For the entire sordid tale, (particularly Janet Smith's Response and Ronald McArthur's Response) see the timeline of the controversy at the Seattle Catholic web site.
My conclusion is that Humanae Vitae is to Castii Canubii what the Novus Ordo Missae mass is to the Tridentine Latin Mass, i.e., yeah, its Catholic, and it teaches Truth, but like the new mass, it ain't always pretty, and it ain't necessarily an improvement on what came before it.
The fact that the two most significant acts of Pope Paul VI were the promulgation of the New Mass and the publication of Humanae Vitae, somehow links these two important developments in my mind.
The poor theology related in the vernacular translations of the Latin (but not, necessarily in the Latin itself!) of the Novus Ordo Missae has lead to decreased belief in the Real Presence, and decreased awareness that the mass IS the Supreme Sacrifice. In my opinion, it also increased the rate of falling away from the faith that accompanied this post-modern, post Christian moment, ushered in by the sexual revolution, which in turn was enabled by the introduction of the Pill in 1959/1960.
So a critical examination of Humanae Vitae is indeed a legitimate endeavor, and in such examination, if Humanae Vitae seems to come up lacking, it is still no less authoritative than the new mass itself, if we are to believe the Gates Shall Not Prevail.
Yeah, I guess so. But, the "critical examination" is to be performed by the schismatic right? I thought that "Roma Locuta est, Causa Finita est was "Traditonal" Catholicism." I thought that Ubi Petrus, Ibi Ecclesia was "Traditional" Catholicism. Now, we are being told by various and sundry groups with at least one foot in schism that THEY must critique the Encyclical because Rome has been the locus of all manner of revolutionary thought, masonic activity, poorly-reasoned Encyclicals, valid but poorly-theologised Masses, accepting of and promoting the "wrong" philosophy, blah, blah, blah.
The orientation this "reassessment" is built upon is private judgement. At one time, prior to 1960, "Traditional Catholics" would no more have taken upon themselves the "authority" to critique Encyclicals, Ecumenical Councils, Catechisms, Canon Law, and the Pope's philosophical orientation anymore than "The Federalist Society" would criticise the Constitution as deficient.
Richard Nixon once famously said, "We are all Keynesians now" after he rejected the Gold Standard. "Traditional Catholics" ought to admit "We are all protestants now" having abandoned "The Keys" given to the Pope as the gold standard of Catholicism.
"Traditional Ctholicsm" has been revolutionised since 1960 yet, in a pathetic irony, it is they who charge Rome with being the victim of all manner of revolutions while they, the mini-media of "dissident-orthodoxy" has preserved the limpid doctrine of "Traditional Catholicism" and their philosophical orientation is pellucid and irreformable."
Roma Locuta est - NOW, Hear "The Angelus," "Catholic Family News," "The Fatima Crusader," "The Remnant," The Latin Mass Magazine" to hear how Rome has gotten it wrong and how the gates of Hell WILL prevail unles you re-subscribe to our periodical today.
Their charges against Rome are but psychological projections. The "Traditional Catholics" appear to have lost the Faith. It really is that simple. They have no Faith in Divinely-constitued authority so they usurp legitimate authority and act like protestants while preening they are the only reliable source for truth.
It is as though Jesus were referencing the mini-media of the self-annointed and self-appointed, soi disant "Traditionalists" when He said "He who hears you hears me."