| Fr. Nicholas Gruner started an
apostolate in
the 1970s to promote the message of Fátima. This is done through a magazine called
Fátima Crusader. He and his magazine take a critical stance
toward the compliance of the Popes with the message of
Fátima, specifically the request for the Consecration of Russia.
This stance continued after the Consecration of 1984 and the
2001 publication of the Third Secret of Fátima, both of which he
considers incomplete. Despite recent
assurances by the remaining visionary Sr. Lucia Santos, given through the
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, his criticism
continues. It should be noted that Fátima is not a
matter of the faith. In addition to Fátima Crusader,
Fr. Gruner owns and
publishes the Catholic Family News, which he acquired several
years ago. Like the Remnant and several other small Catholic papers,
Catholic Family News takes a critical view of the post-conciliar
changes in the Church, especially in matters of the liturgy. With
respect to the Tridentine Mass, it is not only preferred
but the current Rite, while acknowledged as valid, is considered
a complete innovation, departure from tradition and a disaster for the Church. In recent years CFN has also become
very critical of the pontificate of Pope John Paul II in
matters such as ecumenism and inter-religious dialogue. Again, it is
not just the implementation of Vatican II in these areas, but the
very direction the Council and the post-conciliar popes have taken. This criticism reached its zenith
in 2000 with the publication of We Resist You to Your Face, the
"You" being Pope John Paul II. Co-sponsors of this
document include Catholic Family News and The Remnant,
and traditionalist authors Marian Horvat and Atila Sinke Guimarães.
This resistance is intended
to restore the Traditional Catholic Faith, as they understand it, by
resisting what they see as novelties and innovations in the
governance of the Church since Vatican II and in particular under
the present Pope.
Is such a position defensible? In many theoretical ways, yes.
Infallibility is not engaged in the conciliar and papal teachings
supporting these new directions, the Pope is not impeccable
(sinless), and the possibility of fraternal correction of a pope
exists. Added to this are the many abuses going on in the Church
which scandalize Catholics and discredit the Council. However, the
doctrine of the Ordinary Magisterium, that of Papal Primacy in all
matters of governance, the obligation of religious assent and obedience
to non-infallible teaching (Lumen gentium 25), the
concurrence of the apostolic college of the bishops (both at the
Council and since) to the whole body of conciliar teaching and
policies, together with the acceptance of the overwhelming majority
of orthodox clergy, theologians and laity, argue in favor of the
teachings and their application. This does not mean that in a
particular cases the specific application is not debatable. However,
it is the rejection of the whole conciliar direction, not just its
abuses or particular applications, which does not seem legitimate.
While I do not question the good will of those who have, what they
see, as the best interests of the Church and souls at heart, I
disagree profoundly with their conclusions, as well as the manner of
giving fraternal correction to the Holy Father.
- Finally, in recent years there has been a certain lack of
clarity regarding the priestly status of Fr. Gruner. According
to the the Congregation for the Clergy, his priestly faculties
(jurisdiction permitting celebration of the sacraments) have
been suspended and his appeal of that suspension rejected by the
highest Church court, the Apostolic
Signature. However, I understand that he continues to
publicly celebrant the sacraments, justifying it by arguments
for the canonical invalidity of his suspension. What efforts he
is making to settle this matter is not known.
-
- Theological Note: In addition to Holy Orders the
sacraments require "faculties" or
"jurisdiction" from a bishop or religious superior for
their lawful, and in some cases, valid celebration. In the case
of Penance, for example, the lack of jurisdiction renders
absolution by an excommunicated, suspended or laicized priest
invalid, except in the case of confessions of the dying, when
the Church grants jurisdiction to any validly ordained priest.
-
- Revised 4 February 2002
For more information on the Third Secret, please see:
Fátima 1984 Consecration, with Letters
of Sr. Lucia
Message
and Commentary on the Third Secret
|
