archbishops and bishops of the Conciliar Church in moderation in laughter, willingly accepts menial tasks. America, practically all of them appointees of non-Popes A humble person is real; a proud person is artificial. A humble person is honest with himself and with Paul VI and John Paul II. Since these men are all members others; a proud person is hypocritical and prone to of the Conciliar Church, there is, of course, not an deceive. A humble person readily faces up to truth; a authentic Roman Catholic prelate in their ranks. Their proud person avoids doing so if the truth hurts. record over the past thirty years or so is one of duplicity, Sacred Scripture tells us: “God resists the proud and cowardice, subversion. While there may be an occasional Sives His grace to the humble.” Not all humble people exception among them, they are, as a body, an absolute are great but all great people are humble. If one would disgrace, a condemnible lot indeed. That some of them may be truly great then — that is, in the eyes of God — he well be Freemasons, I have no doubt. If only these men had must be humble for humility is the foundation of all the remained loyal to the Faith, surely neither Church virtues. As one spiritual writer has expressed it, (humanly speaking) nor country would be in the shambles “without humility there is no sound virtue in anyone; they are today. Whata monstrous tragedy! with humility all other virtues grow in depthin inperfection.” + ret e ttt oh s e tt ttt t tert