The book is by and for Roman Catholics, and for what it is it is excellent. My only complaint/suggestion is that the arguments that the SSPX uses, this section is very poor considering one of the authors is an x-SSPXer. The only part of the book missing, that would be great in the future is cultural context. The SSPXers are not happy for more reasons than this book would suggest. For example, traditional and faithful Roman Catholics don't like the design of "modern" post Vatican II churches, they don't like the modern music, they don't care for the talking in the chappel. The design of the "church in the round" is horrible. Some of the wall hangings look un religious even. So there is more that the book ignores regarding the causes of SSPX disaffection with the Romans. This would be a good subject to be picked up by another author.

During the course of my last 2 years, I suppose you can say that my views or perception of what it is to be a "Catholic" has run the entire span from traditionalism to liberalism. I was raised quite traditional and I must say it has had its long term benefits considering the implied lessons of "unwavering moral principles." I found it very difficult to reconcile the state of the Church today and its practices with that of what I did indeed read from sources prior to Vatican II. There is always a certain degree of allure with the possibility of "mystery" and "secrecy." I myself almost bought it, hook, line, and sinker. In a seemingly innocent act, I visited a "Catholic" Church in Colton, CA which went by the name of St. Joseph and the Immaculate Heart of Mary Roman Catholic Church. It seemed harmless enough. I had previously heard so much about the "beautiful Latin Tridentine Mass." The closest [official] one I found was 20 miles away in Rancho Cucamonga. But wait, I live in Colton and this "Catholic Church" which I found is literally miles away. I visited. Boy did it live up to what I have been told. It was mysterious. It was beautiful; the latin, the vestments, the incense, the candles, the reverence, the music. However, an awkward feeling was with me the whole time, like I shouldn't have been there. This "Catholic" Church was in actuality a community under the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX). Their founder, the late Arch. Marcel Lefebvre was excommunicated for consecrating four bishops without proper dispensation from the Holy See. They have a highly suspicious view of the Vernacular Novus Ordo Missae, indeed they reject much of the reforms of the Second Vatican Council. This is where I said, hold on a second. The problems that arose after the Council was not the product of the Council itself, properly understood. But it was the problem of the Council being misrepresented and misused to justify aberrations to the Catholic faith, i.e. liturgical experimentation, theological experimentation, etc.

I finished the above book a few months ago. It settled much of my fears that I was in the wrong group of Catholics. This book systematically refutes the arguments of the SSPX. It discusses the history of its founder, the evolution of the anti-Vatican II mindset, and the genesis of its counter-attack, in the form of rejection of the Council itself, denying its infallibility and authority. Since reading this book, I have debated for about 2 months with members of this schismatic group, as well as a few sedavacantist which is a different group which actually believes that the Pope is not a valid Pope and the Chair of Peter is empty. Hence seda-vacant-ist. One need only reference the teachings of Vatican I, in a document called "Pastor Aeternus: Dogmatic Constitution of the Church" from a Council which they do in fact accept, to see that all Catholics are subject to the teachings of the Pope when he speaks as the universal Pastor of the Church in matters regarding: faith, morals, and church governance.

This is a great book for those who are in danger of being swayed into this highly suspicious group of Catholics. I could not help but sympathize with these loving and concerned Catholics. Coming from my study of Psychology we must see this as a valid crisis. Something is missing in our Catholic Churches which should be freely available to these groups. If it is the Latin Mass they want, give it to them. We are supposed to be the Catholic [Universal] Church. It pains me to see that nothing is being done to bring these good Catholic people back home. Schism and disobedience is never the answer. We as Catholics, faithful to the authentic Magisterium and the Holy Father must take it upon ourselves to learn the fullness of the faith, and transmit that faith and teachings, unbiased and undiluted, because the mission that Christ gave us to evangelize was not for appeals to our tastes and entertainment but for the salvation of souls.

St. Augustine wrote, "You arouse us so that praising you may bring us joy, because you have made us and drawn us to yourself, and our heart is unquiet until it rests in you" (Confessions, Book I).

Pax Vobiscum,
Laurence