Oath Against Modernism
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| Cardinal Vaughan: "Oath against modernism? No problem!" |
Cardinal Vaughan's school, or at least the school set up in his memory, is at the centre of an ongoing disagreement with the Diocese of Westminster. That issue has been documented by bloggers such as Damian Thompson with much more knowledge of the situation than myself. Could it be, however, that there is a sense in which the battle over Vaughan may touch slightly upon the problems of modernism within the Catholic Church in the wake of the 'spirit of Vatican II'? Could it be that a whole raft of issues in the Church today touch upon the problems of modernism? Do I hear a resounding, "No s**t, Sherlock?!"
As I say, I know that I am ignorant of many of the issues debated concerning the school, but I doubt, for instance, that Cardinal Vaughan would have had a problem with a Catholic school verifying the Catholicity of parents, for instance, before allowing admission to their children to the school. I also doubt very much whether Cardinal Vaughan would have had a problem signing the Oath Against Modernism posted up by Fr Z and Fr Blake and Fr John Boyle today.
The oath raises questions: Would Tina Beattie, professor of theology at Roehampton University, sign it, for instance? Would the editorial team of The Tablet, sign it? Would Catholic teachers and teachers of seminarians sign it? How many individuals in the Church today would 'get it'? Would, even, the majority of our Bishops today be willing to sign it? Reading over the extraordinary oath, it is almost as if Pope Pius X sensed an immediate future for the Church that was a little more than bleak, as if the foundations of the Church were about to be shaken and that while knowing the gates of Hell shall never prevail against Her, desperately wanted to protect Her from the new age of 'rationalism' that was to assail Her and, to a point, infect Her. Popes, thankfully, desire to protect the Bride of Christ.
The very fact that he wanted this document signed by professors, preachers, priests, teachers and everyone who was anyone in any kind of teaching role within the Church makes it clear that if he didn't see the enemies of the Church within Her already, attempting to dismantle the Faith, then he at least saw them at Her gates. The same goes for Pope Pius XII with his definition of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Something that had long been believed by Christians perhaps has to be defined as an article of Faith, because a new age of 'progressive' thought believed by 'rationalists' seeks to undermine the supernatural origin of the Church and the uniqueness and sinlessness of the Blessed Virgin. Both Popes seem to have had a prophetic foresight of things to come after their reign.
The same can even be said for Pope Paul VI, so often criticised by traditional Catholics, with Humanae Vitae. Every Pope must be 'in the thick of it' and can perhaps see the 'wolves' surrounding the Church at different times and epochs when new philosophies threaten Her, not with extinction, but with persecution and a new variety of unbelief and heresy. And so it is today, with Pope Benedict XVI with Summorum Pontificum, the subsequent clarification, Universae Ecclesiae and the new translation of the Roman Missal. The actions of Popes can be mystifying to some, but looking back and even to the present day, it is as if many are gifted with foresight and like true defenders of the Faith, strategise a generation, maybe two, in advance, sometimes, even as a kind of 'damage limitation' exercise. They look out onto the horizon and see dark clouds on the way, in a way in which we cannot or do not, and plan for what is to come.
Anyway, back to Cardinal Vaughan, here is a nice excerpt from the book which, as I say, is available to anyone who wants it who can make me an offer if they choose. My store is something of an online car boot sale...
'I shall say Mass for you tomorrow, that we may both grow during the next year more and more fervent in His service, more and more dead to self, more and more purified from earthly motives and more and more helpful to one another. How much we have to be thankful for during the past year! We have both been permitted to do much in His service, more than in any former year, so far as I am concerned, for of your past I cannot judge: but, however that may be, how mch has been accomplished by our feeble hands: the College is where I could hardly have expected this time last year; the Tablet and now the Vatican are certainly heralds and champions of the Truth; the Catholic Truth Society has taken a hold and will spread still more. These three are important national works and are limited to no local or subordinate object and end. And these three have been emphatically our works, in which you have certainly had as great as, and probably a more meritorious share than, I have. Then there are all your more local works at Salisbury. And your books, which will spread truth and piety like the widening circles in the water. Let us then thank Our Lord tonight and say our Te Deum, and never give way to thoughts of sadness and despondency. There is still always one great dark cloud before you, I mean your children: but have patience and believe that patience hath a perfect work, and that by prayer and work we shall in the end obtain all we ask of God. What a sermon! Forgive me...'
Comments
When did everything change again?
I think you are suggesting that the documents of the Second Vatican Council say what you want them to say, rather than what they do say:
From Sacrosanctum Concillium
36. 1. Particular law remaining in force, the use of the Latin language is to be preserved in the Latin rites.
2. But since the use of the mother tongue, whether in the Mass, the administration of the sacraments, or other parts of the liturgy, frequently may be of great advantage to the people, the limits of its employment may be extended. This will apply in the first place to the readings and directives, and to some of the prayers and chants, according to the regulations on this matter to be laid down separately in subsequent chapters.
3. These norms being observed, it is for the competent territorial ecclesiastical authority mentioned in Art. 22, 2, to decide whether, and to what extent, the vernacular language is to be used; their decrees are to be approved, that is, confirmed, by the Apostolic See. And, whenever it seems to be called for, this authority is to consult with bishops of neighboring regions which have the same language.
4. Translations from the Latin text into the mother tongue intended for use in the liturgy must be approved by the competent territorial ecclesiastical authority mentioned above.
16. The Church acknowledges Gregorian chant as specially suited to the Roman liturgy: therefore, other things being equal, it should be given pride of place in liturgical services.
But other kinds of sacred music, especially polyphony, are by no means excluded from liturgical celebrations, so long as they accord with the spirit of the liturgical action, as laid down in Art. 30.
Have you read the Second Vatican Council documents? Also, where have you got the idea that the Church changed its position on homosexuality? What document, 'pray tell' are you citing?
In the old days, people who believed things antithetical to belief were called heretics. It was obvious they were heretics and they didn't mind being called heretics because they espoused something that mocked Christian belief. They espoused it and often preached it. At least they were honest. Nowadays, people mock Christian beliefs and have the audacity to tell everyone they are Catholics or Christians.
These people have gained places of great authority in the Church, teaching positions - it is these people Pius X wanted to reach and wanted to declare, with him, that which the Church has always believed.
The problem isn't the fact that this oath is 'defunct and silly'. It isn't silly. The problem is that you would never sign it anyway and that you disagree with one of the Popes of the Church, who sought to defend the Church against heresy, liberalism and modernism. The problem is that the Church is no longer of 'one mind, one heart' under the unity of the Vicar of Christ. I could go on, but you get the gist.
"All the dogmas of the Christian religion are indiscriminately the object of natural science or philosophy, and human reason, enlightened solely in an historical way, is able, by its own natural strength and principles, to attain to the true science of even the most abstruse dogmas; provided only that such dogmas be proposed to reason itself as its object."
Read that? It's Papal writ - all dogmas are to be subjected to human reason. Including your own beliefs and prejudices. A Pope wrote it. Pius IX (the most Enlightened Pope) continues:
"The method and principles by which the old scholastic doctors cultivated theology are no longer suitable to the demands of our times and to the progress of the sciences. The decrees of the Apostolic See and of the Roman congregations impede the true progress of science"
So the 'demands of our times' may be considered when understanding what is theologically permissible. It is no longer sufficient to cite the doctrine and dogma of an old authority, since these authorities did not live in our world, nor were they speaking of it. You may not like it, but then you're not the Pope. Pius IX WAS, so he has some authority here.
here's some more Pius IX for you:
"it appertains to the civil power to define what are the rights of the Church, and the limits within which she may exercise those rights...The teaching of those who compare the Sovereign Pontiff to a prince, free and acting in the universal Church, is a doctrine which prevailed in the Middle Ages [but is no longer relevant].
The Church has not the power of defining dogmatically that the religion of the Catholic Church is the only true religion...Roman pontiffs and ecumenical councils have wandered outside the limits of their powers, have usurped the rights of princes, and have even erred in defining matters of faith and morals [therefore] the sacred ministers of the Church and the Roman pontiff are to be absolutely excluded from every charge and dominion over temporal affairs"
Temporal affairs.... like what governments decide is permissible, what people get up to in civil society etc etc. A Pope has spoken. Now please be silent on these matters
Could it be you?
Could it be you who place yourself above the authority of Popes down the ages?
Let's say a Pope like Benedict XVI issued another Oath that was very similar...
what then?
But then the current Pope hasn't issued an encyclical telling us to condemn modernity once again. I suspect he won't, but then I can't see into his mind (I am merely guessing that, as an astute guy, he will realise that the off-on-off-on relationship to modernity that has marked Catholic history since the nineteenth century will start to look a bit silly if the Church turn-coats again - this is after all an institution that is supposed to be infallible. Apart from which, why would he bother? Pius IX was clearly onto something - the teachings of twelfth-century monks can't really guide twenty-first-century believers, our worlds are simply too different. Better to let reason play some part in life.)
Fine, so we will no longer use the Roman Missal. What's your point? If someone said "it is hardly surprising that heretics do not follow the Roman Missal" you would have a point - that person would be arrogantly and disgustingly daring to issue a proclamation of heresy (which you are expressly forbidden to do by the way) against those who are refusing to continue to abide by a repealed institution. That would be an outrageous thing for a lay person to do. Oh wait, it's exactly what you did. Only you can't see it because you only believe the bits of the faith that you happen to like
Without wishing to sound silly, you are all talk, and no trousers.
What do you want? Pius IX (see above) says explicitly that the Church has nothing to do with these issues. Once again:
"The Church has not the power of defining dogmatically that the religion of the Catholic Church is the only true religion...Roman pontiffs and ecumenical councils have wandered outside the limits of their powers, have usurped the rights of princes, and have even erred in defining matters of faith and morals [therefore] the sacred ministers of the Church and the Roman pontiff are to be absolutely excluded from every charge and dominion over temporal affairs"
So, why does it matter at all? I'm not gay, I have no need to or interest in condemning those who are. It is a temporal affair that falls outside the province of the Church. It is your opinion once again causing confusion. Your wretched sex-obsessed life is causing you to err and, frankly, to befoul the purity of the Church. Just imagine if the Blessed Virgin were among us today - would you honestly speak ENDLESSLY to her about homosexuality? Or would you prefer to focus on something more spiritual than the preferences of others?
I'll have to leave someone else to tackle you on Pius IX.
Oh no. It has changed in your mind, perhaps (No, I'm not just talking about homosexuality for goodness sake), because in your 'reasoning' it has changed.
Fancy some light reading?
http://www.u.arizona.edu/~aversa/modernism/sa.pdf
BJC
So, to take one of the examples which you quote from the encyclical (under the heading MODERATE RATIONALISM) “The Church has not the power of defining dogmatically that the religion of the Catholic Church is the only true religion...Roman pontiffs and ecumenical councils have wandered outside the limits of their powers, have usurped the rights of princes, and have even erred in defining matters of faith and morals [therefore] the sacred ministers of the Church and the Roman pontiff are to be absolutely excluded from every charge and dominion over temporal affairs", this is actually a condemned proposition; if you were to believe that proposition in any way, shape or form, then you would most certainly not be enjoying the encouragement of Bd. Pius IX but his condemnation!
Another example: if you were to say that the Government can change the Church's teachings regarding human sexuality, and interfere in the Sacrament of Marriage as defined as being between one man and one woman, you would fall under this condemned proposition from the Syllabus (no 44): "The civil authority may interfere in matters relating to religion, morality and spiritual government: hence, it can pass judgment on the instructions issued for the guidance of consciences, conformably with their mission, by the pastors of the Church. Further, it has the right to make enactments regarding the administration of the divine sacraments, and the dispositions necessary for receiving them."
So, I think it is correct to say that St. Pius X does not “directly contradict” his predecessor Bd. Pius IX when he issued the encyclicals and oath against Modernism. And a canonised Saint cannot be a “schismatic” by virtue of the fact that he was Canonised!
If I may be allowed to make one further quote from you “A Pope has spoken. Now please be silent on these matters.”
Liz, you've really shown yourself up on that one. A bit of silence and humility is in order, I think. You've completely disqualified yourself from being taken seriously in doctrinal matters.