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The Catholic Faith and “Once-Upon-A-Time Catholics” Deacon James H

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The Catholic Faith and “Once-Upon-A-Time Catholics” Deacon James H The Catholic Faith and “Once-Upon-a-Time Catholics” Deacon James H. Toner Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church 22 September 2011 I. Why does it matter if someone leaves [and goes elsewhere or becomes lax]? A. “Many elements of sanctification and of truth are found outside [the Church]” B. The Catholic Church “is the sole Church of Christ” (Lumen Gentium #8; CCC #819, 816). C. “If it is true that the followers of other religions can receive divine grace, it is also certain that objectively speaking they are in a gravely deficient situation in comparison with those who, in the Church, have the fullness of the means of salvation” (Dominus Iesus [6 Aug 2000] #22). D. Those who publicly reject the Lord will be rejected (Mt 10:33; cf 2 Tm 2:12). 1. “They could not be saved who, knowing that the Catholic Church was founded as necessary by God through Christ, would refuse either to enter it, or to remain in it” (LG #14). (Cf. “invincible ignorance”) 2. “Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart . may achieve eternal salvation” (LG #16). (Cf. “baptism of desire”). II. Four nouns (see CCC #2089) about swerving from the truth (2 Tim 2:18): A. Apostasy: total repudiation of the Christian faith (CCC #2089). B. Heresy: obstinate denial (while professing Christianity), after Baptism, of a truth which must be believed with divine and Catholic faith; denial of orthodoxy. 1. Material heretic: does not recognize Church authority and thus denies it. 2. Formal heretic: knowingly, willingly, and culpably denies the Church’s teaching authority C. Incredulity: the neglect of revealed truth, or the willful refusal to assent to it. D. Schism: Refusal of submission to the Holy Father or of communion with the members of the Church subject to him. (Cf. Ps 55:12-14, Mt 10:36.) III. Ut Unum Sint (Blessed John Paul 25 May 1995). “That they may all be one”: John 17:21. About 40,000 Christian denominations today. One CHURCH (not a denomination). Consequence of Sola Scriptura as discussed last time. IV. Ecumenism: Christian movement through prayer and dialogue to re-establish unity. A. Charity B. Clarity: The “Spirit” of Vatican II should be understood as the Teaching of Vatican II. V. With all that understood, why would anyone leave the Church? A. Our failure—that is, your failure and mine—to proclaim the Kingdom in thought, word, and deed. Point one finger and three point to us! B. Abuse/Mortal Sin/Felonies: ephebophilia. A sweet/sour reminiscence. C. Clerical arrogance or “tyranny” D. Clerical preparation problems (the OCS analogy): See Michael Rose, Good Bye! Good Men. There has been a true reformation in seminary education/formation. E. Liturgical misinformation F. Parishioner arrogance, demand for “concessions,” or apathy (Rv 3:16, Mk 8:38). 1. At time of marriage 2. At time of sickness and death G. Ignorance and catechetical catastrophe (see CCC 1783-1785). H. Hatred. The Nightmare World of Jack T. Chick (book by Jimmy Akin). VI. Who’s “Catholic”? (Answer, by the way: Where Peter is, there is the Church!) A. FSSP: Fraternitas Sacerdotalis Sancti Petri. Completely in accord with the Church. Established 1988 to educate/train priests in the traditional liturgy of the Roman Rite (extraordinary form of the Mass—Latin Mass). See Thomas Woods, Jr., Sacred Then and Sacred Now: The return of the Old Latin Mass. B. St. John Cantius of Chicago (http://www.cantius.org). Completely in accord with the Church. Offer the Tridentine Mass (Latin) and the Mass of Paul VI (Novus Ordo). C. A look at the Missalette: who can licitly receive Holy Communion? D. U.S. Anglican Ordinariate: Completely in accord with the Church, but using pre- (Vatican II) conciliar liturgical tradition. (The “ACC” [the Anglican Catholic Church] is NOT in accord with the Roman Catholic Church. Pope Leo XIII in 1896 said that Anglican orders are “absolutely null and utterly void.”) E. SSPX (Society of St. Pius X): They reject the Novus Ordo Mass and much of the teachings of Vatican II (including the Catechism). See Patrick Madrid and Pete Vere, More Catholic Than the Pope. Ordinariate in the offing (as of 9/14)? F. “The True Catholic Church (TCC)”: Pope Pius XIII (“elected” in 1998; died 2009; they’re now electing a new “pope”). They are SEDEVACANTISTS—no real pope since the death of Pius XII in 1958 (until Pius XIII, that is). G. “The Old Catholic Church” rejects Vatican I (1869-1870), which formally defined the doctrine of infallibility. Celibacy is “a personal decision.” H. Rent-a-Priest? Without faculties. “If the church says no, call us with your reasonable request”—from their web site! But you can get a beach wedding. (Of course, that would be because they can’t offer a Catholic Church!) I. Finally: American “Catholic” Council (Abp. Vigneron of Detroit warned against it) , Call to Action, VOTF, New Ways Ministry, Dignity, “Catholics” for Choice [that is, the choice to kill the baby in the womb]: these movements challenge orthodoxy with regard to various issues (such as homosexuality, holy orders, the beatification of Pope John Paul [whose papacy, Call for Action says, was “a divisive and often painful experience”—for Marxists and heretics, true!]), among others. Cardinal George of Chicago: “I wish to make it clear that, like other groups that claim to be Catholic but deny central aspects of Church teaching, New Ways Ministry has no approval or recognition from the Catholic Church and that they cannot speak on behalf of the Catholic faithful in the United States.” These protestant (lower case p) movements try to create a liberal, parallel magisterium. J. Ubi Petrus, ibi ergo ecclesia: Wherever Peter is, there must be the Church. --St. Ambrose of Milan (340-397). Other recommended books: Bill Donohue, Secular Sabotage; Fr. Richard Hogan, Dissent from the Creed; Fr. Richard J. Neuhaus, Catholic Matters; and Father Peter M. J. Stravinskas, Salvation Outside the Church. .
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