SSPX Chapel Feature In Local Paper

[matthew_talbot]

http://kirkwoodwebsterjournal.stltoday.com/articles/2008/08/05/news/sj2tn20080805-0806web-stmary0.ii1.txt

[AndreasAngelopolitanus]

"They're a schismatic group. They're not in full communion with the Catholic Church," said Monsignor Vernon Gardin

If quoted accurately, the Monsignor's pronouncement (underlined) goes a bit further than the Church.

"The belief is, to receive communion you have to be in communion," he said.

Hmm... not in the state of grace? 

[matthew_talbot]

I'd like to know what "full communion" means(as opposed to partial communion?)..is this like "a little pregnant?"

[Walking_Home]

Traditionalist parish at odds with Catholic Church
       Members favor doctrine before Vatican II

By reading the title --- doctrine changed with Vat II.

[finegan]

The comments made by Monsignor Gardin in this article are just another example of the type of misinformation peddled by most diocesan officials. He sounds like your typical paper-pushing, modernist bureaucrat.

[StevusMagnus]

Good article! I like the statements from the parishoners and priest who switched to Tradition.

Within that conflict, some parishioners said attending the church hasn't been easy, but that their faith has been deepened through it.

Cavanaugh, a 33-year-old Webster Groves resident and father of two, has been a Catholic all his life, but started attending Latin Masses at St. Mary's about two years ago.

"Stephanie Schepers, 25, of Affton, has attended traditional Latin Masses for six years and attended English Mass before that. She teaches at Queen of the Holy Rosary Academy, an elementary school the church runs for about 40 children at 393 W. Old Watson Road in Crestwood, the former Grant School.

Schepers said her faith "has been deepened and my outlook on life has been deepened."

[SMA_Mom]

I've only posted here a few times, and have never formally introduced myself, but I will say that those interviewed for the article were less than thrilled (but not surprised) at the negative slant.  My husband was trying to do some damage control with the reporter last week after hearing about Msgr. Gardin's comments, but I guess that's what makes this a better story in the reporter's eyes.  I always liked Msgr. Gardin when he was in residence at our N.O. parish ... I was surprised and disappointed at his comments.  Why so much hostility?

SMA_Mom

[StevusMagnus]

SMA Mom,

I'm not so certain it was that negative. I actually think it did more good than harm by making the local community more aware of the local Chapel and showing that real live normal Catholics go there and find it very beneficial. They also see that they are negotiating with Rome and that shows implicitly they are not out to form their own church.

The only negative comment was from the idiot priest who was quoted, but almost all Neo-Cath priests and bishops get the story wrong on the SSPX. The old line is that they are in schism and cut off and treated like the plague. They simply refuse to treat these chapels with anything other than disdain and animosity. Meanwhile they bend over backwards as to be welcoming towards Protestants and even non-Christians.

[SMA_Mom]

I guess I consider it negative because the focus of the article is almost entirely on the relationship between the SPPX and Rome, and has very little to do with the chapel itself.  The "Editor's Note" at the beginning says: "This is part of an ongoing series on South City and South County churches, the roles they play in communities and how people experience them." ...but really the context of the article isn't about St. Mary's Assumption at all, but rather the SSPX "vs" Rome.  

real live normal Catholics go there and find it very beneficial

That's a good point.  I suppose the fact that we only have two kids (and one on the way!) makes us seem more "normal" than the stereotype people might think of.  I doubt that our extended  families would consider us "normal", though!

SMA_Mom

[Dauphin]

This is a terrible article. The journalist seems to be under the impression that the Second Vatican Council promulgated a new liturgy, and that it's somehow a generally accepted fact that it "changed" Catholic doctrine.