As many of you know, there is a real struggle in American Catholicism between what the traditionalists call the "Amchurch" and more conservative Catholicism. An ultra-conservative journal was recently sent to me, and I thought you would be interested in their opinion.
From THE NEW ENGLAND CATHOLIC NEWS, Box 919, Norwood, MA 02062
THE DISORIENTED CONCILIAR CHURCH
One does not have to be a learned theologian, or a seasoned canon lawyer, to discern that not only has a liturgical revolution taken place in the Church, since Vatican II, but enigmatic Modernist-minded pontiffs have caused many eyebrows to be raised by permitting innovations, changes, and policies that are basically inconsistent with or out of step with Tradition. Theological confusion, and false ecumenism, have led many to find belief in universal salvation more palatable than ever. Safeguarding the purity of the Faith has been seriously jeopardized. According to a recent survey conducted by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago, the number of Catholics identifying themselves as "strong" in their faith has declined from 49% to 29% (since the 1970's), and the number of Catholics attending Mass each week has dropped from 48% to 29%. Many cited disagreement with certain Church teachings and policies. Apathy, no doubt, has also played a role in such an alarming decline. "Diabolical disorientation" is what we heard about, in the messages of Fatima.
There are times when the faithful has not only a right, but a duty, to resist, wherever the purity of the Faith and the salvation of souls, are threatened by compromise, ambiguities, negligence, false obedience, etc., whether cornmands or teachings come from priest, bishop, or even the Pope. This is one of those times! Just look at the crisis and confusion in the Church! Theological opinions, even those that may be well-intended from a human "feel good" or politically correct" position, cannot be a substitute for "de fide" teachings. Catholics have the right and duty to oppose and resist abuses. while still acknowledging and respecting the properly exercised authority, discipline,,and obedience to the hierarchy. Papal Infallibility is one thing; papal deficiencies and scandals are something entirely different. Challenges and resistance by the faithful to bishops and popes are nothing new, in the history of the Church. We are not bound to "blind obedience and cooperation with unorthodoxy," but rather to true Catholic obedience, and teachings, as taught by St. Peter and St. Paul, the Apostles, as well as St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Robert Bellarmine, and countless other great minds in the Church of Catholic heritage and Tradition. We must strive to overcome the blinding,and choke-filled "smoke of Satan" which even a troubled Pope Paul VI could recognize.
Ultimately, God will be the Supreme Judge of popes and prelates, and all of us. We must keep
the Faith, in all its purity, and be ever vigilant against anything that contradicts the infallible teachings, and immutable traditions of Holy Mother the Church. We must guard against the attitude of' "sede vacantism," that is, to hold that the Chair of Peter is vacant because of new theology, or signs of religious indifferentism. We must pray for the Pope, and all those in responsible positions in the Church. They, too, are subject to the problems of our fallen human nature. A real Catholic Restoration is not only possible, but will surely come, someday . . . and, in the meantime, we all have a special role to play in that Restoration. We cannot afford to do otherwise!
... NIX THE NOVUS ORDO! : While a number of well-known clergy, religious, and laity concede that the New Mass introduced by Pope Paul VI in the latter part of the 1960's has been marked by some innovations and novelties, they continue to support the Novus Ordo Missae, just urging the stemming of abuses, making some modifications, etc. Most traditional Catholics, however -and we count ourselves among them - hope that the next Pope, whoever he may be, will lose no time in dropping the controversial New Mass, and restore the Traditional Latin Mass to its rightful place on Catholic altars, throughout the world! This will be a significant blow to liberalism, Modernism, and false ecumenism which has been rampant in the Concillar Church for too long.