Cardinal  Felipe Arizmendi , Bishop Emeritus of San Cristóbal de Las Casas and responsible for the Doctrine of the Faith at the  Mexican Episcopal Conference (CEM) , offers Exaudi readers his article.

FACTS

Many people cannot distinguish one way of living the Christian faith from another, as if they were all the same. Therefore, I set out to clarify some statements made by the Lefebvrists in their Profession of Catholic Faith,  issued on June 29th, to emphasize that they are not Catholics in communion with the Pope and the Universal Church. I conclude my work on this matter with this article. I have  italicized  their position and included my personal commentary in plain text.

LIGHTNING

125. I reject any reform or any liturgical practice which, by omission, doctrinal ambiguity or practical orientation, favors heresy, weakens the faith, or departs from the Catholic doctrine of the Mass formulated at the Council of Trent.

The Council of Trent didn’t take place until the 16th century (1545-1563). Were all previous forms of liturgical life invalid? The New Testament recounts the first Eucharists in the time of the apostles, and they bear little resemblance, in their outward forms, to what Trent prescribed, although the essential elements remained the same. And was the way the apostles celebrated Mass invalid because it didn’t resemble Trent’s decrees? Please…

126. I am convinced that the Catholic restoration of peoples necessarily requires the restoration of divine worship, through the traditional liturgy of all time.

Trent is not the most traditional approach. What remains constant is what Jesus instituted, but He did not determine all the details of the celebrations, which were established over time, always with the authority of the Pope. The Mass renewed by the Council is traditional in its fundamental content: there is the Word of God, the Consecration, a presiding priest or bishop, and a community of the faithful.

131. I reject false Christianity without the Cross, … a mercy without penance.

We reject it as well. We insist, for example, on having mercy on homosexuals who practice that tendency, but we invite them to penance, to repent of their sin.

132. I reject any reduction of the Christian life to vague philanthropy, social sensitivity, or a merely earthly commitment.

We too reject this reductionism, for the Christian life is about accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior and living according to his Gospel; but we do not despise expressions of universal brotherhood. We do not reduce the Christian life to religious practices, for we will be judged by our love for God and neighbor.

140. I particularly reject the false pastoral language that, for fear of disturbing consciences, silences judgment, hell, and the need for penance.

We too reject it. The Last Things are a fundamental part of our faith.

150. In these painful circumstances, without judging anyone or usurping the authority of the Church, I cannot fail to profess the faith whose profession is diminished, recall the Tradition that has been prohibited, defend morality, safeguard the liturgy, and proclaim the rights of Christ.

We profess the true faith and in no way diminish it; we follow sound Tradition, defend morality, safeguard the liturgy, and proclaim the rights of Christ. We are wrongly judged if anyone claims otherwise.

ACTIONS

Let us continue to ask the Holy Spirit to grant us the Catholic unity that Jesus so desires, so that we may be united with the only Successor of Peter, who is the Pope, and with one another. It may seem impossible, but for God all things are possible.