Questions12110

Dear Father Jenkins:

   I was wondering if you knew whether or not His Excellency Archbishop Fulton J
Sheen was a supporter of Vatican II and the Novus Ordo ? I recall reading in an
article that Archbishop Sheen had attended the Second Vatican Counsel and upon
returning to New York immediately went to work at making the changes within the
Mass. Yet from what I understand he was met with allot of opposition from his
local priest, and the laity, which may have lead to his resignation as Bishop of
Rochester within three years of his return from Rome. In his autobiography,
“Treasure in Clay” Archbishop Sheen supposedly wrote that he supported Vatican
II changes, however one must keep in mind that his autobiography was published
after he had passed away and one can only speculate to what changes may have
been made to the book. There are some who believe that Archbishop Sheen never
supported the Vatican II changes and was rather dismissed as Bishop of Rochester
and not allowed to celebrate Mass ever again because he refused to use the Novus
Ordo rite of the Mass. If in the event that Archbishop Sheen did support the
changes implemented by Vatican II, in your opinion do you think its OK for us
Traditionalist to listen to his sermons, and read his books ?

Thank You & God Bless

Leonard
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Father, since there is no marriage in heaven, will there also be no
other family relationships? I am not referring, of course, to an
earthly type of marriage, but I thought a sacramental marriage was
eternal. Please comment.

Connie in NJ
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Can Traditional Catholics attend the Byzantine Eastern Rite of the Mass? I have
heard that they have become much like the Novus Ordo. Can you explain?

Denise in NH
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Please address Living in a habitual state of grace

Dave in Cinci
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Dear Father and Wes,

If Jesus says He will no longer remember our sins after we confess them,,,

Then how can He remember the temporal punishment that accrues to them???

Jesse

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Hello Wes and Fr. Jenkins -

If I understand this correctly, please correct me if I am wrong, in 1986 John Paul II
appointed a commission of 9 cardinals to answer 2 questions:

1. Did Paul VI authorize the bishops to forbid the celebration of the traditional Mass?
The cardinals answered: "Paul VI never gave the bishops the authority to forbid priest
from celebrating the traditional rite of Mass."

2. Does the priest have the right to celebrate the traditional Mass in public and in
private without restriction, even against the will of the bishop?

The cardinals answered: "Priests cannot be obliged to celebrate the new rite of Mass;
the bishops cannot
forbid or place restrictions on the celebration of the traditional rite of Mass, whether
in public or in private."

HOWEVER Paul VI (and others) said:

Paul VI, Address to a consistory, excerpt on loyalty to the Church and the Council,
May 24, 1976:

Use of the new Ordo Missae is in no way left up to the choice of priests or people.
The Instruction of 14 June 1971 provided that celebration of Mass according to the
former rite would be permitted, by faculty from the Ordinary, only for aged or sick
priests offering the sacrifice without a congregation. The new Ordo Missae was
promulgated in place of the old after careful deliberation and to carry out the
directives of Vatican Council II. For a like reason our predecessor St. Pius V, after the
Council of Trent, commanded the use of the Roman Missal revised by his authority.

Father, would you please comment?

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My question for Fr. Jenkins is, we are taught as catholics there is "one Shepard and
one fold", with the crisis in the church we now have some good, devote, catholics but
from all different groups; some conservative norvus ordo, some who attend the
SSPX, some from the SSPV and some who attend from independent priests. My
question is how can people from all these different groups get to heaven without
being in unity of each other? I understand that the greek orthodox church from the
outside view would appear catholic but we know it is not because it doesn't believe in
that papacy among other things, so we hold them as outside the church. Could you
comment on the marks of the church? Thank you!!

Sonia,
Saint Marys, KS

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