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Yes, I'm back--sort of. I will be gone again pretty soon. I liked being away--it refreshed me and gave me more time for reflection. I am more convinced than ever the SSPX has taken the right course, by the way. Aulaigner doesn't matter. Neither do Williamson or Fellay. This thing is bigger than any individual, including the Pope. There are principalities and powers at play in the Church these days. Better that the Society should stay clear of them for a while longer--till Rome comes to its senses.

There are principalities and powers at play in the Church these days. Better that the Society should stay clear of them for a while longer--till Rome comes to its senses.

I thought the last point in the posted letter was a good one. Aulagnier is probably just tired after so many years of fighting. He wants to see some tangible success during his lifetime. But there's a good chance that won't happen. What about the Catholic martyrs in England? They didn't see any tangible success in their lifetimes, or even the lifetimes of their grandchildren. But the blood they shed for the true faith is still inspiring many Catholics today. It may take quite a few decades longer before the hierarchy really is transformed enough to reclaim the Catholic faith. In the meantime we must suffer and pray and be patient and accept the will of God.

By the way, just the other night I came across an old article by Fr. Aulagnier from a 1985 Angelus regarding the shameful silence of the French bishops when a blasphemous movie by Jean Luc Goddard was being shown. Only the SSPX protested. The supposedly Catholic bishops, including the supposedly "conservative" Cardinal Lustiger, were either silent or actually applauded the "artistic vision" of this blasphemous presentation of Mary. Have things changed since then? Have the French bishops suddenly started participating in sit-ins at abortion clinics and speaking up against the corruption that pervades modern French society? I don't think so.

In fact, here is a recent statement from a very moderate French professor regarding the latest episcopal appointment in France:

Only a profusion of God's grace can change an "Institut Supérieur de Pastorale Catéchétique"-educated cleric into a Catholic ... I write Catholic ... traditionalist would need an apparition of the Mother of God. You may also remember the staunchest trad-hater unto the last days of his life was ... Pierre cardinal Eyt, former abp of Bordeaux ... who made this new appointee his close collaborator as episcopal vicar. We have a tepid gentle (sometimes not that gentle) episcopate and we all know the Lord's own words. I guess the average temperature is getting colder.