Posted on 05/14/2020 4:47:28 PM PDT by ebb tide
Editor’s note: Athanasius Schneider, auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese of Saint Mary in Astana, one of the signers of Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò’s “Appeal for the Church and the World,” responds to sharp criticism that the Appeal has generated.
May 14, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — On May 8, 2020, a document titled “Appeal for the Church and the World: to Catholics and all people of good will” was published. Its initial signatories included, among others, three cardinals, nine bishops, eleven doctors, twenty-two journalists, and thirteen lawyers.
It is astonishing to see how representatives of the ecclesiastical as well as political and media establishment have, in obeisance to the prevailing uniform thinking, unanimously sought to discredit the concerns expressed in the Appeal and squelch any further discussion with the “knock-out argument” that it is mere “conspiracy theory.” I remember a similar form of reaction and language under the Soviet dictatorship, when dissenters and critics of the prevailing ideology and politics were accused of being complicit in the “conspiracy theory” disseminated by the capitalist West.
The critics of the Appeal refuse to consider the evidence, such as the official mortality rate (for the same time period) of the 2017–2018 flu season, as compared with the current COVID-19 epidemic in Germany. The mortality rate of the latter is much lower. There are countries with moderate coronavirus security and prevention measures that, due to their implementation, do not have a higher mortality rate. If the mere acknowledgment of the facts, and discussion about them, is labeled as “conspiracy theory,” then anyone who still thinks independently has good reason to be concerned about the possibility that subtle forms of dictatorship exist in our society. As is well known, eliminating or discrediting societal debate and dissenting voices is a chief characteristic of a totalitarian regime, whose main weapon against dissidents are not factual arguments, but rather demagogic and popular rhetoric. Only dictatorships fear objective debate when there are differing opinions.
The Appeal does not deny the existence of an epidemic and the need to fight it. However, some of the security and prevention measures involve imposing forms of complete surveillance over people. Under the pretext of an epidemic, such measures violate fundamental civil liberties and the democratic order of the State. Proposals regarding compulsory vaccination, with no alternative to the state-approved vaccine, and which would inevitably restrict personal liberties, are also very dangerous. Such measures and proposals are accustoming citizens to forms of technocratic and centrally directed tyranny — and civic courage; independent thinking; and, above all, any resistance are being severely paralyzed.
One aspect of the security and prevention measures that have been similarly implemented in almost all countries is the drastic ban on public worship. Such bans have existed only in times of systematic Christian persecution. The absolute novelty, however, is that in some places, State authorities are even prescribing liturgical norms to the Church, such as the manner of distributing Holy Communion. This is a clear interference in matters that pertain to the immediate authority of the Church. History will one day lament the “regime-clerics” of our time who subserviently accepted such interference by the State. History has always lamented that, in times of great crisis, the majority remained silent, and dissenting voices were stifled. Therefore, the Appeal for the Church and the World should at least be given a fair chance to initiate an honest debate, without fear of social and moral reprisals, as befits a democratic society.
May 13, 2020
+ Athanasius Schneider, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Saint Mary in Astana
Editor’s note: This piece first appeared in the conservative German Catholic weekly Die Tagespost. It is republished here by permission of the author.
Ping
I have to whole heartedly agree.
Clergy that at this point are too afraid to minister to the people are a lot more like hirelings who work only for pay than those waiting for eternal life.
We need the patriotic clergy that we had during the Revolutionary War. If our leaders don’t fight for our liberties then we need new leaders. Religious liberty is what made this country great. The FIRST words of the First amendment is that the Government shall not infringe on our religion. Period.
Of course there was persecution, and Cristians responded by meeting in the catacombs, developing secret places, codes and meetings. Martyrs were plenty. I don’t see many now willing to pay the price. In Ohio the Governor did not ban church or worship. Of his many faults, he is a Christian and a lawyer. He knew he would not ban church. But along comes the Bishops and church leaders from thier ivory toweys and more fearful of law suits, closed churches anyway. But dutifully sent out weekly messages that we still have to pay the light bills, etc. so keep those tythes and pledges coming. Sickening cowards.
Unfortunately, most of the persecution, for now, is coming from our own bishops, not necessarily the state. Not yet, but the bishops are leading the way, like leading lambs to the slaughter.
I meet with some people in their home and worship like they did in Paul’s day. We pray while listening to a CD by the Odes Project: https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/aprilweb-only/odesproject.html
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