Question:
Dear Brother,
I saw that stupid website NovusOrdo Watch which you referred to on your blog. It seems he's a sedevacantist of some sort as he says JPII is not a Catholic.
But what bothers me is this. In many places he complains legitimately about the abuses in the Church, even at the highest level. He is not simply setting himself as a magisterium of one, as you implied in your blog.
Many of the abuses he describes are very worrying indeed, What can be said about this? What can be said in defense of Assisi, for example? I for one would never let a Hindu practise their idolatry in my house, yet this is what the Pope did. What about the bishop of Jerusalem who openly said the Church has no intention of converting the Jews? How could the Pope appoint this man?
I saw your original answer which propmted the "NovusOrdo Watch" attack, but am not at all satisifed. It seems pretty clear to me, a lifelong Catholic, that the abuses are getting more and more frequent, and at higher and higher levels of the church. When will it all end?
Sincerely,
Ben
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Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM
Dear Benedict:
To begin with because this person "perceives" an abuse does not make it an abuse. This ultra-traditionalist commit several mistakes in thinking:
- they confuse form for substance (such as proclaiming the current Mass invalid because the Eucharistic prayer uses the term "cup" instead of "chalice." dah, it is the same thing).
- they commit rash judgment toward any action taken by the Pope or other officials that even smacks as problematic in their eyes (such the "Assisi" non-incident).
- they routinely misinterpret statements from the Pope, the Curia, and bishops always presuming the worse possible interpretation.
- they proclaim as official Church proclamations statements from bishops, Vatican employees, or others that are not official at all, but merely personal opinion on the part of the person when it serves their agenda.
- they become self-appointed Popes inventing their own definitions of what is and what is not orthodox.
The list could go on, but this will do.
While the Ultra-Traditionalist does not have his elevator going all the way to the top, and his ability to think is even more impaired, this does not mean that every word out of their mouths is wrong. Some of their observations and criticisms can trip over the truth once-in-a-while. But be careful. Their ability to interpret events and documents accurately is severely impaired. One cannot trust that anything coming from them is 100% accurate. One always needs to check with orthodox sources to be sure.
Better yet, stop listening to people who dissent from the Church and who cause division. According to St. Paul we may be sinning even to listen to them, he certainly says, several times, to ignore such people.
Remember: BE NOT AFRAID! The gates of hell shall never prevail against the Church. Bishops and even Popes can be corrupt, but the Church will survive them. Also we need to stop the sin of rash judgment (or otherwise called, "backseat driving" the Pope).
As for our current Pope -- John Paul II -- he is a living saint, a very holy man and one of the greatest Popes the Church has ever had. Anyone who attacks Pope John Paul II is either an idiot or insane.
When will it end? Men will always be men. It will end at the Second Coming of Christ when all will be judged and this earth will be no more.
God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary
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