Attack on America Catholic Apologetics The Grunt Padre - American

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September-October 2001
AAllssoo IInnssiiddee::
(cid:122)(cid:122)Attack on America
(cid:122)(cid:122)Catholic Apologetics
(cid:122)(cid:122)The Grunt Padre
Cover: Statue of Saint Joan
of Arc in Paris
EDITORIAL 2
Attack on America:
ANew Phase in an Old Conflict
PLINIO CORRÊA DE OLIVEIRA 3
Equality at the Starting Point:
What an Injustice
COVER STORY 5
Joan of Arc in Real Life
BOOK REVIEW 13
Beyond the Call of Duty:
The Grunt Padre
PHOTO ESSAY 15
Reviving the Anti-Communist
Spirit of America
TFP IN ACTION 18
Catholic Character and Courage
CATHOLIC APOLOGETICS 20
Biblical Foundations of the Papacy
BASIC HISTORY COURSE 23
Three Monarchs:
Two Saints and a Tyrant Photo
FCAecMy aInLdY H SerE “RNIeEwS Friend” 27 Wide World
P/
A
Page 2
Are all Moslems peaceful?
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M-53 Robert
Vincent Page 18 Courage and character
Courtesy of Fr. in the formation of youth
Page 13
The few who
reserve nothing for themselves
Editor: C. Preston Noell III
Associate Editors:
Earl Appleby, Thomas Becket,
Attack on America:
Eugenia Guzman, John Horvat,
Thomas J. McKenna
Photography: Gary J. Isbell
Editor’s
Circulation: Jack Burnham
Corner A New Phase in an Old Conflict
Foreign Correspondents:
Raymond de Souza, Australia;
Charles E. Schaffer, Austria;
Jose Carlos Sepulveda, Brazil;
BY T H O M A S B E C K E T Paul Foley, England;
Benoit Bemelmans, France;
Beno Hofschulte, Germany;
In the aftermath of the September 11 terror- when the “tolerant” have the upper hand or
Juan M. Montes, Italy;
ist attacks, every effort has been made to when there is a balance of fear in which every- Felipe Barandiarán, Spain
distinguish Islam from violence. Every state- one implicitly agrees that it is better to put up
ment from the media or the government has with one another for the sake of prosperity.
come with a disclaimer. “This is not a clash of When an ideology, be it secular or religious,
The American TFP
civilizations. We know that Islam is a religion of arises that cares not about prosperity or peace,
peace. Terrorism is the work of a small minority.” the myth of a tolerant society crumbles.
The American Society for
Modern America has come to view religious Militant Islam believes it has a chance to the Defense of Tradition,
pluralism as a fundamental pillar of civilization. strike a blow at the remaining edifice of Christ- Family and Property
It is impossible for most Americans today to ian civilization. For the fanatics, having a vul- (TFP) was founded in
conceive of any group of individuals basing nerable enemy is a great advantage. They need 1973 to confront the pro-
themselves on the teachings of a major religion to unite the less fanatical who might not want found crisis shaking the
who do not accept this ecumenical dogma. In to risk all in their cause. They use the powerful modern world. It is a
the comfort of an America distant from the human impulses of fear and hatred and ration- civic, cultural and non-
clash of irreconcilable opposites, it has been alize their actions to give them coherence, partisan organization
which, inspired by the
easy to sit back with a superior attitude and direction and a goal.
traditional teachings of
watch the immature and the un-evolved fight The terrorist attacks on New York and the
the Supreme Magisteri-
their petty battles. Pentagon have escalated the conflict. They have
um of the Roman
Insulated as we were, we did not need to ask proven to militant Islam that it has the outreach
Catholic Church, works
difficult questions, or for that matter, question to have a profound historical impact that could
in a legal and peaceful
our own deeply held beliefs. That is no longer just possibly win. If these attacks have given
manner in the realm of
the case. “War is merely the continuation of poli- Americans a new sense of unity because of the
ideas to defend and pro-
tics by other means,” Clausewitz observed. unimaginable tragedy, they also give Islam a mote the principles of
Today, terrorism has become the continuation of sense of unity and possible victory that comes private ownership, family
a religious polemic by other means. We may not after centuries of failure. and perennial Christian
see the attacks on America as episodes in a great We must face up to the fact that this is not values with their twofold
clash of religion and ideology, but much of the just the work of a few deranged individuals. It is function: individual and
world does. Is our denial of this very real dimen- an attack on the Christian world at a time when social. The TFP’s words
sion of terrorism an aspect of our strength or is it has been weakened to an almost unimagin- and efforts have always
it our weakness? able degree by secularism and moral decay. But been faithfully at the
“Fight those who believe not in Allah,” says our world is still worth fighting for. Its founda- service of Christian
civilization.
the Koran (sura 9:29). There are many passages tion is sound and one could even say holy. It is
in the Koran, the Muslim holy book, which lay what remains to stand on after centuries of The first TFP was
out the rationalization for an Islamic “aposto- internal and external assaults. It is time then to founded in Brazil by the
late” of the sword. It is true that there are those face reality, consider uncomfortable facts, and famous intellectual and
that do not give these passages their most obvi- prepare for a long, directed struggle. This is not Catholic leader Prof.
ous interpretation. The problem is that this atti- merely a “policing action,” but perhaps a clash of Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira
tude is a-historical, ignores nearly 1400 years of civilizations. in 1960. His work has
history and, for a religion that professes a literal inspired the formation of
other autonomous TFPs
adherence to a book, abstracts from the clearest
in 26 countries across the
meaning of such texts.
globe, thus constituting
Yes, it is now the time to face up to the fact
the world’s largest anti-
that not every rational man accepts religious
communist and antiso-
tolerance as the best means to promote peace
cialist network of
and well-being. Tolerance, in fact, only works
Catholic inspiration.
2 c r u s a d e S e p t e m b e r / o c t o b e r 2 0 0 1
Equality at the Starting Point:
What an Injustice
Plinio
Corrêa de
Oliveira
BY P L I N I O C O R R Ê A D E O L I V E I RA
I hear people repeating at every inheritance. Instead these sons
moment that justice demands will be employees like all the oth-
all persons should have the ers, starting out at the bottom
same opportunities when begin- with the most humble duties and
ning their life, education, or career. responsibilities. They will only
According to this view, education rise to the position of running the
should be equal for all, and the cur- businesses if they are the most
ricula in the different professions capable ones.
should also be equal. This, then, In fact, it is not rare to find
would result in the more worthy affluent persons who feel a cer-
persons inevitably standing out tain uneasiness of conscience
from the others. Thus, merit would about transmitting their goods to
find its encouragement and recom- their sons: won’t they be benefit-
Five generations: from great-great grandfather to
pense, and justice would finally ing from a questionable or unjust
great-great grandson
reign over the earth. privilege if they are allowed to
At times, in today’s world where acquire goods that did not come
many a piece of foolishness seeks to put on If a father really has from their own work or personal merit?
a “Christian” disguise, this way of viewing Another example may be noted — this
the heart of a father,
things presents itself in certain “Christian” time in the field of education. Some families
colors. Thus, it is argued that at the end of of good social position and advanced educa-
he will necessarily
each man’s life, God will reward each tion consider it an imperative of social jus-
according to his merits without consider- love his own son more tice to establish uniform standards in the
ing his station in life at birth. From the primary and secondary schools. In order to
than others. Moved by
standpoint of Divine justice and everlast- achieve this, they would close or reform all
ing consequences, the value of the place educational institutions of different levels in
this love, he will work
where each person made his start is negat- existence today.
ed. And it becomes praiseworthy, right, and according to In this way, the doctrine according to
Christian for men to try to organize their which all starting points must be compelled
Christian law and
terrestrial existence according to these to become equal is gaining ground. If this
norms of celestial justice, placing the doctrine is implemented fully, it will result in
spare no effort,
advantages of earthly life equally in the consequences that will stifle initiative,
reach of all so that they will be attained by sacrifice, or vigilance destroy achievement, and overthrow the
those who are more capable. whole regime of private property.
to accumulate a
Before analyzing this principle in itself, Before continuing, it is important to
it is good to note some of the ways it is emphasize the picturesque contradictions
patrimony that will
being applied in one place and another. into which the defenders of these theses
There are businessmen who consider protect his son from habitually fall. Since they are deifiers of merit
the inheritance of their businesses to be a as the only criterion of justice, they tend to
the many disasters
questionable privilege. Accordingly, they do feel that if students are given equal condi-
not want their sons to become the owners tions, merit will invariably assert itself.
life can bring.
of their businesses merely by the right of Accordingly, they generally favor schools of
c r u s a d e s e p t e m b e r / o c t o b e r 2 0 0 1 3
progressive or modern education which are How can it be regime. From this, we see that there is a more
contrary to rewards and punishments, on the important hereditary inequality than that of
pretext that both of these create complexes. possible at one and patrimony, that is to say, there is one that
In this way, the idea of merit and its results directly and necessarily from the very
the same time to
inescapable corollary, guilt, are eliminated existence of the family.
from the education of the future citizens of a praise merit so much And what about the inheritance of the
civilization based on merit. patrimony itself? If a father really has the
Ironically, these very deifiers of merit usu- and also to deny it? heart of a father, he will necessarily love his
ally show themselves to be favorable to the own son more than others, his son who is
idea that all tombs should be equal. Thus, at flesh of his flesh and blood of his blood.
the end of a terrestrial existence organized families are more gifted than others in this Moved by this love, he will work according to
only according to the criterion of individual respect; this frequently depends on factors Christian law and spare no effort, sacrifice, or
merit and at the very moment of entry into a which have nothing to do with medical care vigilance to accumulate a patrimony that
happy or unhappy eternal life according to or highly hygienic rearing. And, moreover, will protect his son from the many disasters
the principle of merit or guilt, any special biological inheritance brings with it impor- life can bring. Having this desire and zeal, the
recognition of merit must be excluded. Equal tant consequences in the psychological father will produce much more than he
tombs are established for the outstandingly order. There are families which, during the would if he did not have children. And,. then,
wise man and for the common man, for the course of many generations, have transmit- at the end of a lifetime of work, he will die
innocent victim and the infamous murderer, ted artistic gifts, a gift for speaking, a talent happy because he knows he is leaving his
for he who has spread schisms and heresies for medicine, an aptitude for business, etc. children in favorable circumstances. Let us
and for the hero who has lived and died This transmission by the family of the same suppose that at the moment of his death, the
defending the Faith. characteristics down through the genera- state were to come and in the name of the
How can it be possible at one and the tions destroys the principle of equality at the law, confiscate his inheritance in order to
same time to praise merit so much and also starting point. impose the principle of equality at the start-
to deny it? Furthermore, the family is not merely a ing point. Would not this imposition trample
What a contradiction! But the contradic- transmitter of biological or psychological underfoot one of the most sacred values of
tion of these adepts of equality (and for gifts. It is an educational institution and, in the family, a value without which the family
everyone at the starting point) is even more the natural order of things, the first of all is not the family and life is not life? That
shocking when they at the same time declare pedagogical and formative institutions. value is paternal love — yes, the paternal love
themselves to be enthusiastic defenders of For this reason, the person who has been that protects and assists the child.
the institution of the family. Considered educated by parents highly gifted in art, cul- Far beyond the very idea of merit, it pro-
from a thousand different aspects, the latter ture, good manners, and morality, always has tects and assists him, simply and sublimely
is the most resounding negation of equality a better starting point. The only way that the because of the simple fact that he is his child.
at the starting point. Let us see why. impress of parental influence can be elimi- And, can the suppression of inheritance,
There is a natural, mysterious, and sacred nated is by suppressing the family and by that true crime against paternal love, ever be
fact which is intimately tied to the family. It educating all children in state schools committed in the name of Religion and jus-
is biological inheritance. Obviously, some according to the practice of the Communist tice? (cid:132)
C
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4 c r u s a d e s e p t e m b e r / o c t o b e r 2 0 0 1
Joan of Arc
Cover
i n R e a l L i f e
Story
BY G E O R G E S B O R D O N O V E
This article is adapted from a lecture given in Paris on
May 10, 2001, by the author, a distinguished historian and
member of the prestigious Academie Française. The talk was
sponsored by the French Society for the Defense of Tradition,
Family and Property.
Saint Joan of Arc is far more than a worthy subject the process of Joan’s rehabilitation.
for stained-glass windows, although that is how her The judgment provides a wealth of
biographers often portray her. Fortunately, we have information, as the Church ques-
the records of two judgments to set the record straight. tioned more than 100 persons in Dom-
As is common with heroes deemed “larger than life,” remy, Orleans, and Rouen. These includ-
Joan is seen through the changing lens of the times. ed persons who had known Joan as a
When France was in danger, most notably in 1815, 1870, young girl, escorted her to Chinon,
and 1914, Joan was recalled as patroness of soldiers, and fought at her side, and finally those who
in 1940, she was enrolled in the Resistance to the Nazis. judged and condemned her at Rouen.
Diverse political camps have laid claim to the legacy Coming from all walks of life, those inter-
of this Catholic saint. Even the Russian communists viewed included merchants, soldiers, village
tried to expropriate her achievements, casting Joan as a leaders, feudal lords, parish priests, and
daughter of the people who rose against the cowardice monks.
and ineptitude of the nobles.
The English, whom Joan fought, did not forget her. Maid of Domremy
Should you visit the cathedral at Reims, you will see a stan- The house where Joan was born in 1412 still
dard of Joan of Arc embroidered by ladies from the English stands in the heart of the village of Domremy in
aristocracy. Such homage should not be overlooked. the province of Lorraine. The village has changed
Joan, in fact, plays multiple roles. The maid of Dom- little to this day. Her family’s stone house was that
remy goes hand in hand with the liberator of Orleans of passably prosperous peasants — not quite a MN
aanl md athrtey prdriosmon reerm oifn Rdo uuse tnh. aJot ashn’es wstarsu gag flleess ha-nadn dev-belnotoud- mRiavnero rr ubnust amloonrges itdhea nth ae rtohaadtc, hwehdi chhu, ti. nT thuer nM, eruunses Albuquerque,
mortal who embraced life with enthusiasm — not along the garden. Center,
some will-of-the-wisp lost in ethereal musings and Jacques d’Arc, Joan’s father, was village dean, act- ofArc
mystic ecstasies. ing as a sort of vice-mayor. The family owned about Joan
BdeisahTtohhp.e IPfti ireasrttrt eeju sCdtasg umtcohe noJotna renen’snd dkeeedre ewnd i tmahg iahniednr,s ctb orJnoavadene m hinen aa1rt4ti3,o 1na n btdoy tarwe cesoniusttnye trhs. :e “cHIt eararrei ssme. dJoo htahenre rhi,n a dtIhs atehb freeelaelre b orfRo Gothmoederse ,and esytroftheuSoaiCnt
devout soul. and in accordance with the traditions of
The second judgment took place in 1454-1455. It the Church following her state in life,
declared the former sentence null and void and began which was to live in the pastures and
c r u s a d e s e p t e m b e r / o c t o b e r 2 0 0 1 5
Joan’s struggles and eventual martyrdom remind us that she
was a flesh-and-blood mortal who embraced life with
enthusiasm — not some will-of-the-wisp lost in ethereal
musings and mystic ecstasies.
work in the fields.”
I II III
“It is from my mother that I learned the Our Father,
Hail Mary, and the Creed,” Joan is to tell her judges in
Rouen.
The faith that animated Joan arose from her heart.
Since literacy was the province of the clergy, Joan, as a
peasant, could neither read nor write nor could most Signatures of Jeanne D’Arc
nobles.
November 9, 1429 March 6, 1430 March 28, 1430
In sum, Joan was quite normal, undistinguishable
from her peers in dress or other visible manners. From
childhood, her mother taught her the domestic skills
needed to care for a family. As she grew older, Joan began of Saints Michael, Catherine, and Margaret. Saint
to work in the fields, watching the family’s sheep as they Michael was especially revered in Lorraine, and the stat-
grazed in the village’s common pasture. ues of Saints Catherine and Margaret still grace the vil-
With the other boys and girls of her age, she would lage church. These saints would inform Joan that God
eat shortcake under the “fairies’ tree” on Sundays during had entrusted her with saving the kingdom of France
“Laetare, Jerusalem” — a local custom with roots dating and seeing that its crown was bestowed on Charles VII,
to the ancient Gauls. Joan cared for the sick and helped the “King of Bourges.”
the poor “very gladly,” offering them the few coins she Joan’s piety redoubled without causing her to lose bal-
had. She would even give them her bed — often sleeping ance. By then, she was considered “the most virtuous girl
in front of the fireplace. in town,” as the parish priest would attest. What the
Apious girl, Joan was faithful to her prayers and took good folks of Domremy — and even Joan’s own mother
flowers to Our Lady of Bermont, to whom she was par- — did not know, was that a germinating seed had been
ticularly devoted. When the bell rang for the Angelus, planted in the soil of her soul.
she would stop her work and drop to her knees in prayer.
Her sole desire was to live her faith in the simple life of France under the English
her village, like those who had come before her. A brief review of the prevailing political-military situa-
tion at that time is in order. The Hundred Years’ War,
Planting the seed begun in 1326, was entering its final phase. Following
“I was in my father’s garden and was fasting,” Joan French defeats in Crecy, Poitiers, and Agincourt and the
recounts. “And a voice came from the right, towards the death of Charles VI, the English under King Henry VI
church.” She was 13 at the time and quite afraid. Thence- increasingly dominated France.
forth, she would be visited by the voices and apparitions Charles VII governed only the part of France south of
the Loire River. Aquitaine was also under the English.
Courtesy of the Saint Joan of Arc Center, Albuquerque, NM/Timothy J. Frohlick
The Duke of Bedford, the uncle of King Henry and his
regent, controlled the north, including Paris and Rouen,
and Philip the Good, Bedford’s ally, ruled the Burgundian
states, stretching from Bruges to beyond Dijon.
Bedford decided to render the final blow to France’s
hope for freedom. He laid siege to Orleans, which con-
trolled the Loire. Despair and treason permeated
Charles’ court.
At this precise moment, Joan’s voices became most
Joan’s home still stands in insistent, urging her to save Orleans. At first, she
good repair. It is a stone excused herself as a poor and simple girl, only capable
house of fairly well-off of spinning and unable to use either sword or lance. Her
peasants, less than a
heavenly counselors persisted, however, and gradually
manor but more than
a thatched hut. her resistance gave way until it burst forth as from a
6 c r u s a d e s e p t e m b e r / o c t o b e r 2 0 0 1
Joan never boasted of
a single victory, for she
attributed each of
them to God.
Statue of Saint Joan of Arc,
New York City
uncle’s wife, who was with child. The uncle escorted
Joan to Vaucouleurs, the last bastion in Lorraine under
Charles’ control.
When Joan insisted that Captain Robert de Baudri-
court take her to Chinon to save the king, he burst out
laughing. He advised Joan’s uncle to spank her soundly
and return her to her parents.
Joan, however, stood her ground, gaining the sympa-
thy of the people of Vaucouleurs, who began to believe in
her mission. Among her new champions were two
squires, John de Novelpont, and Bernard de Poulangy.
Church investigators record their dialogue thus:
“My friend, what dost thou here? Must then the
king be chased from his kingdom and all of us become
English?”
“I come here to talk to Robert de Baudricourt so that
he either deigns take me, or have me taken, to the king,”
Joan replies. “There is no solution but through me. And
even then I would much rather slip away to be with my
poor mother, since this is not my state. But go I must, for
Statue of Saint Joan of Arc with a replica of her standard
such is the will of my Lord.”
in Reims Cathedral where Charles VII was crowned.
“But who is your lord?”
“The King of Heaven!”
dam. When she decided to follow their course, Joan
was eager to set out. Sign from God
At last, Baudricourt acceded to Joan’s wishes, providing
The virgin from Lorraine her with a sword and a small escort under Poulangy’s
Acommonly voiced prophecy held that France would be command. They left Vaucouleurs on February 13, 1429.
lost by a woman but saved by a virgin from Lorraine. The The odds were against them as they marched toward
woman was France’s queen, Isabelle of Bavaria. The vir- Chinon, for they had to cross more than 60 miles of
gin savior, the voices affirmed, was Joan, whom France’s enemy territory.
true sovereign, Christ the King, would arm with His Nonetheless, Joan arrived at Chinon at noon, Febru-
strength. ary 23. While she was welcomed by the people as an
We need not speculate about Joan’s voices, as did her angel of salvation, Charles hesitated to receive her. His
judges in Rouen. History demonstrates that Joan’s mis- counselors advised the king that Joan was an ambitious
sion was supernatural, for there is no other plausible adventuress, perhaps even a sorceress.
explanation for its triumph. Orleans was already regarded as lost, and its inhabi-
We need to simply recall that Joan’s crusade lasted tants were negotiating a surrender to the English.
but a year, followed by another year of imprisonment. France’s coffers were empty, and with mercenaries going
Yet, in that brief span, against all odds, she freed France to the highest bidder, her army was in a sorry state.
from its English occupiers. On February 25, Charles received Joan at his château.
Having accepted her mission, Joan had no doubt it Although the king disguised his rank, Joan, who had
would succeed. Still, she told no one — not even her never seen him, found him among the lowliest members
mother. Her father, however, had dreamt of his daughter of his retinue and knelt before him.
departing with soldiers and threatened to drown her to “Gentle dauphin, my name is Joan the Virgin,” she
prevent such dishonor. proclaimed, “The King of Heaven tells thee through me
Thus, to leave Domremy safely, she was obliged to that thou shalt be crowned in the city of Reims and that
disguise her mission. She said she was going to help her thou shalt be the lieutenant of the King of Heaven, who
8 c r u s a d e s e p t e m b e r / o c t o b e r 2 0 0 1