Another explanation that Bishop Williamson’s followers put forth is that we have to “
respectfully disagree” when the Bishop teaches error. Using the term “
respectfully disagree” makes it sound like the Truth is an opinion.
What Bishop Williamson’s followers ignore is that if error doesn’t get attacked, it seeps in and
the Truth gets contaminated and altered.
The Church teaches that
error must be condemned, combatted, opposed, etc. So why do Bishop Williamson’s supporters say we must
cover up his errors?
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1)
Fr. Felix Sarda y Salvany from Liberalism is a Sin :“Yes, the faithful are permitted and even commanded to use reason to serve their faith, to draw out its consequences, to make applications of it, to deduce parallels and analogies from it. It is, thus,
by using their reason that the faithful are enabled to suspect or measure the orthodoxy of any new doctrine, presented to them, by comparing it with a doctrine already defined.
If it be not in accord, they can combat it as bad and justly stigmatize as bad the book or journal which sustains it.
They cannot of course define it ex cathedra, but
they can legitimately hold it as perverse and declare it such, warn others against it, raise the cry of alarm and strike the first blow against it. The faithful layman can do all this, and has done it at all times with the applause of the Church.
Nor in so doing does he make himself the pastor of the flock, nor even its humblest attendant; he simply serves it as a watchdog who gives the alarm. Oportet allatrare canes.
"It behooves watchdogs to bark" very opportunely said a great Spanish Bishop in reference to such occasions.”
2)
Some points from Fr. Chautard’s article:
(see here:
www.thecatacombs.org/thread/548/on-duty-resisting-error )
“
…
The good of the Faith today involves the condemnation of error for two reasons: - to keep it yourself.
Experience proves, unfortunately, that
it is not enough to preach the Truth, but that errors also need to be condemned.-
to prevent the fall of those who might be tempted to succumb to it.
Let us add the following arguments which weigh in the balance and show that a true love of the Faith cannot be combined today with a respectful silence:1. The Truth requires the condemnation of error:
"preachers of truth must do two things, namely
exhort in sacred doctrine, and
refute contradiction" (St. Thomas Aquinas)
2. The good of the Faith postulates this public condemnation of error even if the authority might fall: "
In case of necessity, where the Faith is in danger, anyone is bound to proclaim his faith, either to instruct or encourage the other faithful, or to repel the attacks of unbelievers;” "if the Faith were endangered
, superiors should be rebuked by inferiors, even in public. Hence Paul, who was subject to Peter, rebuked him for this reason "(St. Thomas Aquinas)
4. The Truth must not be hidden through fear of criticism which will always exist whatever happens: "
It is better to cause scandal than to abandon the Truth. " (St. Gregory)
8. This clarity of exposition and hence
this condemnation of error is made more necessary because of the increased confusion in the Church and in particular in traditional circles. This confusion is explained by:
- the bone of contention, Ecclesia Dei, which after more than 20 years, does not cease to carry out its goal: to
upset convictions and divide forces. - a range of
increasingly varied doctrinal nuances and therefore a greater confusion of minds, minds that are struggling to form an idea of the situation, which was not the case when both "camps" were well-divided;
-
a youth which did not experience the combat of the veterans, did not have to position itself, and therefore needs more precision;
-
a loss in some people of the habit of fighting, and with it, of reflecting on the reasons for it, since the last crisis, dating back to 1988, allowed convictions to be renewed….”
3)
Popes and saints speak on opposing error:
“Perhaps we are to attribute this disadvantage to
the slowness and timidity of the good who resist the enemy with softness. The adversaries thus draw to themselves an overdose of temerity and audaciousness.
The faithful must therefore understand that they are to fight with courage and always under the banner of Christ the King.” - Pope Pius XI
"The greatest obstacle in the apostolate of the Church is t
he timidity or rather the cowardice of the Faithful." - Pope St. Pius X
“T
he duty of every Catholic is to unquestionably and religiously fulfill, firmly safeguard and profess without timidity, both in private and in public life, the principles of Christian truths taught by the Magisterium of the Catholic Church … [Persuaded that] …
error is approved by non-resistance, and truth is suffocated by not defending her.” - Pope St. Pius X
"
To recoil before an enemy, or to keep silence when from all sides such clamors are raised against Truth,
is the part of a man either devoid of character or who entertains doubt as to the truth of what he professes to believe. In both cases such mode of behaving is base and is insulting to God, and both are incompatible with the salvation of mankind. This kind of conduct is profitable only to the enemies of the faith,
for nothing emboldens the wicked so greatly as the lack of courage on the part of the good. Moreover, want of vigor on the part of Christians is so much the more blameworthy, as not seldom little would be needed on their part to bring to naught false charges and refute erroneous opinions, and by always exerting themselves more strenuously they might reckon upon being successful. After all, no one can be prevented from putting forth t
hat strength of soul which is the characteristic of true Christians, and very frequently
by such display of courage our enemies lose heart and their designs are thwarted. Christians are, moreover, born for combat, whereof the greater the vehemence, the more assured, God aiding, the triumph: “Have confidence; I have overcome the world.” Nor is there any ground for alleging that Jesus Christ, the Guardian and Champion of the Church, needs not in any manner the help of men. Power certainly is not wanting to Him, but in His loving kindness He would assign to us a share in obtaining and applying the fruits of salvation procured through His grace…. On the other hand,
to refrain from doing battle for Jesus Christ amounts to fighting against Him; He Himself assures us "He will deny before His Father in heaven those who shall have refused to confess Him on earth." - Pope Leo XIII, Sapientiae Christianae
“He that sees another in error
and endeavors not to correct it testifies himself to be in error.” - Pope Leo I
“
Not to oppose error is to approve it, and not to defend Truth is to suppress it; and indeed, to neglect to confound evil men when we can do it
is no less a sin than to encourage them.” - Pope Felix III
“All the evils of the world are due to
lukewarm Catholics.” - Pope St. Pius V
"We perish perhaps more in reason of t
he truths that good men do not have the courage to utter, than from the errors multiplied by evil men." - Louis Veuillot
“
He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, both are
abominable before God.” - Proverbs 17:15
"It is better that
the Truth be known than that scandal be covered up." - St. Augustine
"If the Faith is in imminent peril,
prelates ought to be accused by their subjects, even in public." - St. Thomas Aquinas
“
We’ve had enough of exhortations to be silent! Cry out with a hundred thousand tongues and see that
the world is rotten because of silence.” - St. Catherine of Siena
“Every Catholic can and must resist anyone in the Church who lays hands on his Faith, the Faith of the Eternal Church, upheld by his childhood catechism.
The defense of his Faith is the first duty of every Christian, more especially of every priest and bishop.
Wherever an order carries with it t
he danger of corrupting Faith and morals, “disobedience” becomes a grave duty.” - Archbishop Lefebvre, Letter to Friends & Benefactors, no. 9, 1975
