Posted on 12/16/2004 1:14:47 PM PST by marshmallow
The above link takes you to a PDF document of Flynn's letters to the Legion.
The site is having bandwidth problems so access may not be immediate.
I can't see how that has been clarified?
I took it on Mershon's words: The Legion of Christ is NOT traditional, nor are they fans nor advocates of the Traditional Latin Mass. I have firsthand experience with this one, with them as my spiritual directors for years. They are NOT traditional regarding the liturgy and sacraments.
If you take issue with what Mershon wrote, perhaps you should inquire from him as to the basis of the views presented or offer your own perspectives or evidence to the contrary.
All I know is that as a Catholic parent, if I want my child to have a Catholic education and my choices are as follows: public school, diocesan Catholic school or a Legion of Christ school, the choice wouldn't be hard as the first two choices are very similar to one another.
I have blind trust in nothing but God, btw.
God's blessings to you and yours during advent.
In addition to the above, you raise excellent points. I will attempt to become better informed on this group.
Nobody brought up the abuse charges against Maciel, Elk, though the men making the accusations are now past middle age and are still making the charges.
Emotional vulnerability affects freedom of choice, and nobody should take advantage of people who are not free of psychological pressure.
The Charismatic Renewal was guilty of the same kind of "caught up in the wonderful feelings" stuff in its early days.
Caution is advised where emotion is involved in anything.
Both the Legionnaires and Opus Dei are firmly committed to Vatican II and the Novus Ordo. There's not a "traditional" priest in either movement.
I agree.
For what its worth, I've seen Legionaire priests at the Latin Mass in Cleveland. And I've also heard that many of the seminarians at the Legioaire seminary in Rome are very fond of the traditional Mass.
Anecdotal. The Legionnaires are committed to the Vatican II reforms.
I agree.
Pass in your Sunday envelopes empty or with a penny, and a brief note.
Allied with these orders,are maybe 35 to 40% of the dioceses in the United States that are led by faithful Catholic Bishops,and sprinkled throughout the rest of the dioceses are many other Catholics,clergy and lay.
This 35 to 40%,many not well catechized,unfamiliar with the major problems in the liturgy and often totally unaware of the Tridentine Mass are the core or center of the Church in the U.S.. I think it's essential right now,to ensure the center can defend the Faith so that we can convert all to Christ. It is very sad that so many on either end of the spectrum cclaim they are catholic but are not. Instead they seem to actively try to destroy the Church,using the same techniques,only the styles and the words are different.
I think the number of new orders and the different focus they have is a result of trying to beat down so many attacks from different groups with varying agendas,within the Church as well as outside.
Sinkspur and Mershon,you both mention the stealthy approaches of several orders. it seems that the "enemy" crept in,in the night,using guerrilla tactics and almost overthrew the legitiamate authorities. In order to reeapture what is Christ's the core has to use counter insurgency measures,working out of their regular army uniforms so that they don't get picked off before they can safeguard the Church.
This is bizarre, sara. Let's be on the up-and-up. There is no need to psychologically manipulate people in the name of Christ.
You are right,of course. Problem is,.just as one man's trash is another man's treasure,one man's pressure may be another man's nudge.
It's the same thing that everyone is confrontd with at one time or another since no two people are exactly alike,some people are over sensitive and others insensitive.
As they used to say "different strokes for different folks". One size seldom fits all and that is where I am quite liberal,as long as the truth is told,I am willing to overlook a whole bunch of things that I think are too harsh or way too sweet. Truth matters.
Regards the accusations against Father Maciel,I've always looked at those who would destroy the Church as capable of just about any sort of deception. Most often they remind me of the newest breed of Democrats.
Were they offering the Latin Mass or were they assisting at the Mass? I don't think a priest occasionally assisting at a Latin Mass is a ringing endorsement of tradition.
Right, the same thing I was thinking. I recall being a junior in HS back in 1975 or '76 and first the boys had an assembly in the auditorium led by diocesan and a couple of order priests giving talks on the priesthood as a vocation and then the girls turn came... talks led by the Sisters of St. Joseph and life being called by God to serve him as a sister. Afterwards, lots of the kids felt pressured - or at least they said they did - but I think maybe some felt guilty for knowing they were not called or would not entertain that life and by them saying they were pressured it took the guilt pressure off (shifting some sort of misdirected 'blame' from themselves to the priests/nuns).
Personally, I think every Catholic should ask himself the question 'what is my vocation in life, what is God calling me to do' - and someone has to start that process in most Catholic teenagers. Some might call that pressure, I don't know.
FWIW, the Legionnaires recruited a young man of my acquaintance for the priesthood. He went through their Sem, was ordained, and was then 'parachuted' into Germany--they told him to set up and operate a Catholic chaplaincy on some college campus over there.
Didn't instruct him in German; apparently also didn't give him much in the way of contacts, etc...
He bailed out of the priesthood, got married, and is now living back here in Wisconsin.
I've never spoken to him about the whole thing (never really had a good reason to do so...) but it might be an interesting conversation.
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