I guess when you're in a cult, the idea of freedom or open information is pretty scary...
That's just it. I don't think it's possible to *really* understand what has gone on at Boston for the past several years without doing a little bit of reading into how cults work.
https://people.howstuffworks.com/cult4.htmIn general, cults (and cult leaders) use a fairly consistent and standard set of techniques. It's scary, fascinating, and sheds a lot of light on how seemingly well-intentioned (and properly formed) people can get looped into believing ridiculous things, and doing awful things. Here are just a few examples:
Key hallmarks of a cult:
Thought reform - I can almost guarantee, with absolute certitude, that no priest formed at any of the Society's seminaries, REGARDLESS of their position on a practical agreement with Rome, would take so much as a second look at Ambrose Moran without instantly dismissing him as a crock. Fr. Pfeiffer and Fr. Hewko were both formed by solid priests and bishops. They themselves preached solid doctrine up until a few years ago. Something SERIOUSLY changed in their way of thinking. Even the utter desperation of having no other Bishops should not normally be a grave enough concern to justify using Ambrose Moran. There has been some serious brainwashing going on. I can almost guarantee it. This can be understood on a psychological level.
Deception - There's absolutely no end to this. "Oh, Pablo is harmless..." "Oh, he isn't really actively involved in forming seminarians", "Oh, we're disassociating ourselves from Ambrose Moran." Cults cannot operate without a carefully constructed web of lies necessary to maintain the illusion.
Isolation - Fr. Pfeiffer has literally destroyed his connections with every other Resistance personality. He has destroyed friendships with Priests he has known for decades, has cut his faithful off from resistance Priests and Bishops, and as far as he is concerned, Boston = Rome. There is not a single other group or priest that he can name who is preaching Catholic doctrine. Isolation to a T!
Induced Dependency - Fr. Pfeiffer has absolutely cultivated a network of induced dependency for those who attend his masses - complete red lighting of any Mass he doesn't personally approve of. Slandering other resistance personalities over, and over, and over.
It's pretty obvious that we're dealing with a cult here. But why? Why would Fr. Pfeiffer do this? Why would a seemingly normal Priest, presumably with a serious interior life, go completely off the rails. All any of us can do is speculate. I have my theories...cough..cough..Pablo, but either way, the demonic seems to be the most reasonable explanation.
So what about Fr. Hewko? I'm not one to rush to the modern healthcare system for problems that seem to be spiritual, but the fact is that Father Hewko has likely been profoundly psychologically affected by his close association with several very shady characters. He needs a lot of deprogramming and serious help. All we can do is pray, but I wouldn't expect Father Hewko to just change his mind any time soon. He will likely be dealing with this for years to come...