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CMTV: Shots at the SSPX in A Mad, Rad, Trad Problem ... and From Sacrifice to Meal

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JMJ

 So, CMTV hasn't posted anything of note about the SSPX of late. 

They were all over any scandal for a while, but as I suspected, if nothing real turned up they would move on to someone else.

Lately, it's been an FSSP priest who has been accused of various sins.  

Anyway, a couple of articles popped up in my regular search:

  • A Mad, Rad, Trad Problem: In short - they lie, defame and smear.
  • From Sacrifice to Meal: Changing emphasis changes purpose.

Of course, if they are talking about Trads, they are going to put in some jabs about the SSPX.  

First, I find the accusation that Trads 'lie, defame and smear' a little odd.  It brings to mind the old adage of when you point your finger at someone remember that there are 3 fingers pointed back at you.  

CMTV had fallen off my radar for years until they started talking about people that I knew in St. Mary's

So, for the fun of it, here's what was said about the SSPX in their Mad podcast:


The point of all this is to say that the mad, rad, trads are off the hook — promoting schism and attacking other Catholics who don't share their insanity.

Tradical: Well, it depends to which Trads they are referring. Here is the key problem that CMTV seems to have with Trads - making the proper distinctions and actually reading what they say.

This crowd has come to support the schismatic movement of excommunicated archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. For the record, three popes in a row — John Paul, Benedict and Francis — have officially declared the SSPX movement schismatic. But the mad, rad, trad crowd, while claiming loyalty and fidelity to the Church, gives the finger to those declarations. It has officially condemned the Novus Ordo Mass as "evil" and actually "re-ordained" priests who joined the movement after being ordained in the New Rite.

Tradical: Hmmm, interesting.  

First the declaration of excommunication has been declared null and void by Rome.  Second, excommunication is within the authority of the Church Militant (not CMTV, the Catholic Church on Earth), once you die, those censure are terminated.  Third, in danger of death any validly ordained priest can provide absolution.  

As far as the SSPX 'movement' being declared schismatic, this thought casts aside a whole lot of contradicting material. Not the least of which is the CDF stating that the state of the SSPX is 'not in full communion'.  Now, I know that some people have stated that this is code for schismatic, but objectively that is their opinion.


 As far as saying that the Novus Ordo is evil, that is taking things out of context and supporting their confirmation bias.  The Novus Ordo Missae - meaning the rite surrounding the sacrifice, is deficient at what it is supposed to do - express the Doctrines of the Faith.

The correct definition of evil—lack of a due good—clearly shows that the New Mass is evil in and of itself regardless of the circumstances. It is not evil by positive profession of heresy. It is evil by lacking what Catholic dogma should profess: the True Sacrifice, the Real Presence, the ministerial priesthood. This deficiency had already been denounced by Cardinals Ottaviani and Bacci months before the New Mass was promulgated (Source: SSPX Is the New Mass Legit [link])

So it is important to understand how the SSPX uses the word 'evil' as opposed to CMTV et al.

As far as re-ordaining priests.  This is skewed,  it is true that the SSPX has in some cases conditionally ordained a priest ordained in the new rite. However there are cases where they have not.  It depends on whether there is any doubt as to the Form, Matter or Intention of the ordaining bishop.  I wonder if CMTV believes that every bishop from 1965 onwards always made use of the correct form to manifest the correct intention.

The SSPX has its own hierarchy and its own annulment courts. In short, it has established itself as its own church. But hey, they say the Latin Mass, so ignore all of that.

Tradical: Well, here we go.  No the SSPX doesn't have a hierarchy in the meaning of a Pope, and bishops to which is given jurisdiction. That would be a schismatic act.  As far as annulment courts - yep they have setup a tribunal and this is both a sensitive and complicated topic. So here's what the SSPX's explanation (link source article).

The SSPX and annulments

Connected with the Church's mission to care for the salvation of souls, is the matter of annulments. Unfortunately there are many misconceptions connected with an annulment—for example, an annulment is not the "Catholic form of divorce" but rather the declaration of an ecclesiastical tribunal that a marriage never took place.

Because of the state of necessity caused by the post-conciliar crisis, the Society of St. Pius X has been required for the good of souls to establish its own annulment tribunals. This has led to some concerns and these frequent questions:

  • Has the SSPX been granting annulments?
  • Isn't this a schismatic act?
  • Are all annulments granted by the diocesan tribunals invalid?

To provide some clarification about the important topic of annulments, we offer the following texts:

 
So, I don't ignore it, I try to understand it. I know Traditional SSPX Catholics who have obtained annulments from Diocesans Tribunals, and I am certain that there are some that have received them from SSPX Tribunals. 

The entire movement within the Church — brought about in reaction to the evil of the hierarchy for the past half-century — is little else than Protestantism speaking Latin.

Tradical: Wow - that's quite the judgement and it runs counter to what Pope Benedict XVI wrote about the legitimate desires of wishes of Traditional Catholics.

Sadly, well-known Catholic media sites and Catholic YouTube personalities are signing on to this agenda, directly or subtly suggesting Vatican II wasn't legitimate, Francis is a heretic and the Novus Ordo Mass isn't valid.

Tradical: Well here we go mixing in a bunch of people and calling them the same. This is a garbage generalized statement.  None of these accurately reflect the official position of the SSPX.
 

But they conveniently leave disobedience out of their messaging, as well as denying the validity of sacraments not performed by their clergy. 

Tradical: Oh, no the SSPX understands obedience only too well. 

Their leader is excommunicated. Their current leaders cover up sex abuse on an international level. Their followers lie so intensely, they need to be sued and made to pay damages to be forced to tell the truth.

Tradical: Who? Are they talking about the SSPX or some other groups - like the resistance?  Who is excommunicated?  I mean, ++Lefebvre is dead so he can't possibly still be the leader of the SSPX right?

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 Next articles - Sacrifice to Meal

 

With the exception of breakaway schismatic groups like the SSPX, which actually labels the New Mass "evil," no reasonable minds in the Catholic world spout that idiocy. However, that does not mean that just because it's valid, everything is OK and there are no problems with it. This is where things start to get somewhat into the weeds, because huge numbers of Catholics have a poor understanding of liturgy, both in its purpose and effect. However, for those who do grasp this extremely important point about the importance of liturgy, there is a massive battle raging.

Tradical:  This has already been addressed above - so much for the label of idiocy.

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Concluding thoughts

Nothing really new here, the speaker (I didn't listen to the podcasts - just read the trasncripts) spouts some more nonsense that will be lapped up by their own adherents.  That really doesn't matter because to become and stay a Traditional Catholic requires at least a modicum of critical thinking.

P^3

 

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