By Deacon Keith Fournier
Catholic Online
June 8, 2011
http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=41702
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| Detroits Archbishop Allen Vigneron contends for the faith against the group calling itself the 'American catholic Council' |
We ask our readers around the globe to pray for Archbishop Allen Vigneron and the faithful in the Archdiocese of Detroit. Also, pray for the conversion of the leaders of the group calling itself "The American catholic Council". Finally, pray for the Catholic Church as she continues the redemptive mission of the Lord.
DETROIT, MI (Catholic Online) - Throughout Christian history one of the greatest tributes which can be given to a Bishop is "Defender of Orthodoxy". It was used in reference to such greats in our family history as Athanasius and Leo the Great. Bishops are the teachers of the Church, guardians of the deposit of faith. We are fortunate to have contemporary Bishops who deserve the label "Defender of Orthodoxy." One of them is Archbishop Allen Vigneron of Detroit. He is a defender of the faith, of children in the womb, of marriage and family and of the truth.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church declares, "Just as the office which the Lord confided to Peter alone, as first of the apostles, destined to be transmitted to his successors, is a permanent one, so also endures the office, which the apostles received, of shepherding the Church, a charge destined to be exercised without interruption by the sacred order of bishops." Hence the Church teaches that "the bishops have by divine institution taken the place of the apostles as pastors of the Church, in such wise that whoever listens to them is listening to Christ and whoever despises them despises Christ and him who sent Christ."(CCC#862)
Our age is like the earliest centuries of the first Christian Millennium. Some of the same heresies are emerging once again. Pretending to be new, they have just dressed themselves in new language. Their threat to the health of Body of Christ is as serious as ever. Heresy is like poison; just a little can make the Body very ill. As the chief teachers of the Catholic Church, our Bishops are the ones who must expose, oppose and correct heresy.
The Catholic Church teaches what the early fathers, Saints and Councils throughout the ages have all affirmed, to belong to Jesus is to belong to His Body, the Church. Our membership in the Church is a participation in the life of God; what the Apostle Peter referred to as a "participation in the Divine nature". (2 Peter 1:4) The Church is not "Some - thing" but rather "Some - One", the Risen Body of the Lord Jesus Christ continuing His redemptive mission in the world until He returns. Through our Baptism the Church becomes our home, the privileged place in which we live our lives in Christ for the sake of the world. We are called to love the Church.
In its treatment of the Church the Catechism of the Catholic Church states: "To reunite all his children, scattered and led astray by sin, the Father willed to call the whole of humanity together into his Son's Church. The Church is the place where humanity must rediscover its unity and salvation. The Church is "the world reconciled." She is that bark which "in the full sail of the Lord's cross, by the breath of the Holy Spirit, navigates safely in this world." According to another image dear to the Church Fathers, she is prefigured by Noah's ark, which alone saves from the flood." (CCC #845)
The Church is the means through which we participate in the life of God. To her has been entrusted the Sacraments and the Word, the gift of a teaching office and the means of salvation. The Church is not an optional "extra" that we add to our lives, she is our life. From the Lord's wounded side she was birthed at the tree of Calvary, the altar of the new world. She is the seed of the kingdom to come and makes that kingdom present in a world waiting to be reborn. She is God's plan for the salvation of the whole world. We are called to love the Church and live within her, drawing the world home.
In 2009, John Hushon, a "Voice of the Faithful" (VOTF) board member, announced the formation of an umbrella organization of dissenting Catholics calling itself the "American Catholic Council". The Council later announced its plan to hold a public gathering on June 10-11, 2011 (Pentecost), in Detroit, Michigan. Its approach to dealing with disagreements it holds with the Church does not demonstrate love for the Church or fidelity to her teaching office. Nor does it this group accurately present the teaching of the Second Vatican Council.
This weekend is Pentecost, 2011 and this dissident group calling itself Catholic while directly dissenting from the Magisterium of the Church has ignored every request from the Archbishop of Detroit concerning this conference. The Archdiocese offers an excellent explanation of the group, its errors and the confusion it compounds on the Archdiocesan web site here. Every parish in the Detroit Archdiocese has placed the following announcement in their bulletin.
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Archbishop Vigneron to priests, faithful: Concerns over ACC conference, liturgy
Local and religious news outlets may have coverage this Pentecost weekend regarding an organization called the American Catholic Council (ACC) and its three-day conference at Cobo Hall. Last fall, Archbishop Vigneron cautioned any Catholic against participating in this national gathering. The conference was not being conducted under the auspices of the Detroit archdiocese or any entity of organization affiliated with the archdiocese or the universal Roman Catholic Church. The archbishop expressed his serious concerns over the ACC's distortion of Church teachings and issues, and most notably the group's expressed opposition to the teachings of the Second Vatican Council. At that time, he asked the organizers to cancel the conference. They declined to respond.
As the event approached, the ACC refused to request and failed to receive - as required under Church law - permission from the archbishop to conduct what it called a "Eucharistic Liturgy." To confirm the legitimacy of what they had planned, the ACC was asked to provide details regarding this liturgy. The response received was ambiguous, and there were good reasons for believing forbidden concelebration will take place by the laity and with those not in full communion with the Church. In light of this, Archbishop Vigneron recently warned clergy and the lay faithful against participating in both the conference and the liturgy.
Additional information about the matter is available online
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Archbishop Allen Vigneron of Detroit warned the clergy of the archdiocese that this conference may host a "forbidden" Mass in which they will seek to involve lay people in the prayers of consecration. In a letter sent to the clergy of the Archdiocese he wrote "I have a number of concerns about this event and caution any Catholic against participating." He asked the group for a clarification on their intentions concerning this Pentecost Liturgy. In short to "confirm the legitimacy of what they had planned."
They sent a response which was non-responsive. The good Archbishop called it "ambiguous" and indicated there "are good reasons for believing forbidden concelebration will take place by the laity and with those not in full communion with the Church..Despite my attempts to engage in a dialogue with them about this planned event, the organizers of this conference have not replied to me directly."
He has warned all Clergy they "should be aware of the impact of forbidden concelebration with those who are not in full communion". Such an act is a violation of Canon Law and any cleric, priest or deacon, who participates in such a Liturgy could be dismissed from the clerical state. "I am compelled to caution any priests or deacons who may be considering participation in this liturgy.It is not being celebrated with my permission."
We ask our readers around the globe to pray for the Archbishop and the faithful in the Archdiocese of Detroit. Also, pray for the conversion of the leaders of the group calling itself "The American catholic Council". Finally, pray for the Catholic Church as she continues the redemptive work of the Lord during this challenging time. She may be battered but she is still sailing and we should thank the Lord for good and faithful Bishops like Archbishop Allen Vigneron.
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