Sophistry On Steroids

 On May 16, 2016, I published a post entitled, "Doubting Yourself---In The Extreme" which exposed the errors of one "Bp." Joseph Marie, who doubts the validity of all Traditionalist Orders stemming from Archbishop Lefebvre and Archbishop Thuc. He (rightfully) doubts his own Orders as they are derived from the Old Catholic sect. As he has stricken the title "Bishop" before his own name on his website, I will simply refer to him as "Joe." My original post was directed against his article entitled "Traditional Catholics - Do Your Clergy Possess Valid Orders?" He has now attempted a rebuttal of sorts called, "Blogger 'Introibo ad Altare Dei' Taken to Task (A Response to a "Rebutal" [sic] Against Me)." You may read both on his website bishopjosephmarie.org under the "doctrine" section.

 I wish I could teach a course back in my law school, "Avoiding Sophistry," using his article as a prime example of what not to do when arguing. As Joe is long on words and short on reason, I will deal only with that part dealing with Abp. Lefebvre's Orders being "dubious" because his ordaining and consecrating bishop, Achille Cardinal Lienart, was allegedly a Freemason. For the sake of argument, I will concede he was a Mason as I did in my prior post, (but there is plenty of doubt if he was a member of the Lodge). I will leave Abp. Thuc for a separate post at another time. The first part will be more than sufficient to show that Joe's arguments hold no water. I always try to keep my posts terse so that my readers can sit and read them in a rather short time; therefore, feel free to read Joe's first article, then my post of May 16th, Joe's rebuttal and conclude with this post (for those who want a full and complete background). This will probably be my longest post, and I apologize, but Joe needs to be answered. When you read Joe's articles be prepared to have lots of time and caffeine to get through them. His remarks (which sometimes include quotes from my prior post) will appear in red. I will respond beneath without red text.

He begins thus: "A gentleman wrote to me, asking me to respond to an article titled 'Doubting Yourself – In the Extreme' published by an anonymous blogger going by the name of Introibo ad Altare Dei. Introibo’s article purports to refute an article that I wrote titled 'Traditional Catholics – Do Your Clergy Possess Valid Orders?'

The author of this article, Introibo ad Altare Dei, has chosen to hide his identity. If you go to Introibo’s blog and look up his profile, you’ll find a blank page. There’s zero information about him. Whoever he is, he is hiding. Interesting. The devil hides. Members of Freemasonry and other secret societies hide. Spies hide. Thieves, robbers, murders, rapists and other criminals hide. However, Catholics don’t hide. Christ didn’t hide. His Apostles didn’t hide. Except perhaps during times of serious persecution, the Saints, the Fathers and Doctors of the Church, the Popes, the Bishops, the Missionaries... didn’t hide. Catholics are bound to profess their faith, so that’s what they do. So why is Introibo hiding? Why has he chosen to align himself with those who hide? As you go through this article, the answer will become obvious. Introibo is both theologically incompetent and morally dishonest. I don’t say that lightly. There is plenty of proof of both below. Incompetent and dishonest people tend to hide." 

Wow! So because I choose not to subject my family and friends to possible attacks of discrimination and such because of my blog, I'm equated with the devil, Freemasons, spies, thieves, robbers, murderers, and rapists!! Moreover, Catholics don't hide, they are bound to profess their faith. Well, not exactly. First, being anonymous is not the same as "being in hiding." There are many people who publish various works under pen names, and law enforcement officials investigating crime syndicates who don't reveal that part of their lives to others for obvious reasons. I wouldn't consider them to be evil. This is a weird kind of "guilt by association." Second, let's see what a real theologian has written about a Catholic's duty to profess the Faith. According to theologian Jone, "Divine law obliges one to profess his faith publicly if silence or evasion would imply a denial of faith, contempt of religion, an insult to God or scandal to one's neighbor."(See Moral Theology, pg. 65).

I stand up for the Faith when confronted in my personal life (as I must). I profess the Faith online, but there is no obligation that you must know my identity online unless Joe can explain how an anonymous profession of faith on a blog amounts to "denial of faith, contempt of religion, an insult to God, or scandal to one's neighbor." I won't be holding my breath. If Fr. Jone were still with us on earth, he would be applying the words "incompetent" and "dishonest" to Joe, not me. Third, Joe forgot one last class of people who hide their identity--superheroes! Growing up I always wanted to be Spiderman, but now I might don a mask and a shirt with a big letter "I" for Introibo Man--Hammer of Heretics! (sarcasm intended)

Just for the record, Joe states, "Christ didn't hide." At least once He did, for good reason.  The gospel according to St. John 8: 59 states: "They took up stones therefore to cast at Him. But Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple." Most commentaries on this passage suggest Christ hid Himself among his followers so as to avoid the confrontation, others ascribe a miracle whereby He became invisible to them. Christ hid Himself at least once, so Joe's assertion is false.

Finally, Joe claims I "hide" because I am "theologically incompetent" and "morally dishonest." By what authority does Joe purport to call me incompetent? He admits he's not a bishop and has no jurisdiction. I imagine he had some theological training in Spokane under Francis Schuckhardt, the value of which is questionable to say the least. It certainly does not qualify him for the title of "theologian" any more than the fact I go fishing makes me Jacques Cousteau.

However, after reading what Joe and I have written, I will let my readers be the jury as to whether or not I'm theologically incompetent and morally dishonest--or if those appellations do not appropriately describe Joe. So please remember as you weigh the evidence (to paraphrase a legendary criminal defense attorney) "If the anathema doesn't sit, you must acquit"!

Being that Introibo’s article is riddled with errors from head to foot, to properly address most of the errors, even if in a somewhat cursory manner, required a fairly lengthy response, for which I apologize in advance.

Well, we've just seen how he's used guilt by association, and misapplied a principle of moral theology, so don't expect "errors" to be exposed, just his own ignorance.

. Fabricated Criterion

Blogger Introibo starts his attack on my article by stating this:

“First False Principle: Freemasonic membership = positive contrary intention.” [emphasis in original]
Introibo then attributes this principle to me. This is false. What I had written was this:

"General Presumption: Masonry = Adverse Sacramental Intention" [bold in original]
They don't even remotely mean the same thing. The position stated in my article is that the probability of high ranking Masons of intending to “do what the Church does” in conferring Holy Orders is doubtful to such a degree that moral certitude is lacking. This topic, in fact, is one which Introibo completely sidestepped.

In his article, Introibo uses the phrase of “positive contrary intention” in his opening argument, in his closing paragraph, and seven other times throughout the article. He seems to think that in refuting the notion that Masons must of necessity have a “positive contrary intention” of doing what the Church does in conferring the Sacraments, that he refutes my article. But it has no relevance to my article at all because I’ve never used the term “positive contrary intention” at any time or in any place. The reason for that is because I don’t believe in the notion that Masons must of necessity have a positive contrary intention of doing what the Church does when they attempt to confect the Sacraments. (Emphasis mine)

1. I was actually being charitable by equating "adverse sacramental intention" with "positive contrary intention," because it is only by having a "positive contrary intention" that a sacrament can be rendered null and void for lack of intention. Joe informs us that he believes that because Masons belong to an evil society and could have a positive contrary intention, we must presume by the very fact of Masonic membership that the Masonic cleric might be doing so, and all his sacraments must be considered dubious.

2. According to theologian Gasparri,  "An ordination is invalid if the minister… as he confers it on someone, makes an act of the will not to ordain that person, because by that very fact he does not have at least the intention of doing what the Church does —indeed, he has a contrary intention." (P. Gasparri, Tractatus de Sacra Ordinatione [Paris: Delhomme 1893], 1:970--Emphasis mine)

3. The principle is clear, an ordination otherwise correctly performed becomes invalid only if the bishop makes an act of the will not "to do what the Church does" or not "to ordain this person." This, then, is a "positive contrary intention." You have a positive act of the will not to do what the Church does.

4. A bishop who confers Holy Orders, however, is never presumed to have such an intention not to ordain, until the contrary is proved.

"In performing an ordination the minister is never presumed to have such an intention of not ordaining, as long as the contrary would not be proved. For no one is presumed evil unless he is proven as such, and an act — especially one as solemn as an ordination — must be regarded as valid, as long as invalidity would not be clearly demonstrated." (Gasparri, Tractatus 1:970--Emphasis mine.)

5. The principle Joe proposes, however — "Whenever a bishop is a Mason, his sacramental intention must be presumed doubtful and all his ordinations therefore presumed doubtful" — directly contradicts the foregoing and sets up the opposite presumption.

His theory thus treats an accused "Masonic bishop" as guilty until proven innocent. (His sacraments, Joe believes, must be treated as "doubtful sacraments.") And the burden of proof he must meet to acquit himself is impossible: he must disprove a double negative about an internal act of the will ("prove you did not withhold your intention"). His invented principle of "adverse sacramental intention" means that the simple fact of belonging to a secret society gives rise to a presumption of "not intending to do what the Church does." 

This runs contrary to all the principles of equity in civil and canon law, which is why…

6. Joe cites no pre-Vatican II canonist, moral theologian or dogmatic theologian who proposes or defends his idea that Masonic membership means dubious sacraments stemming from an "adverse intention" simply by being a member of  the Lodge.

7. Who's  fabricated the criterion for judging the sacraments of Masons dubious, Joe? Hint: It's either you or me, and it isn't me!

Introibo just made this "positive contrary intention" thing up and falsely attributed it to me. As the reader will shortly see, making up things is one of Introibo’s trademarks. So Introibo’s basic premise is false. This is what is known as "arguing beside the point." He proves nothing germane to the topic of my article, let alone refutes it, because he never addresses the actual issues raised in my article.
  
As you can see, far from arguing besides the point, I hit the nail on the head. No positive contrary intention= no problem with validity of the sacraments in that regard! The citations to Gasparri shows the principle is that of the Church, not mine. One of Joe's trademarks is being clueless (and he does it well).

Introibo writes:

“When a bishop confers Holy Orders using correct matter and form, he must be presumed to have had a sacramental intention sufficient to confect the sacrament — that is, at least "to have intended to do what the Church does. This is the teaching of Pope Leo XIII in his pronouncement on Anglican orders:
‘Now, if a person has seriously and duly used the proper matter and form for performing or administering a sacrament, he is by that very fact presumed to have intended to do what the Church does.’ (Bull Apostolicae Curae, September 13, 1896; Emphasis mine)”

Introibo continues:

“The theologian Leeming says this passage recapitulates the teachings of previous theologians who
‘...all agreed that the outward decorous performance of the rites sets up a presumption that the right intention exists.… The minister of a sacrament is presumed to intend what the rite means…’ ”

The reader will notice that Introibo states that if correct matter and formed are used, then a valid sacramental intention “must be presumed.” The reader will also note that neither quote provided by Introibo supports his “must be presumed” criterion. “Is presumed” and “sets up a presumption” do not mean the same thing as “must be presumed,” as anyone versed in theology will attest to. “Must be presumed” was simply fabricated by Introibo. He fabricates a lot of things.

The reason why Leo XIII and Catholic theologians don’t use the term “must be presumed” in this context, is because “must be presumed” allows for no exceptions. Yet Leo XIII, in the very sentence that preceded the one Introibo quoted (but conveniently left out), stated an exception: an externally manifested intention contrariwise. All of this is gone over in detail in my article, so I won’t burden the reader with it here except to give this short summary:

The argument made in my article is that a person who joins a Freemasonic society is indeed externally manifesting something, i.e., hostility towards Catholicism. This hostility is a fact attested to by numerous popes. And this very hostility towards Catholicism, externally manifested by virtue of their membership in Masonry, calls into doubt whether they would “intend to do what the Church does” in conferring Holy Orders. But Introibo doesn’t refute this argument; rather he simply chooses to hide from his readers the exception Leo XIII clearly stated, and he does this by carefully selecting only a small portion of Leo XIII’s quote and leaving the rest out, even though what he left out is critically relevant. Very deceptive, especially considering that it is the very thing that I complained about in my article (an article he purports to have read).

1. "Presumed" doesn't mean the same in theology as "must be presumed"? Says who? By that I mean what theologian or canonist (pre-Vatican II) makes such a distinction? Joe cites no authorities because he can't; he just made it up (ironically).

2. In civil law (and I'm a lawyer), everyone accused of a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Presumed innocent admits of no exception, you must be presumed innocent unless externally manifested by pleading guilty! That's why the so-called "exception" by Pope Leo XIII is irrelevant. Simply "manifesting hostility towards Catholicism" isn't sufficient to overcome the presumption of a correct intention!

3. According to theologian Many, heresy, or even total apostasy from the faith on the part of the ordaining bishop, does not harm this sufficient intention, because intention is an act of the will.

"Error in faith, or even total disbelief, does not harm this intention; for concepts of the intellect have nothing in common with an act of the will." (S. Many, Praelectiones de Sacra Ordinatione [Paris: Letouzey 1905], 586.) An apostate would certainly have "hostility towards Catholicism," but it does not (as theologian Gasparri teaches above) give rise to a doubt or presumption that there was a positive contrary intention not to ordain/consecrate.

Introibo Tries to Deceive

Immediately after quoting Leo XIII, Introibo cites a quotation from Fr. Bernard Leeming:

“The theologian Leeming says this passage recapitulates the teachings of previous theologians who
‘...all agreed that the outward decorous performance of the rites sets up a presumption that the right intention exists.… The minister of a sacrament is presumed to intend what the rite means… This principle is affirmed as certain theological doctrine, taught by the Church, to deny which would be at least theologically rash.’ (Leeming, Principles of Sacramental Theology [Westminster MD: Newman 1956], 476, 482.)’ ”

Now let’s take a look at what Introibo left out at the second set of ellipses (in italics):

“...all agreed that the outward decorous performance of the rites sets up a presumption that the right intention exists. Some, indeed, like Farvacques, maintained that this presumption could never be overthrown, against the judgment of the vast majority;..” (bold mine)
It would seem that Introibo is fully aware that the position he is taking is “against the judgment of the vast majority,” but he apparently didn’t want his readers to know that little tidbit of truth, so he just left it out. How about that.

Yes, how about that, Joe? I never claimed that the presumption of a correct intention could never be overcome, only that it can't be overcome by anything less than a "positive contrary intention." Comprende usted? Probably not. That's why "what I left out" was irrelevant.

And at the third set of ellipses:

“Principle XV - THE MINISTER OF A SACRAMENT IS PRESUMED TO INTEND WHAT THE RITE MEANS: NEVERTHELESS, IF IN FACT HE RESOLVES NOT TO DO WHAT THE CHURCH DOES, HE HAS NOT SUFFICIENT INTENTION AND THE SACRAMENT IS INVALID. This principle is affirmed as certain theological doctrine, taught by the Church, to deny which would be at least theologically rash.” (Upper case and underline in original. Italics mine)
So here we go again. Introibo makes yet another attempt to deceive the reader by extracting the second half of Principle XV as given by Fr. Leeming. Leeming devoted 14 pages to proving this principle, 13 pages of which was devoted to the second part of it, the part that Introibo conveniently left out.

What he did to Fr. Leeming’s quote is a clear case of deceit. Leeming doesn’t support his ridiculous position, but Introibo wanted the reader to think otherwise, so he chopped and diced it to make it fit. In doing so, Introibo demonstrated that he is dishonest and and has ZERO regard for the truth. It appears that he has an agenda to peddle and certainly isn’t going to let something as minor as truth or Catholic doctrine get in his way. I suspect that he was banking on the fact that his readers would not have a copy of the now out-of-print book of Fr. Leeming and that consequently he could pull a quick one over them. It’s called deceit and deception. Does he think that he can deceive God too? Unbelievable. Now we can see why he chooses to publish his rubbish anonymously – he can behave dishonestly and yet keep his “good” name (if indeed he has one).

Once again, when did I deny that the presumption could be overcome? It just can't be overcome simply by the fact of Masonic membership. Yes, if someone resolves "not to do what the Church does" the sacrament is not valid, but belonging to the Masonic Lodge does not automatically give rise to the presumption that the cleric has resolved "not to do what the Church does" unless he externally manifests his internal intention.

Introibo further wrote:

“According to theologian Gasparri, a bishop is never presumed to have a positive contrary intention unless proven by those who assert such.
‘In performing an ordination the minister is never presumed to have such an intention of not ordaining, as long as the contrary would not be proved. For no one is presumed evil unless he is proven as such, and an act — especially one as solemn as an ordination — must be regarded as valid, as long as invalidity would not be clearly demonstrated." (Gasparri, Tractatus de Sacra Ordinatione [Paris: Delhomme 1893], 1:970--Emphasis mine [Introibo's]).’

Gasparri does not state that Masonic membership is a presumption of evil such that the minister would be "clearly demonstrated" as having a positive contrary intention.”
This is what I referred to in my article as “Wish Upon a Star Theology.” Gasparri doesn’t mention Masonry at all and so he does nothing to support Introibo’s position regarding Masons. Introibo simply wished it to be there; but it’s not there and all the wishing in the world can’t change that.

Further, Introibo highlighted in the quote above “For no one is presumed evil unless he is proven as such...” If the unanimous and constant teaching of the popes for nearly two centuries that Masons are evil isn’t proof, then what is? Are we to wait for a Divine Revelation?

How about we wait for Joe to get a clue? That might take longer than Divine Revelation. All Traditionalists know, and none deny, that Masonry is evil, "the synagogue of Satan," results in excommunication, etc. But absolutely NONE of that gets you one step closer to Masonic membership=positive contrary intention. What would be proof? Joe nicely omits the following citation from theologian DeSalvo, The Dogmatic Theology on the Intention of the Minister in the Confection of the Sacraments, CUA Press [1949], pgs. 23-24:
" in the Sacrament of Matrimony the contract cannot have validity in the internal forum without the intention of the contracting parties. Even the internal withholding of the consent of one of the parties would be sufficient to vitiate the contract in the sight of God, though in the external forum it would be considered valid UNLESS THE SECRET LACK OF INTENTION COULD BE PROVED." (Emphasis mine)

Joe wants us to believe that simply by belonging to Masonry the secret lack of intention is thereby proven. If this were so, please explain why it is never mentioned even by French theologians where Masonry was rampant. As I wrote in my prior post:

If the fact of Masonic membership makes sacramental intention lacking, one would expect theologians (especially the French where Masonry was virulent), making this argument or at least debating the issue. Instead we find nothing. French theologians and canonists such as Billot (De Ecclesiae Sacramentis, Rome: Gregorian 1931, 1:195-205), Many (Prae. de Sacr. Ordinationae 585-591), and Naz ("Intention" Dictionnaire de Droit Canonque, Paris: Letouzey 1953, 5:1462), who otherwise discuss sacramental intention at length, have NOTHING to say about doubtful/invalid sacraments from Masons. However, good ol' "Bp. Joe" knows better than they do! In this case, Joe, silence screams.

According to Dr. Rama Coomaraswamy, "The Church recognizing that she can never know the internal intention of the minister, assumes it is the same as his external intention (the intention the traditional rite provides by its very wording), unless he himself informs the Church otherwise." (See The Problems with the New Sacraments, pg. 11--Emphasis mine). I realize that the good doctor was not a theologian, but his research was impeccable. There is a footnote to this quote that reads thus, "There was a bishop in South America who was strongly prejudiced against ordaining native clergy. On his deathbed he confessed that when it came to native clergy he always withheld his intention. The priest who heard his confession refused him absolution unless he gave permission for this fact to be exposed to the proper authorities. The permission was granted. All the native clergy involved were re-ordained. Such episodes are extremely rare in the history of the Church, and for obvious reasons not normally made public." However, if Masonic membership equals doubtful sacraments, it would not be rare. There would be so many re-ordinations coming down from Cardinal Rampolla, they couldn't possibly be all kept secret.

After Rampolla died it is said that among his personal effects was found proof he belonged to a luciferian Masonic sect called the Ordo Templi Orientalis (associated with the Satanist Alistair Crowley) and frequented a Masonic lodge in Einsiedeln, Switzerland, where he took his vacations. Forty American bishops consecrated between 1896 and 1944 derived their consecrations from Rampolla, via either Bp. Martinelli (the Apostolic Delegate) or Rafael Cardinal Merry del Val, both of whom Rampolla consecrated bishops. (See Jesse W. Lonsway, The Episcopal Lineage of the Hierarchy in the United States: 1790–1948, plate E.) That would be a lot of secret re-consecrations and re-ordinations of the priests ordained by those forty bishops!! Remember also, that the role of co-consecrating bishops was not clarified until 1944 by Pope Pius XII. What if other clerics were "secret Masons" but just never got revealed? 

In an effort to illustrate how absurd the notion is that the external execution of the Sacraments must of necessity imply a valid intention, I introduced in my article the founder of the Church of Satan, Anton LeVey, and asked (under the hypothetical that he obtained a valid consecration) if we should accept his Sacraments as valid, provided that he performed them correctly exteriorly? Introibo addressed this as follows:

“As to the hypothetical concerning Anton LeVey, if he seriously performed the Catholic rite, we must accept him as having the requisite intention unless he specifically states the contrary. Is it crazy to think so? Hardly. Why wouldn't he want priests to confect the Eucharist so as to desecrate it? Why not ordain a priest that he knows to be unworthy and will bring scandal to the Church?”

Wrong, Introibo. It is absolutely crazy! There’s a maxim in scholasticism which states that if someone’s conclusion is absurd, then one or more of his premises is erroneous. This is a good case in point. Introibo would have us believe that LeVey can ordain priests to desecrate the Eucharist and bring scandal to the Church, but that he is somehow incapable of faking the ordination priests unless he “specifically states the contrary.” Good grief. I would love to see him provide an authoritative citation to support this.

Let’s take this hypothetical to its final logical step. Let’s substitute in place of the Satanist, Anton LeVey, Satan himself in human form. Introibo:

“As to the hypothetical concerning Satan, if he seriously performed the Catholic rite, we must accept him as having the requisite intention unless he specifically states the contrary. Is it crazy to think so? Hardly. Why wouldn't Satan want priests to confect the Eucharist so as to desecrate it? Why not ordain a priest that Satan knows to be unworthy and will bring scandal to the Church?”

St. Thomas disagrees:

“I answer that the devil, if he appeared as a man, could perform the ceremonies of Baptism, but not confer the sacrament, and this for two reasons... Secondly, if the devil pretended to baptize, there would always be the fear that he did not do so with the intention of baptizing, which is needful for the sacrament, but with the intention of deceiving; because it is unlikely that he would secure so great a good for a man as is spiritual rebirth.” (D. 5, q. 2, a. 3, sol. 1)

The reason St. Thomas gives is “because it is unlikely that he would secure so great a good for a man as is spiritual rebirth.” Ditto for Holy Orders, “because it is unlikely that he would secure so great a good for” the Church as to supply it with bishops (who by default are exorcists!) Now since Satanists and Masons (at least high-ranking ones such as Lienart) are evil and do evil works, the same line of reasoning would seem to aptly apply to them both, i.e., that it is unlikely that they would secure so great a good for man as to provide the Church with bishops and priests.

Finally we have this condemnation from Pope Alexander VIII:

“Baptism is valid which is conferred by a minister who observes all the external rite and the form of baptizing but within his heart resolves: ‘I do not intend what the Church does.’ ” (Denzinger, 1318)

Note: Alexander VIII doesn’t require that the minister “specifically states the contrary” as Introibo contends, but only that he “within his heart resolves.”

Is this guy for real? "Pope" Michael is starting to look more normal by the second! 

1. My conclusion that Anton LeVey would WANT to be able to make valid priests in order to desecrate the Eucharist is "crazy"? Sounds perfectly fine! Malachi Martin wrote in one of his novels that before Vatican II opened, several prelates held a Black Mass for the purpose of desecrating the Host. He claimed it was based on fact. I don't think Martin was on our side, but many people believed he was right on this one. Calling something plausible "crazy" is pure ad hominem claptrap.

2. His attempt to discredit my argument by replacing "Satan" for "LeVey" fails miserably. It's inapposite because the principles of sacramental theology only apply to men, not fallen angels. Second, I repeat, why would Satan NOT want to desecrate Our Lord in His sacramental state? 

3. St. Thomas speaks of baptism performed by Satan, not orders. Baptism would do little to help him damn a soul or give insult to God. Not so with Holy Orders.

4. Yes, Pope Alexander said "within his heart resolves," not to do what the Church does, but since we can never know someone's internal intention, we can't presume he resolved not to confect the sacrament UNLESS he reveals or specifically states the contrary, as was the case with the South American bishop!

Introibo next suggests substituting the term “Freemason” with “Modernist” in an effort to show that what I contend holds for Freemasons would also, of necessity, hold for Modernists too, i.e., if Masons confer the Sacraments doubtfully, then so must Modernists; which he states is absurd. He writes:

“Keep in mind Modernism also seeks the destruction of the Catholic Faith:

‘Still it must be confessed that the number of the enemies of the Cross of Christ has in this days increased exceedingly, who are striving, by arts, entirely new and full of subtlety, to destroy the vital energy of the Church, and, if they can, to overthrow utterly Christ's kingdom itself.’ (See Pope St. Pius X, Pascendi Dominici Gregis, 1907).

Therefore [Introibo continues], if the Modernists want to "overthrow utterly Christ's kingdom itself," they too wish the destruction of the Church, like the Masons. Should we therefore consider any Modernist as having a positive contrary intention?”

Pius X does not say that Modernists want to “overthrow utterly Christ’s kingdom,” he says that about “the enemies of the Cross of Christ.” Accuracy in theology is important.

Accuracy in reading is even more important. Pope St. Pius X states exactly what I wrote in paragraph #1 of Pascendi Dominici Gregis [1907], "Still it must be confessed that the number of the enemies of the Cross of Christ has in this days increased exceedingly, who are striving, by arts, entirely new and full of subtlety, to destroy the vital energy of the Church, and, if they can, to overthrow utterly Christ's kingdom itself." What part of "overthrow utterly Christ's Kingdom" don't you get, Joe? Just like Prego spaghetti sauce "it's in there"! The subject of the encyclical was Modernism. Yet  Joe wants us to believe the "enemies of the Cross of Christ" are not the same as Modernists, the very subject of the encyclical!

Paragraph # 3 Of Pascendi states, "Nor indeed will he err in accounting them the most pernicious of all the adversaries of the Church. For as We have said, they put their designs for her ruin into operation not from without but from within; hence, the danger is present almost in the very veins and heart of the Church, whose injury is the more certain, the more intimate is their knowledge of her. Moreover they lay the axe not to the branches and shoots, but to the very root, that is, to the faith and its deepest fires. And having struck at this root of immortality, they proceed to disseminate poison through the whole tree, so that there is no part of Catholic truth from which they hold their hand, none that they do not strive to corrupt." (Emphasis mine).

If Joe expects you to believe Pope St. Pius X is not referring to Modernists, he probably wants to sell you a bridge in Brooklyn really cheap. The pope calls the Modernists "the most pernicious of all adversaries of the Church" even above Masonry! But, let's step back to the phrase "enemies of the Cross of Christ." Joe believes the pope is teaching that these enemies are not Modernists, in an encyclical about Modernism and its errors.

Here are the possibilities:
1. The "enemies of the Cross of Christ" are Modernists and want to "overthrow utterly Christ's Kingdom itself."

2. The "enemies of the Cross of Christ" are Masons. (The burden of proof is on Joe to show why a pope would write about Masons in an encyclical on Modernism)

3. The "enemies of the Cross of Christ" are Masons and others. Who are these "others"? Joe would have to show why Modernists, the most pernicious adversaries of the Church, would be excluded.

Right here, his inability to read and comprehend should end it. I will continue a bit more.

“To proceed in an orderly manner in this somewhat abstruse subject, it must first of all be noted that the Modernist sustains and includes within himself a manifold personality; he is a philosopher, a believer, a theologian, an historian, a critic, an apologist, a reformer. These roles must be clearly distinguished one from another by all who would accurately understand their system and thoroughly grasp the principles and the outcome of their doctrines.” (Pope St. Pius X, Pascendi, para 5)

The reader will notice that St. Pius X does not list “Freemasons” as one the manifold personalities of Modernism. Again, that’s because Freemasons are not the same thing as Modernists. So if Freemasons and Modernists are not the same, then Introibo’s replacing “Freemasons” with “Modernists” would be tantamount to adding a fourth term to his “syllogism,” which of course would invalid (sic) it. Scholasticism 101. So Intoibo’s “syllogism” isn’t a syllogism at all. It doesn’t work.

The reader will notice it is Joe who failed Logic 101. St. Pius does not say Modernists are Masons (although some may be so). He does say they want to "overthrow utterly Christ's Kingdom"--and are the "most pernicious adversaries of the Church." If "hostility to the Church" is enough to produce an "adverse sacramental intention" Modernists fit the bill the same as Masons. Therefore, (in Joe's mythical world of wacky theology), we must presume an "adverse intention" in Modernists as well! As Joe wrote in his first article, 

"Every minister of the Sacraments has the capacity to destroy the validity of the Sacraments by an adverse intention alone.

Freemasons, as declared enemies of Catholicism, must be presumed to have an adverse intention to Catholicism.

In the normal course of events, one who possess the capacity to carry out his intentions, does so.”

This becomes:

Every minister of the sacraments has the capacity to destroy the validity of the sacraments by an adverse intention alone.

Modernists, as declared enemies of Christ who want to "utterly overthrow" His Kingdom and are the "most pernicious adversaries of the Church," must be presumed to have an adverse intention to Catholicism.

In the normal course of events, one who possesses the capacity to carry out his intentions does so.

Therefore, Modernism is just as dangerous to the sacraments as Masonry! As I had said in my last post,.. Therefore, if the Modernists want to "overthrow utterly Christ's kingdom itself," they too wish the destruction of the Church, like the Masons. Should we therefore consider any Modernist as having a positive contrary intention? Considering that a majority of the prelates in 1962 were Modernists (suspected of heresy, or "in the closet" until Vatican II) what doubt would that place on most sacraments the world over? This would mean that the hierarchy would be suspect beginning in the latter half of the 18th century. Does he really expect any thinking person to accept this nonsense? 

Introibo wrote:

“Fact: Not all Masons wanted to destroy the Church. Of the many French clergy involved with Masonry, historian Henri Daniel-Rops says:

‘There is no reason to think all were, or considered themselves to be, bad Catholics. On the contrary, there must have been a great many of them who saw no incompatibility between their faith and their Masonic membership, and who even regarded Freemasonry as a weapon to be employed in the service of religion. One of these, in Savoy, was Joseph de Maistre, orator of his lodge at Chambéry; he dreamed of creating within the bosom of Masonry a secret staff which would have made the movement a papal army at the service of universal theocracy.’ (Church in the Eighteenth Century, 63.)”

Here we go again with yet another straw-man argument. Nowhere do I claim that “all” Masons want to destroy the Church. Nevertheless, that Masonry, considered as a whole, seeks to destroy the Church, is not just my personal opinion but rather the conclusion of countless Popes. These papal teachings cannot be overcome by the opinion of a historian.

In addition, the Mason is question here, Lienart, was no low-level Mason. He rose to the rank of a 30 degree Freemason and the fact that he sought to destroy the Church is a matter of historical evidence, not speculation, as witnessed and testified to by Marcel Lefebvre himself.

Modernism, considered as a whole, seeks to utterly overthrow the Kingdom of Christ is not my opinion, but the teaching of Pope St. Pius X. Joe doesn't ascribe to Modernism the same adverse intention he ascribes to Masonry. There's no logical reason not to do so based on his reasoning (or rather, the lack thereof). Joe admits that he never claimed "all" Masons want to destroy the Church, so how do we discern which one(s) have the adverse intention? We must presume it of all of them contrary to the teaching on the Intention for the sacraments given us by the Church? Apparently so.

Introibo wrote:

“No citation is given to the alleged death bed "confession" of Lienart wherein he asserts he held a positive contrary intention.”

Straw men ad nauseam. Introibo, do you know how to read? Nowhere in my article did I state that Lienart “held a positive contrary intention.” What I had written was that Lefebvre’s friend and chauffeur, Max Barret, published an article which stated that:

“Liénart not only confessed his Masonic membership, but that he further requested the Canon to make the fact of it public, and in order to facilitate this, he released Canon Descornets from the seal of the confessional.”

Introibo continues in the same paragraph:

“The only place I found such stated (unsourced) was in a blog by Hutton Gibson, father of actor Mel Gibson, and one of the first Home Aloners.”

Then you didn’t look very hard. Right in my article I cited the publication: “Le Courrier Tychique, October 25, 2009.” It can be googled without any problem. Here is it for those who want a direct link: Le Courrier. As an aside, I’ve never read what Hutton Gibson wrote.

Introibo concludes this paragraph by stating that my article doesn’t have:

“one pre-Vatican II theologian to back up his false presumption about Masonry and defect of intention.”

Actually, in support of my position I presented a very well respected pre-Vatican 2 theologian, Augustin Lehmkuhl. I will delve into him later in this article. Introibo, on the contrary, can’t provide any theologians to support his position, which is why he had to resort to misquoting them.

Ad arguendo, I'll assume Leinart was a Mason. I'll get to Lehmkuhl next, who does NOT support Joe's position. I also have misquoted no one. I'm leaving out a large part of  #9 against me because I find it already refuted. If anyone, including Joe, would like me to tackle it, I'd be happy to oblige. I don't want Joe thinking I left it out for lack of a defeater.

I will simply go to the last part of # 9:

Lastly, the final part of Introibo’s quote of Ott further disproves Introibo’s assertion that our Sacraments only bishops have certain Holy Orders:

“It suffices if he has the intention of performing the religious action as it is current among Christians.”

It is not current nor has it ever been current in the Church to consecrate “Sacrament only bishops.” This is obvious. Sacraments only bishops are a total novelty without theological or historical precedent.

Really? How about:

1.The longest interregnum began with the death of Pope Clement IV on November 29,1268 and did not end until the election of Pope Bd. Gregory X on September 1, 1271. In fact, it lasted longer than that because, while papal reigns are calculated from the date of election, on that date the newly elected Tedaldo Visconti was only a deacon and was in the holy land on crusade. He unable to return to Rome and was not ordained priest and consecrated bishop until late March of 1272.

During that time, bishops who died were replaced by other bishops in the surrounding area who would consecrate priests they thought to be worthy. What did Pope Gregory do? He confirmed their appointments without exception! Until such time they were "sacraments only" bishops. 

2. It should also be noted that St. Ansgar was appointed to the See of Hamburg in 831 by the emperor, before the pope knew about it.  The See of Hamburg was created by the emperor, not the pope.  St. Ansgar was then consecrated by bishops of the area.  Pope Gregory IV confirmed the arrangement, but he did so after the fact.  

3. In both cases we had "sacraments only" bishops! None possessed jurisdiction. None could rule and teach with Ordinary jurisdiction. In our unusual time we await a pope who will confirm our "sacraments only" bishops! 

Introibo quotes this from my article:

“This issue of Masonic Sacramental intention was indirectly addressed by a respected theologian, Augustin Lehmkuhl, in an actual case regarding a priest named Fabricius, who had become a member of a forbidden society. While Lehmkuhl does not specifically mention Masonry by name, that Masonry is a forbidden society is disputed by no Catholic, and so Lehmkuhl’s conclusion on the sacraments conferred by someone who had joined a forbidden society is justifiably and appropriately applied to Masonry as well, for no rational argument can be made as to why it would not apply.

‘Lehmkuhl gives an interesting case of conscience on the point. A certain priest had lost his faith and had joined a forbidden society, after which time he began to perform his priestly duties in an external manner only. He religiously observed the correct and exact performance of the matter and the form in the sacraments he administered, but inwardly he intended not to do what the Church does and what Christ instituted. The solution of the case declares that the sacraments conferred by the priest were null and to be repeated absolutely.’ (The Dogmatic Theology on the Intention of the Minister in the Confection of the Sacraments by Rev. Raphael De Salvo, O.S.B., S.T.L. 1949, referencing Casus Conscientiae, Vol. II, p. 14, Casus 7, Augustin Lehmkuhl, 1903)”

To this Introibo responds:

“I have fully referenced the citations. Lehmkuhl appears in DeSalvo's work on page 103 as an example of a merely external intention being insufficient to confect a valid sacrament. Lemkuhl NEVER declares sacraments conferred by those in secret societies to be invalid or dubious.

In the case of Fabricus ("fabricating" sacraments? Sorry, I couldn't resist!) of course all his sacraments were invalid; not due to his membership in a secret society or even his loss of faith, but because he withheld his intention and manifested it!

Having “fully referenced the citations” and boldly stating that Fabricus “withheld his intention and manifested it,” then surely Introibo can show us where in the citations it states that Fabricus “manifested” his adverse intention. But he doesn’t so that. How about that. The reason that he doesn’t do that is because, once again, he just made it up. The citations don’t say that at all. Nowhere in De Salvo’s book does it state that Fabricus “manifested” his adverse intention; neither does Lehmkuhl’s original work which De Salvo quotes from (Casus Conscientiae, Ad usum confessariorum compositi et soluti, Vol. 2: Casus de sacramentis, editio tertia ab auctore recognita, Lehmkuhl, Augustino, Friburgi Brisgoviae 1907, p. 14-15). Wish upon a star theology strikes again. Introibo once again simply wished a non-existent fact into existence.

The actual citation states exactly what I wrote in my article that it said about Fabricus, namely that “INWARDLY he intended not to do what the Church does...” End of story.

And how did Lehmkuhl know what Fabricus INWARDLY intended? Mind reader? Divine revelation? He must have manifested it like the South American bishop! Otherwise, why pick this particular Masonic priest? Why not say any priest who joins a secret society inwardly intends not to confect the sacraments? Also, it would be more than an "adverse sacramental intention." If he's making the assertion that secret society membership equals an inner intention not to do what the Church does, then ALL Masons must have this contrary intention. So why pick out Fabricus? You admit theologians choose their words wisely. It was particular to Fabricus, not in general to Masons. 

Now to Lehmkuhl. In Lehmkuhl’s quote about Fabricus, he states that Frabricus had “lost his faith and had joined a forbidden society.” No other information is given as to why Fabricus inwardly intended not to do what the Church does when he administered the Sacraments. Therefore, one must conclude that Lehmkuhl either 1) found Fabricus’ intention insufficient due to his loss of faith and membership in a forbidden society, or 2) that Lehmkuhl included a purely superfluous fact that had no bearing on his intention whatsoever, but failed to include the necessary fact as to why his intention failed. Lehmkuhl, being a well-respected theologian, would not have committed such a blundering mistake; Introibo, yes, but Lehmkuhl, no

Post hoc ergo propter hoc, Joe. "After this because of this" The third possibility was that after losing his faith, Fabricus THEN joined the secret society and then manifested a contrary intention. He joined a secret society which hated the Church, in which he already disbelieved! In DeSalvo's very work where he quotes Lehmkuhl he states, "Provided the minister seriously performs all the sacramental rites, there is no need for being doubtful about the validity of the sacraments, for it is presumed that the minister has the requisite intention, unless he externally manifests the contrary." (See DeSalvo, pg. 105) DeSalvo, who cites Lehmkuhl, is also a theologian and does not mention adverse intentions from secret societies rendering doubtful sacraments. He would have mentioned so important a fact were it true. DeSalvo, being a well-respected theologian, would not have committed such a blundering mistake; Joe, yes, but DeSalvo, no. The Church does say there is a presumption of validity unless manifested externally to the contrary. The Church has never said external manifestation is through belonging to Masonry. If Joe wants to assume so, then the same must hold true of Modernists and even Communists:

"In fact, the most persistent enemies of the Church, who from Moscow are directing the struggle against Christian civilization, themselves bear witness, by their unceasing attacks in word and act, that even to this hour the Papacy has continued faithfully to protect the sanctuary of the Christian religion, and that it has called public attention to the perils of Communism more frequently and more effectively than any other public authority on earth." ( See Pope Pius XI, Divini Redemptoris [1937]; Emphasis mine). According to Bella Dodd (a former Communist), the Communist Party placed over 1,000 men in the seminaries to subvert the Church. She made this knowledge public to Abp. Fulton Sheen and before the U.S. Congress. The Church never declared their sacraments would be invalid by an "adverse sacramental intention," but we would have to conclude this was the case using Joe's bizarre theology. (See also AA-1025:The Memoirs of a Communist's Infiltration into the Church by Marie Carre for more about the Communist plot against the Church). 

Finally, Joe speaks of Talleyrand. I will disregard that, for he has never refuted the fact I wrote in my last post about Bp. Saurine. Jean-Baptiste Saurine, was the schismatically consecrated "constitutional" bishop of Landes in August 1791. Of all the Masonic lodges in the world, the Grand Orient of Paris to which Saurine belonged and was a top-ranking member, has always been considered the most evil and the most anti-Catholic. Despite this, Pope Pius VII appointed Saurine as Bishop of Strasbourg in 1802, a post that this Masonic bishop held until he died in 1813. Note well, Saurine never wrote about having the requisite intention, yet the Church considers him a bishop without reconsecration, and the orders and sacraments that derive from him to be valid, even though he belonged to the most Catholic-hating Masonic Lodge in Europe.

Before I summarize my case, I would like to look at the incredulous situation that would hold true even before Vatican II. Most theologians teach that a man must first be a valid priest before he can be validly consecrated a bishop (e.g., theologian Pohle). Since Lefebvre was ordained a priest by Cardinal Lienart, who as a Mason (once more, I'm conceding he's a Mason ad arguendo), Joe tells us that by simple fact of Masonic membership, he has an "adverse sacramental intention." This means we must consider all his sacraments as dubious. So Marcel Lefebvre is a dubious priest. Since he was not conditionally re-ordained, his episcopal consecration is dubious as well, since the two co-consecrating bishops who performed the ceremony with Lienart could do nothing to cure the defect that he wasn't a priest. He was therefore a dubious bishop in 1947. According to Catholic-hierarchy.org, Abp. Lefebvre ordained Hyacinthe "Cardinal" Thiandoum a priest two years later in 1949. He was a dubious priest, and became the dubious bishop of Dakar in 1962.

Think of all the dubious sacraments from just these two prelates. All of Lefebvre's ordinations, Masses, Confirmations, hearing of Confessions, and giving of the Last Rites are dubious multiplied by those of all his dubiously ordained priests. This was before Vatican II! The same holds true for Thiandoum both as priest and bishop prior to the changes in Holy Orders. It seems like the Church could defect, because who knows who was a secret Mason and how many invalid sacraments were dispensed. The fact of the matter is any cleric COULD have a positive contrary intention, Masonic or not! We can never have apodictic certainty (i.e. true beyond all question) about any sacrament, but we should not be concerned. As theologian DeSalvo teaches on the last page of his theological exposition on sacramental intention:

"As to the objection that no one could be certain of having received the sacraments if internal intention is required, it seems futile. We are living among rational creatures and in the moral order of things we must depend upon one another for the sincerity of these actions as well as other actions of our daily life, and have the assurance that Christ protects His Church and enables her to safeguard and perpetuate the sacraments. Christ promised that He would be with His Church until the end of the world. Although men cannot be metaphysically certain of having received the sacraments, all may, according to common sense, depend upon the fidelity of Christ's ministers in the administration of the sacraments, and according to faith rely upon the indefectibility of the Church and her ministers as a body." (DeSalvo, pg. 106--Emphasis mine). This clearly teaches us that while it is not impossible for a defect in intention to occur, the Indefectibility of the Church will not allow Her to have nothing but "dubious" clerics and sacraments at every turn, which Joe's thesis would clearly entail, even before Vatican II. Notice Joe left out this conclusion of DeSalvo. In the light of all the aforementioned in this post, ask yourself who has really been "theologically incompetent" and "morally dishonest." Joe might want to consider going into hiding. 

Summary and Conclusion

• Joe begins his article by seeking to cast aspersions on my character through guilt by association based on anonymity. He further misapplies a basic principle of moral theology regarding duties of Traditionalist Catholics to profess their faith.

•  He has fabricated a principle of "adverse sacramental intention" that presumes by being a Mason we must hold his sacraments as dubious. This makes the Masonic bishop guilty until proven innocent, the exact opposite presumption taught by the Church. 

• He sets up a false dichotomy based on "presumed" and "must be presumed." As in civil law, the Masonic bishop is presumed to have the correct intention unless the opposite is proven. Masonic membership alone does not prove this contrary intention, and there is NOT ONE pre-Vatican II theologian or canonist who teaches this innovation.

• Even French theologians (where Masonry was virulent) never mention, debate, or even consider Masonic membership as a criterion for dubious sacraments. Furthermore, there were no attempts to conditionally consecrate the forty bishops that came to us through the episcopal lineage of Cardinal Rampolla, whom is a known Mason. 

• If Joe's made up "adverse sacramental intention" were true, logic would necessitate that it would hold doubtful the sacraments of the other enemies of the Church, such as Modernists and Communists. They have been condemned by the popes and have hostility for the Church. The Communists even put double agents in seminaries, yet no theologian ever questioned the validity of their sacraments. (See, e.g.AA-1025:The Memoirs of a Communist's Infiltration into the Church by Marie Carre, and Bella Dodd who testified that over 1,000 Communists had been placed in seminaries). 

• Theologian Lehmkuhl, does nothing to help Joe's invented ideas. He mentions a particular priest (Fabricus) joining a secret society and then withholding his intention. We must infer either (a) it was his membership in the secret society or (b) he manifested this internal intention externally, not simply by membership. The second option is supported by the teaching of the Church, and the theologian who quotes Lehmkuhl (DeSalvo) who does not reach the conclusion that membership in Masonry equals dubious sacraments. 

• Masonic Bishop Saurine of France was reconciled to the Church but never wrote about having the requisite intention of confecting the sacraments. Still, the Church considers him a bishop without reconsecration, and the orders and sacraments that derive from him to be valid, even though he belonged to the most Catholic-hating Masonic Lodge in Europe.

• As theologian DeSalvo wrote, "Christ promised that He would be with His Church until the end of the world. Although men cannot be metaphysically certain of having received the sacraments, all may, according to common sense, depend upon the fidelity of Christ's ministers in the administration of the sacraments, and according to faith rely upon the indefectibility of the Church and her ministers as a body." There is no "Masonic exception." 

I know I've been rough on Joe. After all, he does accuse me of being nefarious based on anonymity! Furthermore, I have disdain for those who want to keep people away from the sacraments based on theological nonsense. It is perhaps understandable that some Traditionalists should fall for the notion that Masonic affiliation equals "doubtful sacraments." After all, most are just trying to make their Catholic way in this time of near universal apostasy. They are not required to understand all the principles of theology, so a person can make some allowances if ignorance has led them to stupid conclusions.

However, for Joe, who had some ecclesiastical training and brags of being well versed in theology, there is no such excuse.