Very well-written article Monsignor, as always. I also wanted to ask if you have seen the recent "TRADITIO" documentary constructed by the SSPX (with more to come)? As I have mentioned to you before, I am very concerned with the proliferation of high-quality, well-made content to sell traditionalist talking points. In this case, (it already has up to 100K views on Youtube), they are selling themselves as though they were offering a totally licit (and good) service to the building up of the Body of Christ. It is a massive and colossal deception and I'm definitely troubled over it, we need more responses. Reminds me all the more of how grateful I am for your tireless work.
Most troubling to me—and often overlooked in the group’s squabbles over the Novus Ordo—is its longstanding rejection of Nostra Aetate. Isn’t that enough to trigger excommunication?
Thank you, Father, I so appreciate your analysis and writing. I have always thought that the SSPX sinks more and more deeply into the sins of pride and arrogance, and that they are now blinded by their 'reality.' That is the sad pattern of a cult. It seems to me that there needs to be clarity for their sake, and I have a feeling that Pope Leo will deliver it. I also hope that Pope Leo's generousity to those who love the old Mass but are firmly accepting of Vatican II will undermine the efforts of the SSPX to mislead and increase when they are clearly affirmed as a schismatic cult.
I do wonder how Bishop Schneider, based on his own unacceptance of the Magisterium of Vatican II, can still remain a Bishop?
Is seems like these people need to turn to St. Augustine: 'The Way of Christ is first through humility, second through humility, and third through humility. If humility does not precede, accompany and follow every good work we do.....pride will wrench from our hand any good deed we do at the very moment we do it.'
I would assume that what Bishop Schneider means by “ritual and doctrinal deficiencies of the Novus Ordo Missae“ is the persistent textual omission or minimization of various Catholic doctrines in the missal and lectionary.
For example, an honest Catholic could go their entire lives without learning that to eat and drink unworthily may be a cause for damnation, due to the omission of 1 Corinthians 11:27-29. Ditto the removal of the language regarding spousal submission in Ephesians 5:22.
Moreover, Lauren Pristas-whom I know you have cited approvingly in the past-has pointed out the persistent minimization of the themes of hell, sacrifice, sin, and Saintly miracles in the orations.
While the answer to these problems CERTAINLY is not schism or the defense of it, I have yet to hear these concerns addressed in any meaningful way, and one could argue in good faith that the current missal does not present the Church's doctrine in its entirety.
The penalty of automatic excommunication is the same for procuring an abortion. If I’m going to do something that is in the same category of punishment as abortion, shouldn’t that clue me in to the gravity of the crime? It seems a person would have to work hard to maintain his blindness.
It’s telling that the SSPX—and their defenders like Bishop Schneider—are able to keep their rose-colored glasses regarding this issue. A charitable reading is that they simply have bad judgement. But it’s also possible that they are being purposefully manipulative and deceptive.
Monsignor, again thank you for such in-depth treatment. Am left with a question: Canonically, can Pope Benedict's lifting of the automatic excommun- ications in 2009, in any sense, be interpreted as establishing a precedent ?
Very well-written article Monsignor, as always. I also wanted to ask if you have seen the recent "TRADITIO" documentary constructed by the SSPX (with more to come)? As I have mentioned to you before, I am very concerned with the proliferation of high-quality, well-made content to sell traditionalist talking points. In this case, (it already has up to 100K views on Youtube), they are selling themselves as though they were offering a totally licit (and good) service to the building up of the Body of Christ. It is a massive and colossal deception and I'm definitely troubled over it, we need more responses. Reminds me all the more of how grateful I am for your tireless work.
Most troubling to me—and often overlooked in the group’s squabbles over the Novus Ordo—is its longstanding rejection of Nostra Aetate. Isn’t that enough to trigger excommunication?
Thank you, Father, I so appreciate your analysis and writing. I have always thought that the SSPX sinks more and more deeply into the sins of pride and arrogance, and that they are now blinded by their 'reality.' That is the sad pattern of a cult. It seems to me that there needs to be clarity for their sake, and I have a feeling that Pope Leo will deliver it. I also hope that Pope Leo's generousity to those who love the old Mass but are firmly accepting of Vatican II will undermine the efforts of the SSPX to mislead and increase when they are clearly affirmed as a schismatic cult.
I do wonder how Bishop Schneider, based on his own unacceptance of the Magisterium of Vatican II, can still remain a Bishop?
Is seems like these people need to turn to St. Augustine: 'The Way of Christ is first through humility, second through humility, and third through humility. If humility does not precede, accompany and follow every good work we do.....pride will wrench from our hand any good deed we do at the very moment we do it.'
I would assume that what Bishop Schneider means by “ritual and doctrinal deficiencies of the Novus Ordo Missae“ is the persistent textual omission or minimization of various Catholic doctrines in the missal and lectionary.
For example, an honest Catholic could go their entire lives without learning that to eat and drink unworthily may be a cause for damnation, due to the omission of 1 Corinthians 11:27-29. Ditto the removal of the language regarding spousal submission in Ephesians 5:22.
Moreover, Lauren Pristas-whom I know you have cited approvingly in the past-has pointed out the persistent minimization of the themes of hell, sacrifice, sin, and Saintly miracles in the orations.
While the answer to these problems CERTAINLY is not schism or the defense of it, I have yet to hear these concerns addressed in any meaningful way, and one could argue in good faith that the current missal does not present the Church's doctrine in its entirety.
Well said and the need for prayer is most necessary. The Orthodox schism with Russia and the Patriarch of Constantinople is sadly similar.
The penalty of automatic excommunication is the same for procuring an abortion. If I’m going to do something that is in the same category of punishment as abortion, shouldn’t that clue me in to the gravity of the crime? It seems a person would have to work hard to maintain his blindness.
It’s telling that the SSPX—and their defenders like Bishop Schneider—are able to keep their rose-colored glasses regarding this issue. A charitable reading is that they simply have bad judgement. But it’s also possible that they are being purposefully manipulative and deceptive.
Monsignor, again thank you for such in-depth treatment. Am left with a question: Canonically, can Pope Benedict's lifting of the automatic excommun- ications in 2009, in any sense, be interpreted as establishing a precedent ?
Sounds like a case of belly button staring …self importance and throw in a large dose of hubris!
I don’t understand any of this. Old and feeble brain just cannot compute! Signed, a cradle Catholic
Thank you for keeping us grounded in the true facts of this heartbreaking position.