@Contra Mundum@ Volume XI, Issue 3 October 2008 The Congregation of St. Athanasius A Congregation of the Pastoral Provision of Pope John Paul II for the Anglican Usage of the Roman Rite http://www.locutor.net vative. Freedom isn’t an end in itself. NOTES It is just an opportunity to do good FROM THE or bad. Dialogue isn’t endless. It is directed towards truth. Democratic CHAPLAIN government is for what end? John Remembering a Giant Paul II is constantly taking us out of the comfort zones of small thinking wenty-five years ago, it was a toward ultimate issues. And he insists Monday evening when the white T that we cannot talk about politics or smoke rising from a smoke stack in economics, or philosophy or war the Sistine Chapel announced that while at the same time avoiding the the conclave of cardinals had elected “God” word and ultimate truth. a new Pope, Karol Wojtyla. We had As a fairly recent convert to Ca- to learn to pronounce his name. the frontiers of the States, the politi- tholicism, I am amazed and dis- Cardinal Law, then a bishop in Mis- cal and economic systems—do not gusted at the contempt shown to souri, thought he must be one of the be afraid! Christ knows what is in the Holy Father by the lightweight African cardinals. Twenty-five years man, and He alone knows it.” faculty members of our seminaries have passed, and it is safe to say no Technology, science, politics, and and so-called Catholic colleges, and one person has had a more profound sociology all combined to try to even staff persons in our chanceries. influence on more people and the crush the fundamental uniqueness John Paul II is the moral giant of our course of human events in that time, of each person. And thereby crush age. There is no close second. His than the Holy Father. And he had this search for truth, which leads to encyclicals and apostolic letters are dedicated his life, and his pontificate, the One Who created truth. The Pope pure gold, and they should have been to the defense of the dignity of each said, “the exclusion of Christ from incorporated into a continuing educa- person, and the moral need in each the history of man is an act against tion program for all Catholics long person to seek truth. In his sermon man.” And the battle is ongoing. His ago. After the Mass inaugurating his at the Mass inaugurating his pontifi- defending of the dignity of person- pontificate twenty-five years ago, in cate, the Holy Father said, “Do not hood has made the Holy Father larger the procession in front of St. Peter’s be afraid! Open wide the doors to than any ordinary political catego- Basilica, John Paul II lifted his staff Christ, to His saving power—open ries. He is neither liberal nor conser- that bears the Crucified Christ. He Page 18 Contra Mundum was adding gesture to the theme of his reign, in Christ alone do we all find happiness and salvation. He is old and frail now. He can no longer lift high the cross. But he clings to it still, because it is his one reliance and the anchor of his life. Which is why John Paul’s life has been such a blessing to us all. ¶ A sermon preached by Father Brad- ford on 16 October 2003, the twenty-fifth anniversary of the accession of Pope John Paul II The Holy Father went to God on April 2, 2005. Once the Pharisees asked Our Lord: “Is it that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that lawful to give tribute to Caesar or not?” Our are God’s.” Keep the Pedagogical Lord asked for a coin and then inquired, Thus we are taught to give both the State and Advantage “Whose image and inscription does it bear?” the Church what is due to each, in accordance They answered, “Caesar’s.” And Our Lord with the end that each pursues. ublic opinon on abortion has said: “Render, therefore, to Caesar the things Pbeen remarkably stable since Roe vs. Wade. (Most Americans ¶ During October the Congregation will conduct an Every Member Canvass for the financial support of its programs in 2009. reject legal abortion except in cir- cumstances of rape, incest and pre- gotten. The more they fought to keep abortions to earlier ones, and from serving the mother’s physical life it legal, the more people rejected the partially-delivered babies to embry- and health.) Movement in public “pro-choice” mindset. Now that the onic stem cells. Of course, the earlier opinion has been in the pro-life direc- Supreme Court has agreed to hear in pregnancy an abortion occurs, the tion, and the most visible movement the partial-birth abortion case again, smaller and less visible the baby is, came when the reality of partial-birth to determine if the federal law that the more people are willing to allow abortion first came to public light just President Bush signed to ban it is abortion. The pedagogical advantage over a decade ago. In that debate, constitutional, we are poised for we have in talking about partial-birth what actually happens to the baby another burst of news coverage that abortion is that people learn when was the focus, rather than abstract can only be helpful to the pro-life they are led from the more obvious argument about “freedom of choice” cause. to the less obvious, from the concrete and “Constitutional rights.” to the abstract, and from what is self- Now that it’s too late to hide partial- evident to what is reached only after Abortion supporters would have birth abortion, pro-abortion groups a process of reasoning. been well-advised to just let us ban want to do the next best thing: shift partial-birth abortion and let it be for- the focus of the argument from later Notice how much of the pro-life Contra Mundum Page 19 Saint Francis of Assisi very day Jesus humbles himself just as he did when he came from his heavenly throne into the Virgin’s womb; every day he comes to“E us and lets us see him in abjection, when he descends from the bosom of the Father into the hands of the priest at the altar. He shows himself to us in this sacred bread just as he once appeared to his apostles in real flesh. With their own eyes they saw only his flesh, but they believed that he was God, because they contemplated him with eyes of the spirit. We too, with our own eyes, see only bread and wine; but we must see further and firmly believe that this is his most holy Body and Blood, living and true.” Saint Francis of Assisi ¶ St. Francis’ Day is Saturday, October 4th. conversation in our day is about stem Let’s be perfectly clear: The de- cells, cloning and morning-after pills. struction of the tiniest zygote is just Don’t misunderstand me—these as wrong as putting scissors in the things must be addressed, and we at neck of a partially-born baby. But Priests for Life are addressing them. it is not just as obvious. If we want But don’t think that the shifting of to rouse the public to action and the conversation is by accident or change public policy, we must keep totally by the decision of pro-life the primary focus where we have the leaders. The pro-abortion movement pychological and pedagogical advan- would much prefer that we talk tage—partial-birth abortion—and Saint Luke the Evangelist [October 18] about stem cells than partial-birth move from there to the less obvious The Collect abortion, and we must not let them issues. Almighty God, who didst inspire thy succeed in making the public forget servant Luke the physician to set forth Fr. Frank Pavone in the Gospel the love and healing power that partial-birth abortion is still of thy Son: Graciously continue in thy being performed without criminal ¶ Fr. Pavone is National Director, Priests for Church the like love and power to heal, Life. This editorial appeared in the July-Au- penalties. The upcoming Supreme to the praise and glory of thy Name; gust 2006 issue of the organization’s news- through the same thy Son Jesus Christ Court case on this procedure should letter. You may subscribe free of charge at our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with propel us into action, talking about [email protected]. The Supreme thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. it constantly and demanding that Court upheld the constitutionality of the federal law banning partial-birth abortion candidates for public office declare ¶ Saint Luke’s Day is Saturday, October on April 18, 2007. th where they stand on it. 18 . Low Mass at 9 A.M. in the Convent th ¶ Respect Life Sunday is October 5 . Chapel. Page 20 Contra Mundum MORAL DECLINE Then, there is this matter of sex, Saint Simon and or should we say “sexual deprav- t seems wherever I go and with Saint Jude ity”? The sacramental nature of whomever I converse, there are I marriage appears to be a thing of The Apostles those deeply concerned about the the past. Adultery in some circles [October 28] moral decline in this country. This is is even expected and has become a The Collect especially true on my book signing way of life.