Guest Post: Are These People in Communion with the Teachings and Traditions of the Catholic Faith?

Are people who seek to destroy the Catholic Church in communion with the teachings and the traditions of the Catholic Church?

Guest Contributor: Susan Shelko
(Susan first wrote this powerful essay as a comment to OnePeterFive's Steve Skojec, who was responding in his turn to a comment there that I had left.)


Yes, indeed, why are we in communion with such people? That is one question to ask. Another question is whether the people who seek to destroy the Catholic Church are in communion with the teachings and the traditions of the Catholic faith/ Church? And if they are not, are faithful and devout Catholics required to be submissive and obedient and under their authority? And what is to be done about these things (if anything)?

On an institutional basis (i.e., the Cardinals and Bishops), very little has been done. They are mostly silent. On an individual basis (the laity), people are doing a variety of things: praying, making a consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, speaking out on the internet, leaving the NO churches and joining SSPX, FSSP, Institute of Christ the King, independent chapels and trying to awaken family and friends and fellow parishioners.

A few other questions might be asked, including: Is the modern Catholic Church still Catholic? Can an individual lay person discern what is Catholic teaching? As compared to what is not Catholic teaching? Can the Catholic Church, which is the pillar and foundation of truth, teach falsehood and heresy? Can the Catholic Church contradict prior teaching and tradition and the deposit of faith? And if it does these things, then what?

So this is my approach: Francis is the official elected pope of the modern Catholic Church; he holds an office and a title. Given Francis' ever growing list of statements and teachings that contradict prior Catholic Church doctrine and dogma, I do not trust what he says and I do not trust my soul to him as I would trust my soul to St. Peter and to our Lord himself. Every now and then Francis says something that is actually Catholic. What to do ...

For me, it is best to treat all of Francis' words as that one poisoned M&M in the bag of M&Ms. I will stay safe and spiritually healthy by tossing the entire bag of M&Ms (i.e., 9,999 are pure and untainted but 1 is poison) in the trash. Why would I play Russian roulette with my soul? Francis speaks, I don't listen. I am not in communion with: "lies, I was deceived", "sin boldly", "in praise of Martin Luther and his 95 theses", "Jesus became the devil," "Jesus likes it when you sin" and a whole laundry list of assorted heresies. Maybe others would take a different approach; this I believe is the most secure route.
 
Based upon articles and postings on 1P5, I now understand that the 1994 Catechism contains a number of serious errors. I do not have the time, effort or energy to compare Father Hardon's commentary and recommendations with the CCC itself. Nor do I have the seminary/ theological background to know what to toss and what to keep in the CCC. My solution so as not to fall into serious error: the 1994 CCC will sit untouched/ unopened on my shelf and I will rely entirely upon the Baltimore Catechism and the Catechism of Trent.
 
Also, thanks to the generous commentators, authors, professors/ theologians and articles here (i.e., OnePeterFive, where Susan first placed these reflections), I have come to question/ doubt the efficacy of the NO liturgy, the validity of the 1969 rite of ordination at the episcopal level -- and hence the validity of the bishops, the priests and the consecration of the bread and wine -- and the validity/ efficacy of the sacraments in general. I would never have known about nor begun to question any of these things but for this website. I am now awake, and despite the pain involved, I am grateful.
 
My solution: I will not attend a doubtful mass; I have begun to attend a small independent chapel that offers the traditional Latin mass. I have ordered a copy of a Latin to English Missal so I can follow along with the mass. As for sacraments: I am planning a general confession (because I am not certain previous ones were heard by a validly ordained priest) and I will have my confirmation re-done on a conditional basis (because I am not certain the bishop who confirmed me was ordained under a valid rite of ordination).
 
As for reading materials, I am going back in time to pre-Vatican II materials and spiritual writings. Currently I am delighting myself with Life of Christ by Archbishop Fulton Sheen and I have discovered Msgr. Knox's translation of the Holy Bible. (I highly recommend both items.) I figure that if it was right and good and solidly Catholic before, then it is right and good and solidly Catholic now. So what does all of this make me? A faithful and devout Catholic? A practical sedevacantist? A traditionalist? A schematic? A modern-day Martin Luther?
 

Whatever it makes me, I am at peace with myself and with the Lord.



Corvine Note: Many, many thanks, Susan, for letting me publish this essay here at Corvine's Corner. Very much appreciated, indeed.