Posted on 04/20/2005 9:06:53 PM PDT by Canticle_of_Deborah
A Catholic brother from an obscure religious order in Richmond met then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger 20 years ago and may have influenced one of the more controversial documents written by the man who is now Pope Benedict XVI, a member of the order said yesterday.
Brother Francis Maluf, who is now 91, heads the St. Benedict Center, which advocates a return to Catholic traditions such as Latin Mass and the doctrine that only Catholics can go to heaven.
"He (Ratzinger) was very personable, extremely intelligent," Maluf said in a telephone interview. "I think he is traditional. We have been praying for a Pope to restore the tradition of the Church. I hope he will be the one to do so."
Maluf said Ratzinger summoned him to the Vatican in 1985 to discuss conversations Maluf had with the Rev. Leonard Feeney, the late Jesuit priest who advocated the doctrine of Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus — Latin for "No Salvation Outside the Church." Maluf and Feeney were colleagues.
"He does believe that, definitely," Maluf said of Ratzinger. "As we were talking to him, he was very consenting." That Christmas, Ratzinger sent Maluf a card with a personal note, saying he appreciated the visit, Maluf said.
Fifteen years after the visit, Ratzinger's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith published a document that upheld the primacy of the Catholic faith, a move that angered leaders of other religions.
Maluf said the 2000 document represented a compromise and didn't go as far as he had hoped.
Still, Brother Andre Marie, the prior of the center, said Maluf's visit likely influenced Ratzinger. Although a small group numerically, the St. Benedict Center has done much to keep the doctrine alive, he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at theunionleader.com ...
--snip--
The St. Benedict Center was in Still River, Mass., in 1985, when Maluf spoke to Ratzinger. The center moved to Richmond in 1988.
It is not recognized by the Diocese of Manchester and does not have permission to represent itself as Roman Catholic, said Diane Murphy Quinlan, chancellor of the Diocese.
"They're separated from the church, from what I understand," Quinlan said. "I wouldn't go to Mass there."
Marie said the Richmond community consists of five brothers, six nuns and a priest in residence. Tridentine Masses — said in Latin with the priest facing the altar — are said daily. Sunday Masses draw about 200, Marie said.
According to the center's official history, it was founded by prominent Catholic laywoman Catherine Goddard Clarke in Cambridge, Mass., in 1940. In 1942, Feeney became active in the center, eventually becoming its spiritual director.
--snip--
Pingaroo!
You'll like this one :-)
Ping
Ping
BUMP
So the current Pope who is in favor of "no salvation outside the Catholic Church", was dealing with unsanctioned priests who were outside the Catholic Church? Explain that one for me...
Interesting article, but I believe the members of that center believe something that is not a part of traditional Catholic belief, i.e. that there is no such thing as baptism by blood or baptism by desire. If they do believe that, they aren't following traditional Catholic belief, as outlined by St. Thomas Aquinas, and others. I'm highly suspect if they claim to be more reliable than St. Thomas Aquinas.
The current Pope sought out who he believed was a loyal remnant of the Faith.
It sure is.
I would guess he sought them out as traditional Benedictines. Since the plot thickens with every thread, it's just my opinion and subject to change :-)
Why shouldn't he meet with them? Some members of this group, including Fr. Feeney, reconciled with the Church. The Church investigates the theology of individuals before it decides if they are in error. It's not unprecedented that he should examine their teachings and perhaps try to reconcile them.
SBC advocates an un-Catholic understanding of "extra ecclesiam nulla salus" condemned by Pius XII and the Holy Office in 1949. A pity, since Fr. Feeney was actually doing quite well at evangelizing in Harvard, as I understand it.
Or maybe he knows that it is a whole lot of dung that they are "separated" from the Church.
So why do you think Cardinal Ratzinger visited them?
Well, if he was reconciled, that makes sense.
ping
To extend Paul VI's "dialogue of salvation"? ;) I have no idea, but it certainly wasn't because he agreed with their view on EENS.
Like Trent Lott's praise for Strom Thurmond on his 100th birthday, Ratzinger was being nice to an old man.
Ratzinger does not believe that only Catholics will go to heaven, and he has said as much.
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