Unfortunately, this poor man has set himself up for failure (despite his undoubted good faith search for truth), as he is having this conversation with the SSPX priest WAY too soon in his journey to tradition.
A much better strategy than bringing a too-abridged list to your forthcoming meeting (which the priest will easily destroy, because of its incompleteness, as well as your own lack of familiarity with the content you would like to present), is this:
Study as much as you can, but do not be in a hurry to finish.
At this point, even if you survived your meeting with the priest, and chose Resistance, it would not be a stable position. One meeting with one of the SSPX’s apologists charged with writing on these matters could very well shake you loose a year from now, and you would flip-flop.
You need time not merely to read enough, consult both sides (but not yet!), and deliberate (ie., this is the virtue of prudence), but to internalize all the data.
If you go about it this way, you will likely hit the mark you are seeking, and arrive at the peace and steadiness which truth brings.
Thank you for taking the time to reply, I appreciate it.
But there is a misunderstanding. My beliefs may not even be acceptable by the SSPX, let alone your community... so I am not engaging in a conversation to "judge" but to understand.
I am researching, for myself as I am in conflict with Rome, not so much concerning ecuмenism as with (a) the core tenets of our Faith, (b) interfaith dialogue and (c) the surrender of our Faith to the attacks to Christianity and Catholicism by islam and modern society.
1. I contend that Rome is diluting Christian
core values: (a) the funadmental cornerstone for Salvation is believing in the Resurrection of The Christ and accepting that only through Him there can be Salvation and (b) there is only one True God.
Dogmas and doctrines are paramount to guide the Faithful but secondary to the tenet of the Ressurrection so I am uncertain about condemning Orthodox or Anglicans as heretics or the necessity for a Latin rite (which I do belie to be important, to unify the Church), for example.
2. I contend that Rome is eroding Christian
culture and
traditions, in daily practices, activities and customs, to seek interfaith dialogue but which is destroying our Church.
3. I contend that rome is
surrendering our Faith, let alone diluting the Catholic doctrine! I value Catholic doctrine but I believe that there are more urgent battles to be fought: against islamization and postmoderninst/relativist ideologies.
In my city the Bishop ordered that the "tortellini" be prepared with chicken, instead of pork, to appease the muslim community that were not even involved in the Christian celebrations for which they were being cooked! Another bishop invited a Christian, private, school to remove the Cricifix from the entrance and not to display a Christmas tree in December...! My sensibility finds these challenges to be more pressing issues (not necessarily more important) than saying Mass in Latin or agreeing to celebrate marriages only with permission of the Curia.
I share most doctrines that I understand the SSPX and this community uphold even if not all and not in as much depth. And I contend that Rome should accept them as part of the canon, not as an exception. But, from what I understand, the SSPX and this community, want these doctrines to supplant all those in conflict. One example would be the use of Latin that should replace local ideoms. Perhaps also in this, I may be a challenged if I were to ask to join the SSPX or this community.
I am sure that many in this community will find me to be heretic... for refusing to call heretic Orthodox Christians, for examples. But I am in no hurry to understand and learn as I feel uncomfortable with Rome and I seek to do something about it for my family and myself. I am looking to correct my Faith and I hope to be guided to the Truth.
I am studying a lot I came across this webste while trying to understand some conflicting stances in previous and present SSPX positions. Nobody pointed me here. I found St Pius X and St Peter by myself. I discovered alone what the Frankfurt school and its critical theory are and the relativist and postmodern ideolgies that sprung from it.
So I appreciate your invitation to study and reflect, as it is innate in me. I have an inquisitive and meticulous mind.
But I also appreciate difficult conversations, at an early stage and I hope that I am not being presumptuous in I trusting my intellect, my rational and God's guidance. Bad ideas should be met and challenged with good ideas, not with negation or obstruction.
I truly regret having "zombied" my way through years of acquiescence because I became guilty of apathy, as the vast majority of Catholics are. Today I feel stupid for never questioning some clearly heretic stances that the Church was assuming as I was home schooled and educated by a stern Jesuite who lived with us for decades. There is only one way to Salvation and being apologetic of other religions is heresy. This is my main complaint with Rome.
My heart is sincere in the desire to find truth not because of curiosity but because I ardently desire to be in Communion with Chirst (not necessarily with Rome or with an ecclesiastical/lay organization). I pray that He will guide my studies and my understandings, as I bring the family that I created with me, which adds to my responsibility to make the right choice. I must make the right choice as I feel that my Faith is inadequate, today, to raise my daughter and I seek to correct this.
Participating in what is seen as separate rite is, already, a huge step for me given my family of origin's ties with the Vatican. The Father Provincial of the Jesuite Order is Matarazzo and my choices will hurt and damage many, very close to me. So tred cautiously but not fearful.
I am certain that you may have much to contend with my ideas but, perhaps you can start by praying for me, that Jesus may guide me true.
Tommaso
Topic: Bullet point list of changes (Read 4717 times)