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JMJ
A former pastor read my recent article on canonizations and provided an article to add to my ruminations.
I was on the road and wrote this email on my Blackberry ...my thumbs were sore afterward. As it was a good synthesis of my thoughts, I thought it would be to post it.
P^3
Dear Father _______,Here's the article provide by my former pastor:
Thank you for the article - which I will try to read in full this evening. I am presently in ______ ...
This is not so much a hot topic as an emotional one that usually simmers.
From my perspective, it is crucial that we adhere to Catholic principles and make clear distinctions.
Even the more so given the scandalous canonizations that have been foisted upon the church by the last 3 pontiffs.
The first distinction to make is that it is not a dogma that canonizations are infallible. The theological note is somewhere between common theological opinion and one level higher. It doesn't really matter which because the censures for contradicting the doctrine are the same for each: temerarious.
The second distinction is what is, according to the doctrine, infallible about canonizations. That the person being canonized is enjoying the beatific vision and may be venerated.
The third distinction is that we can only imitate the saints in their virtues and not their vices and poor decisions. This is all the more crucial as the example left by the post conciliar popes is scandalous.
The fourth distinction is focused on the process preceding canonization. It must be acknowledged that a human process can never actually confer infallibility. This is because just as any human is fallible, so will be any process that is devised by a human. A good process just helps to provide assurance.
The fifth and final distinction that I will make is the actual reason why canonizations are held to be infallible. As St.Thomas teaches, echoed by Hunter:
"No writer of repute doubts that this last decree of Canonization is an exercise of the infallible authority of the Church, for were it mistaken, the whole Church would be led into offering superstitious worship"
In short, if canonizations were not infallible, this would impinge upon the doctrine of indefectibility of the Church.
It cannot be emphasized enough that departing from the doctrine simply because we don't like this or that person who was canonized is temerarious and for good reason: by rejecting one doctrine we endanger at least one and perhaps more.
This at least is the conclusion at which I have arrived based on my studies.
http://sspx.org/en/news-
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