While the Church is weathering the storm of scandals and reformist initiatives, the faithful are also weathering storms of their own. They must confront their own shaken confidence. They must respond to those inside the Church who want to change Church teaching. They must respond to those outside the Church who do not understand Catholic governing structures.
The TFP’s work seeks to help the faithful navigate in these troubled waters, reminding them that God permits these storms so that they might be strengthened.
Amid the storm, the Church will prevail. Did not Our Lord reassure the Apostles during the storm: “Why are you fearful, O ye of little faith?”
In the Nicene Creed, the faithful profess: “Credo in unam, sanctam, catholicam et apostolicam Ecclesiam”—“I believe in One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.” When reciting the Creed, Catholics profess, therefore, to believe in the sanctity of the Church. This sanctity, nonetheless, is often not visible, especially when the weaknesses of Her members … Read more
There is nothing as vile as using an office, position or situation of influence to oppress or abuse a weaker person. This is particularly true in the case of sexual abuse. Still worse are those acts that not only violate the laws of justice and charity but those of nature. This is … Read more
Many Catholics are confused and uncertain due to a lack of proper understanding of the unquestionable truth of the assistance the Holy Spirit provides the Church. Leary to run counter this truth, they often attempt to deny the reality of facts or the obvious meaning of statements that apparently contradict this divine … Read more
I Have Weathered Other Storms – A Response to the Scandals and Democratic Reforms That Threaten the Catholic Church. With the media uproar over sexual abuse scandals now raging in Europe, it is fitting to reflect on what is happening and how faithful Catholics should react.
The dissident “Catholic” group, Voice of the Faithful (VOTF) is recovering from a scathing essay written in January by Father Thomas Doyle, the group’s first “Priest of Integrity” award recipient. The exchange between them exposes dissent in their ranks and signifies a victory for tradition. Father Doyle was a key political figure … Read more
Sometimes the best indication of the efficacy of one’s work is the testimony of the opposition. One such incident recently happened during a session of the Delaware Senate. During these five years of intensive media reporting on the scandals inside the Church, some states have extended their criminal and civil statutes of … Read more
Once again, the Delaware state legislature is considering a bill that would open up a two-year “look back period,” allowing victims of sexual abuse to sue long after the statute of limitations for such crimes had expired. In response, the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property is asking … Read more
Elizabeth F. Loftus, Ph.D. is Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Law at the University of California, Irvine. She specializes in the study of human memory as applied to the field of law. She is widely published and the author of the book Eyewitness Testimony, and co-author of the books The Myth of … Read more
When the New Hampshire legislature began to consider a bill that would force priests to report confession secrets involving child abuse to the State, the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP) immediately got involved in the controversy. Now it appears this controversy has saved the Seal of … Read more
In Cincinnati… Among the states trying to lift retroactively the statutes of limitations on sexual abuse, Ohio is well advanced. Bill SB 17 passed the Senate and is presently in the Judiciary House Committee, it could come to a vote soon. Many Catholics are unaware of the bill and its implications for … Read more