Rome-SSPX: Fr. Franz Schmidberger on the Negotiations

In an interview recently conducted by Fr. Franz Schmidberger of the SSPX the following key point regarding the SSPX position was made on the Second Vatican Council. It should be noted that central to the SSPX position is the strong belief that certain pastoral elements of the Council are contrary to previous Papal teaching. One may agree or disagree with the SSPX on this, but the fact remains that they do refer to Magisterial teaching. 

It has become evident in the talks that took place since October 2009 until April 2011 that there are significant differences of perspective concerning the Second Vatican Council, certain texts of the council and the postconciliar magisterium. Everybody had agreed that it would not be easy to find an agreement between the views of the postconciliar magisterium and the view that we support along with the Popes of the 19th century and the constant teachings of the church. And I think as long as these wounds are not healed with the correct medicine, and that would be to talk openly about those points that do not fit together, there will be no real solution for the crisis in the church.

The full interview may be read here. 

The video may be watched here with English subtitles. 

Islam: Heaven and Hell

Following on a number of entries on Islam, and the need to have constructive dialogue,  it is also important to not forget the grave theological problems and errors that Islam presents vis-a-vis Christianity. From the Catholic Encyclopedia: 

The torments of hell and the pleasures of Paradise, but especially the latter, are proverbially crass and sensual. Hell is divided into seven regions: Jahannam, reserved for faithless Mohammedans; Laza, for the Jews; Al-Hutama, for the Christians; Al-Sair, for the Sabians; Al-Saqar, for the Magians; Al-Jahim, for idolaters; Al-Hawiyat, for hypocrites. As to the torments of hell, it is believed that the damned will dwell amid pestilential winds and in scalding water, and in the shadow of a black smoke. Draughts of boiling water will be forced down their throats. They will be dragged by the scalp, flung into the fire, wrapped in garments of flame, and beaten with iron maces. When their skins are well burned, other skins will be given them for their greater torture. While the damnation of all infidels will be hopeless and eternal, the Moslems, who, though holding the true religion, have been guilty of heinous sins, will be delivered from hell after expiating their crimes.

The joys and glories of Paradise are as fantastic and sensual as the lascivious Arabian mind could possibly imagine. "As plenty of water is one of the greatest additions to the delights of the Bedouin Arab, the Koran often speaks of the rivers of Paradise as a principal ornament thereof; some of these streams flow with water, some with wine and others with honey, besides many other lesser springs and fountains, whose pebbles are rubies and emeralds, while their earth consists of camphor, their beds of musk, and their sides of saffron. But all these glories will be eclipsed by the resplendent and ravishing girls, or houris, of Paradise, the enjoyment of whose company will be the principal felicity of the faithful. These maidens are created not of clay, as in the case of mortal women, but of pure musk, and free from all natural impurities, defects, and inconveniences. They will be beautiful and modest and secluded from public view in pavilions of hollow pearls. The pleasures of Paradise will be so overwhelming that God will give to everyone the potentialities of a hundred individuals. To each individuals a large mansion will be assigned, and the very meanest will have at his disposal at least 80,000 servants and seventy-two wives of the girls of Paradise. While eating they will be waited on by 300 attendants, the food being served in dishes of gold, whereof 300 shall be set before him at once, containing each a different kind of food, and an inexhaustible supply of wine and liquors. The magnificence of the garments and gems is conformable to the delicacy of their diet. For they will be clothed in the richest silks and brocades, and adorned with bracelets of gold and silver, and crowns set with pearls, and will make use of silken carpets, couches, pillows, etc., and in order that they may enjoy all these pleasures, God will grant them perpetual youth, beauty, and vigour. Music and singing will also be ravishing and everlasting" (Wollaston, "Muhammed, His Life and Doctrines").

St. Vincent de Paul: Apostle of Charity

St. Vincent de Paul

Today, September 27th, the Church commemorates  the great St. Vincent de Paul. Most people have some awareness of this man through familiarity with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, or any of the religious orders drawing inspiration from him. 

Born probably in 1581, he was ordained at 19 years, and spent two years in captivity. Upon his return to France in 1600, Vincent became chaplain to the wealthy Di Gondi family, but his experience with the slaves inspired him to begin preaching missions. A major influence upon Vincent's spiritual life was St. Francis de Sales. 

In 1625, he founded the Congregation of the Missions. In 1633, with Louise de Marillac, he co-founded the Daughters of Charity. By 1660 Vincent's health - after a life of intense service - had deteriorated greaty. Though barely able to walk, he refused any help getting to chapel for Mass until the very last weeks of his life. St. Vincent died on 27th of September, his final word was “confido” - I trust. In this manner he gave up his soul to God, In 1737, he was canonized by Pope Clement XII. In 1997, Bl. John Paul II, beatified one of Vincent's spiritual sons, Frederic Ozanam, the founded of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. 

Further suggested reading: The Catholic Encyclopedia

Archbishop Muller Speaks on Traditionalists and Progressives

In a wide ranging interview, Archbishop Muller, new CDF head, spoke of the need for unity in the Church. He certainly has a point about "party" programs, "personal ideology". Indicative of the any future Rome-SSPX negotiations, the Archbishop commented: 

So above all, I asked myself; what ails the life of the Church? In many countries, there is a strong polarization: Traditionalists against progressives or whatever you would call them. This must be overcome, we need to find a new and fundamental unity in the Church and individual countries. Unity in Christ, not a unity produced according to a program and later invoked by a partisan speaker. We are not a community of people aligned to a party program, or a community of scientific research, our unity is gifted to us. We believe in the one Church united in Christ. And if you believe in Christ, really believe - not manipulating the teachings of the Church, or singling out individual points to support your own personal ideology, but rather unconditionally entrusting yourself to Christ - then the unity of the Church is also important. Then the Church will not be – as it is sometimes described in Scripture – torn apart by jealousy and ambition. This is my underlying aim: To reduce the tensions within the Church"

I do not believe the Archbishop would have commented in this manner without the approval of the Pope. Look for the SSPX to - in some manner  - "accept" Vatican II or there will be no reconciliation. The full interview may be read and heard here. 

Pope Benedict to the French Bishops: Defend Marriage and Life

Vatican Radio reports today on the  ad limina visit of French bishops to Rome where, the Holy Father encouraged them to uphold life and marriage. This is the way out for France: a return to the Gospels, a return to natural law, a return to French traditions as guided by the bishops in union with the Pope. The secular press will - naturally - not report on this important event. Instead, they will concentrate on the recent buffoonery of a plethora of cartoons on Mohommed.  These drawings will not solve France's deep spiritual and moral problems. A return to the Gospels will, and with it the "problem" of Islam will be solved. As I have written in an earlier post, the problem is not so much with Islam as with us. I refer, in this context, to nations founded on and permeated (at least at one time) by the Gospels. If my memory serves me correctly, we are to evangelize the Muslims through a witness of an authentic Christian lifestyle: name-calling, idiocy, secularism, pornography, promiscuity, an explosion of venereal diseases, un-natural vice, and so on do not impress.  

The Church is called to defend the family and marriage from every possible misrepresentation of their true nature, said Pope Benedict on Friday, as he greeted the first group of Bishops from France to travel to Rome on their 5 yearly Ad Limina pilgrimage. Emer McCarthy reports: The group from western France – led by Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard - were received by the Holy Father in Castel Gandolfo, who focused his address on the role of the laity in the life of the Church as well as the risk of an excessive "bureaucratization" of ministry in the diocese. He urged the prelates to defend the family, which is threatened today by wrong conceptions of human nature. "Defense of life and the family in society - the Pope said - is not retrograde, but rather prophetic" because it helps to "promote the values ​​that allow the full development of the human person created in the image and likeness of God" ...

The full report may be read here.

Archbishop Cramner reflects on "the Innocence of Muslims"

The blog by "Archbishop Cramner" carries a thoughtful reflection on the recent Islamist riots over the anti-Mohommed film. It should be noted, that only this year the Venice Film Festival carried an anti-Catholic film that drew some criticism in Italy, but was not met by street riots, murder and mayhem. Perhaps this reflects the nominal Christianity of once Christian nations. For, after all, if people really believed Christ was God, then action - legal action by the State would be taken - and not an unruly mob (c.f. Quas Primas, Pius XI). 

Now there are also those, including "Catholics" who claim that though these anti-Catholic "artistic" undertakings are grotesque and in bad taste, the authors have the "right" to make and distribute their art. This is a grave error: The Vatican Council II document on Communications also underscores that public morality is to be maintained. 

Leo XIII in Immortale Dei wrote: 

 So, too, the liberty of thinking, and of publishing, whatsoever each one likes, without any hindrance, is not in itself an advantage over which society can wisely rejoice. On the contrary, it is the fountain-head and origin of many evils. Liberty is a power perfecting man, and hence should have truth and goodness for its object. But the character of goodness and truth cannot be changed at option. These remain ever one and the same, and are no less unchangeable than nature itself. If the mind assents to false opinions, and the will chooses and follows after what is wrong, neither can attain its native fullness, but both must fall from their native dignity into an abyss of corruption. Whatever, therefore, is opposed to virtue and truth may not rightly be brought temptingly before the eye of man, much less sanctioned by the favor and protection of the law.

We also - on issues pertaining to Islam and our relations with them, should follow the  teachings of the Popes. I'd prefer to listen to them, rather than degenerate lapsed and/or nominal Christians permeated with the ideology of the so-called Enlightenment. Publishing silly cartoons is not one of them. We need dialogue, not name calling (or bomb throwing, for that matter.  Islamists beware, I will call a spade a spade). 

"Archbishop Cramner" writes: 

In their condemnation of the puerile, amateurish film The Innocence of Muslims which appears to be being used as a pretext for riots, destruction and murder in some Islamic countries (not to mention in some non-Islamic countries with significant Muslim populations), Anglican leaders from across the Communion have written a letter to the Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-Moon, demanding a UN declaration to outlaw ‘intentional and deliberate insulting or defamation of persons (such as prophets), symbols, texts and constructs of belief deemed holy by people of faith’.

Note the specific parenthetical insertion of ‘such as prophets’: if they had dared to specify ‘such as the Son of God’, there isn’t a Muslim nation on the planet that would vote for such a declaration. It is a bizarre point of emphasis in any case, for why should the divinely-inspired prophets of the Abrahamic religions be granted higher recognition than the rishis of the Indian subcontinent? Why should the declaration allude to Mohammed but not to Vasishtha? 

The full text of the "Archbishop" may be read here. 

Catholics Then, Muslims Now

This is a bit of a rarity... an op ed piece from the New York Times worth bothering with. In the face of the recent hysteria over an anti Muslim film produced in the US, it might be useful to look closely at where this sort of thing comes from. There is a long history of anti Catholicism in the US. I am not talking about the recent fashionable trend in intellectual circles but the sort of greeting Irish immigrants met with when they got off the boat in the 19th century. 

There has always been a significant nativist sentiment in the US. In 1844 there was a series of riots and attacks on Catholic churches in Philadelphia which resulted in the destruction of two churches and numerous deaths and injuries. This sort of violence perpetrated against Catholics occurred in a number of cities throughout the 1830's and 1840's.

This nativist sentiment has never entirely disappeared from the scene and can be seen in the deliberate targeted provocation of the recent film. 

New York Times: Catholics Then, Muslims Now 

 This famous Thomas Nast  cartoon illustrates the prevailing attitude.

The Pope in Lebanon: the Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in Medio Oriente

The Holy Father with the Maronite Patriarch

The Holy Father, in an address in Beirut, Lebanon formally consigned the Apostolic Exhortation: Ecclesia in Medio Oriente (The Church in the Middle East). Included in his address were the following words of encouragement to the Catholics of Lebanon and the Middle East:  

Dear Church in the Middle East, draw from the source of salvation which became a reality in this unique and beloved land! Follow in the footsteps of your fathers in faith, who by tenacity and fidelity opened up the way for humanity to respond to the revelation of God! Among the wonderful diversity of saints who flourished in your land, look for examples and intercessors who will inspire your response to the Lord's call to walk towards the heavenly Jerusalem, where God will wipe away every one of our tears (cf. Rev 21:4)! May fraternal communion be a support for you in your daily life and the sign of the universal brotherhood which Jesus, the firstborn of many, came to bring! Thus, in this region which saw his actions and heard his words, may the Gospel continue to resonate as it did 2,000 years ago, and may it be lived today and for ever!

The full text of the Apostolic Exhortation may be read here. 


We should never forget Lebanon is part of the cradle of Christianity, and a major contributor to Western civilization. Lebanon is not Islamic, though her demographics have been seriously altered due to continued invasion. She is Phoenician. An example of her contribution to civilization is the Phoenician alphabet that would give birth to the Greek and Roman. Nor should we forget the close and civilized relationship between Kings Solomon and Hiram. Though this beautiful, Christian country is under increasing attack from Islamist forces, God will draw good out of evil. Pray for Lebanon.