An Alarming Study

After my March 20, 2014 post, some of my readers might be under the impression that I no longer watch Church Militant TV. That impression would be erroneous. Despite my strong disapproval of Mr. Voris' puzzling attack on the ones who have been crying out a warning since the crisis began, I continue to tune in almost daily. I consider them one of the most important web-based apostolates out there. In fact, this post stems from what Mr. Voris has to say at about the 8:42 mark in the below-embedded Vortex.

In that episode, Mr. Voris focused on a very sobering new book, Young Catholic America: Emerging Adults In, Out Of, And Gone From The Church. I'll let him do the explaining, since I haven't read more than the Amazon.com preview of this yet. (Relax, dear reader: I fully intend to remedy that at the first available opportunity, and do a follow-up post as necessary. That would be the responsible thing to do.)



The first thing that struck me about this survey was its alarming 0% figure in the "Devout" category. It makes me wonder about the demographics. After all, every young Traditionalist that I have met is light years ahead of the average mainstream Catholic in their understanding of Church doctrine. It will be interesting to find out why they don't qualify as "Devout". My cynical side says the researchers don't consider the Traditionalist Movement Catholic. If so, they wouldn't be the first to make that mistake, and they won't be the last. But since logic demands that I not jump to conclusions, I look forward to a more in-depth reading of the study.

Submission Healed My Soul: One Catholic's Story

Once again, divorced and remarried Catholics are at the forefront of public consciousness, thanks to Cardinal Kaspar's recent absurd statement. I've decided to enter the fray (however briefly) and provide a different story. Since this is a personal account, it should be taken for what it is: one Catholic's personal perspective from lived experience. (In case you're tempted to call me an expert.)

I was divorced in February 2002. From my baptism at 18 years of age I'd been a nominal Catholic at best, living life on my own terms with very little concern for what the Vatican had to say. Although I identified as Catholic, my behavior and attitudes were decidedly pagan/secular. My wife and I had been married civilly, before a Justice of the Peace. As with most legal marriages in the U.S.A., things fell apart. We separated, and finally divorced, with a child between us.

I'll avoid reliving the bleak cyclone of the grieving process (which few people actually care about anyway.) It suffices to say that I survived the darkness that many men are forced to confront alone when their spouse abandons them. It was at that point in my life that God led me to the priest who would catalyze a profound change in my outlook, Fr. Erik J. Richtsteig.

At first, I didn't like him. He was a rigid, tradition-bound, stick in the mud. I mainly attended his parish because I needed a place to call home and I'd been invited by an acquaintance who was a parishioner there. Usually, what he had to say went in one ear and out the other. After all, I was an adult. I knew best how to live my life in relation to my subjective circumstances, and this quaint anachronism of a priest was just sorely misinformed about the world. Sooner or later he would be transferred, hopefully replaced with a priest who was more in touch with the modern world. In the mean time, I could try to open his mind.

Such was my mindset one fine spring weekend around 2005 when Fr. Richtsteig went on retreat. He left his parish in the capable hands of his friend, Fr. Pius of Mount Angel Seminary. That weekend happened to be particularly bleak and trying for me. When I went in "just to talk" to this unfamiliar Benedictine, I didn't have an inkling that my true conversion would begin that day. That talk turned into a good, honest confession. I don't recall what he said, but I do remember its deep impression. I began to question all that I thought I knew--about life, about the Church, and about the world. One day while praying the Peace Prayer attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, I was powerfully struck by the words "Oh Divine Master, grant that I may never seek so much...to be understood as to understand..." I realized that I didn't have any understanding of Father's point of view. With that in mind, I began to listen. I began to read. I began to understand--and what I understood, shocked me.

Fr. Richtsteig was teaching the authentic doctrine of the Catholic Faith.

Almost everything I thought I knew about Catholicism post-Vatican II was wrong! It was I who was in error. My ideas and behavior that needed to be realigned. If I was to continue to be Catholic, my submission to the teaching authority of Holy Mother Church was mandated. Steadily, I began to bring myself into conformity with the Church.

That was almost ten years ago, and I have no cause to regret my decision. I can honestly say that my life has improved. The existential angst that compelled me to go to Mass-as-group-therapy when I was stumbling about in the darkness has been truly resolved, through the simple act of submission. It started with an increase of faith (the virtue by which we intellectually submit to a revealed truth, which we may not understand fully) and cultivating honest humility. In my case, this meant becoming familiar with the words "I don't know." It meant overcoming the erroneous idea that "knowing something in my heart" made it true, even where what I "knew" contradicted a revealed truth of the Faith.

Here we come to the crux of the matter. The German bishops seem to think almost unanimously that the Church should conform to the world, particularly regarding Catholics who have been civilly divorced and civilly remarried without obtaining an annulment from the Church. That was once my view, and it was wrong. It remains wrong, even if those who hold such a view are bishops. It might seem unfair to deny those Catholics full participation in the Sacraments. It might seem more loving and compassionate to simply change. But I can honestly attest to you, Excellencies, that you would be doing all of those people a grave disservice in the long run. They would know that you simply caved in to circumstance; how then could they trust anything you say? Where might I be if Fr. Pius had simply patted me on the head and given me a cookie? (Metaphorically speaking.) I was on the road to Hell, Excellencies. I thank God that Fr. Pius cared enough about my soul to point that out to me and call me to repentance, in such a way that I heard what he was saying. I pray that you will all do the same; only good could come of it.

The Remnant Presents Its Case

This is compelling, and worthy of consideration. I hope that Mr. Matt will not mind my re-blog.

My Opinion of the Storm

I like ChurchMilitant.TV.

I decided I should state that up front, because what I have to say here is not going to be very nice--not that Mr. Voris will have a problem with that. (After all, he's based his entire apostolate on strident opposition to what he terms "The Church of Nice" and openly declaring that the emperor has no clothes.)

For those who aren't aware, Mr. Voris and ChurchMilitant.TV recently fell into the same trap as Catholic Answers did a few months back: he's mistaken faithful, respectful public questioning of the Pope for Neo-Protestant revolt. And he's gone on the offensive in a big way, publically excoriating Michael Matt, Christopher Ferarra and John Vennari for...doing essentially the same thing Mr. Voris is doing, with one notable exception: Mr. Voris will not criticize the Pope in public. Period. (Never mind the consequences of recent highly public papal gaffes.)

Mr. Voris is certainly entitled to his opinion. He raised an excellent point in his March 18, 2014 episode of The Vortex. However, I think that he is falling victim to a dangerous form of papolatry which can lead to a cult mentality that is inimical to Catholicism. In fact, such a mentality has led some into the error of sedevacantism. Thinking that the Pope--or any leader at all--is above criticism is not Catholicism, Mr. Voris. It is fascism. It is totalitarianism. It is not the Faith I follow, and never will be. Only One is above criticism, and He is God Made Man. If you want to goosestep in line with the rest, all the while bellowing "Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!" that is certainly your perogative. But it isn't helping anyone who loves the Faith.

For how can we reconcile the Assisi debacle of 1986 and beyond with the dogmatic statement Extra ecclesiam, nulla salus? This is just one example of where the public behavior of a Pope easily served to undermine the mission of the Church.

I agree that any criticism of His Holiness must be done with respectful tone, in deference to his holy office. (As I'm fond of saying, respect the office if not the man.) But it must be done, on occasion! Particularly by those who are in a position to know better. (Even Pope Francis himself acknowledged this recently.)

John Vennari gave an excellent refutation; I'll let him finish up this post in his own words.

New Liturgical Music, Deo Gratias!

Those familiar with The Latin Mass magazine already know Mr. Kwasniewski. His thoughtful, insightful articles are almost a staple there. For some reason, I am unsurprised to discover that he also writes liturgical music. He's just published a collection of work spanning 20 years, and if the clip included in the press release from Corpus Christi Watershed is any indication, those two decades were inspired and fruitful indeed! This link leads to more information. What an efficacious vaccine for the influenza of sentimental drivel we've been assaulted with since 1970!

Comments tightened.

Due to a heretical comment by a Protestant troll, denying outright a truth of the One Holy Roman Catholic Church--outside of which there is no salvation, which has endured from the beginning, and will endure until the end of time (see St. Matthew 16:18)--I have tightened my comment controls. Comments are now only open to members of this blog, persuant to my review.

Urgent re-post: Bishop attempts unlawful suppression.

I'll let this article from Rorate Caeli speak for itself. Pray during this Lent for this bishop.

The Mighty Still Falter: RIP, Ars Orandi.

With heavy heart, I learned that one of my favorite places in the blogosphere, Ars Orandi, is no more. Apparently the blogger thought it was having a detrimental effect on him as a person. Having been at that point myself, I won't throw blame. I'll miss the well-informed posts and hard links to information I might never have seen otherwise. A crying shame.