THE FLAT EARTH SOCIETY and SSPX TYPE "TRADITIONALISTS"

by F. John Loughnan (jloughnan@hotmail.com) August 3, 1999

INTRODUCTION

Some little time ago I came across a book (1) containing a chapter on the Flat Earth Society.  The author, John Michell, claims that "the long association between Christianity and the flat-earth theory begins in the sixth century when a Greek monk of Alexandria, Cosmas wrote his Christian Topography (refuting) the notion that the earth is a sphere, and showed that it is really a rectangular plane arched over by the firmament which separates us from heaven.  The inhabited earth, with Jerusalem at its hub, is at the centre of the plane, and it is surrounded by oceans beyond which lies Adam's paradise.  The sun revolves round a north polar mountain, circling its peak in summer and its base in winter."

He goes on to tell us that "Christian Topography was well received by the Church, whose policy at the time was to eradicate all previous knowledge and establish itself as the sole authority in religion, philosophy and science."  Whether that be so or not, we are all aware of the virtual monopoly of this idea until the times of Copernicus and Galileo.

Did the flat-earth theory die a natural death?  Indeed no!  "The flat-earth movement," he writes, "became dormant in Britain in the early 1970's (but) America, the haven of heretics, still boasts a Flat Earth Society energetically managed by Mr. Charles K. Johnson and his wife Marjory."

In fact, a recent search (2) produced some 1,888 "hits" for the FES (3).   Mr Michell gives an account of one of the adherents to the FES, a Wilbur Glen Voliva, who "used to offer $5,000 to anyone who could prove that the earth was not a flat plane, and since he was impervious to anyone else's arguments he never found it necessary to pay out."

The managers of the Society regarded "themselves as the last bastion of true Christian orthodoxy in a world corrupted by socialism, atheism and the heresy of a revolving earth."  As for "modern photographs of the earth from space (they) simply deny that the space program ever took place.  The whole thing was a hoax." Finally, we are told that "There are very few instances where a person with decided views on whether the earth is flat or spherical has ever been converted to the opposite belief."

It is my (4) contention that members of The Society of St Pius X (SSPX), its adherents and the like-minded apply Flat-Earth-like logic in their propagandistic arguments vis-á-vis the so-called "Traditionalist's" relationship with the Catholic Church, Pope John Paul II and Vatican Council II.

EXAMPLES OF "TRADITIONALIST FLAT-EARTHisms"

While "surfing the web" on April 17 of this year (1999), I came across a site (13) operating under the name "Marys (sic) Disciples For Jesus" (hereafter referred to without the "sic").  It was so patently pro-SSPX that the following e-mail was forwarded to the Webmaster (whose identity was then unknown).

"I see you are still peddling the old lies regarding Count Neri Capponi, Cardinal Lara, Fr. Gerald Murray, etc., concerning their supposed endorsement of the SSPX's position.  This, despite, for example, Fr. Murray's demand that Fr. Scott withdraw the brochure upon which he draws his 'arguments.'  Dear me! there are none so determined to follow their own way as the schismatic SSPX."

A copy of Fr. Jean Violette's Bulletin for March 1999 was attached to the e-mail together with my reply to the Bulletin.  The reply is too long to print here, but it included a copy of Msgr. Camille Perl's letter to me (14), dated October 27, 1998, Protocol N. 343/98, and the following extracts.

"The Pope, the supreme legislator declared, in Ecclesia Dei, that Archbishop Lefebvre and the four bishops consecrated by him 'have incurred the grave penalty of excommunication' - that they were NOT in communion with him; that 'formal adherence to the schism carries the penalty of excommunication.' This most recent communication from the appropriate authority should not be lightly dismissed by the SSPX and 'those who adhere to the schism.'

"Fr. Violette's response consisted almost entirely in a repetition of the propaganda contained in the glossy SSPX brochure 'IS THE SOCIETY OF ST PIUS X SCHISMATIC? EXCOMMUNICATED? ROME SAYS NO. CAN ANYONE GO TO THEIR LATIN MASSES? YES' (15) That the propaganda had been repudiated as lies and distortion by Cardinal Lara, Count Neri Capponi, Fr. Gerald E. Murray and Professor Geringer (some of the misrepresented persons) (16) made no difference to Fr. Violette - as it makes no difference to most adherents to the Society! Fr. Violette cannot claim ignorance - the evidence has been provided to him.

"For example: Part of the evidence produced to Fr. Violette (and some other SSPXers) was a copy of Fr. Gerald E. Murray's letter of June 14, 1996 to Fr. Peter R. Scott, USA District Superior, from which, for the sake of brevity (17), I extract the following summary:

" 'You have intentionally misquoted me and even worse put words into my mouth…in support of your propagandistic assertions…you have fabricated and falsified my remarks…(in a) shameful attempt to legitimize your claims…I demand that you withdraw this publication…(in which you leave) out the things I did say, but which you wish I had not said.'

"No mea culpa from Fr. Violette; his response (18) was simply to say: 'Thank you for your December 8th letter which I received yesterday. Be assured of my daily prayers especially during this holy season of Advent and Christmas.'"

The complete letter of refutation from Fr. Murray to Fr. Scott was provided to Mr Taouk (webmaster of the aforementioned site), together with further evidence of the SSPX lies. (19) It is here, as in other places, that the Flat-Earth syndrome is visible. I might add here that part of the evidence was provided by Mr. John Beaumont (who, when he wrote the article exposing the truth regarding the misrepresented parties in the SSPX glossy brochure, was Principal Lecturer in Law at Leeds Metropolitan University), and Mr. John Walsh (then a history graduate of the University of Leeds and who had then recently completed a Masters Degree in Theology).

Nevertheless, the "Marys Disciples For Jesus" Webmaster responded with an e-mail indicating that I should view his file (20) on "The Case for Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre & The SOCIETY OF SAINT PIUS X."  This I did on June 26, 1999.   Lo and behold!  There it all was AGAIN!  All of the propaganda, and more, from the glossy brochure "IS THE SOCIETY OF ST PIUS X SCHISMATIC? EXCOMMUNICATED? ROME SAYS NO. CAN ANYONE GO TO THEIR LATIN MASSES? YES."

FR. GERALD E. MURRAY RESPONDS

In an endeavour to be as accurate as possible, I e-mailed a three page letter to Fr. Murray on July 6, 1999. Extracts follow: "Despite your letter (to Fr. Peter Scott), the SSPX continues to use your name and of the others to spread their propaganda. An example is the following letter:" (The example was Fr. Jean Violette's letter of November 20, in which he quoted verbatim all of the propaganda from the glossy brochure). "I replied to Fr. Violette in most uncertain terms, fully quoting your letter to Fr Scott. Even at this moment Fr. Scott continues to propagate the contents of the glossy brochure at his web-site in the USA - http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Oracle/9463/noschism.html under the heading: 'Archbishop Lefebvre: NOT GUILTY.'

"A further very recent reproduction of the 'glossy brochure' material has appeared on an Australian site run by a (former?) Maronite clone of the SSPX, who also promotes Fr. M.E. Morrison (who, Fr. Peter Scott alleges, is an Old Catholic posing as a Catholic priest) and a Fr. Paolo Rosari (of unknown pedigree). The site is: was="http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Rhodes/3543/Lefebv.html">http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Rhodes/3543/Lefebv.html"

Are you able to tell me Father:

In an e-mail reply to me of July 15, 1999, Fr. Gerald E. Murray stated: "I am not happy about the continuing use of arguments which I revised in literature produced by the SSPX.  Their claims are exaggerated, and they selectively quote me to give the impression I support their claims in toto.  I do not give much attention to the subject of the SSPX use of my opinions to support their claims anymore.  But I am very interested in the efforts to bring all traditional Catholics into full union with the Holy See.  Bravo for your efforts."

"MARYS DISCIPLES FOR JESUS"

A word or two about the "Webmaster" of "Marys Disciples For Jesus": The Webmaster is Raymond Taouk, a 20 year old accounts clerk.  There can be no doubt he is a very devoted and intensely committed young man.  He is listed as being a member of the OLOL (Sydney) internet committee for the Maronite Catholic Church of Australia. (21)  Born at Bshari, he is/was a member of the Maronite Catholic Church.

The activities on his personal web-site seem to indicate that he has transferred religious affiliation to the Latin Rite - specifically to the Society of St Pius X, which is a schismatic organization. (22)  Subsequent to my suggestion that he read some of the files on Matt's Catholic Apologetics web-site operated by Matt1618, Mr. Taouk e-mailed Matt with the challenge for him to post a link to the "Marys Disciples For Jesus" web-site.  Mr Taouk wrote: "Would you consider adding the following site as one of your links with regards to the issue of the SSPX, it answers the objection made by false claims.  It would be good to add as a link for a realistic look at the issue of the SSPX issue, who are Catholic's as well. http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Rhodes/3543/Lefebv.htm " (23)  In other words - practically the same article is produced to "answer the objection made by false claims" about the very same article!

This is living breathing "flat-earthism" in action!  While Mr Taouk has requested that Matt1618 "balance" his (i.e., Matt1618's) web-site with the "Lefebv.htm" file, I have yet to see him "balance" his own web-site by posting the letter to Cardinal Ratzinger and the response by Msgr. Camille Perl of ECCLESIA DEI, or, any of the files on Matt1618's ultraTraditionalist site; or, for that matter, anything in favor of the post Vatican II Catholic Church!

WHO ARE SOME OF THE PERSONS, ACTIVITIES OR ORGANIZATIONS RECOMMENDED BY THE WEBMASTER OF "MARYS DISCIPLES FOR JESUS"?

1. "SOME CATHOliC SEMINARIES" recommended: IN AUSTRAliA: a) St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary (USA); b) Seminaire International St Cure'd Ars (sic) (France); c) Mother of Perpetual Succour Monastery (France); d) Monastery of the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary (England); e) Seminaire International St Piex (Switzerland); f) Holy Cross Seminary (Australia).

Wow!  From this we can see that either there is only one Catholic Seminary in Australia (the SSPX one), and now we are informed that the USA, France, England and Switzerland are really all located in Australia!  But there is more --- IN THE USA, UK, FRANCE AND SWITZERLAND: a) - f) These sites show exactly the same seminaries as for Australia, above!  What else can one say but "Wow" again?  And there is still more -- SEMINARIES SHOWN UNDER "OTHER RITES OF THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH": Four Rites (Maronite, Syrian, Russian and Ruthenain [sic]) are listed.  However, upon further investigation, they are shown to be linked to the Lefebvrist "Transalpine Redemptorists."  Conclusion?  That Mr. Taouk ONLY recommends SSPX or SSPX affiliated seminaries anywhere in the world is surely indicative of a schismatic adherence! (24)

2. Promotion of The Catechism of the Council of Trent, to the exclusion of the Catechism of the Council of the Catholic Church.

3. Promotion of Fr. M.E. Morrison's TRADITIO (25) - Traditional Roman Catholic Internet Site. (Ecumenism, "traditionalist" style!; the promotion of the Tridentine Latin Mass by, well, who cares, so long as it is the Tridentine Latin Mass!!!)

This site purports to be "The Official Catholic DIRECTORY OF LATIN MASSES AND RESOURCE BOOK (26) for the United States and Canada."  Mr Scott Windsor, (27) co-moderator of the TRADCATH e-mail discussion list, in reply to a posting by Mr. Terrence Boyle (28) wrote of Fr. Morrison: "For those of you here that have mentioned that you are also members of his list, you 'could' ask him about this topic (his claim to be a Traditional Catholic Priest. F.J.L.) yourself - but a word of caution, it has been reported that if you do raise this subject on his list it is either not posted (he moderates EVERY message) or it is not posted and you are removed from the list.  So, if you want to remain there, it may not be wise to broach the subject.  For those who have identified themselves as members of Traditio, then Terry, I recommend you write them IN PRIVATE with whatever evidence you have." (29)

This writer, (F.J.L.) had occasion to join the SSPX@onelist.com e-mail service for a few weeks in June this year and replied to a certain Tom thus: "Tom, if you rely on Fr. Morrison's TRADITIO list of Tridentine Masses for the orthodoxy of the celebrant - then you would just not be prudent.  In fact, you could attend a Tridentine Mass celebrated by a simple layman, or even by an anti-pope (Hadrian VII).  Your choice could range from the Vatican approved Ecclesia Dei Masses, those performed with celebrets, the Societies of St Peter and St John, etc.  Then there are those performed by sede-vacantists: the Thucites, (including the SSPV under 'Bishop' Dolan, who services the sede-vacantist CMRI at Mt. St. Michael's, 'Bishop' Hennebery of Florida, 'Bishop' Robert McKenna - former O.P., 'Bishop' Quinn and 'Bishop' Vezelis; and the various other Shukardites), 'Independent,' sede-vacantists (such as 'Fr.' Kevin Vaillancourt), former SSPX 'Independent' priests, SSPV Bishop Kelly, Bishop Taylor of the schismatic Duarte Costa line, - and that is only some of the sede-vacantist schismatics offering the Tridentine Mass.  Then you could also go the priests with questionable orders, such as Fr. Wathen, O.S.J., 'Fr.' Morrison himself and 'Fr.' Paolo Rosari.  Then there is a rag-tag group of disaffected validly ordained priests who have made themselves their own little popes.  Nor must I forget Pope Pius XIII (the former Fr. Lucian Pulvermacher, O.F.M. Cap. - who happens to be the brother of Fr. Carl Pulvermacher, O.F.M. of the SSPX).   Oh, yes! there is also the choice of the schismatic SSPX, whose bishops have been excommunicated by name, and whose priests are suspended 'a divinis.'"

THE AUSTRAliAN MARONITE liNK TO THE TRANSALPINE REDEMPTORISTS

A superficial inspection of Mr Taouk's web-site on April 17, 1999 gave no immediate indication of his Maronite connections. To be sure, there is the link to the Transalpine Redemptorists; there is also a short essay on the Balamand Declaration (which he deems to be "The kiss of Judas.")  In his essay he devotes ten lines of text to "The Balamand Declaration" itself, and thirty five lines of text to [you guessed it!] the Transalpine Redemptorists.  It was a simple matter to search the Web to establish the fact that Mr. Taouk was a committee member of the IC Parramatta OLOL (Sydney) internet committee. (30)

What sparked the interest was the list of seminaries recommended under the "Can you Hear Christ Call?" section.  The list recommended only the SSPX or Transalpine Redemptorists - both of which are excommunicated Lefebvrites. (31)

A trip then to the "links" (32) on the web-site of the Maronite Catholic Church of Australia disclosed "Transalpine Redemptorists http://www.redemptorists.org.uk/mag/maronite.htm    There is a wealth of information on this Web site, including articles on our Maronite Rite. You'll find information about our saints and much more."

There is another Transalpine Redemptorist site at http://home.clara.net/saintjoseph/cssr/leaf01.html   Well! I guess that words do not necessarily mean the same thing to different people.  I would not say there was a wealth of anything there. 

On June 28 my first e-mail to Bishop Hitti, Maronite Bishop of Sydney, inter alia, said "Now, I cannot believe that you could agree with the attacks of the Society of St Pius X as have been made - particularly here in Australia - on the Pope and the Catholic Church, nor with the perverse opinions expressed by Mr. Taouk.  What can reasonably be done at this stage?"  Copious documentation was provided.

About a fortnight later, I forwarded a draft of my proposed response to Mr. Taouk to Bishop Hitti.  I also pointed out the Transalpine Redemptorist link on his web-site, speculatively concluding that "in the absense of your own knowledge, 'an enemy has done this'! Someone on your OLOL (Sydney) internet committee?'" ..

Three days later an e-mail was forwarded to Cardinal Sfeir, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, stating, inter alia, "Now, it appears to me that the Maronite Catholic Church ought not recommend or encourage its members or others to support a body which is not in full communion with the Catholic Church, but  which actively disparages the liturgy of the Church, the Pope and Bishops in union with the Pope.  I would be most appreciative to be corrected on any matter above, and for your guidance as to the reason or reasons for the Maronite Catholic Church's apparent linkage to the Lefebvrian Transalpine Redemptorists."  No doubt a response will be received in the fullness of time.

In the meantime, a list of interesting Eastern Catholic web-site is listed below. (33) (34) (35) (36)

Fr. M.E. MORRISON and "TRADITIO"

Furthermore, I e-mailed to the list on June 18, 1999: "Unfortunately, Fr. Morrison of TRADITIO is no more a Catholic priest than was Rasputin.  His claim to be a Traditional Catholic priest, even a Traditional Roman Catholic priest, is just that - a claim. He will not reveal his pedigree."  Refer to:  http://www.tboyle.net/Catholicism/Cath_links_Priest_Groups.html   The SSPX@onelist.com Moderator, Mr Jim Vogel replied: "Correct, Mr Loughnan.

"Father Morrison is an Old Catholic priest.  My source for this information is Fr. Peter Scott, who received this information from a traditional priest of the diocese of San Francisco, whom he visited there, and who told what is commonly known locally, Fr. Morrison's chapel there on the wharf pretends to be Roman Catholic, but is in fact Old Catholic, and orthodox Roman Catholics refuse to attend.  His refusal to identify his bishop is typical of the Old Catholics, who are ashamed of their origin, and try to pretend that they are Catholic.  It is a shameful abuse of the priesthood, which the anonymity of the Internet makes possible."

Perhaps Mr Taouk might explain why Fr. Morrison (whom he recommends), an Old Catholic, does not list in his "Directory" any Old Catholic priests, who say a Latin Tridentine Mass?  One such person is Fr. Chris Vaillancourt. (37)

4.  Also recommended for spiritual advice on a Traditional mailing list is a certain Fr. Paolo Rosari!  Unfortunately, the said Fr. Rosari is of uncertain pedigree.  Terry Boyle's Groupings of Roman Catholic Priests lists him in the "Disputed Origin of Priestly Orders" and, like Fr. Morrison, Fr Rosari isn't about to disclose his own pedigree!

5.  Another Independent priest recommended: Quote: "Father Paul Wickens, Author of Christ Defend, (sic) The Great Sacrilege and many other great Catholic books." End quote.  (It was Fr James F. Wathen of the allegedly spurious O.S.J. who wrote "The Great Sacrilege," TAN Books and Publishers, 1971.  like Fr. Wathen, Fr. Wickins is an "Independent" priest - that is, independent of a bishop.  Fr. Wickens did write "Christ Defended," The Neumann Press, 1988, but his faculties are uncertain. F.J.L.).

6.  Pro-SSPX propaganda.  Consider the following article in his AGAINST THE HERESIES section (38): "The Case for Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre and The Society of Saint Pius X."  It reads, in part: "...the Archbishop, trained priests in exactly the same way he, and many more before and after, were trained for nearly two thousand years."   Pretty emotional and powerful stuff - if it were true!   However, I think that St. Robert Bellarmine would be surprised at the statement.   After all, St. Robert was the first to train priests in the seminary style to which Mr. Taouk refers - and that was subsequent to the Council of Trent, only some 400 odd years ago.

SSPXer "FLAT-EARTHism EXPOSED

The "Flat-earthism" of the SSPXer has been amply demonstrated by John Beaumont in the following:

"Here are some of the acts of disobedience to the Pope, or to those under him, perpetrated by this organization, to which many more could be added:

  1. The SSPX establishes seminaries, churches, chapels and priories throughout the world, without any reference to the local ordinaries in whose dioceses it carries out these acts.
  2. It ordains priests without the dismissorial letters required by canon law.
  3. It hears confessions and celebrates marriages without jurisdiction.
  4. It gives holy communion to persons who are well known sede- vacantists.
  5. It refused Pope Paul VI's command to close the seminary at Econe and to wind up the SSPX.
  6. It carries out confirmations in other bishops' dioceses contrary to the Council of Trent.
  7. It purports to accept John Paul II as Pope, and yet rejects parts of the 1983 Code of Canon Law promulgated by him in his capacity as supreme legislator.
  8. Finally in 1988, the SSPX consecrated four bishops, knowing that this was against the express will of the Pope and then, in 1991, proceeded to consecrate a further bishop in a diocese (Campos in Brazil) where, as the SSPX itself recognizes, there is already a valid bishop.

"The conclusion which was drawn in the article 'Schism, Obedience and the Society of Pius X' is just as relevant today: [H]ere is an organization which pays no regard whatsoever to the commands and laws of legitimate authority in the Church and which refuses to do the express will of the Supreme Pontiff in matters of great importance for the visible unity of the Church.  Put all of these things together, and what we have is an autonomous organization, a petite eglise, an independent church.  If this does not constitute schism, what does?

"So there we have it.  It is all very sad, since good people are being led astray by the Society of St. Pius X at a time when the Catholic Church needs all the helpers in the vineyard that it can muster.  Also, what sort of light does it shed upon the behavior of the bishops consecrated by Archbishop Lefebvre. When we first wrote to Bishop Williamson informing him of the truth concerning Cardinal Castillo Lara, the response we received was a postcard with the scrawled message on it that our letter had received 'some attention before being filed for future reference.'   Well, one piece of attention that it clearly did not receive was transmission to the District Superior for the United States.  So the process by the Society of St. Pius X in disseminating the truth in this matter did not go very far.

"One particularly disappointing aspect of this particular correspondence is that Fr. Scott makes no promise to make known to the SSPX supporters the truth of what Cardinal Castillo Lara believes.  This is the very least that should be done.  After all, Fr. Scott does concede that the cardinal does not agree with the SSPX stance.  Even Michael Davies, in his correspondence with us, did make some concession on the lines that, if he had been writing after seeing the text of the Cardinal's letter, he would have re-phrased what he wrote.  It wasn't much of a concession, and still would have misled SSPX supporters, as we pointed out in 'The Vanishing Schism.'  But, it was something. There was nothing of this kind from Fr. Scott.  He finished off by hoping that what he had written answered our question!  He added that, just in case we had any lingering doubts as to Archbishop Lefebvre's innocence of both offenses charged against him, we should read Charles Nemeth's book, 'The Case of Archbishop Lefebvre.'   Unfortunately for Fr. Scott, it is exceedingly unlikely that we shall defer to the SSPX magisterium.  This article has commented on the 'teaching' of Fr. Scott already.   As to that of Charles Nemeth, his book has been subjected to a powerful critique by Andrew Tardiff in Fidelity (Vol. 14, No. 4, March 1995. pp.45-47).  What Mr. Tardiff shows there is that not only does Charles Nemeth not understand the true nature of schism, but also that, like so many apologists for the Society of St. Pius X, he is well versed in the school of selective quotations.

EVIDENCE OF THE LEFEBVRIST SCHISM

"To end on a positive note, the one thing that should be emphasized in this whole sorry affair is the extent of the real evidence for the Lefebvrist schism. All in all we have the following items of evidence:

"What more evidence do these people want? Our own experience has shown us that even an ex cathedra definition by the Pope, or a direct revelation from Our Lord Himself, would not move some of them.  Some would no doubt say, 'But, Cardinal Lara says. . . '   Has it now come to such a stage that, for traditionalists, a schism is decided by the authoritative voice of a Davies, a Scott, or a Williamson?  Heaven preserve us from such a break with Tradition.  Whatever qualities and merits these people have, it is obvious that not one of them knows what the primacy of Peter is all about." (39)

FURTHER RECENT EVIDENCE

In fact, there is more evidence available for the searcher for truth. On August 24, 1996 the Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of Legislative Texts released a document to which was annexed "THE EXCOMMUNICATION OF FOLLOWERS OF ARCHBISHOP LEFEBVRE" (40) Item 3 in the annexure states: "3. Unfortunately, the schismatic act which gave rise to the Motu Proprio and the Decree did no more than draw to a conclusion, in a particularly visible and unequivocal manner - with a most grave formal act of disobedience to the Roman Pontiff - a process of distancing from hierarchical communion.  As long as there are no changes which may lead to the re-establishment of this necessary communion, the WHOLE LEFEBVRIAN MOVEMENT (emphasis added) is to be held schismatic, in view of the existence of a formal declaration by the Supreme Authority on this matter."

Finally, responses to some of my questions included the following from Msgr Camille Perl, Secretary of ECCLESIA DEI:

Q1) Was the declaration of Pope John Paul in Ecclesia Dei as to who was NOT in communion with him then legislatively authoritative, binding and now still in effect? That is: are Bernard Fellay, Bernard Tissier de Mallerais, Richard Williamson and Alfonso de Galarreta current excommunicates?

A1) "The Pope is the supreme legislator in the Church.  In an Apostolic Letter which he issued motu proprio (on his own initiative) he declared that Mons. Lefebvre and the priests Bernard Fellay, Bernard Tissier de Mallerais, Richard Williamson and Alfonso de Galarreta, have incurred the grave penalty of excommunication envisaged by ecclesiastical law.  (Cf. Code of Canon Law, can. 1382).  Those mentioned above who are still living and have not asked pardon from the Church for the ill which they have caused are still under the censure of excommunication."

Q2) What is the status of all the priests, seminarians and "those who adhere" to the SSPX?

A2) "While the priests of the Society of St. Pius X are validly ordained, they are also suspended 'a divinis,' that is, they are forbidden by the Church from celebrating the Mass and the sacraments because of their illicit (or illegal) ordination to the diaconate and the priesthood without proper incardination (cf. ... canon 265).  In the strict sense there are no 'lay members' of the Society of St. Pius X, only those who frequent their Masses and receive the sacraments from them. 

"While it is true that participation in the Mass at the chapels of the Society of St. Pius X does not of itself constitute 'formal adherence to the schism,' such adherence can come about over a period of time as one slowly imbibes a schismatic mentality which separates itself from the teaching of the Supreme Pontiff and the entire Catholic Church classically exemplified in A ROME AND ECONE HANDBOOK which states in response to question 14 that the SSPX defends the traditional catechisms and therefore the Old Mass, and so attacks the Novus Ordo, the Second Vatican Council and the New Catechism, all of which more or less undermine our unchangeable Catholic faith. 

"It is precisely because of this schismatic mentality that this Pontifical Commission has consistently discouraged the faithful from attending Masses celebrated under the aegis of the Society of St. Pius X."

Q5) Do the unilateral assertions by the SSPX as to "union with Rome" make it so, or is it the Pope who decides who is in communion with him?

A5) "We reiterate what we stated above: 'The Pope is the supreme legislator in the Church.'  Communion with him is a fundamental, non-negotiable hallmark of Catholicism which is not determined by those who set themselves up to judge him, but by the Pope himself (cf. Second Vatican Council's Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium #22-25)."

THE STRANGE CASE OF CANON REVAZ, THE SSPX AND THE THUCites

One final example of "Flat-earthism": Mr Terrence Boyle has provided a wonderful service to the Church and to those who are interested in Church history.   On one particular web-page he outlines the history of the THUCite line - truly a multitude of "bishops" - a veritable diabolic "legion"! He traces the commencement of the line to Econe (41): "The second complex lineage case is that of Archbishop Ngo Dinh Thuc Pierre Martin, a brother of Ngo Dinh Diem Jean Baptiste, the first President of the Republic of Viet Nam, who was murdered in November 1963.

"In the mid-1970s, the lonely, depressed and impoverished Msgr. Ngo was befriended by Rev. Maurice Revaz, a Swiss priest who, at that time, was teaching canon law at the traditionalist seminary of the Sacerdotal Society of St. Pius X that Archbishop-Bishop Emeritus Marcel Lefebvre has established in Econe, Switzerland. 

"Throughout the 1970s many traditionalist clergy and laity in Europe and America were expressing impatience over Msgr. Lefebvre's then reluctance to consecrate traditionalist bishops.

"Canon Revaz, for his part, had even become convinced that the real Pope Paul VI was being held prisoner in a Vatican dungeon, with an imposter playing his role as Pope.

"Around 1976 Canon Revaz heard there was a lay group near Seville, Spain, that was also convinced that Paul VI was a prisoner in the Vatican.  He began corresponding with its two leaders, Clemente Dominguez Gomez and Manuel Alonso Corral, who both for several years had been saying that they were receiving visions of Our Lord and Our Lady.  

"Canon Revaz, after a trip to Rome and an unsuccessful attempt to find, and liberate, the imprisoned Pope Paul VI, left the Econe seminary permanently, and went to Spain along with two companions, an Irish woman visionary who claimed to be receiving visions from the incarcerated Pope, and a German nun, Sr. Cherubina, who for some time had been working at the SSPX seminary.

"Canon Revaz had gotten to know Msgr. Ngo, both from making many visits to Rome, where the exiled Archbishop had been living since 1963, and from a trip that Msgr. Ngo had once made to the seminary in Econe.  Revaz convinced the Archbishop to go to Spain and to consecrate priests and bishops for the Dominguez/Alonso group.

"There are reports, from sources very hostile to Msgr. Ngo, that Canon Revaz and his companions persuaded Msgr. Ngo to perform the ordinations and consecrations by convincing him that a bi-locating Pope Paul VI (the real, imprisoned, one, not the imposter) had appeared in Spain and approved the idea. 

"At any event, within days of the ordinations and the consecrations that Msgr. Ngo performed in Spain, the Vatican announced publicly that Archbishop Ngo had been automatically excommunicated for attempting to consecrate bishops without a Papal mandate.  Msgr. Ngo, however, quickly expressed regret for his actions in Spain and sought forgiveness from the Vatican.   The excommunication was then lifted.

"The Dominguez/Alonso group, however, went on without him.  Its newly made bishops within weeks started ordaining priests and consecrating bishops and, at the death of Paul VI in 1978, they declared themselves the Holy Palmarian Church (the 'Iglesia Una, Santa, Catholica, Apostolica y Palmariana'). 

"And, right after the lifting of his excommunication, Archbishop Ngo was again back to consecrating independent bishops. This time, the consecrations were for a wide variety of groups, including sedevacantists loosely grouped under the name Tridentine Latin Rite Church.

"Finally, some years before his death, Msgr. Ngo agreed also to perform a number of consecrations for a wide assortment of splinter groups, some of them not even Roman Catholic. 

"Excommunicated a second time for these later consecrations, Msgr. Ngo moved to Rochester, NY, where for a few years he lived with an independent bishop (who had been consecrated by one of the bishops whom Msgr. Ngo had earlier consecrated for the Tridentine Latin Rite Church). 

"While he was living in upstate New York, Msgr. Ngo was invited to New York City to attend a conference of exiled Vietnamese.  While there, he was persuaded to join (some say, was kidnapped by) some emigre Vietnamese who were living in a monastery in Missouri and loyal to the Vatican.  Shortly after arriving there, Msgr. Ngo died.  Upon his death, the Vatican released a statement saying that he had recently asked for, and had received, John Paul II's forgiveness.

"Msgr. Ngo's lineage includes the broadest conceivable spectrum of theologies likely ever to be held by men all claiming to possess valid 'Catholic' priestly and episcopal orders derived from a single prelate alive in their lifetimes.  The spectrum ranges from the head of a French Satanist sect all the way to the strictest of Traditional Roman Catholics. 

"Needless to say, there are critics of both the liceity and validity of the various 'Thuc lineage' episcopal consecrations.  This web address contains an (42) essay denying validity." END QUOTE FROM TERRY BOYLE. http://www.tboyle.net/Catholicism/Thuc_Consecrations.html

As could be expected, Canon Revas was consecrated a bishop of the Holy Palmarian Church, and the much vaunted writer of The Ottaviani Intervention, Fr. Michel Louis Guérard des Lauriers, O.P., was also consecrated a bishop by the senile Archbishop Ngo-Dinh-Thuc; furthermore, upon the death of Pope Paul VI, Clemente Dominguez Gomez had himself proclaimed Pope Gregory XVII.

CONCLUSION

What is to be learned from all this?  It appears to me that "traditionalism" takes on the appearances of Catholicism - it has all of the bells and smells that we knew and appreciated as being ostensibly Catholic.  But the practical infidelity of the "traditionalists" to the Holy See portrays a basic unbelief in Christ's promises; in effect they say that Christ's words should have been amended to something like this: "And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it - that is, not until the days of Vatican Council II, when the gates of hell shall so prevail.  And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven - save and except that subsequent to Vatican Council II all such power shall be invested in Marcel Lefebvre and his successors. In the event, however, of a believer or group of believers not adhering to the above named Marcel Lefebvre or his successors, then the believer may select an alternative 'Independent' bishop or priest of the believer's choice in which to vest the above mentioned authority."

One could go on and on!  We can only pray that the truth of the situation penetrate the souls of all who are no longer in full communion with the See of Peter, and that it is sooner rather than later.

 

Footnotes:

1.  "Eccentric lives And Peculiar Notions," by John Michell; Thames, 1984.

2.  Using the Northern light search engine http://www.northernlight.com. and the words "Flat Earth Society" (including the quote marks).

3.  Including http://www.alaska.net/~clund/e_djublonskopf/FlatHome.htm and href="http://www.lhup.rdu/~dsimamek/fe-scidi.htm

4.  F. John Loughnan.

5.  SOME STATEMENTS BY SSPX OFFICERS

6.  Does "all" always mean "all?"  Are there times when it means less than "all"?

"'Consequently, it must be said that all the aforesaid words belong to the substance of the form; but that by the first words, "This is the chalice of My blood," the change of the wine into the blood is denoted, as explained above (A. 2) in the form for the consecration of the bread.' 

7.  Bishop Bernard Fellay, Dec. 8, 1994, for an Italian newspaper; "Q. What are your present relations with the so-called 'sedevacantists'?   Reply:   We have no relations with those who are OPENLY sedevacantist" (Emphasis added).  Thus, are SSPX priests, who are crypto-sedevacantists (and there have been many of them!), the Marranos of the late twentieth century?

8.  [Don't believe what the Pope or his dicasteries say about SSPX excommunications - Do believe US when we say] "WE are in communion with ETERNAL Rome / the Popes!"  (Various SSPX / adherents' unilateral protestations.)

9.  For example: The Traditional Poor Clare Capuchins at Boardman, OH,  USA.   They have no connection with the Catholic Poor Clares.  In fact, their web-site links ( http://www.rc.net/spc ) shows them to be linked with the schismatic Duarte Costa / Taylor line and the schismatic and sedevacantist Thuc / Dolan line, and the reluctant (?) Old Catholic posing as Traditional Roman Catholic Fr. M. E. Morrison -  respectively at http://www.netministries.org/see/churches/ch07965 http://home.earthlink.net/7ecantj59/index.html    and http://www.traditio.com

10.  In THE LATIN MASS of Spring 1997, Fr. Harrison referred to "members and supporters of the Society of St Pius X (having) resorted to the most convoluted hermeneutical acrobatics and bizarre conspiracy theories in order to explain away the conclusive documentary evidence" that Archbishop Lefebvre did, in fact, sign Dignitatis Humanae and Gaudium et Spes on December 7, 1965 - having "in a moment of submissiveness, subjected his own judgment to that of Peter and, added his signature to the documents, thereby sharing in their promulgation (but that) after the Council he quickly reverted to his total opposition to these documents, especially Dignitatis Humanae."  Refer: http://www.freeyellow.com/members3/matt1618/Execrabilis.html

11.  Anyone can claim anything.  I can tell you that I am young, rich and handsome.  The truth is to the contrary!  Example #1 The American Traditional Catholic Church web-site is at http://www.atcc.com    They are Old Catholics.  Example #2  The Traditional Roman Catholic Church web-site is at  http://netministries.org/see/churches/ch06827   It is a church of the line of the schismatic Bp. Carlos Duarte Costa of Brazil, who was excommunicated by the Vatican in the 1940's.  There is a bishop of his line in Australia, Bishop Roderick Gow, who established The Australian Catholic Church in 1992.

12.  From: "On the Validity of the Mass of Paul VI"  Copyright - 1994 by Ed Faulk  http://www.christusrex.org/www1/CDHN/valmass.html   "Protestants at Vatican II  This is an interesting charge.  Yes, there were Protestants at Vatican II as official observers only.  However, at Trent the Protestants were to have a voice!  In a Decree from Trent at the 13th Session we see that the decision regarding Communion under both species is delayed until the Protestants from Germany can come and be heard.  In fact, there is a 'safe-conduct' pass that is granted to Protestants included in the documentation for Trent.  In that 'safe-conduct' it says the Protestants 'shall enjoy full liberty to confer, make proposals and discuss those things that are to be discussed in the Council; to come freely and safely to the Council, to remain and sojourn there and to propose therein, in writing as well as orally, as many articles as may seem good to them, to deliberate with the Fathers or with those who may have been chosen by the Council and without any abuse and contumely dispute with them; they may also depart when they please.'  We should point out that due to circumstances they never arrived."   *

* Perhaps they remembered the safe-conduct pass given by the Emperor Sigismund to John Hus to attend the Council of Constance.  Three weeks after his arrival at Constance, in November, 1414, he was imprisoned.  At his trial in June, 1416, "he was not permitted to speak freely in his own defense, nor allowed to have a defender. He was burned on 6 July."    Chambers Biographical Dictionary, edited by Magnus Magnusson. 1990. (F.J.L.).

13.  http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Rhodes/3543

14.  Viewable at http://freeyellow.com/members3/matt1618/schism.html - being an exchange of letters to Cardinal Ratzinger and the response from Msgr Camille Perl, Secretary of Ecclesia Dei.

15.  Viewable still (in essence) on Fr. Peter Scott's "Regina Coeli" web-site at http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Oracle/9463/noschism.html

16.  a) http://home.earthlink.net/~grossklas/vanishin.htm    "The Story Of The Vanishing Schism: The Strange Case of Cardinal Lara" by John Beaumont and John Walsh.  Fidelity Magazine, March, 1994. 

b) http://home.earthlink.net/~grossklas/castillo.htm   "The Vanishing Schism Revisited: Will The Real Cardinal Castillo Lara Please Stand Up (Again)?," by John Beaumont. Fidelity Magazine, November 1996.

17.  The complete letter from Fr. Murray is viewable at http://home.earthlink.net/~grossklas/section10.htm#caughtinthelie   - being a letter from Fr. Gerald Murray to Fr. Scott to protest "misstatements and misquotations, by the Society, of remarks he made to Latin Mass magazine in its Fall 1995 issue."

18.  December 12, 1998 letter from Fr. Violette to F. John Loughnan.

19.  Being a portion of articles by John Beaumont and John Welsh as outlined in footnote 16a) above.

20. http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Rhodes/3543/Lefebv.htm

21.  http://www.maronite.org.au/ololsyd/icparra/icparra.htm

22.  http://home.earthlink.net/~grossklas/ecclesia.htm#THE EXCOMMUNICATION OF FOLLOWERS OF ARCHBISHOP LEFEBVRE  From: "THE EXCOMMUNICATION OF FOLLOWERS OF ARCHBISHOP LEFEBVRE"  Annexe to Prot. N. 5233/96   Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of Legislative Texts. "3. Unfortunately, the schismatic act which gave rise to the Motu Proprio and the Decree did no more than draw to a conclusion, in a particularly visible and unequivocal manner - with a most grave formal act of disobedience to the Roman Pontiff - a process of distancing from hierarchical communion.  As long as there are no changes which may lead to the re-establishment of this necessary communion, THE WHOLE LEFEBVRIAN MOVEMENT (emphasis added) is to be held schismatic, in view of the existence of a formal declaration by the Supreme Authority on this matter."

23.  E-mail, June 22, 1999, from Matt1618 to John Loughnan.

24.  Are there ANY eastern rite seminaries in the world that are in communion with Rome and which Mr Taouk could have recommended?  Sixteen addresses are listed at Opus libani at: http://www.opuslibani.org.lb    Another interesting site is http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/byzruth/vocat.htm   (a Ruthenian Seminary in the USA).  One of the richest and most informative sites on the Eastern Churches which are in communion with Rome is: http://praiseofglory.alabanza.com/stmichael.htm/links.htm/

25.  http://www.traditio.com

26.  The Latin Mass Directory may be downloaded from: ftp://ftp.traditio.com/pub/users/csm/traditio/masslat.txt  

27.  On September 4, 1995 Mr. Scott Windsor, Sr., wrote to Cardinal Ratzinger and received a response dated September 29, 1995, from Msgr. Camille Perl, Secretary of ECCLESIA DEI.  The documents may be viewed at EWTN's Curial library - http://www.ewtn.com

28.  http://www.tboyle.net   mail: tboyle@novanetwork.com

29. E-mail message Friday, 12 March, 1999, 13:12:48 from: BigScott@a2z.org

30. http://www.maronite.org.au/ololsyd/icparra/icparra.htm

31.  http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Rhodes/3543/Vocation.htm

32.  It appears that the Australian Maronite site is the only Diocesan or parish site which is linked to the Transalpine Redemptorists.   http://www.maronite.org.au/other/other.htm

33.  list of Eastern Catholic sites at: http://esglesia.org/catolico.htm

34.  Melkite: http://www.melkite.org/eastern.htm

35.  Ruthenian: http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/byzruth/index.htm

36.  Russian Catholic:  http://www.praiseofglory.alabanza.com/stmichael.htm/

37.  http://www.angelfire.com/ca/ourladyofpeace/

38.  http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Rhodes/3543/Heresies.htm

39.  "THE VANISHING SCHISM REVISITED: WILL THE REAL CARDINAL LARA PLEASE STAND UP (AGAIN)?" by John Beaumont, Fidelity Magazine, November 1996.  Viewable at site listed at Footnote 16 b) above.

40.  Annexe to Prot. N. 5233/96.  A comment, dated July 15, 1998, was attached to this by the Canon Law Society of the United Kingdom.  These documents are viewable at site listed at Footnote 22 above.

41.  http://www.tboyle.net/Catholicism/Thuc_Consecrations.html

42. Here the case for invalidity is presented by Fr. François Egregyi, an ex-SSPX priest, formerly stationed in Sydney, Australia.  He is now living in Belgium and is a sede-vacantist.  We have recently witnessed the sad case of the "ordination" of Sinead O'Connor by "Bishop" Michael Cox.  Comment on the invalidity of the Thuc line "bishops" (and, therefore, of any priests - male or female) was recorded in the Irish Times for April 27, 1999 by Fr. Vincent Twomey, SVD, of Maynooth. http://www.ireland.com/scripts/search/highlight.plx?TextRes=22Vincent20Twomey22&Path=/newspaper/ireland/1999/0427/hom22.htm


 

ADDENDUM

Mr Gerard Charles Wilson (stwilson@ozemail.com.au) forwarded to me Issue No. 1 August 1999 of his new journal "Judica Me, Deus." He rightly abhors and critiques an article printed in the May 1999 issue of Don McLean's so-called "Catholic." The article, written by a Mr Jaime Sotelo, may be the penultimate "traditionalist" "flat-earthism" and is entitled:

Pope or No Pope - Who cares?

Today, August 18, I noted that the Maronite Catholic Church of Australia has removed from its web-site the link to the Transalpine Redemptorists. Deo Gratias, and many thanks to Bishop Joseph Hitti for his speedy and appropriate reaction. It is good to remember the words of the Very Rev. Msgr. John Trad, (former Pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Church, Barhalyoun, Lebanon; former pastor of St. George Maronite Church, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.A.; and former Assistant Pastor of St Maron's Church, Redfern-Sydney, N.S.W., Australia), who wrote in 1967:

"The Maronites are credited with being the only remnants of Eastern Churches using the language of Our Lord Himself, Syro-Aramaic, who kept the Catholic faith at the time of the great schisms.

"The reader may be interested to know that the Popes, Leo X, 1515, Pius IV, 1562, and Paul the V, 1606, have always referred to the Maronites and spoken of their church with the most honorable and highest tribute:

'It is a rose among thorns, an impregnable rock in the sea, unshaken by the enraged waves and the fury of the thundering tempests.

'It is like the seven thousand faithful Israelites who remained with God, and never worshipped the idol…'

"These praises, uttered by the Sovereign Pontiff himself, are full proof of the important part played by the Maronite Church in the Catholic Church's history.

"My dear Maronites, let us keep this faith always pure and unpolluted by heresy and by thus doing we will be adding a new chapter to the illustrious history of the Maronite Church and proving to the whole world that we are the sons and daughters of a race of people upon whom God raised his hands and picked his Apostles."

Let us hope and pray that the young man who prompted this investigation is soon reconciled with the Catholic Church via his bishop.