Controversial Matters

Any gripes that the Orthodox Church, Protestants, and non-Christians have with Catholicism, while regretful, tend to stem from differences of opinion between the faiths. As such, they are not regarded as controversial or as a cause of scandal within the Church. The controversial matters we deal with on this page deal with beliefs and practices that run counter to Catholic teaching but are nevertheless held by individuals or groups which claim to be Catholic, and as such lead to divisiveness within the Catholic Church. The biggest spiritual threat to any faith always comes from within, whether it is from well-meaning individuals who genuinely believe that their dissenting opinions and practices can be beneficial or from those who knowingly sow the seeds of dissent because they see the integrity of the faith as being secondary to the advancement of their own personal or political agendas. Be forewarned: in time this part of the website will likely have the most content, and we will not shy away from naming names if we feel that words and actions of certain individuals are detrimental to the Catholic faith. Lest you begin to think of us as defeatists or prophets of gloom and doom, let us be very clear that we live optimistically. We very much adhere to Christ's own promise: that the gates of hell shall not prevail against His Church. This page, then, serves a twofold purpose: 1) to set the record straight on beliefs and practices regarded as controversial within the Church and 2) to create awareness of the fact that not everyone claiming to be Catholic is representative of Catholic thought and practice. Christ tells us to beware of false prophets that come speaking in His name. Cervantes warns us that all that glitters is not gold. And as Reader's Digest always said in its long-running piece That's Outrageous!: "Spotlighting absurdities in our society is the first step towards removing them."

Links Relating to Controversial Matters

What the Summa Theologica says regarding Just War - (NewAdvent.org)
Webmaster's note: The 13th century writings of St. Thomas Aquinas were highly instrumental in defining and clarifying the doctrines and truths of the Catholic faith. However, there are many today who say that his opinions on many issues are outdated. This is not true for two important reasons: 1) as the Church has consistently maintained, truth and morality are absolute, and therefore can never be outdated; and 2) Aquinas didn't limit himself to writing about contemporary issues (as evidenced by the fact that he drew heavily from the writings of Aristotle, who died some 1500 years before Aquinas was even born). Like Sacred Scripture, these writings are as pertinent today as they were the day they were written, and Aquinas' writings regarding the entering into and waging of a just war are no exception.
"Conditions of a Just War" - by Bishop Fulton J. Sheen (EWTN)
Humani Generis - An Encyclical by Pope Pius XII Concerning Some False Opinions Threatening to Undermine the Foundations of Catholic Doctrine (The Holy See)
Humanae Vitae - An Encyclical Letter on the Regulation of Birth by Pope Paul VI (The Holy See)
Pascendi Dominici Gregis - an Encyclical Letter on the Doctrines of the Modernists by Pope St. Pius X (The Holy See)
The Syllabus of Errors Condemned by Pope Blessed Pius IX - compiled by Blessed Pius IX in 1864 (Papal Encyclicals Online)
A 1994 statement by Pope John Paul II on why the Church cannot ordain women priests. (EWTN)
Can Dogma Develop? (Catholic Answers)

Links to Articles on Dissenting Speakers and Organizations

USCCB Statement Concerning Catholics for a Free Choice - An official May 2000 statement concerning CFFC's dishonesty and anti-Catholic bigotry.
Call to Action Turns Twenty: From Bicentennial Celebration to Excommunication - A very enlightening piece about the development of public dissent in the wake of Vatican II and the role it played in the development of what is the most widely-known dissenting organization in the United States today. Also details the actions of Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz of Lincoln, Nebraska, in formally excommunicating those in his diocese who were members of Call to Action and 11 other organizations.

Links to Sites Dedicated to Exposing the Truth About Dissenters

Our Lady's Warriors Dissent Page - A very informative website with an extensive list of dissenting organizations and individuals, articles on the damaging effects of certain ideologies, and helpful tips on identifying dissenting Catholics in your area.
Faithful Voice - Not to be confused with Voice of the Faithful (VOTF), Faithful Voice exists to expose the true agenda of VOTF.
Dissenter's Tactics - If the behaviors described on this page remind you of anyone in a position of influence in your local parish or Church group, take note.