Traditional Catholic groups still thrive

Talk about it

Columnist Bonnie Erbe has revealed some facts about the Catholic Church (the closing of 850 parishes and about $2 billion in scandal settlements). However, she failed to mention the part of the church that is thriving.

Since the Vatican II Council, the church has deviated from many of the traditional practices of the pre-Vatican II era. Modernism (rejection of the past) and many other factors may be part of the demise.

Two arms of the Church, the Fraternity of St. Peter and the Society of St. Pius X are flourishing in many parts of the world as well as the U.S. They have chosen to adhere to traditional practices of the Church.

Archbishop Lefebvre, who attended the Vatican II Council, saw that much of tradition was to be eliminated. To him tradition was a major part of the Church and faith. To retain tradition, the Society of St. Pius X was established. Even before the verification by Pope Benedict XVI, all society Masses were valid.

St. Thomas Aquinas said, “Hold firmly that our faith is identical with that of the ancients, deny this, and you dissolve the unity of the Church.”

There are many who believe the sex scandal to be part of the Third Fatima Secret. None of the Popes have fully revealed this Third Secret. As of late, Benedict XVI has said the Third Secret to be “terrifying.” On May 18 he also said, “He deceives himself who thinks the prophetic mission of Fatima is concluded.”

Wallace Beaudoin

Dickinson

Tags: opinion, catholic