CMTV's Latest Attempt to Slag the SSPX

JMJ

It has been a couple of months since the last significant attempt to slag the SSPX and I was beginning to wonder if the clicks were subsiding.

... then another article popped up this week.

I was wondering if it would contain a new case or simply repeat old allegations and FUD and Ms. Niles did not disappoint.

A technique that I learned in dealing with negotiations and conflicts is to review the correspondence with a critical eye and black out all irrelevant contents. This helps to remove all the distracting attacks, innuendos, assumptions, and FUD from view so a person can focus on the important aspects ... like the facts.

How much of Ms.Niles text survived my review? About 17.5% or 347 words out of ~1983. The rest was either repeated information or opinion as opposed to fact. Just in case you are curious as to what that looks like, I have attached the blacked out document at the end of this post.

Now on to a review of the words that actually bore on the case at hand ...

Fresh scandal has engulfed the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX): A priest of nearly 30 years has been suspended for allegedly abusing at least 15 victims. Father Pierre de Maillard was suspended earlier this summer and is serving out a period of "prayer and penance" in a retreat house in Montgardin in the French Alps, nicknamed the "Golden Prison" — a place where problem priests are sent.

While they like to use the word "Golden Prison", it really doesn't look like that from the outside ( link on FSSPX site. From a Google Maps perspective, it looks like just about any other religious house that I've had the opportunity to visit. Given that the allegations have been made, Fr. de Maillard has been removed from active service and relocated to a house that has multiple purposes, not just "problem priests". Also, at least this time Ms. Niles correctly indicated that these are allegations. In previous articles she's played fast and loose with the word.

One question that occurred just now as I read the paragraph is what would Ms. Niles have the SSPX do when an allegation is made? I would have thought that removing a priest in this manner would be laudable in her eyes. This may provide a clue to her motivations.

In July, victims and their parents went to Fr. Laurent Ramé, Maillard's former superior at Our Lady of the Rosary priory in Saint-Germain-de-Prinçay, Vendée, to report the abuse. In all, Ramé learned of at least 15 alleged victims — all minors, including both boys and girls.

I am surprised that a host of parents made the allegations at one time. This seems more than a little unusual. While we don't need to know, it would be nice to know the particulars. Such as was this a single event or multiple events spread over a number of years and if so, why descend upon the Prior together?

In light of Church Militant's numerous exposés on SSPX mishandling of abuse allegations,...

Well - looks like a little bit of shameless self promotion. I am aware of the development of the North American protocols and they pre-date CMTV's "exposés" by a number of years.

Ramé bucked protocol and chose not to go to French district headquarters first (as mandated by Society guidelines) and instead went to law enforcement (the brigade de gendarmerie in Chantonnay),...

The question that we need to ask is how does CMTV "know" this? Also if they are guidelines then the Prior has lee-way in dealing with each case.

....which immediately launched an investigation.

. Well duh! If Fr. Ramé went to the authorities, then he felt the allegations were credible.

...Afterwards Ramé informed district headquarters in Suresnes,just outside Paris.

... still wondering how they "know" this. I highly doubt that the SSPX shared

The matter already in police hands, Superior General Davide Pagliarani had little choice but to suspend Maillard, sending him to Montgardin while French officials investigate the criminal allegations.

I normally would have blacked out the red lettered phrase, but thought it a good opportunity to demonstrate critical reading.

What the red text does is reflect Ms. Niles preconceived notions and bias as opposed to reality. She is insinuating that the Superior General would not have suspended Fr. de Maillard were it not for police knowledge of the case. I guess that Ms. Niles is psychic and can read the Superior General's mind. In reality, all that she is doing is mixing a fact (Superior General suspended Fr. de Maillard) with her own speculations.

So, the allegations are a fact. Ms. Niles insinuation are her personal fantasies.

P^3

The Curious Case of Steve Skojec and the Dangers of Deep Diving into the Crisis Sub-Titled: The Failings of Others

+ JMJ It's been a while now since Steve Skojec sold 1P5 and abandoned the Catholic Faith. I've been a 'Trad' since 1982 and in those 40+ years I seen this death-spiral before with a similar end point. It seems that anyone who jumps into the fray unprepared for the enormous task of righting wrongs will, eventually, become discouraged by not the task but the people who surround them. I remember when Skojec complained of the treatment his family received from a traditional priest. This seems to have been the start of the end for him. So what can we learn from the likes of Steve Skojec, Michael Voris (maybe?), Louie Verrecchio, Gerry Matatix and other celebrity Catholics? Probably quite a lot about what not to do. First, don't burn out on the crisis? When you burn out, on work or anything else, little things assume a more greater importance than they are due. This is one of my 'canary in the coal mine' signals that I've been stretching myself too th...

Communique about Avrille Dominicans - SSPX.org

+ JMJ Having completed the review of the 'Avrille' perspective, this communique from the French District Superior is perfectly timed. I believe that the 'resistance' has lost rationality and further argumentation simply results in their holding on to their false ideal all the more firmly. Pray much ... First, for them to acquiesce to the grace of humility in order to obtain a clear perspective on the principles involved. Second, that we may remain faithful to the Church, and Her Dogmas, Doctrines and Principles. Lest we become that which against we strove ... P^3 Courtesy of SSPX.org

Morning and Evening and other sundry Prayers

+ JMJ Along the theme of P^3 (Prayer, Penance, Patience), and for my own reference ... here is a collection of Morning and Evening prayers from the Ideal Daily Missal along with some additional prayers. In this crisis of the Church, I do not think it is possible to do too much prayer, penance and have patience. P^3

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...

Magisterium and Levels of Assent

+ JMJ Understanding the levels of assent to be given to the teachings of the Church is a critical success factor in walking the knife's edge during this crisis of the Church. The levels of assent are generally associated with the theological grades of certainty, which are not surprisingly mirrored by the censures for contravening the teachings of the various levels.

Tradicat

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