San Jose Bishop McGrath Denounced for Heresy by Local Area Priest

St. Joseph's Men Society ^ | February 2004 | Ken Malone

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

On Sunday, Feb. 22, 2004, Rev. Daniel Cooper, pastor of Our Mother of Perpetual Help in Los Gatos, CA, denounced Bishop Patrick McGrath for heresy. The priest was responding to a stand taken by the bishop against the historical truth of the four Gospels

Bishop McGrath wrote the heretical comments as part of an op-ed piece which appeared in the February 1st edition of the San Jose Mercury News. The newspaper also recently featured a number of by-line pieces linking The Passion of the Christ and Mel Gibson to charges of anti-Semitism. Under the title "Its Just a Movie", Bishop McGrath states:

"While the primary source material of the film is attributed to the four gospels, these sacred books are not historical accounts of the historical events that they narrate. They are theological reflections upon the events that form the core of Christian faith and belief."

Father Cooper said the bishop had contradicted official teachings of the church and thereby committed heresy. "Non-Catholic Christians will look down on us" he noted, "since our common thread has always been a belief in the Gospels." Presumably, the priest’s position was taken from church documents such as the Syllabus of Errors and Dei Verbum, Vatican II.

"Holy Mother Church has firmly and with absolute constancy held, and continues to hold, that the four Gospels just named, whose historical character the Church unhesitatingly asserts, faithfully hand on what Jesus Christ, while living among men, really did and taught for their eternal salvation until the day He was taken up into heaven." Second Vatican Council, Dei Verbum 19. Promulgated in 1965.

The Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office at the command of Pope St. Pius X issued the Syllabus of Errors condemning the errors of the Modernists on July 3, 1907 which officially CONDEMNED 65 modernist propositions including #16 "The narrations of John are not properly history, but a mystical contemplation of the Gospel. The discourses contained in his Gospel are theological meditations, lacking historical truth concerning the mystery of salvation." (See also #3,16,29 and 36) etc. Promulgated in 1864.

"I was surprised to hear him take the position he did, but then, how many holy priests do I really know" said one eye witness. "For a supposed schismatic, he was pretty true to the Gospels."

Father Cooper’s chapel is located in the St. Aloysius Retreat Center at 101 Bear Creek Road, Los Gatos, CA within the Diocese of San Jose which is headed by Bishop McGrath. St. Aloysius is operated by the Society of St. Pius X, the largest organization within the Catholic traditionalist movement. Catholic traditionalists, whose number includes Mel Gibson, typically suspend obedience from church office-holders who reject church teachings handed down by their predecessors because of biblical (2 Th 2:15, 1 Co 11:2, Ga 2:11) and various papal injunctions to defend Tradition.

[sinkspur]

What-ever.

[ultima ratio]

Not at this point. But if Gibson becomes a benefactor after raking in all that money...

[ultima ratio]

Williamson is not the problem. The problem is the Society's mistrust of Rome. Rome reneged on promises made with the FSSP--it might do the same one day with the SSPX.

[Phx_RC]

Ah now, theeere you go again.

Lord have mercy!
But if it is Thy Will, then Thanks be to God.
Let us be truly grateful for the penance He bestows/allows upon us in this season of Lent.

Let us all pray for those who refuse to see the "smoke of Satan" at work in the Church in these perilous times.

[nickcarraway]

You never answered the question: what is your problem with Vatican II?

[Robert Drobot]

"SSPX has become quite outspoken in the past few months. First, the October 2003 protest at Fatima, then the Michigan Buddhists in the sanctuary protest, Bishop Fellay's letter to the Cardinals, and now this. Is the SSPX taking a new approach to combating Modernism in the Church?"

SSPX, and the vast number of Roman Catholics who cling to the fundamental rites and teachings of the One True Church - including an acknowledgement of papal infallibility in matters of faith - have been barraged, as of late with public comments and actions that intentionally attack the tradition of the Church based on the dogma of past popes.

No pope may refuse to follow, or amend, dogma written by any of his predecessors.

After 2,000 years comes Vatican 2, and Karol Wojtyla, in the dress of the Vicar of Christ on Earth. Both have capriciously sought to alter the Sacred Teachings of those before him, not to mention their avoidance of explicit instruction The Christ gave to those He entrusted to shepard His Church.

To assert a declaration to the contrary is IMHO a heretical attack on Church Teaching.

There is no room in the Roman Catholic Church for those who refuse to accept the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, or papal infallibility. Yet the Holy See encourages our holy priests to participate in 'interfaith' committees of non-Ctholics. These committees are now dictating, on their terms, which homilies will be said, and what may be sung during Roman Catholic Holy Masses.

To condone the placement of pagan and false god symbols on the Sacred grounds of the Grotto of Fatima directly contradicts the teachings of The True One True Church at its very roots.

To tritefully declare the Four Gospels as historically inaccurate, and mere theological musings - as did the Bishop of San Jose, California - is to challenge the Truth of His Word - The Truth of our belief in Jesus the Christ as the only Son of God.

"Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you...." -- John 15:20

"I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." -- John 14:6

[Robert Drobot]

"There's a good chance that SOME of the SSPX folks might return, without all those conditions you listed. From talking with some people in the know, I've been told that it's Williamson who's holding things up. He is certainly not amenable to a reconciliation." --Deo volente

"I pray they can be fully rejoined to the Holy See, in a way that preserves the traditional liturgy. -- B Knotts

First, hell must freeze over.

Second, a St. Pius X kind of pope must restore His Church consistent with 2,000 years of dogma declared by previous popes.

[american colleen]

I haven't read down the rest of the thread but instead of protesting the sale of St. Ann's, why doesn't the SSPX just purchase the property?

Parish closings are happening in my area as well - some beautiful old parishes in the Boston area - but you can't keep them open if there aren't enough parishioners to fill the pews or priests to run them. It breaks my heart (I love driving around and seeing a Catholic Church on every corner) but it is a matter of common sense.

[livius]

To tritefully declare the Four Gospels as historically inaccurate, and mere theological musings - as did the Bishop of San Jose, California

It's a pity this thread got bogged down by our favorite disruptor, who always manages to drag threads around to his personal obessessions, because I think this is an important issue. Why is the Bishop of San Jose allowed by the Church to come out and say something like this?

I was stunned when I read it. The sad thing is, of course, I didn't even expect any reaction from Rome, because they have tolerated so much. But you'd think something as major as claiming the ahistoricity of the Gospels would have provoked at least a tiny reaction.

[american colleen]

It is my personal opinion that opening the priesthood to married men would squeeze homosexual candidates out of seminaries within a generation

Why not look at the root cause of admittance criteria and curriculum - which would surely do the same thing. I was shocked that the board came to the same conclusion - clean up the seminaries which went nearly secular in the 60s and 70s.

[sinkspur]

I have no problem with Vatican II.

[sydney smith]

You "give as good as you get". That's a good quote. You know, Thomas a Kempis wrote a book once. I just can't remember it's name. Maybe that quote came from that book. Now what was the name of that book...hmmm....

[sinkspur]

You ought to read it, too.

[ninenot]

It is not unusual for Churchmen to simply ignore stupid remarks by other Churchmen--case in point--the remarks of Martino about Hussein's 'treatment' were the last ever heard on the topic from Rome.

It's called "Romanita." You hang the remarks out to dry, but not necessarily the remark-er.

You won't find many, if ANY Bishops, seconding McGrath's remarks--nor will you find many contradicting him. It'll just hang out there...

Same-o with Diocesan stuff, to a greater/lesser degree. George won't be caught in a newspaper duel with Fr. Che--but there may be back-channel stuff.

As to overall disciplines, letters are coming out on Mass celebration, etc., pursuant to the new GIRM. There may be more pointed activity on that front, but time will tell.

[StAthanasiustheGreat]

You are right of course. I just have to learn to be patient. I am also not the most diplomatic individual and want action, but I have to realize that things take time.

That being said, I don't think I can fault people for seeking out SSPX masses in dioceses that have literally fallen apart (LA). Just my two cents. God Bless

[ninenot]

I believe that, technically, those who ordain Bishops against the will of the Pope incur latae sententiae excommunication.

However (as we know from the OTHER thread) such Bishops may in turn validly ordain priests.

Although I use the term "schismatic" somewhat loosely, I frankly do not recall any specific document proclaiming SSPX to be schismatic as a whole. They may have several excommunicandi as Bishops, but I don't think that that fact per se means that they are 'schismatic.'

Are you aware of a document from Rome on this?

[BlackElk]

Of course, Luther was even more outspoken than the SSPX priest in this article. Bishop McGrath apparently ought to be an the short list of AmChurch dopes and heretics to be removed and replaced by an actual Catholic but that is the sole business of Catholics and ought concern no one outside the RCC such as SSPX schismatics.

If SSPX becomes more outspoken (McGrath is also outspoken), then actual Catholics in comunion with the Holy See will have to retaliate in kind.

[BlackElk]

By George, I think you've got it. The general indult to come (necessary or not) will drive the Novus Ordo into the dustbin of history and it will not require a suppression of the Novus Ordo. Novus Ordo won't go away immediately but it will go away because, though quite valid, it lacks a spiritually needed sense of the sacred, often lacks an obvious attitude of acceptance of the Real Presence, features communion in the paw as a norm, etc., etc., etc.

When the Tridentine is freely and conveniently available, the Catholics will vote with their feet and dispose of Novus Ordo soon enough. SSPX will also evaporate along with Novus Ordo and well it should.

[BlackElk]

As to this matter, the SSPX priest was not wrong but then Luther was not wrong to attack simony. We are not called to either SSPX or to Lutheranism because they are occasionally correct.

[BlackElk]

As things stand at present (so long as JP II may live), JP II outranks even Castrillon de Hoyos. If Castrillon de Hoyos succeeds JP II, perhaps he will reverse the excommunications and the declaration of schism but, much as I respect him, I doubt that it will be that simple. When we have a new pope, he will have the power of the keys and Catholics should respond accordingly.

This does not require a doctorate in theology just a necessary Catholic attitude of submission to papal authority.

BTW, given the overall career of Edward Idris Cassidy, you guys would usually be first in line to demand his exxcommunication along with Kaspar and Lehmann.