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Look Who’s Talking!

“One particularly virulent anti-Protestant group, Catholic Answers, recently sent out a mailing to tens of thousands of Catholics, testily warning them of the Fundamentalist threat.’ The group’s director, Karl Keating, requested a contribution of ‘$30 or more,’ imploring his followers not to sit by and let Fundamentalists steal our young Catholic leaders.’ Significantly, though the Pope is in favor of common worship with Buddhists, Moslems, Hindus, and even Voodoo worshipers, he and his handlers have declared all-out war against Christian Fundamentalists. Ecumenical Vatican hard-liners agree that there can never be any unity with those who preach sola scriptura (Bible only).” 

So writes Texe Marrs in the August issue of his Flashpoint newsletter. For a more accurate account of Karl Keating’s fund-raising letter, see his “Anatony of a Solicitation” on page 14 in this issue. 

We would like to correct Marrs on a few points: (1) Whatever Catholic Answers is, “virulent” does not seem to be the word to describe it, but we admit we oppose those teachings of Protestantism that are incorrect. We also oppose the hysteria that people such as Marrs thrive on. (2) We sent out letters to 900,000 Catholics, not “tens of thousands.” Give us credit! [See article on page 14.] (3) The Pope is not in favor of common worship with the groups Marrs lists, which is why he never has engaged in common worship with them. (4) The Pope does not have “handlers” and doesn’t need them. (5) “Ecumenical Vatican hard-liners” (sounds oxymoronic, doesn’t it?) think there can be unity with those who preach sola scriptura–as soon as those folks realize that sola scriptura is itself unscriptural. 


 

In the May issue we mentioned Prayer Partners for Priests. We’ve learned of a similar group, Lay Associates of the Priesthood, c/o Handmaids of the Precious Blood, Cor Jesu Monastery, P.O. Box 68, Jemez Springs, NM 87025. Members are given the name of a priest or bishop for whom they pray and sacrifice. There are no dues, and Mass is offered weekly for members. The Handmaids of the Precious Blood is a contemplative order dedicated to the sanctification of priests. 


 

Steve Neef is placing small classified ads in his local newspaper. Sample: “Christians! Is Mary ‘ever-virgin’ or had she other children? SASE to P.O. Box 90351, Lafayette, LA 70509.” People who write in are sent copies of a Catholic Answers tract. Why don’t you try this technique? 


 

To help us with circulation, Bishop Sam G. Jacobs of the Diocese of Alexandria, Louisiana kindly inserted a notice about This Rock into a publication sent to his priests. The notice was in a form reproducible in parish bulletins. Thanks, Bishop! 


 

Good news and bad news from Russia. First, two good items. 

Fr. Myron Effing, pastor of Most Holy Mother of God Catholic Church in Vladivostok, reports that “the State Small Council decided to return the historic Catholic church building here in Vladivostok to the Catholic parish. Now we have to raise the money to repair it.” 

Fr. Effing is helping us procure a Russian translation of Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Truth, the booklet we distributed during World Youth Day. 

Now for two items of bad news. 

“Russia has been inundated by Protestants of the Evangelical bent, and they are equally condemnatory of Catholics and Orthodox. This week 26 American Assemblies of God missionaries are speaking in every classroom to every child in the public schools of Vladivostok, using interpreters and giving each child Protestant literature. This project will cost about $100,000. They are forming a local church and already have a seminary established in Khabarovsk, a city within my parish. Our poor Catholic Church hasn’t spent anywhere near $100,000 in our whole two years here! 

“Recently Southern Baptists spent two weeks in intense ‘Bible study’ with some Russian young people. The result can only be described as a cult, complete with brainwashed kids. They were told terrible lies about Catholics, and they believe them–for example, that the Church teaches that the pope can never sin.” 

If you wish to correspond with Fr. Effing, you may write to him at Most Holy Mother of God Catholic Church, P.O. Box 3185, 690087 Vladivostok, Russia. Allow plenty of time for (sporadic) mail delivery, and keep in mind that the Church in Russia is dirt poor (which is a hint that you should ask Fr. Effing how you can help his parish). 


 

If you think you have it bad in your parish, and if you think nothing can be done, read this memo from Pat Strang of Findlay, Ohio. It may give you hope. 

“Our parish is one with altar girls, so-called inclusive language that the pastor and a few readers use (but not the deacons or the two assistant priests), a strategic planning program with prayers to unknown gods–until my husband and I took it upon ourselves to write over 300 participants in the program to let them know what was happening. When the writer of these prayers was confronted, her reply was, ‘We pray to God the Father on Sunday, why should we pray to him the rest of the week?’ 

“We were asked to pray and bow to the Indian gods on the Sunday closest to last Columbus Day. My husband and I prayed the rosary during this display of blasphemy. Our parish has studies on Matthew Fox and his religion (which is certainly not Catholic). The ‘alternative stations of the cross’ came from Pax Christi. 

“But we are fighting back and are making some headway. A feminist sister left a year ago, the feminist director of religious education left in June, and the feminist adult education chairman quit the committee in July. I got myself on the committee last year and have been instrumental in getting other true Catholics to serve on it, and we have pointed out and written to the leaders of the parish on the atrocities going on in the name of adult education. It has been an uphill battle for five years, but some of the prayers of the faithful have been answered. Our new director of religious education wants to get back to the basics. Hooray!” 


 

The Association of Concerned Clergy (207 Adams St., Newark, NJ 07105) is a coalition of priests who want to give an orthodox viewpoint on controverted issues in the Church. The Association has issued a statement on altar girls. It “admits that this issue is not primarily theological, [but] we believe it is necessary to see the theological implications.” Here are excerpts from the statement: 

“A well-established pattern exists in the Church in the United States whereby various individuals and communities deliberately violate liturgical norms, pressure legitimate authority, and finally succeed in obtaining the ex post facto legalization of their aberrations. Having used this procedure [for other issues], they are now doing the same in regard to female altar servers. . . . 

“Service at the altar is consistently cited as a powerful influence in fostering vocations to the priesthood. In this regard, two points need to be considered. First, most school-age boys refuse to participate in activities which are open to girls; therefore, altar service will usually become predominantly or exclusively female. Second, the linkage between altar service and priestly vocations cannot help but raise false hopes and expectations in young girls or, for that matter, among other members of the Church. . . . 

“An affirmative judgment in this regard will ultimately satisfy no side in this highly politicized issue. Those opposed to a change in ecclesiastical discipline will be gravely disappointed; those supporting a change will be energized to press for further radical changes in the Church’s concept of ministry, with young girls merely functioning as pawns in the process. . . . 

“While many have challenged or disputed one or more of the post-conciliar liturgical developments, it has heretofore been possible to defend these changes by referring to some point, however remote, in liturgical history. [With respect to altar girls], recourse to a pre-existing or primitive liturgical practice is impossible; this is a novelty. . . . 

“In an ecumenical age, one cannot ignore the sensibilities of Eastern Orthodox Christians who express shock and amazement at such an eventuality. In this content it is also important to advert to the delicate consciences of many ‘traditionalist’ Catholics who may already be in schism or for whom this move could precipitate schism.”

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