SSPX will always be SSPX, no matter what Rome says or does. Power acquired through disobedience is a heck of a drug.
The expectation to obey "no matter what Rome says or does" is precisely the problem.
That would be falling in line with the Protestants' caricature of us, who think we're brainless automatons who just "follow the pope no matter what." That's not Catholic.
Protestantism and schismatics separate themselves from the Church and the pope, and reject her perennial teachings. That's entirely different from a necessary (or perceived to be necessary) act of disobedience in order to preserve Catholic Tradition.
The larger problem, I'd argue, is clerics acquiring power and influence in Rome through disobedience to Tradition. That problem won't be permitted to grow and spread indefinitely or unchecked. A time of reckoning is coming. God will put the Church back on track somehow, some way.
If faithful Catholics didn't resist Peter to his face, as it were, under certain conditions, we would all endanger the faith of our children. We don't want them to become gay tree huggers who believe in the fraternity of man under a god who wills the existence of all religions, while disrespecting (or disbelieving in?) the holy sacrifice of the Mass.
It's a terribly difficult situation the Church is in. We all have to do what we prayerfully discern is most appropriate during this time of crisis. The SSPX is just doing what they feel they're called to do in service to the Church, serving spiritual orphans who feel abandoned. I can't pass judgement on them.
The reason I began considering driving an hour to my diocesan TLM (which can be taken away by the stroke of a pen, I might add) is I was tired of putting up with my local parish's Protestant Bible study programs, its monthly "LGBTQ Catholics" meetings, its promotion of the "Gender-Bread Man," and more. So I understand we have to draw the line somewhere (a prudential judgment). I could not in good conscience subject myself and my wife to constant non-Catholic things that my bishop approved of, even if the sacraments were valid.
I believe loyalty to the Body of Christ is not the same as loyalty to a political party (conformity even if it contradicts the principles held by previous party leaders).
I also believe this reply is too long. I didn't mean to go overboard with it, Father, but the situation strikes a nerve.
That would be falling in line with the Protestants' caricature of us, who think we're brainless automatons who just "follow the pope no matter what." That's not Catholic.
Protestantism and schismatics separate themselves from the Church and the pope, and reject her perennial teachings. That's entirely different from a necessary (or perceived to be necessary) act of disobedience in order to preserve Catholic Tradition.
The larger problem, I'd argue, is clerics acquiring power and influence in Rome through disobedience to Tradition. That problem won't be permitted to grow and spread indefinitely or unchecked. A time of reckoning is coming. God will put the Church back on track somehow, some way.
If faithful Catholics didn't resist Peter to his face, as it were, under certain conditions, we would all endanger the faith of our children. We don't want them to become gay tree huggers who believe in the fraternity of man under a god who wills the existence of all religions, while disrespecting (or disbelieving in?) the holy sacrifice of the Mass.
It's a terribly difficult situation the Church is in. We all have to do what we prayerfully discern is most appropriate during this time of crisis. The SSPX is just doing what they feel they're called to do in service to the Church, serving spiritual orphans who feel abandoned. I can't pass judgement on them.
The reason I began considering driving an hour to my diocesan TLM (which can be taken away by the stroke of a pen, I might add) is I was tired of putting up with my local parish's Protestant Bible study programs, its monthly "LGBTQ Catholics" meetings, its promotion of the "Gender-Bread Man," and more. So I understand we have to draw the line somewhere (a prudential judgment). I could not in good conscience subject myself and my wife to constant non-Catholic things that my bishop approved of, even if the sacraments were valid.
I believe loyalty to the Body of Christ is not the same as loyalty to a political party (conformity even if it contradicts the principles held by previous party leaders).
I also believe this reply is too long. I didn't mean to go overboard with it, Father, but the situation strikes a nerve.
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