Thursday 30 January 2014

Dangers for Liberals and Traditionalists in our Spiritual Warfare

Pope Francis once ascribed a certain pelagianism to those who seek doctrinal and disciplinary safety with a desire to recover the past. Apart from the fact that the comment can be read as saying there is no doctrinal truth (relativism) and the past is not our foundation (rupture) it seemed to take a very unpastoral aim at the traditional Catholic. (Can anyone update me and let me know if he has also spoken of the dangers inherent in liberalism?)

We can admit that the danger of pelagianism exists in traditional Catholicism simply because the traditional Catholic, by taking the battle with sin and error seriously, may try so hard that he lives a life devoid of joy. In looking for clear truth and safe living in accord with the truth he may, for example, give up all TV instead of only those programmes which induce him to sin; he may give up all music that is not Christian; he may end friendships with those not living a Christian life rather than enjoying them as best he can while remaining a sign of God calling his friends to holiness. In short, he may see sin around every corner and become scrupulous in the attempt to avoid it. Traditionalists do better when they remember that “Be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect” (Matt.5v48) does not mean “be a perfect reflection of God”, but “be perfectly human” (which does not mean ‘sinful’ since sin makes us less than human). All of us ought to enjoy life in all that is not sin, thereby enjoying all God has given us as a taste of the joys of heaven and witnessing to the joy of the Gospel.

On the other hand, progressive or liberal catholics are less likely to fall into an exaggerated battle with sin simply because they are liberal about what actually constitutes sin; they have lost the sense of sin, the mantra of “God loves you as you are” rarely being followed by “but He calls you on to holiness”. Liberals thus walk in greater spiritual danger than the traditional Catholic for they give free reign to Satan by advocating (or at least seeking to accommodate) grave sins such as artificial contraception, same-sex activity, irregular unions, euthanasia etc., for the sake of compassion and freedom. This is dangerous not only for the liberal who thus espouses himself to sin, but for society (which applauds him); for the Church (which is weakened by sin) and for the world (which is thereby derailed from God’s law). The spiritual danger faced by liberals is quite simply this: they espouse themselves to the culture of death and its instigator, the father of lies. Liberals need to remember and respond to Our Lord’s first public call: “Repent, the Kingdom of God is at hand” (Matt3v2).

While we all have everyday weaknesses to overcome (e.g. pride, laziness, impatience, gossiping, indiscretion, greed) the added danger of traditionalism is that it can make us dreadfully demanding of self and others, while the danger of  liberalism is that it allows folk to wallow in that destruction which is called sin. The traditionalist must avoid breaking the crushed reed (Matt.12v20) certainly, but the danger for liberals is far greater; they are spiritually blind to the wiles of the devil and the pit into which he seeks to lead us. If tradionalists must avoid breaking the crushed reed, liberals need to remember that by accommodating ‘alternative lifestyles and choice’ they walk a broad road, and as Our Lord warned us, it is the broad road that leads to perdition (Matt.7v13).

Post Script.

What is needed is that all of us to foster unity. For liberals this means a faithful adherence to the Church’s doctrinal tradition; for traditionalists a faithful adherence to her spiritual wisdom, and for all of us a faithful adherence to sound pastoral care in the light of doctrine and spiritual wisdom. Not to be forgotten is the need for all of us to foster charity in dealing one with another, that the love of God may be made manifest. 

13 comments:

  1. I just hope that Pope Francis listens to Bishop Schneider in the manner of receiving Holy Communion. Kneeling and on the tongue as was my mode and the mode of many before the 'professionals' decided to change an ancient and venerable practice. Please please can we restore due reverence to Our Lord who did so much for us.

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    1. Thank you, and indeed!
      Not only do I look for restoration of the ancient practice of receiving on the tongue which appears to have biblical precedence at the last supper (Jn.13v26) but I would like to have Bishop Schneider's idea of a new Syllabus of Errors' brought to pass. Vatican II is still too often read with a hermeneutic of discontinuity.
      God Bless.

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    2. when i was coming up for confirmation I thought I would never concede and even read Dominus Est to help give myself the courage to ask the parish Priest if I could kneel and receive Our Lord on the tongue. Unfortunately, 'Too many people (Bishops to laity) have known nothing but the hermeneutic of discontinuity', I was refused. I've read the GIRM and I know he has no right to refuse yet i acquiesced, mea culpa. I bet I'm not the only one.

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    3. Thank you.
      I bet you aren't the only one too. My response would have been "You don't need permission to do what the Church has as her norm and to forgo the option of standing and receiving on the hand which the Church does not require".
      God bless you.

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  2. Thank you for another encouraging post Father.

    And a hearty 'Yes!' to you and to brandsma regarding the reception of Holy Communion kneeling and on the tongue.

    Bishop Schneider does write beautifully on this theme. We also would love to see such clarification on Vatican II to safeguard against the ruptures of the hermeneutic of discontinuity.

    A few years ago we read Msgr. Brunero Gherardini's book 'The Ecumenical Council Vatican II - A Much Needed Discussion' which concluded with an articulate appeal to the Holy Father for a Papal clarification to demonstrate continuity and to authoritatively interpret seeming discontinuities according to the true mind and heart of the Church.

    Msgr. Gherardini posited that such a clarification would be rooted in a through and scientific examination of the conciliar documents in the light and unity of Tradition.

    With you we pray for the true unity and peace of the Church in these times.

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    1. Thank you for the comment. Sorry it has taken until tonight to post it.
      Yes, the method of receiving Holy Communion remains a central issue: if we can't kneel before God who will we kneel before? And if we don't Him in a unique manner, how do we witness to our belief in the Real Presence?
      Bishop Schneider and Mgr Gherardini are, I think, on the right track. I consider not doing such a document a lamentable omission of Pope Benedict XVI's reign. Too many people (Bishops to laity) have known nothing but the hermeneutic of discontinuity and have come to believe it is the true Vatican II. May Our Blessed Lady intercede for the Church and the Holy Spirit empower her.
      God bless.

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  3. Imagine if the good Bishop Schneider was given a diocese in Germany??

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    1. Thank you Lynda.
      Imagine if Bishop Schneider were to get a red hat and be elected Pope...
      God Bless

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    2. Now that would be springtime for the Church ... !!!

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  4. How sad in this day and age we would kneel to receive a knighthood or an honour from the queen yet not to receive Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We must continue to pray and soldier on with receiving on the tongue and kneeling and wearing our mantilla a at all Holy Masses not just the EF Mass God Bless

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    1. Thank you for the comment.
      Perhaps we are more in awe of the earthly monarch than the King of Kings Himself. Actually, I believe this to be true, for people today take their morality from what is legal (and what they can get made legal) rather than from the Gospel.
      God bless.

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  5. "Imagine if Bishop Schneider were to get a red hat and be elected Pope..."..................what?.................Sorry, I think I went into ecstasy there at the thought!

    Chloe

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    1. Thank you for the comment...
      I suspect your ecstasy would be replicated in many a soul!
      God bless.

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