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L e t t e r s
“THOU ART SAND…”?
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This Rock
Volume 4, Number 10
 October 1993 
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WE appreciate Catholic Answers' tremendous
efforts in Denver to help support the Church built "upon this
rock" and to defend it against those who compulsively and irrationally
attack it, particularly those who attack the papacy.
These anti-Catholic Fundamentalists try so hard to get around the
obviously literal meaning of Matthew 16:18. If, following Simon Peter's
triple denial of Jesus, the Lord would have nicknamed him "Sand"
and then said to Simon, "You are Sand, and upon this sand I will
not build my Church," no Fundamentalist would question
the obvious play on words there. But Fundamentalists refuse to acknowledge
the obvious in Matthew 16:18, and they ignore the fact that before
Peter's denial Jesus not only foretold the event, but also said he
would pray for Peter to become a source of faith-building to the others
(Luke 22:31-34). Later Jesus even asked Peter if he loved him "more
than these" other disciples, to which Jesus added the command,
"Feed my sheep" (John 21:15-17).
Furthermore, if Jesus were referring to Peter's confession as the
"rock" and not to Peter himself, then why didn't Jesus name
Andrew "Rock"? After all, it was Andrew who first came to
Peter and said, "We have found the Messiah!" (John 1:41).
Similarly, why didn't Jesus name Nathaniel "Rock"? Remember,
Nathaniel immediately confessed to Jesus, "You are the Son of
God; you are the king of Israel" (John 1:49) after Jesus had
simply told Nathaniel he'd miraculously seen him under the fig tree.
Steve Neef
Lafayette, Louisiana
What contradiction?
I AM a 44 year-old woman who converted from
Evangelical to Catholic at age 18. All my family is Protestant. My
older sister had a "born-again" experience about 15 years
ago and is a real zealous Evangelical. I try to avoid controversy
with her--it's much more comfortable to concentrate on what we
have in common in our spiritual walks, which is quite a lot really:
Jesus Christ. We pray for each other's needs and talk by phone often.
Today she started talking about the Christian Research Institute,
and I shared that the treatment of Mary bothered me and that the treatment
of Catholics by some Protestants hurt me and made me angry. Not only
is the "world" against us (which is okay because as Christians
we have to expect that), but other Christians are saying I'm not Christian
because I'm Catholic, etc.
My sister commented that she thinks all these Marian apparitions are
demonic and told me about a "Mary Line" in her area that
gives Mary's messages and that they contradict Scripture. She said
that [in these messages] Mary always refers to Jesus as "my son"
and not as our Lord Jesus Christ. She also said that the message said
something about taking Mary into our hearts and only Jesus should
be in our hearts.
I called the number, and the message said to read and live Scripture
to understand the signs of the times and that Mary wants to draw us
to her heart and Jesus' heart. Does this sound contrary to Scripture?
I attended Bible Study Fellowship for six years and enjoy the Bible,
and this doesn't seem to me to contradict anything in the Bible. I
am confused.
Kay Nowurshi
Eagle, Indiana
Nixes SSPX
AS one who has had experience with the Society
of St. Pius X and the Fraternity of St. Peter, clarifications must
be made vis-a-vis Tracy Hummel's letter [May 1993] about Archbishop
Marcel Lefebvre.
It causes great wonderment at why the archbishop consecrated four
men, when he was already assured a bishop by the protocol with Rome.
"Four" was explained as the magic number, so to speak, for
the Society to run smoothly. Of course, that was all balderdash, because
Lefebvre, who was no young man when the Society started, had no trouble
traveling across the globe for ordinations and confirmations. Further,
the Fraternity of St. Peter has turned the specific demand for a bishop
on its ear by enticing cardinals and bishops to ordain its men to
holy orders. Through his generosity and concern for traditional Catholics,
the Pope has made this once-irksome question a moot point.
Next, there is the issue of the excommunication and schismatical acts
of His Excellency [Lefebvre]. Hummel quotes a little too selectively
from Count Neri Capponi's interview in The Latin Mass magazine.
Capponi says clearly that Lefebvre's excommunication was automatic
"[b]ecause that particular infringement of the law is punished
by automatic excommunication." Capponi continued that his acts
were not necessarily schismatic and that, considering extenuating
circumstances, his consecrations may not have warranted an excommunication.
Note well the phrase "extenuating circumstances"!
In the end, however, Rome is the interpreter of her laws. Since she
found no extenuating circumstances, especially on account of Lefebrve's
agreement with Cardinal Ratzinger, Cardinal Bernadin Gantin issued
a decree of excommunication on July 1, 1988.
In regard to the schismatical tendencies of Archbishop Lefebvre,
I refer to his suggestion to Antonio de Castro Mayer, Archbishop of
Campos, Brazil, that a "traditional" bishop be consecrated
for that diocese. In his "Note concerning the new bishop due
to succeed His Excellency Monsignor de Castro Mayer," Lefebvre
wrote, "Since his jurisdictional authority as bishop will come
to him not from appointment by Rome, but from the emergency need to
save souls, he will have to establish his authority with especial
delicacy . . . " (February 20, 1991). An explanation was issued
by the SSPX claiming that "the bishop of the diocese remains
the bishop named by Rome, and the truly Catholic priests of Campos
recognize him as such. . . . Nevertheless they will not have recourse
to his jurisdiction, but to the substitute jurisdiction of the new
bishop, for the reasons already explained." Indeed, on July 28,
1991 Fr. Licinio Rangel was consecrated a bishop.
This puts the SSPX in schism. Not only did the Society deny the authority
of the bishop approved by Rome, but it also denied his jurisdiction
over the faithful who come to its chapels. Apparently Lefebvre knew
of and condoned these designs, which makes him a participant in schism.
This is only one episode in the sad deterioration of the Society.
I could mention the "sedevacantist schism" within the SSPX,
which ended with the formation of the Society of St. Pius V, or Bishop
Richard Williamson's imbecilic "pastoral letters" on women's
slacks, or Lefebvre's characterization of the Holy See as "the
Roman snake." But all this would be rubbing salt in the wound.
The work of reconciliation and reform must begin--but it will
not start with the Society of St. Pius X.
William W. I. Dunn
Sparta, New Jersey
Best of both worlds
CONCERNING the letter [July 1993] from Juli
Loesch Wiley, whose husband was raised Baptist but was leaning toward
the Orthodox faith, I was surprised that you did not suggest that
her husband embrace the intellectual winner and the dignified
liturgy winner in the Catholic Byzantine rites of the Church. It would
seem to me to be the best of both worlds for that gentleman.
Rev. Mark Roberts
Las Vegas, Nevada
This Rock drives her nuts
A METHODIST friend has borrowed several books
and This Rock issues from me. These, along with a lot of prayer
and other studies on her part have led her to conversion. Her RCIA
adviser told her there were other programs for her. She's prayed the
rosary and now novenas on her own for four years! And she often attends
daily Mass.
Her witness of what the Eucharist has meant to her is very moving
and vivid. It's exciting to see her grow in the faith! She's said
This Rock drives her nuts, but also that she gets so much
from it.
This lady has paid a heavy price for her turn toward Catholicism.
Her long-time fianc<\i> is a very intolerant Fundamentalist, and when
he wanted info on Catholicism, to whom does he go? Bart Brewer. Her
fianc<\i> in effect told her to choose between him and her growing
faith in the Church. She gave him Catholicism and Fundamentalism
[which contains over 300 scriptural citations], and he said, "Not
scriptural enough!" It was difficult for her, but she's chosen
the Church. The Church will gain a strongly spiritual daughter when
it welcomes her home!
James A. Kolvek
San Diego, California
Timely ammunition
I CANNOT tell you how helpful your magazine
has been to me. The May issue just arrived in the middle of a debate
over inclusive language being used here at Corpus Christi Parish.
We have also had a substitute priest come in and use the "Father/Mother"
term for God. I half expected him to begin the Lord's prayer with
"Our Parent . . ."
I have also been engaged in a discussion on women's ordination with
a man in the letters-to-the-editor section of our local Catholic
Telegraph. I have enclosed a sheet with my response to his original
letter and his response to me. As you can see, I am grateful for the
information I get from your papal infallibility tract and "The
Fathers Know Best" section of your magazine. Thank you and keep
up the good work.
Phillip R. Mathes
Dayton, Ohio
Remedially corrupt
JAMES White ["Fatally Flawed Thinking,"
July 1993] thinks Catholicism is not Christian because, as he says,
it says the work of Christ is unfinished.
He forgets: It is one thing for Jesus to earn all forgiveness and
grace once for all, but another thing for me to receive it. Paul makes
this clear in Romans 8:17: "We are heirs of God, fellow heirs
with Christ, provided that we suffer with him so that we may be glorified
with him." This is just part of the great syn Christo theme
in Paul: We are saved and made holy if and to the extent that we are
made members of Christ and made like him. We find this in many places
in Paul's epistles, incuding Romans 6:1-6, 8:9, Colossians 3:1-4,
and Ephesians 2:5-6.
White probably thinks he gets around this by saying we need not be
disposed. It seems he would agree with Luther who wrote, "Be
a sinner and sin boldly. . . . No sin will seperate us from the Lamb,
even if we commit fornication and adultery a thousand times a day"
(Works, American Edition, 48.281-82). But God said in Malachi
3:2, "He is like a refiner's fire. Who can stand when he appears?"
In the vision of God, we see him face to face. That does not mean
we take in an image of him (no mere image could represent him), but
he joins himself directly with the soul. If he finds a soul totally
corrupt, he will not accept it; if the soul is only remediably corrupt,
the refiner's fire will burn out the corruption.
Rev. William G. Most
Alexandria, Virginia
And the winner is . . .
IN response to the prizeless contest you
announced in the "Up Front" section of the September 1993
issue of This Rock, the answer I believe is as follows:
The ark of the covenant, according to Exodus 25:17-22, was to have
two golden cherubim who would face each other with their wings
stretched upward. The clip art on page 31 has the cherubim
positioned back-to-back.
In regard to the "prizeless-ness" of this contest, I want
to object and make one earnest request: Please offer prayers for me
and my family. We are diligently searching to know the truth of God's
word . . . and at times there seems to be no end in sight.
I am a minister in the Church of Christ (Campbell-Stone movement)
who, at the urging of a dear friend, read Catholicism and Fundamentalism
this past summer. Nothing has been the same since. I have been
obsessed for five months with learning all I can about the early Church
and Catholicism.
So much is "falling into place," yet so much remains to
be answered. Now more than ever, I recognize that God's grace is the
key (as opposed to mere academic pursuit).
At times I have despaired of ever finding any satisfying answers.
However, I lean on the Lord's promises, "Seek and ye shall find"
and "If you abide in my word . . . you will know the truth."
Were it not for Catholic Answers, I would not really know what Catholicism
is . . . I would have only the Fundamentalist perspective.
Bruce Sullivan
Hardyville, Kentucky
And the co-winner is . . .
IF you discount what appear to be artistic
liberties in the pedestal and the two covers, the cherubim are facing
the wrong way. They should be facing or turned to each other with
their faces looking at the cover. Their wings are to be spread out
so that they cover the cover (propitiatory). The scale of two-and-a-half
by one-and-a-half cubits is also a bit off.
Ed Baudola
Boca Raton, Florida
The new body snatchers
I HAVE often pondered the large role that
apologetics will play in my vocation as a preacher in the Dominicans.
A number of the other brothers here besides myself feel strongly that
we, as the Order of Preachers, need to be engaged in apologetic preaching
work.
A few of us listen to Scott Hahn tapes and read This Rock regularly
(the novitiate here has its own subscription), in hopes that we will
be able to learn better ways to evangelize and defend our faith--as
St. Dominic did over 700 years ago.
I have read so much about anti-Catholic literature on which you report,
but have not read or seen much of it personally. The Lord really showed
me the reality of the situation yesterday while I was in San Francisco
with a friend of mine who happens to be a Discalced Carmelite student
brother.
Our site-seeing brought us to Mission San Francisco de Asis (popularly
known as Mission Dolores), where the first sacrifice of the Mass was
celebrated on June 29, 1776, and thus the city of San Francisco had
its beginnning five days before the signing of the Declaration of
Independence.
After visiting this beautiful pilgrimage site, we saw a store called
"Librer<\m>9a Cristiana," thinking it was a Catholic bookstore,
being so close to Mission Dolores. But in looking around we realized
it was an Evangelical Christian bookstore--which was fine with
me.
But much to our surprise we came across a large section, all anti-Catholic.
We saw a book claiming Catholics worship the pope and that the Catholic
Church was the Whore of Babylon--I could not believe it! A number
of people were coming in to purchase the anti-Catholic comic books
and Chick Publications pamphlets they were selling for 15 cents apiece.
I immediately began to question the store manager in my broken Spanish
about why she sold all this literature telling complete lies about
the Catholic Church. She had no answer except that all of it was "Bible-based."
It is sad that so many of our Hispanic Catholics are being snatched
out of the Church right there in the Mission district that is so Catholic
in its origins.
Br. Benedict Croell, O.P.
Oakland, California
Helping Ms. Fallen-Away
WHEN I first started to get This Rock,
I wondered if I really needed to work so hard at apologetics. After
all, I'm just a homemaker. My day revolves around caring for and home-educating
our four children. However, it turns out that gaining knowledge has
helped in little ways. I receive questions about our faith from fellow
Catholics that I can answer completely and intelligently. And most
importantly, I have gained a better posture when addressing non-Catholics.
At a gathering of homeschoolers, a mother asked me about baptism,
and the local priest's seeming reluctance to welcome her and her family
into the parish. The Fundamentalist ladies were waiting for my answer,
but with hooks ready to pull this wavering "fallen-away"
into their own folds. I went into the fact that priests are mortal
with the same temperaments and foibles as other mortals. I also suggested
she begin to include him in her prayers, as that always helps me when
I have a difficulty with someone.
One woman who wasn't so reticent told her that the Bible says to look
for the church where you feel most welcome. Naturally, I couldn't
let the moment pass and informed her politely that Catholics don't
believe that, because it doesn't say that in the Bible.
I invited her to visit with a Bible in hand to discuss it. She wasn't
pleased, but Ms. Fallen-Away stayed behind to ask me more questions.
Ms. Fallen-Away isn't anymore! And Ms. Fundamentalist never has called
to talk about the Bible (we now include her in our prayers too!).
I did get a little static from the local school authorities, and I
have my suspicions about that.
So, what would you call this, "Apologetics by the Swings,"
or "Picking Up a Fallen-Away"? Whichever, I now know the
value of knowing my faith, and to speak the truth when presented with
the opportunity.
Yvonne Rinaldi
Hawthone, Nevada
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