Catholic Truth

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Contents Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady 15 August... Conference In Cork p.2 Advertisement Whodunnit? The Case of the Cancelled Conference & related articles p.3 - 6 Editor Book Review p. 7 Clare Webber

Mgr Loftus: Holy Spirit Will ‘Rescue’ Church Using Heretic Kung ... p. 7 Editor Letters p.8; Letters Extra p.9; Late Mail p.16 Education p.10 The Law & The Prophets p.11 Editor Ecumenical Archdiocese of Glasgow p.12 Editor Memo: Religious Life to be Restored? p.12 Editor Defending the Defamed p.13 Martin Blackshaw Theology:does God “forget”? p.14 Even if you are on the brink of damnation Editor even if you have one foot in hell, even if you have sold your soul to the devil St Claude de la Colombière - as sorcerers do who practice black magic, and even if you are a heretic as A likely story? p.15 Editor obstinate as a devil, sooner or later you will be converted and will amend your Does New Bishop in Scotland life and will save your soul, if - and mark well what I say - if you say the Holy Signal Vatican II “BUD” (Business Rosary devoutly every day until death for the purpose of knowing the truth and Un-Disturbed) ? p.16 Editor obtaining contrition and pardon for your sins. Saint Louis de Montfort Communion in the Hand - The View from Heaven p.18 A Catholic Thinker Editorial p.20 Conference in Ireland

What’s happening to the Catholic Church in Ireland? Saturday 24th September, 2011 Feast of Our Lady Of Ransom Keynote Speaker The Reverend Father Paul L. Kramer B.Ph, S.T.B, M.Div, S.T.L. (Cand.) The Mystery of Iniquity Revealed in the Secret of Fatima

Plus... From the Belfast Fatima Centre, Tommy Price ... The Money Question

Joe O’Connell, from the Fatima Centre in Cork ... Ecumenism and the U.N. Agenda ~V ~ Our Lady of Fatima

From Scotland, Editor of Catholic Truth, Patricia McKeever ... What can the laity do?

The Westlodge Hotel Seafield, Bantry, Co. Cork, Ireland

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The Catholic Church is the only thing which saves a man from the degrading slavery of being a child of his age . G.K. Chesterton

2 Whodunnit? The Case of the Cancelled Conference...

being something abhorred By the editor... land who kindly agreed to speak on the subject of Fatima. - an imprisonable criminal Many of our internet readers Robert Sungenis, well known offence - to being almost will be aware of the sudden withdrawal American Catholic apologist also mandatory. No truly Catholic of Cardinal Burke from the Pro Eccle- agreed to address the conference, soul would dream of thanking Tatchell sia et Pontifice conference planned for choosing Scripture as his topic. Mr for his achievement in, literally (if I may Saturday, 18th June, venue the Meth- Sungenis is the author of several coin what I consider, in my humility, to odist Central Hall in Westminster. The books and is a renowned Scripture be a devilishly appropriate phrase Cardinal’s letter to Mrs McLeod (83) Scholar and founder of Catholic Apol- without receiving a visit from the Chairman of Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice ogists International which was re- Thought Police) perverting the course (PEEP) explaining this unconsciona- named The Bellarmine Theological of justice in this way. ble decision, was published on the Forum in August 2007. Robert Williams’ admiration PEEP website, along with Daphne’s The revised programme was for ‘gay rights’ activists doesn’t extend letter of reply. I should add published on the Pro Ecclesia web- to Fatima activists. He detests the “measured” and “respectful” letter of site. Then, blow me, it was announced traditional Catholic Faith with a ven- reply, well beyond the call of duty. (see that the supporting speaker booked geance - the old rite Mass, SSPX and p.5 for my own less than deferential letter to originally to share the platform with the experts who are challenging - very Cardinal Burke.) Cardinal Burke, Bishop Mutsaerts successfully - the Vatican line on the Turns out that the Cardinal from Holland had also withdrawn. Third Secret. Williams ignores the fact had received pleas from Suspicions grew that the per- that the Pope himself has contradicted “devout and faithful” son behind this sabotaging of the con- previous Vatican statements seeking Catholics not to take the ference was Robert Ian Williams, an to bury the Message and “Secret” of platform since PEEP are RE/History teacher who has posed as Fatima: even as recently as his visit to critical of the English a friend of Daphne’s and PEEP for Fatima on 13 May, 2010 the Pope bishops. Well, they do ask years now. Daphne has welcomed said that the Message of Fatima con- the bishops to see to it that the Faith him into her home and has been very cerns the future and that those who is taught to pupils in Catholic schools kind to him - he’s an only child with consider it to relate to the past are and to put an end to the scandal of about as many friends as Nick Clegg deceived. ‘gay’ Masses in Westminster for the at a students’ union meeting. I’ve tried LGBT ‘community’ - that is, for part- to befriend him as well, but he doesn’t ‘Outed’ by the nered lesbians and gays, and for make it easy. He once admitted to me Jewish Chronicle... transgender people. But they don’t that he likes being a news-breaker burn rainbow flags and send letter and if there isn’t any news to break he Robert Williams is one of the bombs, and, anyway, the Cardinal makes it up. Some years ago, for “deceived.” And about more than Fati- knew all about the work of PEEP: example, he rang me very late to ask ma. He’s a post-Vatican II “convert” - here’s Daphne... a former Anglican who fits in perfectly if I’d seen Newsnight (BBC2 weeknights, with the foretold diabolical disorienta- “...We invited H.E. Cardinal Burke to 10.30 pm). When I replied in the nega- speak last October when we saw him tive (I’d begun my all-night prayer vigil tion that has brought the Catholic in Rome. He examined our files and early...) he told me excitedly that ‘gay’ Church to ruin, humanly speaking. He discussed our position with us quite rights activist Peter Tatchell had is about as Catholic as Tony Blair. extensively before he agreed to come threatened to “out” Cardinal Hume One thing’s for sure, though, and he himself chose to speak on The next day. I was astonished and spent Peter Tatchell won’t be crossing the Restoration of Church Discipline and the next day scouring every news out- street to shake hands with Robert Wil- the New Evangelisation. Why he let I could find for some mention of the liams for having the courage of HIS dropped out is a mystery none of us scandal. Nothing. When I quizzed convictions. For, while those of us who can explain, but it certainly was not Robert later, he said casually that know Robert, and know how he oper- because he learnt anything new about Tatchell had “probably” been talking ates, guessed that he was the anony- our apostolate which made us unac- about outing a senior Anglican church- mous person behind the “anti-Semitic” ceptable to him, because he knew all man. In simple English, Williams had slurs that led to the Chief Executive at the Methodist Central Hall cancelling about us months ago” (Posted on Catho- been making up the news again. Ru- lic Herald blog: Is this the end of Pro Ec- pert Murdoch wouldn’t need phone the conference, Williams, vociferous in clesia? I really hope not: but it should only hackers with this cookie on his staff. his criticisms of PEEP on the various survive if there is a parting of the ways - An By the way, this is the same Catholic Herald blogs on the subject, honourable end would be better than an anti- failed to divulge that little jewel of infor- papal future: it is, after all, supposed to be ‘pro Peter Tatchell whom Robert Williams pontifice’ By William Oddie, Monday, 20 June told me he so admired that he crossed mation - that he was behind the whole 2011) the street to shake hands with him on fiasco. It was only when the Jewish The news that the Cardinal one occasion. Why, I enquired, would Chronicle published their report and was withdrawing from the conference any Catholic, even a modernist con- named Robert Williams as the source, came on 14th June, leaving Daphne vert, do that? Answer: he admired that the truth came out. Robert Wil- very little time to find a replacement Tatchell’s tenacity in fighting for his liams ‘outed’ by the Jewish Chronicle speaker. Eventually, she contacted beliefs. - Peter Tatchell eat your heart out! Irish-American priest, Father Paul Really? Peter Tatchell has, Not content with having scup- Kramer, Fatima expert, author of sev- almost single-handedly, changed the pered the PEEP conference, once his eral books, living in retirement in Ire- culture of the UK into a place where- homosexual activity has gone from own starring role was exposed Wil- liams took to the blogosphere to sav- Continued on p.4 3 Whodunnit? The Case of the Cancelled Conference continued from p.3 ... age everyone in sight. Daphne He has written many very well-re- McLeod he pronounced “too old, time searched books including the well- Robert Williams she retired” which drew one blogger to known "The Devil's Final Battle", and conclude that maybe he’s after her his latest book "The Mystery Of Iniqui- Vs position as Chairman. Wouldn’t be ty" was written at the specific prompt- Robert Sungenis surprised. He’s had a (failed) stab at ing of two Cardinals in the Roman setting up his own outfit some years Curia and with the encouragement of I’ve never met Robert Sungenis ago. He was a founder member of the Bishop Khoarai who, himself, worked (pictured below, right) and had only very short-lived 'Catholic Action for twelve years in the Vatican. heard of him by (good) reputation. So, Group' about which the least said, http://www.proecclesia.com/page_newsflash.htm I’ll let him speak for himself, in his soonest mended. email to Robert Williams, below, writ- Williams was permitted unfet- ten prior to the news that Williams was Eventually, when Robert persisted in tered access to the Catholic Herald responsible for the cancellation of the blogs to defame the characters of both conference. This email from Robert Fr Kramer and Robert Sungenis, while Sungenis is published here with kind one man who had stoutly defended permission: American spellings prevail the traditional Faith was banned for To Robert Williams saying “Get a life, little woman, get a life.” Truly, whoever first said “you I have heard some rather couldn’t make it up” knew what he was disturbing news about talking about. Give the guy a medal. you and I am writing to So, having made a play Fr Paul Kramer addressing a find out if it is true. It is (arguably) for Mrs McLeod’s lucrative Fatima Conference in Rome in May 2010 reported to me that you position at Pro Ecclesia, where she took it upon yourself to conclude that enjoys a salary and terms and condi- Declaration of the Pro Ecclesia conference in tions to make Fred Goodwin’s eyes Fr Paul Kramer London that Fr. Kramer and I were water (yes, that bad) Williams then scheduled to speak at this Saturday The statements made about me by concentrated on hurling insults and was a conference "against the Jews" Robert Ian Williams are false, mali- false allegations across the internet and one that would "deny the holo- cious and libellous. The facts concern- and in the letters page of the Catholic caust." If so, this is absolutely untrue. ing my ecclesiastical status were Herald (24/6/11) about Fr Kramer, alleg- Fr. Kramer was going to speak on published in the Pro Ecclesia et Pontif- ing, not only that Fr Kramer is anti- Fatima and I was going to speak on ice announcement of the Faith of Our Semitic but that he is not a priest in Scripture, which notes were being tak- Fathers Conference, so Mr. Williams good standing, without providing a en from my article in Christian Order of had no excuse and there are no miti- shred of evidence and in ignorance of 2006 against the English bishops' gating factors. Williams has refused to the fact that all the available documen- views on scripture - a work that you, retract his libellous claims and there- tary evidence proves the opposite. ironically, highly praised at that time fore ROBERT IAN WILLIAMS is a Below is the statement published on and wrote to me about it. There was PUBLIC SINNER guilty of PUBLIC the PEEP website, introducing the re- nothing that was going to be said SACRILEGE for having deliberately placement speakers: about the Jews, much less anything and maliciously pronounced grievous about "denying the holocaust." The Fr Kramer was ordained a Catholic lies against a priest in good standing priest on 20th April 1980 in the Cathe- only possible exception to this is that of the Catholic Church. THEREFORE: we had tossed up the idea of speaking dral of Sessa Aurunca by the Bishop In accordance with the prescription of Sessa Aurunca, Mons. Vittorio M. about the pope's new book, but we set forth in the Code of Canon Law decided against it in light of Cardinal Costantini as a priest of that diocese. (can. 915), ROBERT IAN WILLIAMS The arrangement for his ordination in Burke's incident with the conference. should be DENIED RECEPTION OF Nevertheless, without knowing what that diocese was made by Mons. THE SACRAMENTS OF THE Guglielmo Zannoni, Undersecretary were the topics of the conference, it is CHURCH until such time he manifest reported that you contacted The Jew- of the Sacred Congregation of the an act of public repentance of his Clergy, who was acting in collabora- ish Chronicle, who then contacted the crimes and shall have made (Chief Executive) of Westminster Hall tion with Cardinal Pietro Pallazzini. due restitution. The arrangement for his ordination who canceled the conference, at great was finalized in a meeting between expense to Daphne McLeod and all Card. Pallazzini and Pope John Paul those who organized the conference, II in December 1979. not to mention the people who had already paid for plane fare, hotels, In 1982 he was assigned to the Dio- rental cars and such who cannot get cese of San Pablo, Philippines where their money back. This is an absolute he worked under the bishop until his outrage and whoever did it is in deep, retirement thirteen years later in 1995 deep sin and should make reparations due to diabetes. to all those who were hurt in anyway He also worked with Fr. Grüner in Father Gruner with Cardinal Renato Martino from this devious and malicious act. Canada at various times during those from Rome and Bishop Paul Khoarai from Lesotho. His Eminence Renato Martino listened Are you responsible for this heinous years with the explicit consent of the to talks, including Fr Kramer’s talk, and later act, Robert Williams?Robert Sungenis bishop of the diocese. asked to have a copy of them. He took Father Gruner's hand upon departing and said: "Corragio!" — Italian for "Courage." Ed: as we now know, the answer is “yes.”

4 Cancelled Conference Spin-off... By the editor... Westminster “puts the boot in...” (See interview with Daphne McLeod p.6) As soon as the news broke that someone speaking on behalf of the Archbishop of Westminster had added their tuppence-worth to the damage caused by the disgraceful behaviour of Robert Ian Williams in his determined efforts to destroy the Pro Ecclesia Conference, I emailed Archbishop Nichols on (14/6/11). As usual, he has not replied. Well, I’m not only not one of his ‘gay’ friends, but I’m far too ‘straight’ for my own good at times. Here’s a couple of recent examples...

forthright words. In his motion of “gay” Masses for ‘Lesbian, 14/6/11 correspondence with Bi-Sexual, (partnered) Gay and Trans- Email to + Vincent Nichols Evelyn Waugh, just after gender’ people. No faithful Catholic the Council, Cardinal would have been anything but delight- Dear Archbishop Nichols, Heenan expressed the ed that you had agreed to speak to an fear that the faithful audience of orthodox Catholics. Any The action of either you, personally, or might lose their respect sign of orthodoxy, however, is not tol- your agent, speaking/acting on your for the hierarchy, although he didn’t erated in this part of the world, so it is behalf, which resulted in the cancel- think that had happened yet. Probably of no real surprise to most of us that ling of Mrs McLeod’s Conference at not. But it’s happened now. Editor events took the turn they did. The fact the last minute, is utterly unchristian. is, however, that truly faithful and con- All the alleged concern for justice and Letter to Cardinal Burke cerned Catholics were lining up to buy peace that goes on in Westminster tickets to hear you address the central and beyond, is belied by this action. Your Eminence, issue of restoring Church discipline, Notably, you permit dissenters, here- I write to express my concern about given the decay in the UK Church at tics and apostates to speak in your your withdrawal from the Conference this time. archdiocese, without there being any hosted by the English organisation Pro It is our practice to send you copies of question of cancelling these events Ecclesia et Pontifice, after receiving our bi-monthly newsletter (current - – which it is your DUTY to prevent. letters of complaint from “devout and June - edition enclosed) which always Indeed, I emailed you as recently as faithful Catholics”. I am particularly contains documented reports on eve- interested in your reason for withdraw- 9th June 2011 to ask you to put a stop ry aspect of the crisis of faith in Scot- al, because some of us, myself includ- to the scandal of the openly land and beyond. More and more we ed, have been writing to the Vatican dissident homosexual priest James are being asked to report on the crisis for many years now to ask for help in Alison, who has been invited to speak in the Church elsewhere, notably Ire- dealing with the apostasy engulfing us on Catholic premises the first week- land, as our June issue reveals. Cath- - to no good effect. end in July, after the Soho Mass which olics in Ireland and the UK are feeling is held in the Church of Our Lady of Despite enclosing irrefutable docu- abandoned by our bishops and by the the Assumption & St Gregory in War- mentation of our concerns, which Roman authorities. It was shocking to wick Street, Westminster Diocese, as range from liturgical abuses to publicly us to hear the Holy Father praise our well you know. To date, I have not scandalous priests and bishops, in- bishops during his visit here last Sep- received the courtesy of a reply, let cluding one “radio Agony Uncle” priest tember, and to suggest that the alone an assurance that you will not who encouraged a schoolgirl to visit Church in this island is strong. It is permit this latest scandal to take an abortion clinic, and who referred anything but, as all the objective data place. homosexuals to a “gay switchboard” confirms. Your recent withdrawal from and many other such scandals, noth- the London Conference has served to We are encouraging Mrs McLeod to ing is done and we seldom even enjoy reinforce the isolation suffered by the take all possible legal action against the courtesy of a reply. Indeed, the minority of truly faithful Catholics both both the Westminster Central Hall and above mentioned radio priest was north and south of the English border. the Archdiocese of Westminster, to promoted to Honorary Canon by his recover all costs incurred in organis- It is little wonder that more and more, Ordinary, Cardinal Keith Patrick ing this event, and cancelled thanks to the believing laity are being forced to O’Brien. Hence, it is dispiriting to see undoubted malicious interference. look to the Society of Saint Pius X for the speed with which you have acted Only this morning, in Glasgow, I spoke leadership. This not only saddens us to comply with the liberal agenda, as to a man, a retired GP who has but it fills us with a righteous anger. dictated by these allegedly “devout bought three tickets and paid for his We call on you, Cardinal Burke, to use and faithful” Catholics. own plane ticket, to attend the Pro your influence with the Pope to urge Ecclesia Conference. He will be out- Your Eminence, allow me to disabuse him to obey Our Lady’s request to raged when he hears that you, either you: whoever these people are who consecrate Russia to her Immaculate personally or through your agent have written to you to complain about Heart, along with all the bishops of the (legally it makes no difference) have your proposed participation in the Pro world. Until he does so, this chaos, caused the conference to be can- Ecclesia conference, they are certain- this diabolical disorientation in the celled. ly not “devout and faithful” Catholics. Church, prophesied at Fatima, and of They are, without doubt, “liberals” which your capitulation to liberalism is It is unedifying and dispiriting to have (even Opus Dei people here are the latest manifestation, will continue to correct bishops in this way, but I “liberals”) who, more likely than not, and will accelerate. Editor make absolutely no apology for my support Archbishop Nichols in his pro-

5 Cancelled Conference: Interview with Daphne McLeod By the editor... Chairman of Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice, Daphne McLeod kindly agreed to answer some questions on the last minute cancellation of her June 18th conference, thanks to the Machiavellian manoeuvrings of Robert Ian Williams. This interview was conducted prior to Williams’ exposure in the Jewish Chronicle (see p.3)

According to the Tablet report, Cardinal Burke had met you and was fully informed about your work with Pro Ecclesia, re the “gay” Masses and your outspoken criticism of the religion programmes used in Catholic schools in England and Wales. Since he knew about your work, why do you think he suddenly changed his mind about speaking at your conference?

Cardinal Burke told us he had received "several letters from faithful and devout Catholics" who persuaded him he should not speak for us. I told him several hundred “faithful and devout Catholics” were delighted he was speaking and had sent money for tickets. We were not told who his correspondents were but the speculation on the blogs is Opus Dei who do not like us and who were present in great numbers at a Conference of Canon Lawyers he attended in Harrogate just before he withdrew. He also said he did not like the use of the word "obdurate" which was used to describe the Bishops’ refusal to teach the Faith again in our schools. This was described as a blatant attack on the Bishops. I have been called obdurate - and worse - but I did not see it as a blatant attack.

Given that you’ve had several conferences in the Westminster Central Hall, why do you think the hall-owners suddenly decided to cancel your conference?

I think it was panic. The Executive Officer who made the decision would not admit it but a Junior Officer let slip in discussion with me that the 'Jews had been in touch'. He denied it later. As I have had two phone calls from the 'Jewish Chronicle' for the first time ever, I think they were alerted first. When they expressed their concerns about racial attacks on Jews, Holocaust denial, and other wild fantasies to the Hall then they panicked. The laws on racial discrimination are severe and people can offend without even meaning to, so they rang Archbishop's House, Westminster. They won't tell me who they spoke to but whoever it was obviously put the boot in and condemned us as quite unsuitable to run a Conference in a Christian Hall - which is what they were asked. This is the real scandal. A Catholic Archbishop condemning as anti-Christian, a Catholic organisation who teach the whole faith without error, when speaking to a Methodist minister, knowing how much harm this would cause them is almost unbelievable.

What was your reaction to learning that the hall authorities had been told by the spokesman at Westminster Archdiocese that “Pro Ecclesia Et Pontifice were not the kind of people who should speak in the (Methodist) hall” ?

My reaction was one of shock. Our web-site and our material is all absolutely Catholic in content and always has been. I speak in many parishes up and down the country on the faith, and EWTN, Mother Angelica's Catholic TV Network, asked me to make a 13 part series on teaching the faith. These were repeated continuously for four years and are now selling as a set of DVDs here and in America. If what I was saying was at variance with Catholic teaching in any way this would not have happened. I would like to hear whoever it was justify his slanderous remarks.

Has this whole situation led to any changes in Pro Ecclesia’s policy and attitude towards the hierarchy?

No I don't think anything has changed with us except to make us even more determined to get the Faith taught again as the beautiful harmonic whole that it is. And of course to pray for the Church in the British Isles more fervently. I think we must also pray for the poor benighted soul who caused this disaster by misinforming the Jewish Deputies about the nature of our Conference - whatever his motives were.

6 Loftus: Holy Spirit will By Clare Webber Book Review... “rescue” Church using John Reid, author of Wake up to God, contacts us regularly to request promo- Heretic Kung... By editor tion of his book, which he distributes free of charge (see end-note for details). One of the first tasks awaiting the We did advertise Wake up to God some years ago, at which time Clare Webber new Bishop of Aberdeen (see p.16) has contacted us with concerns about some of the content. We published her letter. to be dealing with Monsignor Basil Since Mr Reid has again requested us to publish his updated version, in which, Loftus, retired priest from Diocese of he said, he took cognizance of Mrs Webber’s criticisms, we asked Clare to Leeds, whose dissent-laden writings review it for us. in a number of newspapers, including the Scottish Catholic Observer are “I liked the general thrust of it. St Michael, for example. increasingly provocative. Letters from laity in the past to the Bishop of Leeds However, on pages 32-33 there are There's not as much on the Rosary as have been ignored, but he could four Hindu ideas listed, and on page perhaps there should be, and the Lu- scarcely ignore a request from a fellow 34 Mr Reid writes: minous Mysteries are listed in a foot- bishop to “have a word” with this dis- note (but I would have been pleasantly senter. Surely? I felt that they had to be included in surprised if they had been overlooked!) this book as an example of how much One of his July Catholic Times articles (Spirit will rescue Church from all who Hinduism and Christianity have in There are lots of references to the threaten it 3/7/11), is typical. In cowardly common... current Catechism, which is unsurpris- fashion, instead of saying “this is what I'm not quite sure why it would be ing, but I'm not sure one is necessarily I believe” he takes someone else’s necessary to demonstrate that! To be a heretic for rejecting the odd para- public dissent - in this case, the heret- fair, he does go on to say, in bold print: graph from it. (I reject 840-841, per- ical Hans Kung - and presents it as if However, there is no salvation out- sonally!) it were beyond question. Thus, he side the one, Holy, Catholic and attacks Tradition by promoting Kung’s Apostolic Church, although follow- There are references in the book belief that the Church needs to be ers of other religions and none can which I don't know whether they're “rescued” because it is in danger of be saved under certain conditions. sound or not. Joseph Conrad? Kahlil retreating from “Vatican II’s teaching Gibran is listed in the recommended on liturgy, Christian unity, ecumenism, There are a couple of other occasions reading section. He might be fine, I religious freedom and episcopal colle- in the book where he says that people don't know much about him. giality.” Those of us who are working can be saved without baptism, but he Ed: according to Wikipedia he’s a Lebanese- our socks off to achieve precisely such American artist, poet and writer. Our re- doesn't mention baptisms of desire searcher points out that “he’s not exactly a “retreat” from the errors of Vatican II and blood. orthodox, more like a Teilhardian type of are severely castigated for having the pseudo-mystic.” Check out this poem: temerity to “threaten” the revolution. On page 146, he quotes a Psalm of http://www.katsandogz.com/onreligion.html The Roman Curia is - hark at this - Islam, and on the next page says: “sabotaging” the rebel gains achieved Anyhow, besides all that, there is a lot at Vatican II which is, in Loftus-lingo, This prayer to Allah (God) could be good in the book, and I don't want to to sabotage the work of the Holy Spirit: said by Christians but I am using it as make the perfect the enemy of the “...It is the same Holy Spirit driving the an opportunity to tell you about Islam. good. I can envisage lending it to cer- Church forward today who drove it And he describes Islam as: ...a system tain people, if I thought it might strike forward on that first Pentecost Sun- of religion based on untruths, deceit a chord with them. It is easy to read, day, and who inspired the Second and blasphemy... which is fair com- and most of it is sound. I've just listed Vatican Council.” Baloney. The Holy ment I guess! But I still don't see the the bits that stuck in my mind as eye- Spirit is not guaranteed to “inspire” the need to offer a Psalm of Islam as a brow-raising. Pope, merely to protect essential prayer that Christians could say, as an teachings. Vatican II was a mistake. excuse to talk about Islam! Why not Would I recommend it? Not whole- Get over it. just start talking about Islam? heartedly, but with the above In the Gospel according to Basil Lof- reservations.” Clare Webber tus, the Holy Spirit was absent from Also, I realise that Allah is the word the Church from Pentecost until Vati- used for God, even by Catholics in can II. Thus, keeping him awake at that part of the world, but the Allah “Wake up to God” by John Reid night is the thought that, without the Muslims pray to is not the true Trinitar- help of heretics like Hans Kung, the ian God that the Catholics would have Holy Spirit might lose the battle to in mind while praying to Allah. keep“the vernacular Mass according to the new Roman Missal, Mass in the There are lots of references to Vatican vernacular, with the reception of Holy II and the changes which followed it. Communion from lay-ministers in the The references to Vatican II were pos- – 46 easily read chapters (168 pages) – hand while standing..” itive, and recommended reading doc- is available free (UK only) on request uments from it (which I don't think is from Book Disciples, 7 Bradbourne Any editor who publishes this rubbish necessary), whereas all but a couple Street, London SW6 3TF on receipt of is the village idiot of Fleet Street. three first class stamps for postage. of references to the changes following Loftus needs help. But so do the Vatican II were negative (rightly so) clowns who publish - and sell - his lamenting the loss of the Prayer to theo-illiterate nonsense.

7 You have a pen, not a sword, but you Your Letters are using it just as effectively. What a cracker this latest (June 11) issue is! The piece on the Irish Requiem is I have just read the latest issue of I thought I would give you something superb. I have just returned from Ire- Catholic Truth and must congratulate to smile about and say "See, I told land, but not that part, but would have you on an exceptional edition. Great you". It was a bit slow coming to me yet loved to have partaken in that public workmanship, editorials and content. the evidence was always there. At last event, with our dear Fr Sherry. Easily the best issue you have pro- I managed to put a couple of threads duced in my years of readership. Very together. You will know that in the New (Also, I met) the Scots priest being good work and well done. In Christo, Missal the English Bishops have insist- bullied for his desire to offer the Tri- Kieran Vettraino, Shetland Islands ed that the norm in England is to re- dentine Mass at the Fatima confer- ceive standing up. They do not say ence I attended in Glasgow and we Thank you for another excellent edi- why. Enter a leading layman, who at a had quite a pleasant chat. tion of Catholic Truth, and thank you recent meeting remarked how the pre- I would venture to suggest that CT is for your support of traditional priests Vatican Catholics grovelled before the logical succession to the original such as Fr Sherry and orthodox dioce- God, meaning now we have an Adult ‘Catholic’ published in Australia in the san priests like Fr Dunn, who are fac- Faith, and that is why we stand. In early ‘70s by that great couple Donald ing persecution even from our own other words,the reason we must stand and Andrea MacLean. They ceased bishops. and receive in the hand is because we must not humble ourselves before publishing because of various pres- I have listened to a radio interview God. sures in 2000 and I am thankful that linked from your website, where Ed Now the part concerning myself. The some spiritual guidance led me to you. Balls praises Archbishop Vincent Ni- young men I have talked about were at We must also not forget dear Hamish chols for supporting the sex education a Youth Mass in St Bede`s, Basing- Fraser, whose tattered pages we re- proposals for schools in England. stoke, when at the Communion a plate ceived in New Zealand - very out of These proposals include forcing Cath- containing the Sacred Hosts was date but much read. olic schools to give non-Catholic passed around the young people, who Ad multos, Catholic Truth: more pow- teaching on issues such as homosex- helped themselves and passed the er to your elbow that pushes the pen uality, abortion and contraception. His plate on to those beside them. My or the keyboard ad infinitum. Grace is in support of these proposals, young people were furious at this sac- and yet people call me schismatic for rilege. Keep up the wonderful work of letting taking my children to the SSPX. This of course, and yes, you were the world know what is happening to right, comes from the de-sensitisation the holy Catholic Church. May God bless you in your work and of Catholics towards the Real Pres- Kate Dillon (Mrs) Wirral, England we continue to pray for the consecra- ence caused by Extraordinary Minis- tion of Russia. Our Lady of Fatima, ters of Holy Communion. pray for us. I made my resolution there and then N O T I C E Margaret Rooney, Glasgow on hearing of this. I will not receive the Sincere thanks to every- Sacred Body except from a Priest or one who donated to our I just recently found your publication Deacon, I will not receive the Sacred funds following the June through a link on the website of Chris- Chalice, except from a priest or Dea- edition. We very much tian Order. I downloaded a copy of the con. I will not give out the Chalice appreciate your generosity. To save post- age, we no longer write letters to June 2011 issue of CT. I was very myself and be a hypocrite. I will always acknowledge individual contributions. impressed. I was wondering about the kneel to receive on the mouth even subscription rate or would I be better However, if you include an email address though this will be a penance at my with your donation (this comes automati- to just download a copy every other age. So do welcome me back in the cally with paypal donations) then editor month? fold. John Kearney, Basingstoke will thank you personally. A special word May God bless you and the work that of thanks to those who contribute by reg- Ed: John debated with us on our blog, in ular Standing Order God bless you all. you do. It is very appreciated. defence of those things he’s now rejecting. WR, Louisville, USA So, yes, “welcome” John - you’ve still got Miss McMoneypenny a bit to go until you’re back to the Tradition- Ed: we’ve added your name to our mail- al Mass but this is a huge step. A very big ing list. Welcome aboard! “welcome (almost) home!” See Late Mail, p. 16, column 3 Another superb edition. I was glad to see the splendid article on devotion to the Sacred Heart and a timely reminder of all the graces and blessings available. The Editor That, coupled with the Fatima message, plus the report on the Conference Catholic Truth, provides a wealth of vital information plus an essential “wake-up” call. 10 Sandyford Place Monica Flynn, Middlesex Glasgow, G3 7NB (Donation) enclosed. ‘Catholic Truth’ is priceless and the cartoons are hilari- Tel: 0797 90 53666 ous. God bless. Mary Doyle (Mrs), Co. Kerry, Ireland Email: [email protected] The UK & Irish Bishops plus the Pope and Prefects of every Vatican Congregation, receive this newsletter. If it contradicts Catholic teaching, we invite the Hierarchy to correct us in accordance with their duty under Canon Law # 823

8 Peter Mackin Letters Extra Responds... Peter Mackin writes in issue 67 of your In relation to this latter, there is a well Following the publication of my article newsletter:" It is unthinkable that Our documented story in the life of St. in the June edition of Catholic Truth, Lord, who is omnipresent, could ever Claude de la Columbiére that goes we have received two letters ques- forget our sins". something like this: tioning whether God really does I could be out of my depth here but... Before agreeing to become St. Marga- “forget” sins confessed and absolved I sincerely believe in the messages ret Mary’s confessor, Fr. de la Co- in the Sacrament of Confession. In from the Blessed Mother, Jesus, and lumbiére first set his potential charge order to avoid confusion, I offer the many other "personages from heav- a task (a test) to prove the authenticity following as a means of clarification. en" to Veronica Lueken (now de- of her locutions with the Sacred Heart A distinction has to be made between ceased) at Bayside, New York, from of Jesus. The next time Our Lord ap- our understanding of the term “forgot” 1970 till 1994. One message reads pears to you, he said, tell Him that I and what it means to say that “God (directive #68):- would like Him to reveal to you the last forgets” which is how people tend to FORGIVES, FORGETS mortal sin I confessed. interpret “their sins I will remember no "The hope that you can offer to those A short time later, St. Margaret Mary more.” and similar verses from Scrip- who have been led astray is the returned to Fr. Columbiére and report- ture. knowledge that when the Father for- ed that she had done as he command- gives, He forgets." - Our Lady, No- Dictionaries typically define the verb “to ed. And what was the response, forget” as follows: vember 20, 1972 inquired the priest? Our Lord looked at I thoroughly enjoy reading your news- me, she replied, and said He could not 1. To be unable to remember letter, online. remember, He had forgotten. Upon (something). Name & Location Withheld this report, Fr. de la Columbiére 2. To treat with thoughtless agreed to become St. Margaret Mary’s inattention neglect: forget one's Ed: thank you for your well-meaning letter confessor. (Ed: see p. 14 for more on this) family. and subsequent emails. The Bayside 3. To leave behind unintentionally. “apparitions” are not approved by the So, does God actually forget our con- 4. To fail to mention. (Free Online Dic- Church. We pay no attention to any fessed sins? The answer is absolutely tionary but see also Chambers and unapproved alleged apparitions. Peter’s YES, in that Sacramental absolution Webster’s) comment in column 3 will, I’m sure, clear completely erases repented and con- In Hebrew, the word for "remember" is up any misunderstanding. fessed sins from the soul. God will zakar. A zikkaron is a Without wishing in any way to detract never again confront us with them, liturgical ‘remembrance’ from the excellent article of Peter either in time or in eternity. Such is the of sacred events - But, it Mackin (Issue 67), I would like to clar- Divine mercy of God. Though the Di- means more than simply ify the theological position of the vine justice may yet require of us tem- to "remember"; or rather, Church regarding confessed sins. poral satisfaction for sins confessed to the Jews, "remember" with imperfect sorrow, this in no way Peter’s assertion that “it is unthinkable meant more than it makes present again what God has that Our Lord…could ever forget our means to us. To "remember," to the washed away. Martin Blackshaw, sins” only holds true in respect to Jews, means to bring to the present, Livingston God’s omniscience. Since God knows to make present. The blessings of all things it quite obviously follows that Ed: in a subsequent email dated 14/6/11 Martin wrote: “Peter didn't contradict these remembered events are made He knows all the sins of men, both Church teaching, properly understood. It ‘actual’ or ‘present’ in each zikkaron. confessed and unconfessed. Yet, God was in the correct understanding of what http://www.philvaz.com/apologetics/p39.htm Himself declares that He forgets the was written that I had misgivings. We all say we “forgive and forget” but sins of repentant sinners. "Omnipresent," for example, in terms of in FACT we cannot actually “forget” For example, in Sacred Scripture God the subject under discussion, should have because we have a memory – what speaks thus regarding the penitent: “I been ‘Omniscient;” (Ed: that was a typo, which we really mean is that we will never will not remember all his iniquities that I failed to change, once alerted at proof-reading stage. Mea culpa!) and there was a confusion, “make present” that offence – to all he hath done...” Ezech XVIII, 22. And or let's say an absence of clarity, in the intents and purposes, we “forget” it. again: “In whatever hour the sinner distinction between the mercy of God and It’s not that we are unable to remem- shall mourn, I will not remember all his His justice. The paragraph could have ber, but we intentionally choose not to sins.” Ps. XLVII, 10. been taken to read that God does not fully mention the offence against us again There are many such Scriptural assur- forget our confessed sins and or to hold it as a grudge. will confront us with them again Thus, we can be confident that God ances from God that He remembers at our judgment in some manner does not "make present" any sins He no more the confessed sins of repent- or other. That's how I read it. ant sinners. The same assurances are has forgiven; a forgiven sin cannot be found in the works of such highly ac- Apologies for that lack of clarity. un-forgiven. But it is misleading to say Peter’s article was about the God “forgets” because a bad memory claimed spiritual writers as the XVI latest fad for having lay people is not on anyone’s wish list - when we century Benedictine Abbot, Ludovicus give parish retreats, not specifically about Blosius, as well as in all Church ap- this topic: however, felix culpa, it’s given us forget it can cause us problems! proved revelations of the Sacred the opportunity to correct a not uncommon Thus, better to avoid the term be- Heart, most notably those to St. Faus- confusion in terminology. Does God, in cause it can confuse people into think- tina, Sr. Josefa Menendez and St. fact, “forget”? Read Peter’s clarification - ing that, after all, God is not Margaret Mary Alacoque. see column 3. omniscient - all-seeing. Ed: thanks Peter. For more on this, see p.14

9 Thinking Through Catholic Truth I have come to Scotland to unteach heresy... St. John Ogilvie Ecumenism... St John Ogilvie SJ What the Church has always taught... Feast 10 March

In our June edition (Issue No. 67) we reported the fact that the Archbishop of Glasgow, Mario Conti, had invited parishioners in St Matthew’s Bishopbriggs to listen to an Episcopalian “Bishop” preaching at Vespers on 24 May, 2011. On 16 June, 2011, also in Glasgow, we report on a talk delivered by another Protestant minister on the subject of An Ecumenical Liturgy for Baptism? (See p. 12) In order to be aware of the seriousness of these scandals, we need to remind ourselves of what has always been the traditional teaching of the Church regarding ecumenism. Of course, we must communicate with non-Catholics, but the purpose of such conversations has always been to lead them closer to the Faith, to bring them into the Church. For example, before Vatican II there were weekly talks for non-Catholics held in at least one Glasgow city centre church. The impression is now being given that this is no longer necessary or desirable. Below, some quotes from key papal encyclicals prior to the current crisis in the Church. "But God forbid that the As soon as the social question is be- remain who does not accept, recog- sons of the Catholic ing approached, it is the fashion in nize and obey the authority and su- Church ever in any some quarters to first put aside the premacy of Peter and his legitimate way be hostile to those divinity of Jesus Christ, and then to successors (# 11) who are not joined with mention only His unlimited clemency, Let, therefore, the separated children us in the same bonds His compassion for all human miser- draw nigh to the Apostolic See, set up of faith and love; but ies, and His pressing exhortations to in the City which Peter and Paul, the rather they should al- the love of our neighbour and to the Princes of the Apostles, consecrated ways be zealous to seek them out and brotherhood of men. True, Jesus has by their blood; to that See, We repeat, aid them, whether poor, or sick, or loved us with an immense, infinite which is "the root and womb whence afflicted with any other burdens, with love, and He came on earth to suffer the Church of God springs," not with all the offices of Christian charity; and and die so that, the intention and the hope that "the they should especially endeavour to gathered around Church of the living God, the pillar and snatch them from the darkness of er- Him in justice and ground of the truth" will cast aside the ror in which they unhappily lie, and love, motivated by integrity of the faith and tolerate their lead them back to Catholic truth and to the same senti- errors, but, on the contrary, that they the most loving Mother the Church, ments of mutual themselves submit to its teaching and who never ceases to stretch out her charity, all men government. (# 12) Pope Pius XI maternal hands lovingly to them, and might live in peace MORTALIUM ANIMOS On Religious Unity, January 6, 1928 to call them back to her bosom so that, and happiness. But established and firm in faith, hope, for the realization of this temporal and and charity, and being fruitful in every eternal happiness, He has laid down ...from the very beginning of Our Pon- good work' [Colossians 1:10], they may with supreme authority the condition tificate, We have committed to the attain eternal salvation." # 9 Pope that we must belong to His Flock, that protection and guid- Pius IX Encyclical Quanto Conficiamur we must accept His doctrine, that we ance of heaven those Moerore, On The Promotion of False Doctrines, must practice virtue, and that we must who do not belong to par. 9, August 10, 1863 (Denzinger 1678) accept the teaching and guidance of the visible Body of the Peter and his successors.” Pope Catholic Church, sol- “Let all those, therefore, (Saint) Pius X Notre Charge Apostolique emnly declaring that af- "Our Apostolic Mandate" Given by Pope Pius X ter the example of the who detest the wide- to the French Bishops August 15, 1910. spread irreligion of our Good Shepherd We times, and acknowledge So, Venerable Brethren, it is clear why desire nothing more ar- and confess Jesus this Apostolic See has never allowed dently than that they may have life and Christ to be the Son of its subjects to take part in the assem- have it more abundantly.. .and from a God and the Saviour of blies of non-Catholics: for the union of heart overflowing with love We ask the human race, but who have wan- Christians can only be promoted by each and every one of them ... to seek dered away from the Spouse, listen to promoting the return to the one true to withdraw from that state in which Our voice. Let them not refuse to obey Church of Christ of those who are they cannot be sure of their salvation. Our paternal charity. Those who ac- separated from it, for in the past they For even though...they have a certain knowledge Christ must acknowledge have unhappily left it. To the one true relationship with the Mystical Body of Him wholly and entirely. The Head Church of Christ, we the Redeemer, they still remain de- and the body are Christ wholly and say, which is visible prived of those many heavenly gifts entirely. The Head is the only-begot- to all, and which is to and helps which can only be enjoyed ten son of God, the body is His remain, according to in the Catholic Church... We wait for Church... ” # 16 Pope Leo XIII Encycli- the will of its Author, them with open and outstretched arms cal Satis Cognitum On The Unity of the Church, exactly the same as to come not to a stranger's house, but para 16, 29 June, 1896 He instituted it.(# 10) to their own, their father's home. # 103 Furthermore, in this POPE PIUS XII MYSTICI CORPORIS one Church of Christ CHRISTI Encyclical on the Mystical Body of no man can be or Christ, 29 June, 1943

10 The Law & The Prophets My original career ambition was to cy doesn’t seem to follow from their By the editor... become the criminal defence lawyer “too many cooks” policy. We all know who would put Perry Mason in the that when there’s work to be done, a barrister who runs the Association of dock, found guilty of not being the everybody expects somebody to do it, Catholic Lawyers of Ireland.(ACLI) http://catholiclawyersblog.wordpress.com/ World’s Best Lawyer after all. Not to but even though anybody could do it be: the tossed coin came down ’tails’ (in this case answer an email) nobody Mrs Higgins played a leading role in for teaching. Hence, instead of does. Clearly, everybody thought opposing a blasphemous exhibition spending my days gazing at that anybody could do it but nobody held in the University of Cork on 24 juries of “twelve realised that everybody wouldn’t do it. June. She emailed to ask if I would good men and Thus it ended up that nobody did encourage visitors to our website to true” I found myself what anybody could have done, and contact the Garda (police) because being gazed at (in to this day I haven’t received a reply to the Blasphemy law is still in force in awe and admira- my email to Open House. Ireland; she provided the required tion, although I say telephone numbers, email addresses In any event, it is surely wig-scratch- it myself) by groups and even a template letter which I ing stuff to think that, of all the lawyers of 30-odd teenag- posted on our website. At last, in all the land to whom the half dozen ers, a sizeable pro- I thought, a Catholic lawyer or so Open House editors might have portion of whom regularly presented who clearly understands her wrongly attributed the Cairns’ obitu- cast iron alibis for homework-not-done Baptismal and Confirmation ary, they pick the one who is easily that would tax the sharpest Prosecut- prophetic duty to defend and the best known Catholic lawyer in ing minds. And too bad for all those promote the Faith, publicly Scotland, generally wheeled out to innocents who, in my absence, have when necessary, even using comment on matters Celtic, if not been unjustly imprisoned for crimes her legal expertise to further Catholic, not least when he found him- they didn’t commit - coin-tossing the Kingdom of God on this self the target of anti-Catholic terror- should be illegal. No question. earth. No lights being hidden ism recently (Terrorists, thugs and cowards, under bushels here. Instead, It’s only added, then, to my own frus- Herald Scotland, 22/4/11) So, while I’m a we saw Catholic Truth readers in Ire- trated (by a wretched ten pence coin) chicken and ham gal myself, I definite- land alongside Johanna Higgins, act- ambition to notice that while there are ly smell a fish here. ing to publicly protest a proposed Catholic legal eagles who write for With Everybody, Somebody, Nobody blasphemous exhibition where Our La- dissident publications such as The and Anybody at the Open House dy was to be insultingly portrayed. Pill1 and its Scottish competitor, Open office too busy to answer my email, it This made a refreshing change for House, published in the Diocese of was time to put on my detective hat - Dunkeld in Scotland, there are pre- me, since I’ve had to bite my tongue pity coins only have two sides; this when listening to Scottish lawyers tell- cious few who publicly adhere to or- was my next preferred career choice gans of the ‘traditionalist cause’ (ie ing me that they must, at all costs, although, since teaching requires de- avoid ‘controversy’. But didn’t Christ publications which adhere to the entire tection skills and, even better, since Catholic Faith) such as Catholic Truth. warn us, most seriously, against teachers frequently get to be Judge putting any such worldly considera- Thus, we are left wondering precisely and Jury, I mustn’t complain. how many allegedly Catholic lawyers tions before the truth: “What does it in Scotland hold to the Catholic Faith I discovered that the David Cairns profit a man if he gain the whole world in its fullness during this time of un- obituary was, in fact, wrongly and suffer the loss of his own soul?” (Mark 8:36) precedented crisis in the Church. “Not attributed to Paul McBride a lot”, seems to be the answer. QC, when I wrote to Mr I am aware, of course, that there are McBride. His office replied often prudential judgments to be The June/July 2011 edition of Open immediately and courte- made. Not everyone can speak out all House carried an obituary for David ously, to let me know that the the time on everything. Sometimes, Cairns MP which, it turns out, is obituary had been written by Brian even, a professional person has to wrongly attributed to Paul McBride Fitzpatrick, Advocate and not Paul remain silent. I’ve been in that position QC. Now, there’s a thought. Unlike McBride. Pause for dramatic effect. myself during my years of trying to any other publication I’ve ever known, I then redirected my letter to Mr Fitz- work out the true from the false home- Open House lists a string of editors. work alibis. So, there are occasions Major newspapers seem to amble patrick. It was Fitzpatrick’s praise-fest for David Cairns MP the failed (and when silence may be understandable along with one editor; I mean, it was and justifiable: indeed, the Patron difficult enough to keep up with the openly ‘gay’) priest who had aban- doned his priestly ministry to pursue Saint of Lawyers, St Thomas More, is palaver at the News of the World when the classic example of the fact that they named the current editor and a political career, that first re-ignited my desire to publish something on the sometimes a prudential silence is pref- maybe a previous couple of editors. erable to public challenge. Can you imagine if they’d had a per- absence from traditional Catholic pub- manent list of names all holding the lic life of members of the legal profes- However, a lawyer who argues his title “editor” to trot out on every news sion. case for prudential silence only to pub- bulletin? In any case, I find that when My second eureka moment came in licly praise and pledge loyalty to dissi- I write to an Open House “editor”- any the form of an email from a lawyer in dent members of the hierarchy, of them - nobody replies. So, efficien- Ireland, namely Mrs Johanna Higgins, cannot justify his silence. Whatever he Continued on p.17 11 Ecumenical Archdiocese of Glasgow ... By the editor...

Readers send me things in the post that they pick up in churches or that come with the Catholic newspapers. Here’s a very interesting (to put it mildly) little card that arrived recently. The text is reproduced below. All that’s missing is the Archbishop of Glasgow’s coat of arms that appears in the left hand corner of the original card. Still, take my word for it, the meeting advertised below most certainly carries the Archbishop’s personal seal of approval...

The Archdiocesan Ecumenical Commission invites you to a Friends of Ecumenism Evening at St Saviour’s Hall, 57 Merryland Place/Summerton Road Govan G51 2QF (nearest subway Ibrox, buses Arriva23, Glasgow First89 pass the door)

Thursday June 16th Refreshments served from 6.45, meeting begins 7.15

An Ecumenical Liturgy for Baptism? Renewal of Baptismal Promises in an ecumenical Setting. Speaker: Rev David Wallace

RSVP to Margaret Long at the above address or email [email protected]

“I have doubts, particularly relating to the after-life...” Religious Life to be Archbishop Conti quoted in an article entitled Rome’s Quiet Radical in The Memo Scotsman, 15 January, 2003 Restored? By editor The archbishop’s doubts are, sadly, obvious. No bishop Two very informative articles published in Catholic World Report (CWR) in January who believed in a God who established one Church to be 2011, sent to us by a Religious in the the sole ordinary means of salvation and who believed, English Midlands, report on the reprehen- with divine and Catholic Faith, the teaching of the Fathers sible conduct of some superiors seeking to block the apostolic visitation of women of the Church, that “outside the Catholic Church there is religious in the USA, which has no salvation” could possibly permit a Protestant minister sometimes been confused with the to float the idea, on Catholic premises, that Catholics could ever partici- quite separate Vatican doctrinal assessment of the (the equally pate in an “ecumenical baptism.” See p.10 for pre-crisis, authentic reprehensible) Leadership Catholic teaching on ecumenism. Conference of Women Religious. Fruit of ecumenism: laity cation above all and thus inspire our Both articles - How Is It Going? An update separated brethren to embrace the on challenges to the apostolic visitation of sisters and The Origins of the “New Nun” ignorant and confused ... tenets of Christianity unequivocally.” (CWR January 2011) are extremely interesting The ignorance and the confusion of What does this mean? “No point in and illuminative, and we invite the Reli- the laity is apparent week after week attacking other Christian denomina- gious who sent them to us to write a in the pages of the so-called Catholic tions... The hierarchy must pursue ec- commentary, if necessary using a pseudo- umenism... (and) promote Catholic nym, to update us on the condition of the newspapers but occasionally one Religious Life in the UK. item stands out - such as the letter education (for the benefit of non-Cath- from Gerard McCabe, Glasgow, given olics).” Is correcting Protestant and The CWR reports look forward to Sisters pride of place in the Letters Page of Non-Christian errors “attacking”? “reclaiming the beloved role they play in Crazy mixed up stuff. But note: this the Church.” We would be delighted to the Scottish Catholic Observer (SCO) publish an article from a Sister assuring on 8/7/11. layman is informed enough to read us that we will be getting our nuns Catholic newspapers and to submit In his letter, Gerard McCabe begins back. Right now, with a very few letters for publication, apparently un- by affirming that the Catholic Church honourable exceptions, we are not fazed by his own ignorance. is the one, true Church. Good. He convinced. However, apart from Until Catholics wake up and smell the regurgitating the contents of the two then writes this: “...There is no point CWR articles, there’s not a lot any of in attacking other Christian denomi- heresy that IS ecumenism, there is us can say except that we do miss seeing nations, they are manmade and are much cause for concern. Sisters who look like nuns and talk like vulnerable to outside influences and “The hierarchy must pursue ecumen- nuns and act like nuns. Hopefully, then, pandering to the whims of mankind. ism”? Well, that’s not what the popes our next edition will include an informed The hierarchy, while pursuing ecu- taught before the current crisis in the article on the current state of the Religious Life in the UK. Over to you Sister! menism, must promote Catholic edu- Church - see page 10.

12 Defending the Defamed Sister Lucy called it “a diabolical diso- rientation” in the Church. Pope Paul By Martin Blackshaw VI called it “the smoke of Satan.” Pope Benedict XVI describes it as “really This article was originally submitted to the Catholic Herald in terrifying.” Fr. Kramer describes it as response to several articles and blogs published by them “the work of Freemasonry.” attacking Fr Paul Kramer and Robert Sungenis. (see p.3 ff) The Herald rejected it. We publish it below... Whatever the label, the same theme of a great upheaval in the Church and During his evening prayer service at Now, permit me to put matters into in the world commencing in the twen- Fatima on May 13, 2010, Pope Bene- perspective. Fr. Paul Kramer is an in- tieth century is to be found in the dict XVI said he was bringing the suf- ternationally renowned author and approved prophecies of Our Lady of fering “of a wounded humanity, of the speaker, a priest who has studied au- Quito and Our Lady of La Sallete. It is problems of the world” to Fatima. His thentic Catholic prophecy for more also to be found, declared Sister Lucy, Holiness also spoke of the “sufferings than thirty years. He was ordained on in chapters 8-13 of Apocalypse, which of the Church,” amongst which he the personal authority of Pope John chimes with Cardinal Ratzinger’s counted the clerical sexual abuse Paul II, remains a priest in good stand- 1984 observation that the Third Se- scandal, which he linked with the ing and draws a number of Church cret pertains to what is revealed in Third Secret of Fatima. prelates to his Fatima talks in Rome Sacred Scripture concerning the last The Pontiff’s final comments were and elsewhere. times. particularly noteworthy in that he high- He shared the podium at this year’s One must research all of these sourc- lighted not only attacks against the Fatima Conference in Rome with an es, together with the Encyclicals of the Church and the Pope from outside, Archbishop and a Bishop, also in good Popes on the evils of Communism but also those within which he said standing in the Church, as well as with and Freemasonry, if one is to put Fr. were occurring “in a really terrifying respected Vatican journalists Paulo Kramer’s writings and lectures into way.” Rodari and Andrea Tornielli, co-au- context. It is simply not acceptable to By declaring thus, Pope Benedict XVI thors of the book Attack on Ratzinger. rubbish his good name on the basis of doubtless moved himself to “the Present in the large audience were a 5-minute background check. fringe” of the Church in the eyes of several prelates and priests, and no The same must be said in respect to Stuart Reid Charterhouse, a place less than Vatican Cardinal Renato Catholic apologist, Robert Sungenis. where “Third Secret fanatics,” Martino. Not a bad public for a so- Researching such sources as the “conspiracy theorists” and “flat- called “fanatic.” website Jews against Zionism and the earthers” hang out. Fr. Kramer’s knowledge of the Mes- book Zionism in the age of the Dicta- sage and Secret of Fatima is such that tors, by Jewish author Lenni Brenner, It was to this region, inhabited by would soon have made it clear that “paranoid evangelicals,” that he con- when the Vatican released what it called the definitive Third Secret in the anti-Zionist does not automatically signed Fr. Paul Kramer and Robert equate to anti-Jewish. Sungenis in his article of June 24. year 2000, he and other equally com- petent authorities on the subject knew Robert Ian Williams (Letters, June 24) Unfortunately for Mr. Charterhouse something was missing. would have done well to check these his method of reasoning also con- Only the ‘Vision’ of “a man in white” sources before taking it upon himself signs Our Lord: “why do you seek to to scupper the Pro Ecclesia confer- kill me,” St. Paul: “Our fight is against was revealed, not the accompanying text that is known factually to exist and ence by first frightening off Bishop the spirits of wickedness in the high Robert Mutsaerts with his slant on Fr. places,” and even Pope Paul VI: “the which Sister Lucy herself recorded in her memoirs as commencing with the Kramer, then by scaremongering the smoke of Satan has entered the ministerial team at Methodist Central Church and set her on a path of auto words: “In Portugal the dogmas of the faith will always be preserved, etc.,” Hall and contacting the Jewish Chron- destruction” to this place of icle (I know not whether by night or by “unacceptably eccentric” people. the “etc.” indicating that elsewhere these dogmas would be endangered. day) with tales about Robert Sungenis. So where does that leave Mr. Charter- (Ed: it has been suggested by some Fatima schol- The damage done to Pro Ecclesia and house and his conformist allies who, ars that the ‘etc’ might be followed by words to the to souls by this hysterical portrayal of effect “as it will be in other places where the Tradi- without having thoroughly and objec- tional Faith is preserved…” Not necessarily, as we the ‘Faith of our Fathers’ conference tively researched their subject, wrote have always presumed, that it won’t be preserved as a ‘Faith of our Fuhrer’ rally, is incal- elsewhere, since the crisis of Faith has, in fact, so malignantly even against a priest in affected Portugal.) culable. good standing? For ten years Vatican sources denied For Williams, Charterhouse and Co, Well, considering that “the fringe” is a the existence of this text, claiming that Homosexual Masses in Soho, woeful liberal term generally applied to those the Fatima Message and Secret were Catechetical formation in Catholic who reject what the late Michael Dav- now fully revealed and in the past. schools and a breakdown in ecclesi- ies described as “a revolution in cope Well, those claims were finally put to astical discipline in the Church are to and mitre,” preferring instead the silence by the Holy Father himself, be less detested, it seems, than a Mass and Faith that sanctified the whose words at Fatima in 2010 vindi- man like Robert Sungenis. What was saints and martyrs throughout the cated both Fr. Kramer and his con- it Our Lord said about straining on a centuries up to Vatican II, one may frere, the great Fatima priest Fr. gnat and swallowing a camel? confidently declare that Mr. Charter- Nicholas Gruner. We now know for house and friends are, as Gerald certain that the chastisement alluded Martin Blackshaw (Edinburgh) is a well- Warner so aptly put it, “Catholic Lem- to in the text of the Third Secret of published Catholic writer and sometime mings heading for the cliff edge.” Fatima is yet unfolding. columnist with The Remnant.

13 Theology: does God “forget”? by editor... Saint Claude de la Colombière - A Likely Story?

On receipt of the two letters published on p.9 (Letters Extra), we Since the story attrib- decided to seek the opinions of two traditional priests, independently uted to St Claude de la of each other. We asked these priests, who are living and working in Colombière in the two different countries to answer the question: “Does God forget our letter from Martin confessed/absolved sins?” Below, their responses: Blackshaw (see Letters Extra, p.9) appears to favour the literal inter- pretation of “forget” which casts doubt on the omniscience of God, we asked Father A Father B the same two priests1 for their opin- ions on the story - see p.15. This story surprised me, not least be- The judgment will embrace all works, "I will be merciful to their iniquities: cause I had recently read a life of St good or bad, forgiven as well as unfor- and their sins I will remember no Margaret Mary, whose life and work in given sins, every idle word (Matthew more." On this passage (Hebrews 8: 12) promoting the devotion to the Sacred 12:36), every secret thought (1 Corinthi- St Thomas Aquinas comments and Heart is interwoven with the life of St ans 4:5). With the exception of Peter distinguishes: Claude. Yet, no mention was made of Lombard, theologians teach that even this conversation. On the contrary, the secret sins of the just will be made "He says, I will be merciful toward according to the version I read, St manifest, in order that judgment may their iniquities, namely, in the present Claude de la Colombière became be made complete and that the justice life by relaxing the punishment; and convinced of the authenticity of St and mercy of God may be glorified. their sins I will remember no more, Margaret Mary’s apparitions following This will not pain or embarrass the namely, in the future by punishing conversations with both the saint her- saints, but add to their glory, just as sins: I will not remember all his iniqui- self and her Religious Superior. That the repentance of St. Peter and St. ties which he has done (Ez. 18:22); the saint was accepting, humbly and Mary Magdalen is to these saints a in obedience, the persecutions that source of joy and honour. Forgive us our sins for Thy Name’s came her way as a result of the fact sake (Ps. 78:9); Remember not our that her Community did not believe In other words, at the last Judgement former iniquities (Ps. 78:8); The gifts her, led Fr Claude de la Colombière to all our sins will be known to everybody and the call of God are without repent- discern the truth about her appari- but if they have been forgiven, they ance (Rom. 11:29), i.e., God does not tions. repent that He remitted our sins here, will be shown not to our shame but to as though to punish them again. the glory and mercy of God. To say Thus, I asked Mr Blackshaw if he that our life will be shown like a video could provide a source for this story. The point St Thomas makes is that with all the sins taken out would cer- He replied that his original source is a God's forgetting is in terms of its con- tainly be contrary to this (Ed: see Peter traditional priest but he supplied an sequences. He still knows what sins Mackin: New Look Parish Missions - No account written by Fr Robert Altier on we have committed - He knows every- Thanks! Issue No. 67, June, 2011). his website, Fundamentals of Catholi- thing! - but as they are forgiven this cism Strictly speaking, God cannot "forget" has no consequences, as St Thomas http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f- anything as he knows all things even religion/1625268/posts explains. before they happen. In a figurative where the priest makes mention of the sense, Scripture does say that God same story. To read this extract from will not remember our sins insofar as, Fr Altier’s website and the responses once they have been forgiven, God from the two priests, see p.15. does not take them into account any- more for purposes of retribution. 1 We also asked some Scots and Irish diocesan priest-readers who were unanimous in their view that this story is dubious.

If I don’t write everything down I for- get it... So: (1) send a St Thomas Aquinas, known as the donation to Catholic “Angelic Doctor” (c.1225-1274) Truth (2) Visit Cork in September...

Continued on p.15 14 Saint Claude de la Colombière - a likely story? By the editor... Continued from page 14... Martin Blackshaw emailed the following account of the story he first heard from a priest, and which he mentions in his letter (see p.9). The account below is by Fr Robert Altier - and appears on his website: Fundamentals of Catholicism http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1625268/posts ...There is a story of St. Claude de la Colombiere, the spiritual director to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. At the time of this story, he was not yet her spiritual director. St. Margaret Mary is the one to whom Jesus appeared in the apparitions of the Sacred Heart, and He said to her, “These things are going to be happening to you, so you need to have a spiritual director, somebody who is going to help you through this.” He told her that He wanted her to go up the street and talk to Father Claude de la Colombiere and that he was to be her spiritual director. Well, Father Claude was no dummy. She comes trooping in and says that Jesus appeared to her and that Father Claude was supposed to be her spiritual director. He did not go for that idea too well. All you have to do is ask yourself what you would think if your next-door neighbor came over and said, “Guess what, Jesus appeared to me!” You would probably say, “Sure He did. Uh-huh.” You are going to be skeptical; at least I hope you are. St. Margaret Mary was rather insistent, and so finally after a while he said, “Fine. If Jesus appears to you again, ask Him what my last mortal sin was. If you can tell me my last mortal sin, then I will be your spiritual director.” So she went off, and sure enough Our Lord appeared to her. You can only imagine the conversation, but she got her answer and she went back to Father de la Colombiere. He asked, “Did Jesus appear to you?” “Yes, He did.” “Did you ask Him what my last mortal sin was?” “Yes, I did.” “What was His answer?” “When I asked what your last mortal sin was, Jesus looked at me and said, ‘I don’t remember.’” And so Father Claude said, “I’ll be your spiritual director.” He had confessed his sin and it was gone, so when Jesus looked at his soul, it was not there and He could say, “I don’t remember.”

We decided to ask a number of priests, including two traditional priests for their opinions on this story. All of the diocesan priests we asked regarded the story as unlikely, in the extreme. However, due to lack of space, we are restricting publication to the replies received from the two traditional priests who re- sponded independently of each other as follows: Father John Croiset SJ Father A Father B On St Claude de la Colombière

I looked around in a number of old Although I haven't been able to check This great Servant was Blessed (now French lives of St Claude de la Colom- the anecdote, it is quite possible that Saint) Claude de la Colombiere, who bière and St Margaret Mary, and can St Claude de la Colombière did make was sent as superior of the Jesuits at find no trace of that anecdote. It this request of St. Margaret, knowing Paray le Monial. This wise director, sounds dubious and highly improba- in advance that if the apparition was so enlightened in the ways of perfec- ble, at least in the form in which it is true, Our Lord would not reveal what tion, in which he himself had made related. he had done - to do so would amount such great progress, soon recognised Even if it were genuine it would have to a form of detraction which could that there was something extraordi- to be understood in the same way that only have been done by a false appa- nary in this soul. He examined with we understand the many passages of rition. great care all that had reference to her Scripture where God speaks in human interior dispositions. He discovered terms. God knows all that has hap- "God does not reveal the sins which such treasures of graces in her that pened, including the sins we have are made known to Him in confes- he said that he did not think that there committed - if they have been forgiv- sion, but hides them." (St Thomas Aqui- was then in the world a soul more nas Suppl. 11, 1) en, then He forgets them in terms of cherished by God, or one that Jesus Christ favoured with such intimate their consequences in this life and the Our sins will be manifest only at the next. communications. He reassured her, final judgment. If Our Lord did in fact and ordered her to allow the Spirit of Many are the questionable anecdotes say 'I don't remember,' this should be God, which she had hitherto resisted in circulation (Padre Pio is a favourite interpreted as a mental reservation ie. through fear of illusion, to act freely in target), and the main criteria of dis- “I don't remember it for any practical her. From that time, Blessed Claude cernment are common sense and a purpose because it has been forgiven” held her in great esteem; he even Catholic nose. consulted her in many important en- terprises and assures us that he re- Drama out of a crisis? Dogma out of an opinion? ceived great help through her prayers. The above is taken from the One of the key lessons from the conflicting In any event, let’s give the last word to Sister book:- ‘The Devotion to the opinions above, is that we ought not to make a Margaret Mary’s spiritual director, Fr John Sacred Heart of Jesus’ by Fr dogma out of a matter of mere opinion. It takes Croiset SJ, who has written the definitive John Croiset SJ away nothing from the sanctity of St Claude if book on the Sacred Heart devotion. He makes (Available from TAN books ISBN: 9780895553348). this story is untrue. On the contrary, that he no mention of this story, but clearly holds St https://www.tanbooks.com/index.php/D was able to discern the truth of Sr Margaret Claude in the highest esteem. See Column 3 evotion-To-The-Sacred-Heart-Of-Jesus Mary’s revelations is, arguably, far greater TAN books ISBN: 9780895553348). evidence of his own holiness than the setting of such a “test”. Continued on p.16 15 Father John Croiset SJ On St Claude de la Colombière continued from p.15 There is no mention of the alleged Late Mail... “test” incident in ‘The Devotion to the Does New Bishop in Sacred Heart of Jesus’ by Fr John An apologetic letter was received from Croiset SJ (details on p.15, column 3). Scotland Signal Royal Mail, dated 5/7/11, enclosing two letters that had been “found after The cover states that this book “is not Vatican II “BUD” being allegedly withheld from delivery ‘just another book on the Sacred by a former Royal Mail employee.” Heart devotion’, but it can be truly said (Business to be the book on this devotion. It is our policy to publish all letters, if Un-Disturbed) ? possible unedited, so we apologise, in Written by the spiritual director of St Abbot Hugh Gilbert turn, to the two correspondents con- Margaret Mary, the book comes from (pictured), currently Ab- cerned. the pen of a man intimately familiar bot of Pluscarden Abbey with every aspect of the revelations near Elgin, will be in- Below, belatedly, we now publish given by Our Lord to this famous saint; stalled as the new Bish- their letters, which were written in thus the book is actually the ‘key’ to op of the Diocese of April 2011, with thanks to both for understanding the importance and the Aberdeen on the Feast of Our Lady’s their generous donations enclosed. centrality of the Sacred Heart devotion Assumption into Heaven on 15 Au- These readers are amongst our regular for our lives as true Catholics. gust. We have written to offer him our donors, for which Miss McMoneypen- prayers and good wishes as he takes ny sends her sincere gratitude. up this awesome task. But even more than being the book on God bless you both - Ed the Sacred Heart devotion, Fr As usual, the optimists are out in force, Croiset’s work is a revelation to us all even among our informed readers, just why so few people become great who see the appointment of a monk as I have just read - for the saints, just why so few Catholics – the definitive sign that it’s good news 10th time - Catholic despite going frequently to the Sacra- all the way now - previous dreadful Truth October 2010. All ments – fail really to grow in the life of Benedictine appointments (such as are brilliant and this is grace and make great progress in the Cardinal Basil Hume) notwithstanding. special. How well you spiritual order. diagnose the condition of the Church These optimists miss the tell-tale in Great Britain. A Church in schism. warning signs evident even in the bish- Your zeal and wit is unstoppable and op-elect’s initial statement, where he your humour lightens our daily cross. describes himself as “a Catholic Chris- A small donation from the Infant of tian...” Excuse me? As Blessed John Prague (any financial problems, He Henry (Cardinal) Newman said: “The will solve.) Cheque enclosed. I will Catholic Church IS the Christian dis- pray for Fr Gruner and his apostolate pensation.” In other words, a Catholic in Rome in May. Our Lady of Fatima, IS, by definition, a follower of Christ. protect us. All prayers and best wish- So looks like ecumania is set to contin- es. ue apace. ‘Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Je- The other disappointing sign of Vati- Margaret Parffrey, Worcs, England sus’ was actually commissioned by can II BUD is the bishop-elect’s hum- Our Lord Himself through St Margaret ble: “I have much to learn” whereas Enclosed, small contribution to your Mary, and as the author neared com- what we really need now are bishops excellent magazine. pletion of it, the Saint told him that Our who understand that their vocation is Lord said it was so completely in ac- to teach and to uphold the authentic cord with His wishes, that it would Apostolic Catholic Faith. never be necessary to make any change in it. In any event, we wish the new Bishop of Aberdeen well as we urge him to Catholic Truth must be asserted and maintained at all costs and it does not Later she revealed to Fr Croiset that it take care not to “learn” from the happen on fresh air, as they say. was Our Lord Himself who had in- wrong people. ‘The northern lights of spired him with the ideas in this book old Aberdeen’ as the song goes, have Kindest regards. and that it was so pleasing to Him that long been switched off in terms of the ‘none other but Himself could have Catholic Faith. Let’s hope and pray John Baxter, Manchester, England arranged everything so much to His that Bishop Gilbert will change that. wishes . . . ” Important Notice... The next edition of the newsletter will be Let nothing new be published in November. introduced, but only what has been handed down. Please send your letters or emails as Pope Benedict XV soon as possible, and keep them short and to the point, to avoid editing. To Father LP from USA, sincere thanks Our Lady of Aberdeen Feast of Our Lady of pray for him Aberdeen, for your most generous cheque received 9th July. as we go to press. God bless you!

16 The Law & The Prophets, by the editor, continued from p.11 may say privately to this or that bishop and was his friend from around 1994... professionally compromised by his as- is irrelevant: his public support and We nearly ceased speaking, but sociation with a papacy-hating publi- endorsement of any Scottish prelate thankfully drew back from that breach, cation run (very inefficiently) by a makes him complicit in the episcopal when he made clear his opposition to multitude of editors whose collective crimes which have resulted in souls Gordon Brown’s premiership...” 4 opinion seems to be that the Church across Scotland being led astray by Note, no mention of any “breach” due was set up in 1962 and isn’t quite false teaching, whether in pulpits, by to Cairns’ abandonment of his priestly finished yet. speakers invited to spread dissent and work for souls. That would be contro- At least Brian Fitzpatrick has the con- heresy on Catholic premises, or in versial. viction of his lack of Catholic faith. He rags like The Tablet and Open House. Born in 19615, Brian Fitzpatrick grew is putting his pen where his heart is, But it’s not all bad news. We’ve al- up in the thick of the diabolical disori- so to speak. That’s more than can be ready noted the example of the Irish entation that has gripped the Church said for certain allegedly traditional Catholic lawyer, Johanna Higgins. since Vatican II, with the very nature Catholic members of the legal profes- And the team at Catholic Truth is very and purpose of the Church under con- sion who would do well to meditate on grateful indeed for the willing support stant attack. Fully propagandised, he one of several pithy reminders of our on various levels, that has come to us fits comfortably into the Open House mortality from the lips of their Patron from Paul Rutherford, a lawyer in the milieu: “...Our sin was in failing to re- Saint, Thomas More who once said: Shetlands whose personal account of spond fully to the calls of the Second “We cannot go to heaven in feather- his dissatisfaction with the modern Vatican Council, to cease being in- beds.” 7 Church featured in our April 2011 edi- fants and instead People of God. By tion (Issue No. 66). doing so we allowed the management St Thomas More was born 7 February,1477/78. He was Paul is a solicitor in private practice in of the ordained wing to claim the executed at Tower Hill, 6 Shetland. He was also Depute Fiscal whole mantle of the Church...” 6 July, 1535 for his refusal to deny papal authority. Sir there for about 29 years but due to Given his very positive obituary of the Thomas More refused to family pressures he resigned last year. openly ‘gay’ ‘former’ priest, David recognise the King as the Mr Rutherford, however, is the excep- Cairns MP, and with this article in head of the Church in Eng- tion rather than the rule, as I dare say land, asserting his Catholic mind, I wrote to ask Brian Fitzpatrick Faith even though it cost is the case, too, of Johanna Higgins for his reassurance that he held to him, not just his prestigious legal post, but his in Ireland. orthodox Catholic teaching on the life- family and, ultimately, his life. Other lawyers, who pay lip service to long commitment required of those Not only can we not go to Heaven in our cause and, like Nicodemus, have who seek ordination to the priesthood, featherbeds, but we can’t get there at come to us ‘by night’, argue, as I’ve as well as his affirmation of Catholic all if we deny Christ, who established pointed out above, that they must, at sexual morality. I specifically asked the Church we now call ‘Catholic’, all costs, avoid controversy. him to confirm his acceptance of Cath- complete with hierarchical structure, olic teaching on the intrinsically disor- Well, tell that to Brian Fitzpatrick. He’s sacraments, the lot: to those who dered nature of homosexual acts. In a not afraid to be associated with a dis- preach this central truth, heaven is reply typical of his ‘liberal’ and intoler- sident publication, sold in Catholic promised: “Everyone that shall con- ant school, Fitzpatrick writes: churches and bookshops, which has fess me before men, I will also con- promoted cohabitation as an accepta- I have your letter of 27th June re the fess him before my Father who is in ble preparation for marriage2 and obituary I penned for Open House heaven.” (Matthew 10:32) which has come peril- after the death of the late David Cairns Anyone, however, who chooses to ously close to promot- MP. make public professions of support for ing assisted suicide and I wonder who died and appointed you the hirelings, the false shepherds euthanasia.3 Pope, arbiter of Orthodoxy or perhaps about whom Scripture persistently Head of the Congregation of the Doc- warns, is, eternally speaking, an en- trine of the Faith? I have no intentions dangered species: as are those, like Indeed, there’s just not of providing the "re-assurance" you Fitzpatrick, who choose to identify enough space to footnote all the edi- seek uninvited nor in engaging in any themselves with the enemies of the tions of Open House that have pub- further discourse with you or your pub- Church, those who, belatedly, have lished dissent on doctrine and morals; lication. I suspect Mr Cairns embraced espoused the cause of the Protestant all the popular chestnuts are there, more Christian charity than you have Reformers. For them, Christ has very from ‘gay’ rights to women’s ordina- ever thought possible. By email, 8 July 2011 sharp words indeed: “But he that shall tion. But Mr Fitzpatrick is not fazed by deny me before men, I will also deny this fact - far from it. His obituary on Beautifully, Brian Fitzpatrick proves him before my Father who is in heav- the death of David Cairns MP is a my point. Those legal eagles who en.” (Matthew 10:33) case in point. Obviously, there is a would have us believe that they share need for a certain sensitivity in writing our concerns about the destruction of Commentators often point out that Je- about the deceased but Fitzpatrick’s the Church in Scotland and the wider sus reserved his strongest rebukes for obituary gave no hint of any disap- UK, but plead “prudence” for remain- the legal profession: “Woe to you, law- proval of Cairns’ decision to ditch the ing silent, are put to shame by the yers because you load men with bur- priesthood in pursuance of a political likes of Fitzpatrick. Brian Fitzpatrick, dens which they cannot bear and you career while not shying away from who is apparently unable to distin- yourselves touch not the packs with commenting on political differences of guish between a nice bloke and the one of your fingers.” (Luke 11:46) and opinion: “His active priestly ministry exercise of true Christian charity, “Woe to you, lawyers for you have ran from 1991 to 1994... I knew him manifestly does not feel in the least taken away the key of knowledge. You Continued on p.19, column 2 17 Communion in the Hand Introduction by the editor...

Journalist, Gerald Warner is the token traditionalist at the Scottish Catholic Observer (SCO). His articles on matters liturgical invariably result in the letters page being hogged by opponents of his “point of view”. ‘Liberal’ columnist and retired priest, Monsignor Basil Loftus suffers no such fate, for while there may be the occasional letter seeking to correct his misleading if not mischievous writings in the same SCO, where the Holy Spirit is portrayed as having been sound asleep until 1962, the “big guns” - bishops and liturgical “experts” - reserve their ire for Warner’s temerity in questioning the shenanigans going on in your average local parish church. And so it came to pass that, in the SCO dated 1/7/11, pride of place was given to a lengthy letter from Fr Andrew McKenzie, Secretary of the National Liturgy Commission, in which he took serious issue with Gerald Warner’s article the previous week. Gerald, you see, had asserted that the practice of receiving Holy Communion in the hand is a ‘Protestant Tradition’. Well, we can’t have that. So, Fr McKenzie rolled up his sleeves and fought back. His central piece of “evidence” that “historically,Communion in the hand is the ancient tradition” (not receiving on the tongue) rests on the dubious part-quotation attributed to St Cyril of Alexandra where he instructs those receiving in the hand to “make (their) left hand a throne for the right hand, which is about to receive the King.” Trouble is, this is only part of the quotation: the rest of it reads: "....Sanctify your eyes with contact with the Holy Body. When your lips are still wet, touch your hand to your lips, and then pass your hand over your eyes, your forehead and your other senses, to sanctify them." This curious, if not superstitious, instruction has caused scholars to question the authenticity of this text. Some think that it is really the saint's successor who wrote it - Patriarch John, who succeeded Cyril in Jerusalem. John was of suspect orthodoxy according to correspondence from various saints including St. Augustine. In any event, St Basil, who lived around the same time as St Cyril, (4th century) absolutely forbade Communion in the hand except in times of persecution. And the fact remains that not a single pope, including even the modern liberal popes, has ever promoted Communion in the hand. It has been permitted only in times of persecution and, in our own times, it has merely (and wrongly) been tolerated. History records, then, that only in times of persecution, or in a time of major crisis in the Church in the twentieth/twenty-first centuries, has this practice occurred in the Church. And even then, never promoted as a good by the popes, merely as a dispensation from the norm, which, to this day, is to receive kneeling, and on the tongue. Given Fr McKenzie’s rebuke to Gerald Warner that “his historical theological meanderings may unnecessarily disconcert” those faithful who are receiving Communion in the hand coupled with his apparent lack of concern about the theologically illiterate meanderings of Basil Loftus who uses his SCO column to falsify the very nature and purpose of the Church, I’d love to be a fly on the wall when he reads the following view - apparently direct from Heaven - which clearly supports Gerald Warner’s “meanderings”. Sr. Agnes received a stigmata on the that moment, clinging to Our Lady's The View palm of her left hand during Mass on medal, I prayed, "Mary, help me!" I several occasions that was so painful tried to endure the pain by thinking of From Heaven she was unable to open her hand to the sufferings of Jesus on the Cross. By USA Blogger: A Catholic Thinker take Communion, as was the custom This all took place in just a short time, then at her convent. Because of this, but when I was bearing the pain, it she received on the tongue. When seemed a very long time. I still cannot I just finished reading a very good she reflected upon these things, she forget it. At Holy Communion, book about the Church-approved came to believe that what she everyone received in their hands, but apparitions of Our Lady in Akita, experienced was evidence of a divine since I could not open my palm Japan to Sr. Agnes Sasagawa (Akita, wish for Communion on the tongue. because of the pain, I received in my by Francis Mutsuo Fukushima.) Eventually, her entire convent went mouth." back to receiving on the tongue. There's a statement about the "Regarding this occurrence, Fr. breakdown in the Church that is often A lot of the quotes in the book are Joseph said, "The episode on July quoted: from a Fr. Joseph Marie Jacq: "Fr. 26th shows us that God wants lay Joseph Marie Jacq of the Paris people and nuns to receive From Our Lady's third and final Foreign Mission Society was one of Communion on the tongue, because message from October 13th, 1973: the eye-witnesses (to the miraculous Communion by their unconsecrated "Each day recite the prayers of the tears) and a theologian who came to hands carries with it the potential Rosary. With the Rosary pray for know deeply about the spiritual danger of hurting and undermining the bishops and priests. The work condition of the nuns at Akita." Fr. faith in the real presence." In backing of the devil will infiltrate even into Joseph was a devout missionary who up this argument, he quoted the the Church. One will see cardinals served the Japanese people for 33 pontifical pastoral instruction opposing other cardinals... and years. Memoriale Domini issued by Pope bishops confronting other bishops. Paul VI on May 29, 1969, which tells The priests who venerate me will be A few more quotes will illustrate this us that the faithful should receive scorned and condemned by their thrust, one of the main topics of the Communion on the tongue 'in order to confreres." book - pay attention especially to the protect their sensibility and spiritual passages from Papal documents of worship' towards the True Presence That's quite something in itself, but not Paul VI and John Paul II: of Jesus in the Eucharist. This really what I'm posting about now. The pastoral instruction explains why the book, unexpectedly to me, makes "Mass started a little after 5 pm. Just Universal Church introduced and very strongly the case for Communion as Sister Ishikawa was renewing her mandated the custom of receiving on the tongue. It does this first of all, vows, my hand started to ache almost Communion on the tongue in early amazingly, using evidence from the unbearably. I almost screamed. It centuries." miraculous happenings at Akita itself, was bleeding and ached just as if but backs up its claim with quotes someone had pierced my palm all the "Just as Pope John Paul II also from documents by Paul VI and John way to the back with a nail. I tried with stressed in his 1980 pastoral letter Paul II, as well as the observed my whole strength to bear it. My Dominicae Cenae, the custom was behavior of these pontiffs. forehead was in a greasy sweat. At introduced for the spiritual 'common Continued on p.19 18 Communion in the Hand: View from Heaven by ‘A Catholic Thinker’ continued from p.18 good' of the lay communicants and I think I can make this statement: If (or speaking) errors and heresies, nuns, whose hands are not you support Communion in the hand, commanding a platform due to their consecrated." you are in opposition to at least the legal status. personal opinion of every single Pope Scripture reveals, as the Prologue to "During her Mass appearances in that's gone on record in history on this the Catechism of the Catholic Church Japan, Mother Teresa, probably issue. No Pope has ever spoken in confirms, that “God our Saviour de- unwittingly, demonstrated her deep favor of Communion in the hand, and sires all men to be saved and to come reverence and keen spiritual sensibility it seems that the two longest-reigning to the knowledge of the truth." (1 Tim toward the Real Presence of Jesus in post-Conciliar popes both had very 2:3-4) the Holy Eucharist by receiving only on strong opinions indeed against it. So, in answer to Brian Fitzpatrick’s the tongue." arrogant questions, nobody died and One should then ask, how did appointed me “Pope, arbiter of Ortho- "Fr. Joseph said one of his fellow Communion in the hand come to be doxy or Head of of the CDF”. What priests confessed to him that he had the norm in America and most of the happened was this: I received the suffered from a guilty conscience, as world? I'm not going to get into that Sacrament of Confirmation which he is forced by his bishop to distribute here, as it seems to cause trouble* but sets us apart for the work of prophe- Communion onto laymen's hands." I'd encourage personal research. sy, to be “soldiers of Christ” engaging Also, be mindful that you are always in spiritual battle for the salvation of "Pope John Paul II visited Japan in free to take Communion on the tongue our own soul, and the souls of others. February 1981. Fr. Joseph was happy at a Novus Ordo Mass - I do, and by Part of the duty of prophesy is to warn to confirm, with his own eyes, that the my observation I'm part of a relatively against spiritual danger. I’m surprised Pontiff distributed Holy Communion small but not insignificant and growing that Mr Fitzpatrick hasn’t grasped this onto Communicants' tongues ONLY, minority. basic tenet. Instead, he has, appar- even when Catholics thrust their hands ently, espoused the error of thinking towards the Pontiff. The Pontiff * This short essay was originally it’s his job to reshape the Church in showed exactly the same example intended for the Catholic Answers his own image, condoning certain when he visited France and other Forums, where the moderators delete sins, now presented as rights, and countries." any posts that make too strong an attacking truth. argument against disobedience and How did Communion in the hand end unorthodoxy. You can't talk about Yet, if any one of us - lawyers or not - up winning approval? "Fr. Joseph things like Weakland & Bernadin fail to do everything in our power to replied that when an Episcopal defying the Vatican in the 70s on bring everyone we know to that Conference ignores the Pontiff's Communion in the hand and other knowledge of the truth which is es- teachings on this issue and pressures similar matters, for example, without sential for salvation, as revealed by the Pontiff to distribute Holy risking banning. Printed here with kind permission. God to His Church, we will have to Communion in a layman's hand, the explain ourselves at our judgment. Pontiff has no other way but to comply ‘A Catholic Thinker’ runs the blog of that Maybe it’s just as well that coin came with the demand. The Pontiff was name and describes himself as “a lay man down “tails.” I mean, who wants to forced to comply, because he did not with a day job.” He is married and lives in hear those terrible words: “Woe to want to risk antagonizing the Episcopal the USA with his wife and two children you, lawyers!” Conference in question and thereby http://www.catholicthinker.net/ trigger a possible schism." Controversy?

[The book attempts to demonstrate Bring it on... that the Fatima prophecies concern, in part, coming lack of reverence for the The Law & The Prophets Eucharist. I won't go into that here. The book also gives a short segueway continued from p.17 to the story of Marthe Robin as well. Footnotes yourselves have not entered in: and Marthe Robin was a French stigmatist 1 I’m told some sound priests still refer to The Tablet as those that were entering in, you have who survived on nothing but the “The Pill” due to its preoccupation with undermining Cath- hindered.” (Luke 11:52) olic teaching on contraception. The Tablet undermines Eucharist for decades. Multiple Catholic teaching on just about everything, nowadays, but witnesses, on multiple occasions, Note, Jesus is not referring to the sec- this label was first used at the height of the public dissent reported that when given Communion, ular work of lawyers. If you’re selling over the publication of Humanae Vitae. 2 Posing a Problem: Family Issues and Faith / Grappling the Host was seen to fly miraculously houses or prosecuting robbers, you with Cohabitation, Professor James O’Connell & Editorial from the priest's hand to her mouth. can rest easy. Christ’s ire was directed respectively, Open House, Issue No. 150, June 2005 The author presents this as further at those lawyers who, sinfully, distort 3 Editorial: Teach, Oh Teach Us How to Die, Open House, spiritual and religious truths, and thus Issue No. 183, May 2008 evidence that it is the Divine Will that 4 Obituary: David Cairns MP, Open House, Issue No. the norm for the reception of Holy lead souls away from His Church. To 212, June/July, 2011 (wrongly attributed to Paul McBride Communion be on the tongue. I don't support, in any way, those who are QC, actually written by Brian Fitzpatrick QC - see email responsible for the destruction of the from office of Paul McBride, 27/6/11) want to go into this any more deeply 5 Wikipedia since these happenings have not been Faith is a grave matter. Those who http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Fitzpatrick_28Scottish given Church approval. However, could have made a difference due to _politician29 everything about her and her life is their prestigious legal positions will 6 Sex Abuse and Lay Responsibility, Brian Fitzpatrick QC, Open House, Issue No. 202, May 2010. pay a heavy price. As will those who, completely orthodox.] 7 Life of Thomas More by William Roper; More to his like Brian Fitzpatrick, engage in writing children, c. 1510

19 which is a more effective stick with which to From the editor... beat the Church.2 Cure for an obsession: get Anyway, who needs the ACP, as if Ireland another one... Mason Cooley Dear Reader ... hasn’t enough to put up with already, in the shape of Fr Thaddeus Doyle of Curate’s Diary On this scandal, too, Robert Williams has On page eleven we were introduced to Every- notoriety. A glance at a couple of his ‘Diary’ kept silent. “Maybe he’s living in a closet” I body, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody. Now headlines should be sufficient to warn even the hear you say, to which I reply: “I wish he’d meet Brainless, Clueless, Hapless and Gutless most theologically illiterate souls that this lock the door.” Whatever, the simple fact is - Mr Robert Ian Williams (see p. 3 ff). ‘Diary’ is to Catholic doctrine what hamburg- that, for a very long time, Mr Williams has ers are to haute cuisine: the ‘Diary’ headlines been notably silent on matters where he should As we go to press, Williams continues his are almost always devoted to people who have be speaking out: he’s now found his main savage attack on Fr Kramer, this time in the come back from the dead, seen Hell, met a mission in life which seems to be to put an end letters page of the Catholic Times (17/7/11) celebrity ‘on the other side’ or similar baloney to Fr Kramer’s work of preaching and writing He is obsessed with Fr Kramer: bad enough - here’s a couple: that his behaviour is putting a strain on 83 year about Fatima. Note that while he has accused old Daphne McLeod, not in the best of health, Three people saw Our Lady talking with St. Fr Kramer of holding all sorts of controversial but he phoned up an 87 year old man, supporter John Vianney (September 10); views, he’s not risen to Fr Kramer’s challenge of both Catholic Truth and Pro Ecclesia, and to provide a single shred of evidence for any of worried him about all of this. This elderly He was dead and possibly in hell for an hour it. Brainless, clueless, hapless and now gutless. gentleman then rang Daphne, very upset about (March 11). the whole thing. Shortly afterwards, he had a Austria, Ireland and England are clearly having stroke and died. Poor Ireland, poor Austria. And no help from a hard time hanging on to any semblance of Brainless, Clueless, Hapless or Gutless. Catholicity. And sadly, not-so-sunny Scotland In any case, Robert Williams’ obsession with is no better. The recent news that a Polish convincing all and sundry that Fr Kramer is not Now, as we go to press, we learn that Arch- priest in the Diocese of Aberdeen is a “priest in good standing” is preventing him bishop Vincent Nichols of Westmin- resigning from the priesthood after from grasping the most basic fact that a priest ster is to host a Conference fathering a child is one scandal that is normally incardinated in the diocese of his for Quest, came as no surprise to anyone with ordination, which Fr Kramer has identified an ounce of Catholic sense who had and posted at every turn. I’d be surprised if seen his rock band performances you could Google “News of the reported on local TV news: World” and not find “Italian “Father Koczorowski shot to Diocese of Sessa Aurunca” fame three years ago for enter- first up on the return list. The taining church-goers across Brainless Williams is looking the country with his rock for a sign that reads: “Fr band of priests. The revela- Kramer is incardinated here.” tion has been hard to take for leaders of the local Apart from pursuing Fr Kramer, Polish community.” 4 however, the clueless Williams is leaving the clergy well alone. How can it come as a You’ll not read a letter from him in “revelation” that a any Catholic newspaper defending young priest who Catholic Faith and morals against the spends his time play- multifarious attacks on both by Catho- ing in rock bands, with lic “priests in good standing.” Not even a glamour puss dancing pro- when 300 of them in Austria signed up to vocatively by his side, has succumbed the Call to Disobedience “initiative”, to sexual temptation? Revelation? I mean, I’m where they suggest saying a public prayer no genius (you can contradict me if you like) at every Mass for church reform; giving but when I saw this diabolical rock band on the Communion to everyone who approaches TV news, I knew the game was up. It’s aston- the altar in good faith, including divorced ishing that laymen like Williams can live with Catholics who have remarried without an an- the debauched clergy without finger touching nulment; allowing women to preach at Mass; keyboard, but not with sound priests who and supporting the ordination of women and the support group for practising Lesbian, Bi- preach the truth about Fatima. And woe betide sexual, Gay and Transgender (LBGT) Catho- 1 anyone who proclaims authentic Catholic married men” - not even that brazen act 3 moved the pen of the hapless Williams to lics in his pastoral centre. teaching that non-Christians, including Jews, express the slightest concern. Not with a faith- can only be saved, like everyone else, through ful and scholarly priest preaching Fatima on the This is the very same Vincent Nichols whose the merits of Christ’s death. There is no salva- loose. spokesman told the Protestant vicar in charge tion outside the Catholic Church. End of. And of the Methodist Westminster Central Hall, that if the brainless, clueless, hapless and gutless So, while the hills may be alive with the sound Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice (PEEP) were “not the among us don’t like the fact - too bad. Take it of music in Austria, there’s total silence from kind of people” they would want to speak on up with God. their premises. The PEEP speakers (Fr Kramer the brainless, clueless and hapless Robert Wil- 1 and Robert Sungenis, both falsely accused of Austrian priests call for reforms; cardinal plans dialogue liams. with group Catholic News Agency, 12/7/11. being anti-Semitic) were going to address the 2 The Cloyne Report, Tony Flannery The equally apostate ACP (the Association of Fatima Message and Sacred Scripture respec- http://www.associationofcatholicpriests.ie/ - alleged - Catholic Priests in Ireland) don’t tively. Quest will be speaking about ways to 3 Archbishop Nichols’ pastoral centre to host conference know whether to be more angry at the (latest) overturn Catholic teaching on homosexual ac- for dissenting Catholic gays. tivity. If I didn’t know better (and, unfortunate- http://spuc-director.blogspot.com/2011/07/archbishop- new translation of the new Mass or the child nichols-pastoral-centre-to.html ly, I do) I’d be wondering if Archbishop sexual abuse scandals. They can’t work out 4 Catholic priest quits after fathering a child Nichols was living in a closet. http://news.stv.tv/scotland/highlands-islands/240416- catholic-priest-quits-for-fathering-child/

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