News and Views

JMJ

I have noticed that the FFI have dropped from the media for over a year. Interestingly, this coincides with the departure of Fr. Geiger and his compatriots that started the decimation of the order.

May the Lord of mercy upon their souls when they stand before Him.

Fr. Geiger is a typical case, although he may have simply been a agent provacateur, of a modern catholic response to Catholicism.

I know it is a strange turn of phrase, but many Catholics who have been steeped in the Novus Ordo are unable to recognize Catholic Dogma, Doctrine, Discipline and Principles.

The same can be said for many 'resistors' that I have encountered.

For Fr. Geiger the Novus Ordo and the Second Vatican Council are above reproach and sacrosanct. . He was upset with a decision of the General Chapter, and complained to Rome. The core of this decision was the Tridentine Liturgy being used as the conventual mass. He also 'saw' crypto-lefevrists in his congregation and instead of being tolerant when they were successful in fulfilling the intent of Summorum Pontificum and dared to question aspects of the Second Vatican Council, he attacked.

In doing so, he broke the spirit of obedience, something very prevalent in these confusing days. The same can be said of the 'resistance', anyone who acts in accordance with Catholic principles which they have abandoned is attacked, viciously from you tube pulpits across the world.

In the case of the FFI, Rome was only to willing to smash a growing order - one that defied the trends as it did not defy the Trents.

In the case of the Bishop Williamson et al, they echoed the 'non serviam' of the fallen angels and have proceeded to splinter into different factions (4 or 5 at last count).

While for many the destruction of the FFI was an indication that Rome wasn't going to let go of the mantra and that the time was not ripe for a canonical regularization of the SSPX.

For the 'resistance' they continue their 'resistance' to the SSPX while calling themselves members of the SSPX. Sorry Fathers and Excellencies, you've been expelled and are no longer members of the Society founded by Archbishop Lefebvre. Your situation is no different than that of the Sedevacantists expelled in the 80's.

We are now in year 17 of the discussions, the SSPX has not compromised and the SSPX General Chapter is next year. In addition, the issues with V2 have come home to roost in this pontificate.

I will now make a prediction.

If ...

The SSPX holds to the Catholic Dogmas, Doctrines, Disciplines and Principles, they will remain Catholic.
The gap between 'Rome' and Catholicism will become clearer and wider.

I see no reason to believe that the SSPX is about to compromise as have every other order as well as the 'resistance'.

For us laity, we need to also hold fast and keep a good perspective.

Otherwise we'll end up like Fr. Geiger and Fr. Pfeiffer.

P^3

PS. I will be quite busy for the next six months so I anticipate posts to be fewer. I have setup the Advent series for your edification.

PPS. Please pray for a young lady who will be trying her vocation with the Dominicans starting this week.

Comments

The Vatican and SSPX – An Organizational Culture Perspective

Introduction The recent and continuing interactions between the Vatican and the SSPX have been a great opportunity for prayer and reflection. The basis for the disagreement is theological and not liturgical. As noted by Dr. Lamont (2012), the SSPX theological position on the four key controversial aspects of the Second Vatican Council are base on prior theological work that resulted from relevant magisterial pronouncements. So it is difficult to understand the apparent rejection of the theological position of the SSPX.

A Reply to Martin Blackshaw’s FLAWED Remnant article titled: FLAWED: SSPX Advice on Abortion-tainted Vaccines

+ JMJ An article has appeared in the Remnant (link to article) and I am afraid that there are a number of flaws in it that need to be addressed. The author, Martin Blackshaw, believes that both the Church and the SSPX are misapplying the principle of Moral Theology called 'Cooperation In Evil'. Unfortunately, Mr. Blackshaw rests most of his arguments on citing authors that support his position, without considering the possibility that they are wrong. This highlights a key factor in this crisis: ignorance of the faith and its application . I don't am not singling out Mr. Blackshaw for this criticism, I have observed that it applies to laity and religious, superior and subject a like. No one seems immune in this enduring crisis, myself included. I further believe that this ignorance is why so many Catholics, both traditional and non, rely on their gut feeling or "Catholic conscience" for charting their way through this crisis of the faith. While...

Rome and the SSPX - the latest

+ JMJ Bishop Fellay gave a conference late last month and provided some more insight into the situation with Rome. There are comments on Deus Ex Machina Blog and Hilary White has now entered the fray. What is one Catholic to think about all these opinions? What a Catholic is to think: With the Church! What does the Church think about obedience? Virtue as it is? If there is no proximate occasion of sin and the other conditions are met, then one cannot resist the command.

SSPX and the Resistance - A Comparison Of Ecclesiology

Shining the light of Church Teaching on the doctrinal positions of the SSPX and the Resistance. Principles are guides used to aid in decision making. It stands to reason that bad principles will lead to bad decisions. The recent interactions between Rome and the SSPX has challenged a number of closely held cultural assumptions of people in both sides of the disagreement. This has resulted in cultural skirmishes in both Rome and the SSPX. Since it is the smaller of the two, the skirmishes have been more evident within the SSPX. The cultural fault-line that Bishop Fellay crossed appears to be linked to two points of Catholic Doctrine: Ecclesiology and Obedience. The cultural difference of view points is strong enough that it has resulted in the expulsion of a number of members. It should also be noted that some other priests expelled since the beginning of the latest interactions (starting in 2000) held the same view points and have joined with the l...

How many more must die for the throne? or How to combat FUD!

+ JMJ How many more must die for the throne? (Movie Quote: Prince Caspian) The Spread of Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt I've seen a lot of FUD spreading across the intergnat on various stats etc. So let's put this in context ... especially the perspective of those people in positions of authority who need to make decisions to protect the lives of their citizens. Yep, this is going to be that type of post. Like it or not the leaders of our governments have their authority from God. So, as Catholics should know, you need to have a very good reason to deliberately disobey the orders of their superiors. This is basic St. Thomas Aquinas ... so don't blame me for discussing things from a Catholic perspective. The leaders of our countries have taken action to protect the vulnerable of our countries. As much as the young and not-so-young may whine and complain - I have to ask how many more of our elderly have to die? What the armchair virologists and ec...

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