Number CCCXI (311)
    
29 June 2013



AUTHORITY CRIPPLED II

“Again I am being urged by a valiant participant in today’s Catholic “Resistance” to put myself at the head of it. The reason given continues to be that I am the only bishop yet taking any part in this movement of opposition to the internal collapse of the Society of St Pius X. But God gave the dying breath of true Church authority to Archbishop Lefebvre, whose successors have cruelly abused it. Why should he give it again? The crisis of the Church has far advanced between the 1970’s and the 2010’s. At the risk of annoying many of you, here are the good soul’s main arguments, with answers which I propose to anybody but impose on nobody –

1.The wide diversity of opinion amongst Resistance priests confuses the laity. * But to control opinions requires authority (see above). And maybe Catholics deserve to be confused after so many blindly followed Vatican II, and are now blindly following the SSPX. Maybe God has had enough of blind obedience. Maybe he wants Catholics to use their heads and think for themselves, and not just blindly “obey”, as a lazy way to Heaven.

2.In particular there is confusion over whether to jump ship, i.e. stop attending SSPX masses. * But why should one opinion fit all cases? All kinds of different circuмstances can bear on such a question. Granted, to stay with the SSPX on its present false course involves a real danger of gradually sliding, but souls need sacraments, and by no means all SSPX priests are yet traitors. In France recently the first edition of a 350-page book, 90% of which consists of quotations from Archbishop Lefebvre, sold out in two weeks. It was put together by an SSPX priest, Fr. François Pivert. That is a positive sign of hope. God bless him !

3.The friction between Resistance priests could make the Resistance self-destroy. * There has always been, and there always will be, personal friction amongst priests. Doctrinal friction is much graver. It is doctrinal fidelity that mainly held the SSPX together until now, and doctrinal infidelity that is now destroying it. It is doctrinal fidelity that will guarantee our one and only Faith which is the basis of whatever will survive of Catholicism in the Church, or in the SSPX, or in the “Resistance”.

4.There is no Church without a head or hierarchy. God wants us organized. * Normally indeed there is no Church without head or hierarchy, but modern man has created an abnormal situation. Whereas the pagan centurion in the Gospels (Mt.VIII, 6-10) had a natural sense of how to command and how to obey (the two go together), “democratic” man has, in the name of liberty, wilfully unlearned how to do either. Thus arbitrary commands and excessive obedience are presently destroying the SSPX, as they have largely destroyed the mainstream Church. This is because both rulers and ruled lack the sense and love of that objective truth which is above both of them, and which when heeded has no difficulty in harmonizing their authority and obedience. Perhaps God wishes us to pursue doctrine rather than organization.

In conclusion, this exceptional trial of the Church will last for as long as God needs it to last for the purification of his Church. Meanwhile in the early 21st century there seems to me to be just not enough Catholic straw left to make a Catholic brick like the SSPX of the late 20th century. Patience. God will have his way. It is his Church, and he is looking after it. Patience.

Kyrie Eleison

Bishops are to lead our Lord's flock with their Miter and their Crosier; not to sit back, and let the sheep be scattered to wander around in the many different and dangerous pastures.  

Life shows that sheep without a dutiful Shepherd to lead, many will be eaten by the wolves.  Vatican II happened because Bishops did not lead.

This "AUTHORITY CRIPPLED II" is another sad example of a Bishop in this overall crisis -who happens to be a SSPX Bishop- and is not leading like a Bishop.

So what has all of the 5-SSPX Bishops done in this new crisis?

Bishop Tissier is all engine, and no clutch.

Bishop de Galaretta is all seat, and no wheels.

Bishop Fellay is all bumper, and no head lights.

Bishop Williamson is all Key, and no ignition.

And, Archbishop Lefebvre was the only Bishop who had the Catholic sense to get in the driver’s seat and lead like a Bishop.  That’s what made him great.

Bishops are to lead our Lord's flock with their Miter and their Crosier; not to sit back, and let the sheep be scattered to wander around in the many different and dangerous pastures.  

Life shows that sheep without a dutiful Shepherd to lead, many will be eaten by the wolves.  Vatican II happened because Bishops did not lead.

This "AUTHORITY CRIPPLED II" is another sad example of a Bishop in this overall crisis -who happens to be a SSPX Bishop- and is not leading like a Bishop.

So what has all of the 5-SSPX Bishops done in this new crisis?

Bishop Tissier is all engine, and no clutch.

Bishop de Galaretta is all seat, and no wheels.

Bishop Fellay is all bumper, and no head lights.

Bishop Williamson is all Key, and no ignition.

And, Archbishop Lefebvre was the only Bishop who had the Catholic sense to get in the driver’s seat and lead like a Bishop.  That’s what made him great.

Yes, but put them all together, where they should be and then they are a complete, well oiled and workable machine.

Quote from: Machabees

who happens to be a SSPX Bishop- and is not leading like a Bishop.

[...]

And, Archbishop Lefebvre was the only Bishop who had the Catholic sense to get in the driver’s seat and lead like a Bishop.  That’s what made him great.

He wasn't ordained to be a leader. He was ordained only to ensure sacraments. And he is doing his duty of state.

Archbishop Lefebvre didn't want a bishop to lead the SSPX either.

That is true, we do not need a counter Fellay, but rather a leader of the spirit who will keep us looking towards eternity.

Bishops are to lead our Lord's flock with their Miter and their Crosier; not to sit back, and let the sheep be scattered to wander around in the many different and dangerous pastures.  

Life shows that sheep without a dutiful Shepherd to lead, many will be eaten by the wolves.  Vatican II happened because Bishops did not lead.

This "AUTHORITY CRIPPLED II" is another sad example of a Bishop in this overall crisis -who happens to be a SSPX Bishop- and is not leading like a Bishop.

It is difficult to take any post seriously that accuses Bp Williamson of "sitting back".

But that aside, leadership is telling you to be patient, to take heart and abide a time for Providence to make things clearer. You have leadership, you just aren't recognizing it.

I did not say that he is doing “nothing” as a Bishop.  Read it again.  I have repeated what he has stated: As a Bishop, he does not want to lead.  Which means, he wants as a Catholic Bishop to "sit back" his Miter and His Crosier.

Have you people lost your Catechism?

The symbolism of the Miter is of the Two- Horns of Moses; one of Authority, and one of God’s Law.

The symbolism of the Crosier is of the Staff of Aaron; the authority of a Shepherd to lead.

It is here that our Lord gave Bishop Williamson both the Miter and the Crosier in 1988 to fulfill his role in the Catholic Church as a Bishop to lead our Lord’s flock in this world.

Bishop Williamson, like it or not, is in Stewardship of these two-Divine prerogatives and he will answer to God for what he had done with them.  Like us in our own functions and duties.

This unfortunate “Authority Crippled II” is in Bishop Williamson’s own handwriting that he is NOT going to lead; he states that God will have to do it Himself to lead the sheep in this mess.

Not so!  That is why the Good God has always used human instruments in the economy of salvation towards our neighbor.

“If you Love me, feed my Sheep…” says our Lord to his Bishops.

To “feed” our Lord’s sheep is not only to give to him or her good quality grass (Doctrine), but also to LEAD the sheep through the desert to the Living Waters of Eternal Life.

Bishop Williamson states, as a BISHOP, he only wishes to go around and teach; not lead.

He needs to reconsider his function and role as a Bishop in the Catholic Church.

Please do not make him into a cult figure.  Get you minds out of the narrow views of looking through a "forest.  Bishop Williamson is a BISHOP of the Catholic Church; not just some little confined or "consignment" of a Bishop of a little group called SSPX.  The problem and the crisis in the Church is bigger than what many of you wish to put him into a little box.  

It is much bigger than that...He needs to see that a new crisis has arisen in the Catholic Church and he needs to respond to that crisis; not lay down his powers.  No one else can do it, we cannot, a BISHOP needs to lead -period!

He needs encouragement from all of us; not an endorsement to be a Catholic BISHOP to let our Lord's sheep go scattered in the mire.

That is not Catholic.  Look it up.

See also: http://www.cathinfo.com/catholic.php/Eleison-Comments-307-Authority-Crippled

Quote from: Machabees

who happens to be a SSPX Bishop- and is not leading like a Bishop.

[...]

And, Archbishop Lefebvre was the only Bishop who had the Catholic sense to get in the driver’s seat and lead like a Bishop.  That’s what made him great.

He wasn't ordained to be a leader. He was ordained only to ensure sacraments. And he is doing his duty of state.

Archbishop Lefebvre didn't want a bishop to lead the SSPX either.

Not so.  All Bishops are made to lead.  

Providence has taken him out of the SSPX; now he needs to function in the fullness of a Catholic Bishop (less ordinary Jurisdiction).

God had allowed a new crisis in the world, the Bishops need to respond to it.  Bishop Williamson is a Bishop that does have the "key"; but he is not putting it into the "ignition".

It is true Bishop Williamson has not "learned" how to drive.  He needs help to show him where the steering wheel is...

Pray for him.

Quote from: Machabees

Bishops are to lead our Lord's flock with their Miter and their Crosier; not to sit back, and let the sheep be scattered to wander around in the many different and dangerous pastures.  

Life shows that sheep without a dutiful Shepherd to lead, many will be eaten by the wolves.  Vatican II happened because Bishops did not lead.

This "AUTHORITY CRIPPLED II" is another sad example of a Bishop in this overall crisis -who happens to be a SSPX Bishop- and is not leading like a Bishop.

It is difficult to take any post seriously that accuses Bp Williamson of "sitting back".

But that aside, leadership is telling you to be patient, to take heart and abide a time for Providence to make things clearer. You have leadership, you just aren't recognizing it.

You have not read his "Authority Crippled" correctly.

Bishop Williamson is denouncing "leadership".