Archbishop Vigneron Exposes 'American Catholic Council', Warns Faithful

By Deacon Keith Fournier
10/14/2010
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Our age is much like the first half of the first Christian Millennium. Some of the same heresies are emerging once again.

'The American Catholic Council movement and its national gathering are not conducted under the auspices of the Detroit archdiocese, the universal Roman Catholic Church, or any entity or organization affiliated with the archdiocese or the universal Roman Catholic Church. Priests, deacons, and ecclesial lay ministers will want to avoid lending support to such a misguided effort. On behalf of the archdiocese, Archbishop Vigneron has asked the organizers to cancel their plans for this national gathering that distorts the true Spirit of Vatican II.'

On behalf of the archdiocese, Archbishop Vigneron has asked the organizers to cancel their plans for this national gathering that distorts the true Spirit of Vatican II.

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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.

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 much like the first half 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. We are fortunate to have contemporary Bishops who deserve the label "Defender of Orthodoxy." We recently called attention to one of them, Archbishop Allen Vigneron of Detroit. His defense of human embryonic life in the Detroit Free Press was an example.

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 erection of the new Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization is one more sign of a new missionary age of, by and through the Church. The promise of Christ is reliable;"And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it." (Matt. 16:18) The Church is the means through which we participate in the very life of God. To her has been entrusted the Sacraments and the Word, the gift of a teaching office and the very 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.

Last year John Hushon, a "Voice of the Faithful" (VOTF) board member, announced that he was a co-chair of a new umbrella organization of dissenting Catholics calling itself the "American Catholic Council". This "Council" includes other dissenting groups. The Council is planning a public gathering on June 10-11, 2011 (Pentecost), in Detroit, Michigan. It's approach does not demonstrate love for the Church or fidelity to her teaching office. Nor does it accurately present the teaching of the Second Vatican Council.

We need to do more than report on the dissenters who seek to change the Church rather than change themselves. We need a coalition of Catholic Christians who choose to embrace the fullness of the Christian faith found within the full communion of the Catholic Church with gratitude, fidelity and evangelistic zeal to tell the world that there is a rising tide of Catholics who love the Church and seek to be loyal to her teaching. I am one of those Catholics and I invite the global readers of Catholic Online who share this desire to consider a response to this newest effort to dissent from the Church.

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1 - 10 of 47 Comments

Mary
2 years ago
To those who have become argumentative in this discourse let me say I I have only read some of the responses, and maybe I am naive, but would you not consider the fact that perhaps Archbishop Vigneron just might KNOW what he is warning faithful Roman Catholics about. This group is not an unknown entity. They and their agenda have been around for some time.The Archbishop is responsible to God in guiding us. We can use all kinds of heady arguments to accommodate dialogue with them but they are in "heresy". If we call ourselves R.Catholic we simply accept the teachings of the church, and sometimes that takes heroic faith. I applaud the Archbishop Vigneron..
Fred
2 years ago
Mike, the "HOLY SEE" reserves all copyrights of the "CCC 2nd Ed" to itself, and in the US it's printed by the USCCB. The Pope has declared it Official no matter what documents you try to use to try convince us otherwise. If you are Catholic you must adhere to it.
Anne
2 years ago
Mike FP, regarding the Pope BINDING the whole Church on the contents of the "CCC 2nd Ed" - - - - - - - - Pope John Paul II wrote (and the Imprimi Potest was from Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger )- QUOTE "The Catechism of the Catholic Church which I approved ..... and the publication of which I today order by virture of my Apostolic Authority, is a statement of the Church's faith, and of Catholic Doctrine, attested to or illumined by Sacred Scripture, the Apostolic Tradition, and the Church's Magisterium. I declare it to be a sure norm for teaching the faith and thus a valid and legitimate instrument of ecclesial communion." - UNQUOTE.
You are not incorrect in your quote from the USCCB site that other catechisms can be written which conform to the "CCC 2nd Ed". This is for those who are not capable of understanding this CCC due to young age, lack of literacy, less intelligence than normal, because all Catholics need the Truth at a level they can understand. Also in the FAQs on the USCCB site see # 19 which states we all must adhere to it and can not disregard it. The "CCC 2nd Ed" sold in the USA is for our culture.
Peter
2 years ago
The cultural, literacy level, and educational level of the average person in the US makes other catechisms unnecessary for anyone over age 15. The "Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition" first printed in the US in March 2000, IS the Doctrine of the Church that all Catholics are required to believe, and defines heresy. This CCC and the Bible are the only two books Catholics must have. (They are printed in Spanish and other languages as well.)
Mike FP
2 years ago
PAUL & PAM, Both of you seem to be doing that thing that "living Constitution" scholars do with the U.S. Constitution. PAUL, the direct quote from the Catechism that I referenced can be found at http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/fideidepositum.shtml. This is the official website of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The quote itself can be found in Section 3, paragraph 4. As I mentioned before, it states: "It [the catechism] is meant to encourage and assist in the writing of new local catechisms, which take into account various situations and cultures, while carefully preserving the unity of faith and fidelity to catholic doctrine." While, speaking as a layman, I would fully agree that adapting teaching tools to take into account factors such as age and understanding seems to make good sense, that's not what the plain language of that statement refers to. PAM, from the Catholic Encyclopedia: "Finally for an ex cathedra decision it must be clear that the pope intends to bind the whole Church. To demand internal assent from all the faithful to his teaching under pain of incurring spiritual shipwreck (naufragium fidei) according to the expression used by Pius IX in defining the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin." The url for this is http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07790a.htm if you don't want to take my word for it. I think committing the same errors that one ascribes to the American Catholic Council (who I still don't think should be taken all that seriously) is not helpful.
Anne
2 years ago
Jean, the Church's social teaching including that of: subsidiarity, voting responsibilities, duties of citizens and civil authorities, statement about excessive intervention by the State can threaten personal freedom and initiative, helping the poor, against socialism, communism and collectivism and pure capitalism, and so much more is all encapsulated in the "Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition" which was first printed in the US in March 2000. This CCC is about 2" thick (with a dark green cover), but about 1/2" is reference materials. At the bottom of each page you will find footnotes that point to Scripture or other Church documents if you wish to further study particular teachings. It's my opinion that this CCC is a great gift from the Church, and no Catholic home should be without it.
JeanCatherine
2 years ago
What does the Catechism of the Catholic Church say about Democratization? That is where I would start and read what the church has analyzed about this.
Gary Scott
2 years ago
surly it should be the duty of any Bishop to specify the heracy, if it is a teaching office then TEACH
Paul
2 years ago
Mike FP, the "CCC 2nd Ed" is THEE "Catechism of the Catholic Church". All other catechisms are required to CONFORM to it although they may not be as complete. You can find a list of Conforming / approved catechisms on the USCCB site. The reason for other catechisms are age and understanding appropriateness. For example thee "CCC 2nd Ed" would be difficult for anyone under age 15, or an adult with learning difficulties. It would be very arrogant if someone tries to deny use of the "CCC 2nd Ed" to any normal person over age 15 and of normal intelligence and literacy ability in the US. (The "CCC 2nd Ed" is also available in several other languages.) The "CCC 2nd Ed" is the required Church Doctrine of our Faith per the Pope and Magesterium. The Pope just started a New Office which will further promoted this CCC.
Peter
2 years ago
Important Posts - in addition to prayer - each of us has an obligation to know our Faith which includes without taking anything out of context - READING the "Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition" first printed in the US in March 2000. "....it is a statement of the Church's Faith and of Catholic Doctrine, attested to or illimined by Sacred Scripture, the Apostolic Tradition, and the Church's Magesterium. I declare it to be a sure norm for teaching the Faith and thus a valid and legitimate instrument for ecclesial communion." - Pope John Paul II.
The changes mentioned in the article violate the teachings in the CCC which include those of Vatican II.

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