Ave Crux
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"THE NEW AMERICAN CATHOLIC" DOCUMENTARY

Hat tip to @DJRESQ for bringing our attention to the following documentary, produced in 1968 in the disturbing wake of Vatican II.

For those who didn't live it, and/or those who would like a reminder, this documentary provides a bird's eye view in microcosm of the turbulence which followed Vatican II.

It can clearly be seen from some of the footage and commentary that the Vatican II Council unleashed a whirlwind of anarchical and revolutionary thinking upon the Church, its clergy, its religious and Catholic laity.

Everything was suddenly "up for grabs" and subject to "experimentation" and questioning.

The film is rife with gaslighting from start to finish, as though the Church and its priests and religious had not been virtually solely responsible for building entire Christian Civilizations among pagan and barbaric cultures already for centuries; establishing universities, hospitals, and cultures inspired by the teachings of Christ and ennobling all whom the Church came into contact with.

But suddenly -- in the 1960's -- it seems the nature of man has changed so radically that the Church must question its very identity and mission, and -- stripping itself of its sacred character -- plunge into the tidal depths of secularism to espouse an entirely different way of understanding, teaching and sanctifying the human race.

What is so ironic is that all the "solutions" prognosticated in this film clearly resulted not only in abject failure, but in the gutting of seminaries, convents, monasteries and Catholic institutions everywhere.

Destruction is the only fruit which anarchy and revolution are capable of producing.

Be sure to watch this video to get a glimpse of the process which set in motion the "auto-demolition" of the Church.

As an aside, the Immaculate Heart of Mary Sisters featured in the second half of this video were absolutely decimated by the experimentation they undertook at the request of Pope Paul VI, and which they were completely convinced would "make them better Sisters...."

This documentary stands as yet another proof of the crisis which confronted Archbishop Lefebvre, and those concerned about the destruction and loss of all that Tradition had bequeathed to us to preserve and pass on to future generations of faithful Catholics.

The Documentary can be viewed here: The New American Catholic

P.S. Be sure to read some of the Comments under the YouTube Video -- for example, this gem: "Bishop James Shannon [featured extensively in this film] - resigned from the ministry very shortly after this and civilly married without due church process. He was eventually laicised. Fruits of the Council."
V.R.S.
"suddenly"?
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After all those Luders, Loisies, Murrays, de Chardins, Rahners, Congars and de Lubac?
After all the attempts of Jews and masons in America to force the Catholics out of the "ghetto" of the one true religion?
No, such changes do not come suddenly. It is a great misunderstanding of great revolutions - saying that they come suddenly, without years of the preparation.
For example, in …More
"suddenly"?
---
After all those Luders, Loisies, Murrays, de Chardins, Rahners, Congars and de Lubac?
After all the attempts of Jews and masons in America to force the Catholics out of the "ghetto" of the one true religion?
No, such changes do not come suddenly. It is a great misunderstanding of great revolutions - saying that they come suddenly, without years of the preparation.
For example, in USA in 1920's and 1930's there were protestants, atheists and Jews teaching at so-called Catholic universities.
Rome tried to limit the process but without success. Faced with two terrible wars in Europe, German national socialism and Soviet communism Rome ignored the great danger of culture of indifferentism (sold as "religious freedom"), ignored useful idiots of progressive theologians (Church has ceased to be the exclusive "ark of salvatio" and become the inclusive "sacrament" for the world, Christ has united with everybody so we are fratelli tutti and can pray together for peace and new world ) and then after the establishment of Pax Americana in Europe ("ecumaniac" initiatives were tested in USA and Switzerland years before Vatican II) "aggiornamented" to the modern world.
Rhine flew into the Tiber they say but the question is what color the Rhine had after the Allies crossed it in 1946.
Who educated the promoters of Dignitatis Humanae, Gaudium et spes and Nostra Aetate - that's the question.

PS Changes in Boston came 20 years before those in Rome.
Transcending Boundaries
Ave Crux
Yes, Vatican II certainly didn't happen in a vacuum. And the many Catholics who had become Catholic in name only, practicing contraception, imbibing the spirit of the world, etc., certainly were part of the cause. I have often compared what happened after Vatican II to the the storm that topples a tree which heretofore had appeared "sound" while it was actually rotten to the core...the storm only …More
Yes, Vatican II certainly didn't happen in a vacuum. And the many Catholics who had become Catholic in name only, practicing contraception, imbibing the spirit of the world, etc., certainly were part of the cause. I have often compared what happened after Vatican II to the the storm that topples a tree which heretofore had appeared "sound" while it was actually rotten to the core...the storm only making apparent the rot that had been there all along.
DJRESQ
And another of the priests featured in the film:
About me, Bill Nerin. I was born in Indianapolis, IN in 1926. In 1951, I was ordained a Catholic priest serving in the Diocese of Oklahoma till 1975.
In 1982, I married Anne Robertson, herself a clinical psychologist and family therapist. After 23 years of a wonderful life, my wife, Anne, died from melanoma.More
And another of the priests featured in the film:

About me, Bill Nerin. I was born in Indianapolis, IN in 1926. In 1951, I was ordained a Catholic priest serving in the Diocese of Oklahoma till 1975.

In 1982, I married Anne Robertson, herself a clinical psychologist and family therapist. After 23 years of a wonderful life, my wife, Anne, died from melanoma.
Ave Crux
Interesting....and yet in the film you indicated that celibacy suited you perfectly. What do you feel were the reasons you left the Priesthood?
Many priests believe it was due to the "desacralization" of the priestly vocation; lack of the deep spiritual fortification which came from the Traditional Mass, which is spiritually transformative; as well as a change in the orientation of their priesthood …More
Interesting....and yet in the film you indicated that celibacy suited you perfectly. What do you feel were the reasons you left the Priesthood?

Many priests believe it was due to the "desacralization" of the priestly vocation; lack of the deep spiritual fortification which came from the Traditional Mass, which is spiritually transformative; as well as a change in the orientation of their priesthood from mediator between God and man as an "alter Christus", to more that of a social worker and member of an NGO.

Hence -- bereft of the deeply spiritual dimension of their Priesthood -- they became more and more susceptible to the secular influence in the Church following Vatican II, which led many to leave the Priesthood.

Both Bishop Schneider and Archbishop Vigano speak of the impact of the New Mass on the Priesthood...even their own Priesthood, until they returned to the Traditional Mass.

IN FACT...I have introduced many "Novus Ordo" Catholics to the Traditional Latin Mass, and virtually every single one of them was profoundly converted by it to a deeper relationship with God and a deeper more transformative spirituality.

In fact, one friend just texted me this week that they had to thank me yet again for introducing them to the Traditional Latin Mass, that they could not believe how much they had been missing spiritually and never realized it.

Many Priests offering the TLM for the first time say they feel they have offered their "First Mass" and that they have come to appreciate as never before their Priesthood.
DJRESQ
For clarification, the information about Fr. Nerin was cut and pasted from the following link regarding his book:
Amazon.com: William F. Nerin: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle
I'm not Fr. Nerin; I was just pointing out that he was one of the priests featured in the film and, like the bishop, he left the priesthood to marry.More
For clarification, the information about Fr. Nerin was cut and pasted from the following link regarding his book:

Amazon.com: William F. Nerin: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle

I'm not Fr. Nerin; I was just pointing out that he was one of the priests featured in the film and, like the bishop, he left the priesthood to marry.
Alex A
@ DJRESQ It also appeared to me that you were writing about yourself.
Ave Crux
@DJRESQ Ohhhh! So he left also....! So sad... For the moment I thought you were referring to yourself. And yet in the film, he said celibacy suited him perfectly.
When I saw him offering Holy Mass in the film on a restaurant table I was horrified.... I'm sure offering Mass in that manner contributed to his loss of Faith. So very sad....More
@DJRESQ Ohhhh! So he left also....! So sad... For the moment I thought you were referring to yourself. And yet in the film, he said celibacy suited him perfectly.

When I saw him offering Holy Mass in the film on a restaurant table I was horrified.... I'm sure offering Mass in that manner contributed to his loss of Faith. So very sad....
DJRESQ
Yeah, that was awful.