Monday, August 17, 2009

Does C. Joseph Doyle accept the teaching of Vatican II regarding Judaism and the Jewish People?

As I mentioned in my previous post, C. Joseph Doyle, Executive Director of the Catholic Action League of Massachusetts, is scheduled to appear as a guest speaker at the 2009 Saint Benedict Center Conference to be held in Richmond, New Hampshire this October. This is disturbing because Mr. Doyle is such a prominent Catholic in the state of Massachusetts and the website of the Massachusetts Catholic Conference, the public-policy arm of the Massachusetts Bishops, links to Mr. Doyle's Catholic Action League.

The Saint Benedict Center based out of Richmond, New Hampshire is an anti-Semitic cult which has absolutely no relationship with the Roman Catholic Church. The cult has described the Jewish People as an "anti-Christ people whose damnable nationalism and anti-messianic naturalism oppose the supernatural supranational aims of Christ and His Church" and as a "Faith-less people." Louis Villarrubia, the cult's leader who is also known as "Brother" Andre Marie (remember "Father" Divine?), has asserted that the Jewish People "undermine public morality" and has minimized the Holocaust. Another cult member, Douglas Bersaw, has openly denied the Holocaust, referring to this horrible crime against humanity as "a fraud."

This is not, of course, what authentic Catholics believe. It was Pope John Paul II who, while visiting a Jewish community of Rome back in 1986, spoke of the special relationship that exists between the Church and Judaism:

"The Church of Christ discovers her 'bond' with Judaism by 'searching into her own mystery' (Nostra Aetate, No. 4). The Jewish religion is not 'extrinsic' to us, but in a certain way is 'intrinsic' to our own religion. With Judaism, therefore, we have a relationship which we do not have with any other religion."

The teaching of Nostra Aetate is crystal clear:

"What happened in his [Christ's] passion cannot be charged against all the Jews without distinction then alive, nor against the Jews of today. Although the Church is the new People of God, the Jews should not be presented as rejected or accursed by God, as if this followed from the Holy Scriptures....Furthermore, in her rejection of every persecution against any man, the Church, mindful of the patrimony she shares with the Jews and moved not by political reasons but by the Gospel's spiritual love, decries hatred, persecutions, displays of anti-semitism, directed against Jews at any time and by anyone." (No. 4).

What does C. Joseph Doyle believe? Does he share the anti-Semitic views of the Saint Benedict Center cult? Does he deny the Holocaust? If not, shouldn't he withdraw from any involvement with the Center? Especially since the local Bishop, The Most Reverend. John B. McCormack, has asked the faithful to avoid participating in any of the Center's spiritual activities?

If Mr. Doyle insists on speaking at the 2009 Saint Benedict Center Conference, shouldn't the Bishops of Massachusetts remove the link to his website from that of the Massachusetts Catholic Conference website?


Father William Most on the tragic errors of Father Leonard Feeney.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I presume so, because Mr. Doyle has strongly criticized the ex-priest James Carroll's diatribes against the Catholic Church in general for the alleged "historic persecutions of ... Jews" as well as against Pope Pius XII in particular, because he supposedly "helped make the hatred of the Jews so lethal in this century."

Amanda said...

The SBC believes that the Jews are an anti-Christ people and are faithless? Small wonder that Stormfront has defended the SBC. Good for you Paul for exposing this hatred. And good for Russell and Victoria Provost for doing the same at their Blog: SBC Watch.

I can see why Stormfront hates you so much and has referred to you as "the village communist."

We are known not only by our friends but by our enemies. Speaks well of you Paul.

Paul Anthony Melanson said...

Every time I see the name James Carroll, I am reminded of a saying so dear to those of us who are French: "grosse tete et peu de sens" - big head and little wit.
Fr. McBrien has the same effect on me.

As for Pius XII, I have defended his record for years. My father was blessed to have had an audience with the beloved Pontiff of happy memory back in April of 1958, some six months before he went to be with the Lord. I have a rosary blessed by him. And I pray every day for his canonization.

Just a few of the links here:

http://lasalettejourney.blogspot.com/2008/01/only-church.html

http://lasalettejourney.blogspot.com/2007/11/from-la-salette-journey-archives.html

http://lasalettejourney.blogspot.com/2008/01/more-testimonies-defend-pope-pius-xii.html

Anonymous said...

The real question for me: is anti-semitism creeping into the Church here in Massachusetts? It seems to have infected the Holy Cross Cardinal Newman website.

Ashley Pelletier said...

The Church in Massachusetts is in crisis. This is symptomatic of the spiritual rot. Dear Mother, pray for us.

Ellen Wironken said...

Remember the Caritas Christi scandal? Doyle was right to issue this statement: "This appears to be an appalling betrayal of Catholic principles and a grave scandal."

But SO IS THIS! His agreement to speak at an event sponsored by anti-semites and Holocaust-deniers is a huge scandal.

Matlee said...

Remember Philip Lawler's appearance at the SBC as a guest speaker? At his Blog promoting his book The Faithful Departed, at the post titled "Happy Birthday, Faithful Departed," the following comment was left by a Boston-area Catholic named Stephen Walsh: "Phil, I'm a fan of your book, every word...Hey what's with the controversy with The Remnant crowd? I figured you'd be on board with the 'failure of V2' (referring to Vatican II) sentiment. I find it very convincing..."

I left this response this morning: "Yeah Phil, do YOU view the Second Vatican Council as a failure? And if so, how do you reconcile that view with the thought of Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI who have praised the Council? Are the Popes not Catholic enough?"

Let's see if the comment is published. In the past, comments critical of Mr. Lawler's book were not allowed. No doubt Mr. Walsh's comment was published because he is a fan of "every word" of Mr. Lawler's book.

Matlee said...

Well Paul, my comment was never published by Phil Lawler et al. Is anyone really surprised? I guess my questions were too difficult.

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