“The wolf only attacks the shepherd first to throw himself next upon the flock. Be firm in the faith.” (St. Barnabas)
In follow-up to the blog post about the circumstances that led to practicing the Catholic Faith at home, I’ve outlined below some additional reasons. These relate to attendance at Servants of the Holy Family Traditionalist chapel in Colorado Springs from 2012-17. In looking back, there were indications of wolves in sheep’s clothing there, too.
Point 1 – Affiliation with the Novus Ordo
The chapel’s affiliation with the Novus Ordo church could be evidenced by seeing a picture of a Novus Ordo pope hanging in one of their buildings; also by their selling the 1962 Novus Ordo missal of the conciliar church; by their use of Novus Ordo clergy sympathetic to the chapel to ordain/consecrate their clergy; by chapel members being sent to the Novus Ordo bishop in Colorado Springs for annulments; by recognizing the Novus Ordo pope when he spoke in line with Tradition, but resisting him otherwise.
Point 2 - Jurisdiction
Those at the chapel claim they operate under emergency jurisdiction to give the Faithful Sacraments since the salvation of souls is paramount. If they are affiliated with the Novus Ordo pope in any way, however, then there is no need for emergency jurisdiction since the Novus Ordo popes don’t seem to believe the Church is in crisis. It is a scary thought to think that any "clergy" claiming to be Catholic can determine when emergency jurisdiction applies. Inevitably, this leads to chaos as it did when Protestants alluded to their extraordinary mission to justify their departure from the one saving Faith.
Point 3 – Personal Observations/Interactions with "Clergy" & Chapel Attendees
On two separate occasions, answers given to me by "clergy" regarding their jurisdiction were vague (once upon arrival at the chapel and also after a catechism class).
After a consultation with Mr. Ward, I was sent the chapel’s movie list. The list (available to the chapel’s "clergy") had worldly movies on it and was shared as a suggestion for a way to relax.
I shared with Mr. McMahon that a church member in a nursing facility would like to have different clergy from the chapel visit her. I was told pointedly that they conduct the visits as they choose, and was asked if I was there to support their decisions. My heart went out to the poor woman who made a simple request.
After turning in a mass request, I was told by Mr. Simons that it needed to be accompanied by a stipend… I always thought, however, that the Catholic Church received graciously what people could give.
“Poverty" for the clergy wasn’t a mandate as evidenced by my son (who observed a pool table in their residence); he also said he saw more nice furnishings/cars there than we had at home.
During Good Friday service, the Crucifix was unveiled from bottom to top (the reverse is done in the Catholic Church), and “communion” was given to their congregation on this day when the Catholic Church forbids it (except as Viaticum for the dying).
The Q&A sessions for adults were mostly monologues by the "clergy."
It was my observation that chapel members had unquestioning loyalty to the chapel’s "clergy," that they were primarily made up of a handful of families, that they were asked to contribute to projects but weren’t necessarily helped financially by the "clergy" when in need, and that some led lives that were an odd combination of materialism, natural living, and Catholicism.
Two different people who I brought to the chapel on separate occasions picked up gay undertones there.
I was shunned/given the silent treatment when I stopped attending daily mass and wanted to start reading papal encyclicals; only one couple asked why I chose to leave after 5 years of faithful attendance and service.
Quite a few years after leaving the chapel, I sent a letter to Mr. Ward beseeching him to reveal the deception of the Katholyc church in Rome and his part in it. I received a note in reply saying, he’d pray for me. He signed it, Anthony Ward. This was telling because I received thank you notes from him while at the chapel, signed Father Ward.
All that said, a friend brought clarity to the chaos of Traditionalism by sharing the following either/or statements (of which I added a few of my own). Her point was that there is no sitting on the fence:
Either the Novus Ordo church is the Roman Catholic Church OR it is not.
Either Traditionalists (like those at the chapel) are a part of the Novus Ordo church OR they are not.
Either Novus Ordo bishops give tonsure to Traditionalist clergy and administer Confirmation to Traditionalist laity OR they do not.
Either Traditionalists recognize that we have a true pope OR they do not.
Either Traditionalists accept the Novus Ordo pope(s) as head of the church OR they do not.
Either Traditionalists use the name of Leo 14 in the Canon of their masses or they do not.
Either cardinals/bishops/priests have jurisdiction from a valid pope OR they do not.
Either priests are validly ordained OR they are not.
Either there is a crisis in the Catholic Church OR there is not.
Either emergency jurisdiction applies OR it does not.
Either Traditionalists have legitimate jurisdiction OR they do not.
Either Traditionalists misinterpret Canon Law OR they do not.
Either Epikeia saves the day OR it does not (and it does NOT because: it is only valid in particular cases in the internal forum; it cannot make licit what the law declares illicit; it cannot make valid what the law declares invalid; it cannot give jurisdiction; it cannot be applied to precepts of the natural law).
Either Traditionalists practice the end doesn’t justify the means in administering sacraments OR they do not.
Either the majority of the faithful apostatized before/during/after Vatican 2 or they did not.
CALL TO ACTION: Beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing, especially those on the conservative side of the religious spectrum… and pray for those doing the deceiving!