De mattei is of late giving mixed signals which are concerning, like the attack on Don Minutella he allowed to be published in his website.
Professor De Mattei doesn't understand what is happening......... he's an academic given to thinking 'great' thoughts in the peace and quiet of his library. To Professor De Mattei: when the ship is sinking all hands on deck; even the ones who do not have expertise in bailing water out of the hull.
And Professor of History De Mattei is obviously additionally a public policy and health expert (unto) himself.
That's unfair. He DeMattei is a brilliant man, who has over and over again demonstrated his devotion to the Church and concern about the present state of affairs.
catholicfamilynews.com/…/de-mattei-the-c…
If we Catholics choose to attack one another, it gives the other side (Lucifer and his minions, for those of you who have any doubt) more weapons. Fulton J. Sheen has pointed out that the devil sows division among men in order to create distraction and disharmony.
re: "...attacking..." in this instance, Prof Mattei attacked Archbishop Vigano didn't he? I guess your words of criticism are for him? hmmmmmm
I don't agree this time w. de Mattei. Vigano's appeal is not about expertise, but about basic human rights like religious freedom.
Oh boy, some will sell their souls for careers. May they repent before it's over!
I believe that Dr. de Mattei ought to recognize the two--fold authority of the Catholic Church, its direct authority concerning its own governance and its indirect authority over the State. As E. Sylvester Berry puts it in his book The Church of Christ: An Apologetic and Dogmatic Treatise: “Finally, a society is indirectly subject to another if the means it employs to attain its end are in any way connected with the attainment of a higher good for its members in that other society. The State is therefore indirectly subject to the Church in this respect, since right reason demands that the State cede to the Church whatever is necessary for her preservation and the proper attainment of her higher purpose,--the eternal salvation of man. Moreover, the actions of civil officials in carrying out the duties of their office often have a moral aspect that affects the spiritual welfare committed to the care of the Church. Consequently, the Church has direct jurisdiction over the official acts of civil authorities in regard to the moral aspect of those acts if the persons in question happen to be subjects of the Church. In this matter, therefore, the Church also exercises an indirect authority over the State”
frdbelland you have touched the core of the problem concerning modern man and current crisis. We live in the era of apostasy after dethronement of Christ the King in societies. The present subversion of the Church by states through violation of real autonomy of Church and state would not be possible without the preceding elimination and rebellion against God's/Church's law, as exemplified by the French Revolution and other. Noteworthy, is I have received an email with reflection on the present situation by Fr. Jean-Michel Gleize SSPX with analogous reflections with translation below in reference to Cardinal Billot:
"Therefore, the role of the state is to preserve public health (and neutralize the epidemic) to ensure the best circumstances for worship, which the Church cares for. The state is in this respect, as in other cases, depending on the Church and subordinated to it according to its proper role, which is the service of spiritual goods through temporal goods. "Temporal power," writes Cardinal Billot, "should ensure that nothing prevents the realization of the spiritual and create the conditions by which the spiritual can be obtained in complete freedom." He adds that the temporal goal "should not impede any spiritual goal, and if one would oppose the other, it should submit to the spiritual, even at the cost of its own harm."
The well being of society depends upon the retutn to Catholic order (ordo Catholicus) of the Church and states.
Ravat, many thanks for seconding the Church's theology regarding Its Social Doctrine ; it is so good to have the support. I see also that you are a supporter of Benedict as Pope. If you wish I can send you a copy of a Treatise (Between Socci and de Mattei) I wrote regarding the actual validity of Benedict's resignation as opposed to being Pope default due to theological or Canonical error or through force of fear. My email is frdbelland@netscape.net.
frdbelland yes Catholic social doctrine should be on the top list to implement in practice otherwise we will experience further decadence of our Latin civilization. As to papal crisis it is certainly worth the sacrifice of time to analyze.