The SSPX - Preservers Of The Holy Mass

Bishop Athanasius Schneider was recently in the country.  I had the opportunity to hear him in person a few weeks ago, and I might elaborate on that in another post.  For now, I'll post a LifeSiteNews summary of things that he stated regarding the SSPX.  First I'll post my own comments about the SSPX.

In the early days of the pandemic shutdown (spring of 2020), all the Catholic churches in the area were locked.  No one could go to Mass in person and no one could receive actual Holy Communion.  This was by order of the bishops, an order that actually exceeded the already-draconian measures demanded by the governments.  Only the SSPX offered in-person Mass, with the opportunity to physically receive Holy Communion.  Mind you, these were the "parking lot" Masses where we had to remain in our cars, but at least we were present for Mass and could receive Our Lord.  I had to drive 2-3 hours each way, but it was well worth the time and effort.  Without the SSPX I and others would have been starved of the Eucharist.  If things ever get nutty again, I will attend SSPX masses in a heartbeat.

Now for the LifeSite piece, and I especially recommend this to those who insist on claiming that the SSPX is schismatic and that I and others are guilty of schism or other such nonsense. 

Trump Orders Governors To Stop Hindering Places Of Worship

Today the president acknowledged that churches, synagogues, mosques are "essential" and ordered governors to cease their lockdowns of worship.  He further added that if they fail to do so, that he will override them.   In Maryland, I don't know how that will pan out, since Hogan has largely punted that question to the counties.

Isn't it a sad commentary on the faith (or lack thereof) of our bishops when a civil leader understands the importance of prayer to God but the bishops exhibit, at best, a blase attitude towards worship of God?  The Minnesota bishops and some Protestants are a happy exception to that mindset, but their numbers are few and far between.

Even now, the left is working to undermine Trump's defense of freedom of religion.  I will post now a screenshot of a post by dissident Fr James Martin.

Just look at the first two sentences of the screed and notice the logical disconnect.  He is deiberately twisting the meaning of Trump's words to the governors to imply that Trump is ordering the churches to reopen.  Nothing of the sort is happening.  Churches may well believe that they should remain closed.  No one is forcing them to open.  But by the same token, the First Amendment prohibits government from forcing them to shutter.  That is what Trump is addressing.  Either Martin has some problems with basic reading comprehension or he's being disingenuous.  Let's cut to the chase; it's the latter and he just got caught with his hand in the cookie jar on that one.

So either the govenrors will remember that they are sworn to uphold the United States Constitution (refer to First and Fourteenth Amendments), or President Trump will protect US citizens from overbearing governors and local bureaucrats.  Once that happens, we will hold the bishops' feet to the fire.  Bishop Schneider had some choice words for those withholding the Sacraments, calling them "fake shepherds".  He couldn't be more correct.  Those words apply to Archbishops Gregory and Lori in my locality.  I'm just thankful that there are pockets of sanity in my area, but again I'm looking at several hours on the road because our prelates fear Hogan, Bowser, and Northam more than God.