Author Topic: Thuc: Heel or Hero (Read 26819 times)

Trinity · « **Reply #5 on:** June 21, 2010, 08:20:00 AM »

You are probably right, Veritatis, especially in the early years after V II when everyone was confused and making mistakes. Thuc was a thorough Catholic and given the choice between obedience and rebellion, it's easy to see which way he would go. Obedience worked for all the saints down the centuries.

But for me, he is one of my heroes. He saw his family dessimated, his see stolen and he was kicked from pillar to post. On top of that he was villified. I could never maintain silence through all that as he did. For this I admire him, but I say it is a good thing God didn't give me that cross. I have far too big a mouth.

There is no proof that he was killed, so he may not have been a black martyr. But he was surely a white martyr.

Alexandria · « **Reply #6 on:** June 21, 2010, 11:32:54 AM »

I've done extensive reading on Thuc.

My personal opinion is that he hated Paul VI in particular and the Church in general so much for what they did to him and his family that he did what he did purposely to add further chaos and confusion.

I also think that he was quite traumatized by everything that happened. In short, he really wasn't playing with a full deck. Not that he was insane, but that his judgment and reason were severely clouded by the events in his life.

Raoul76 · « **Reply #7 on:** June 22, 2010, 05:00:52 AM »

There is something of the holy fool about Abp. Thuc. The holy fool mixed with the inscrutable Asiatic --

http://charliechangallery.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/bwygallery20.jpg

He reminds me of Buster Keaton bumbling along, with everyone trying to stand in his way. He somehow gets through, but he makes a huge mess while he does it.

Raoul76 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 22, 2010, 05:02:27 AM »

Alexandria said:

Quote

My personal opinion is that he hated Paul VI in particular and the Church in general so much for what they did to him and his family that he did what he did purposely to add further chaos and confusion.

That's a new one.

Raoul76 · « **Reply #9 on:** June 22, 2010, 05:07:01 AM »

Abp. Thuc may have had one of the most exhausting lives in history. It is reminiscent of an Athanasius, even if he was not such a cut-and-dried hero.

Someone who is just martyred may have it easy in comparison. His life reminds me a bit of when it says in the Bible that the devil will wear out the saints of the most high. I don't care about his mistakes, there is still something of the saint about him. St. Vincent Ferrer made mistakes, not only following the wrong Pope, but apparently he used to go around preaching that Judas repented and he was under fire by the Inquisition.

Abp. Thuc had a Calvary like no other. Imagine going through all that in Vietnam, then dealing with the Vatican II crisis, and then where did he end up? With Bishop Vezelis! I have a little experience with that group, and, well... If you can't say anything nice... What a strange, strange life. He was in a world where absolutely no one could be trusted, neither the Vatican II types nor the traditionalists who seemed to be out for themselves ( some of them would not have been bishops in other circuмstances, let's face it ) and yet he made it through.

I have a feeling my life will be a lot like his, and that I'd better not judge him too harshly.