Perhaps the most important and widely esteemed theologian of the twenty-first century, Fr. Anthony Cekada continues to garner international praise for his outstanding theological analysis of the New Mass entitled, Work of Human Hands (Philothea Press: 2010). This formidable masterpiece, lauded even by some of Rome's top Vatican theologians, makes Fr. Cekada a giant in the world of liturgical scholarship. Among his manys irrefutable studies is the erudite Problems with the Prayers of the Modern Mass (Tan Books: 1991). The immensely popular Ottaviani Intervention (Philothea Press: 2010) established Fr. Cekada as the pre-eminent journalist of Vatican II modernism. A tireless apologist for the Catholic faith as well as a professor of theology at our nation's finest Catholic seminary, Fr. Cekada has published innumerable articles along with some celebrated pamphlets, including Traditionalists, Infallibility,and the Pope. Fr. Cekada is best known for his clarity and philosophical penetration, the fruits of irreproachable fidelity to the method of St. Thomas combined with a broad classical education.

In addressing the Fr. Feeney issue in Baptism of Desire: An Exchange, Fr. Cekada affirms the point that "The unanimous teaching of theologians in matters of faith and morals establishes certitude for the proof of a dogma." Father had cited a list of 25 theologians who unanimously supported the teaching of Baptisms of Blood and Desire, and a lay writer, wishing to contest that, mentioned that St. Francis Xavier and Fr. Feeney were also "card-carrying theologians" who did not support the teaching of Baptisms of Blood and Desire, so if only 25 out of 27 theologians support Baptisms of Blood and Desire, "Is the teaching still 'unanimous'?"

Father's wise and brilliant response to that lay writer could be summed up as saying that "there are theologians and there are theologians." On the one hand there are those courses in theology that every priest must take in the course of his seminary training, or even what he might take if, while in seminary he chooses specifically to major in Theology, versus on the other hand those truly great and significant theologians of the sort who qualify for that elite list of the 25 originally cited in support of Baptisms of Blood and Desire. It is a difference comparable to that between some "Geek Squad" workers in your local department store who fix your computer, versus Bill Gates and those with him who practically invented the computer systems as we have them today.

Father points out that "As I explained in Section II of my original article, the term 'theologian' connotes extensive research work, a distinguished teaching career at a Pontifical University, publication of multi-volume theological treatises, etc. As far as I know, St. Francis Xavier would not meet these criteria. His writings, as I recall, were limited to letters. Nor would Fr. Feeney. His earlier writings were popular religious works. And his later works would not meet the fourth criteria Salaverri lays down: 'orthodoxy in doctrine acknowledged by the Church, at least insofar as [his] writings are used by the faithful and students knowingly and without reproof by the Magisterium of the Church.'"

Ah, SJB is up to his anti-Cekada "apostolate" again...quoting Fr. Cekada's own words to try to force everyone to believe that by Father's own admission he is not a theologian after all. And, of course, SJB asks the question rather than making a statement of his own belief. The usual.

Has any research at all been done? Any deep thinking before posting?

Let's quote A Catholic Dictionary:

Quote

THEOLOGIAN. i. A master or student of theology.
   ii. An aspirant to the priesthood who has completed his philosophical course, and is studying theology, often called in England a "divine."

All priests are theologians. But that is not the connotation of which Fr. Cekada treats in context. He is speaking of the "Church's theologians", meaning those who are public, prominent, at least tacitly approved by Holy Mother Church, and therefore represent legitimate Catholic thinking in theology. Fr. Cekada speaks in the context of the theologian necessarily being a representative of Church thinking, not merely one who is a master or student of theology. The "Church's theologian" is not merely "a theologian in the Church".

Perhaps the most important and widely esteemed theologian of the twenty-first century, Fr. Anthony Cekada continues to garner international praise for his outstanding theological analysis of the New Mass ...