[royalcello]

I would think that Dom Duarte's meeting with the Dalai Lama would be rather less disturbing for Catholics than the many ecumenical and inter-religious events in which Pope John Paul II has participated. But unless you're a sedevacantist, John Paul II is still the Pope, and the Bishop of Leiria is still a bishop. And Dom Duarte is still the only legitimate claimant to the throne of Portugal. Since the throne is a secular position, it would seem unfair to hold its would-be occupant to a higher standard than those who are truly responsible for leading the Church.

[romncath]

I'm not a sedevacantist but I am one of those terrible "fanatic extremist" traditionalists that Monsignor Guerra was railing against. As "american colleen" said, though, I consider myself just a Catholic. Before Vatican II there were no such labels, but now there are plenty. Dom Duarte's meeting is less disturbing than the religious leaders of the Church, but it still gives legitimacy to a false religion and would not have occurred before Vatican II. He still is responsible as a Catholic leader to the Catholics of Portugal. Look what bad effect King Henry VIII and his Catholic nobility had on England (not that Dom Duarte is a King Henry, however). Suppose that when Vatican II came around, Dom Duarte rejected it all like Bishop de Castro Mayer or Bishop Lefebvre. Perhaps some of the Portuguese would not be taken in by all the changes in the Church because of his influence as a leader.

I suppose Dom Duarte is in the dark as are most of those who do not see what has really happened to the Church after Vatican II. I was in the dark myself until I started to read about the changes in the Church in traditional periodicals. Thanks to grace of God, The Catholic Family News, The Remnant and the Fatima Crusader (published by that poor old fashioned priest Fr. Gruner), I found out the truth at last. I suppose that if Dom Duarte became a quote "traditionalist" he would be as about well welcomed in Fatima as Fr. Gruner, but it would be nice to see some more traditional leaders in the world.

I have my own impressions of Fatima because my wife and I lived in Fatima for three months early last year. As bad as these interfaith meetings are and which at least in Fatima are not so public, it was still heartening to see the many pilgrims that came there from all over the world, all year round. Our Lady must be pleased that Catholic pilgrims still come there by the millions to pay her homage, but, on the other hand, I don't think she would be pleased to see Her message distorted or for the Vatican modernists to claim that Fatima is now irrelevant. Many people are shocked by events in Fatima, but as Our Lady said "in the end My Immaculate Heart will triumph," and in due time God will take care of the mess just like He did the Arian heresy. It may be through the events that were predicted at Garabandal, Spain, where there will be a warning, miracle and chastisement, but the Church will be restored.

The third secret of Fatima is said to be the great apostasy in the Catholic Church so what is going on in Fatima and elsewhere is not so surprising. God gave a warning and a chastisement in Assisi in 1996, 10 years to the day after the interfaith events at Assisi in 1986 by the Pope, heretics and the pagans. We were on a pilgrimage there in 1998 and we saw the aftermath of the earthquake around the area. It was no accident that several monks and several technicians were killed when the Basilica ceiling fell on top of them during the quake. As St. Padre Pio said, "Pray, hope and don't worry."