[ultima ratio]

Your monsignor is mistaken. Many priests don't know the issues at stake. I have Jesuit friends with Ph.d's who don't--and should.

[Gophack]

I'm not going to get in the middle of this debate, but suffice it to say that the monsignour I was refering to is a well-respected, very, very conservative, pro-life leader who I completely trust. He's not at my parish, but one I attend on occasion, and he's willing to stand up to liberal Catholics and liberal Catholic politicians.

The fact is, if you are not in communion with the Pope, you are not in communion with the Church, and if you're not in communion with the Church, you are not a Catholic in good standing. You might disagree with some of the things that are happening, and some we may even agree on, but the fact is the Roman Catholic Church was established by Jesus Christ 2,000 years ago, Pope John Paul II is the successor to St. Peter, and the gates of Hell will not prevail. We only answer for ourselves and our actions, our leaders will answer for theirs. But to split off from the church we are, in fact, not following the Holy Spirit, but man.

God bless.