[ultima ratio]

My point is that while the Church was in crisis, this Pope was asking one of his bishops to deepen the crisis. No way should he have been obeyed under such conditions.

As for unity--it is most galling to hear Novus Ordo types like you speak of this. Did you think that after a Mass had been revered for over a thousand years that it could be trashed with impunity and not affect Church unity? Do you think even popes may assault Catholic tradition and not rend the Church into quarreling factions? The action which cause such disunity was not ours--we hold onto what has always been taught and believed. The disunity was--and is-- caused by those who would impose a new religion--a new mode of worship, a new set of moral standards, a new set of doctrines, a new theology--all the while claiming nothing has really changed, when, in fact, everything has changed. But disunity is not our doing--it is the fault of those who lead the revolution. We're only holding onto a piece of driftwood to keep from drowning after the dam broke.

[Mershon]

The action which cause such disunity was not ours--we hold onto what has always been taught and believed.

BCM: Including Vatican I? I posted it some time ago. Have you read that and adhered to it?

[Mershon]

But disunity is not our doing--it is the fault of those who lead the revolution. We're only holding onto a piece of driftwood to keep from drowning after the dam broke.

BCM: Funny, I think I hear an echo of Martin Luther, Calvin, Zwingli, the old Catholics, etc. etc. etc. As a "Novus Ordo" type, I will affirm you by recognizing that parts of the driftwood to which you are holding onto have "elements of truth," and thus the Holy Spirit, within them.