AN UNJUST LAW, BISHOPS, IS NO LAW AT ALL

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"With you we rejoice that we are able to take these first steps towards returning to some semblance of normality. The sacrifices we have made as a nation have averted what we have seen overseas." 

Yes, it reads exactly like the kind of blather we've got used to from our Glorious Leader as she whipped us on through the weeks she had us virtually under house arrest. But no, this is not a government announcement, it's what the New Zealand Bishops' wrote in their latest 'Pastoral Letter' on Tuesday.

So sickened by it am I, it's hard to find words to respond. But I must make the attempt. 

Its worst aspect is that I suspect most people who were in the habit of attending Sunday Mass before these bishops locked our churches will agree with the main thrust of this truly pathetic document.  

But to say "we rejoice" at the prospect of Mass on Pentecost Sunday is surely hyperbole. Or wishful thinking. Or both. How many of those to whom this letter is addressed have re-entered their parish church since Father emerged from the presbytery to unlock it? Very few, I suspect.

So most who will be "taking these first steps towards some semblance of normality" (I suppose that circumlocution means Sunday Mass) are not seeking the Eucharistic Christ - who makes Himself available 24/7 and was surely eager to see us just as soon as our shepherds let us back into our sheepfold. 

The weeks of imprisonment imposed by this Government have made it chillingly obvious that faith in the Real Presence has dwindled away to what Christ Himself predicted when He said, "But yet the Son of man, when he cometh, shall he find, think you, faith on earth?"(Lk 18:8). 

What are we seeking, then?  'Community'.  

That after all is what we've been pursuing subliminally for years in the Mass versus populum, facing Father with his impromptu embellishments to the banal liturgical texts, his instructions to the altar servers (if there are any) while turning his back on God in the tabernacle and approving the leapfrogging over pews to embrace everyone within coo-ee just when we're preparing to receive the Son of God in Holy Communion.

Not to mention the babble before the Sacrifice of the Son of God on Calvary to save us from Hell, and the uproar that erupts afterwards, when Christ is still really and truly Present within our souls.

We could just as well find 'community'  at St Mary's Anglican or St Andrew's Presbyterian but hey, we like the church and people we're know, that we're comfy with. True communion - with Christ - which is to be had only at St Joseph's, is in the Novus Ordo made so perfunctorily that the Body of Christ might as well be a a scoop of chips at McDonald's.

The horrible reality is, it was the Pope himself who was responsible for taking the first steps away from 'normality' (such is our bishops' casual take-it-for-granted attitude towards the inestimable gift of the Mass), when he closed St Peter's in Rome in Holy Week before the Italian government ordered it.

But just to underline the fact that the NZ Bishops' Conference are a law unto themselves, and in the van in the global advance towards a One World Church, church spokesman Fr John O'Connor stated at the time that "the key point is that we are guided by the Ministry of Health and not what other countries or other churches are doing." Oh yes, Dr Bloomfield, no Dr Bloomfield, three bags' full, Dr Bloomfield.

Thank God for 'Bishop' Brian Tamaki, who is no government boot-licker. Destiny Church announced it did not fear Coronavirus and would not close its churches.

Destiny Church leader 'Bishop' Brian Tamaki

"I'm not about to let a filthy virus scare us out of having church.To equate fear with common sense is nonsense," said Bishop Brian Tamaki.

"In a time when people are fearful, they need faith, hope, and the presence of God, so we will be keeping our churches open."

Oh the shame of it, that the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church would be shown up as craven and cowardly by a heretic. A brave heretic, but as a Protestant, still a heretic.

And what can one possibly make of the bishops' statement that "The sacrifices we have made as a nation have averted what we have seen overseas"? 

Honestly, are the bishops getting a kick-back from the Government? First, we don't have any idea yet of 'the sacrifices we have made as a nation'. Those sacrifices and the effect not of Covid, but of the Government's strong-arm reaction to Covid, will not become apparent, I'm afraid, for months or even years, almost certainly too late for New Zealand to avert another three years of socialism, suppression and subordination in what is even now dangerously close to a police state.

"In these days between the risen Lord’s Ascension into heaven and Pentecost," the bishops continue, "the apostles returned to the closed room."

Fortunate, blessed Apostles! The 'room' where Catholics would gather to pray - the church - was locked by these successors to those Apostles!

"There they joined in continuous prayer, together with several women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers (cf. Acts 1:12-14). It was from the closed room that the Church was brought to birth as the Holy Spirit came down upon the apostles and impelled them to go out and proclaim the Good News."

The Church was born not in that closed room, but from the Sacred Heart of Jesus pierced on the Cross by the lance of the centurion Longinus. Have the bishops forgotten that, or did they never know it, or is the Church teaching of the Sacraments flowing down into the world in the Blood and Water from His Sacred Side a bit unsanitary in these days of 'pandemic'? 

"This year Christians around the world entered a “closed room” due to the pandemic." 

No, we entered a 'closed room' because of this Government's imposition of totally unnecessary penalties and hardship in the interests of gaining control over a stupid, supine population. 

"For some of you this has enabled a graced time of prayer and reflection." 

For which we should all be grateful to our bishops, perhaps, for affording us such 'a graced time'. 

"For others it has been a time to refocus and put lives in order." 

If only it had been that for the bishops! They gave themselves weeks off work in which they could have refocused on their God-given vocation to teach, to forgive sin and to heal their flock. The lives they should have put in order first are their own, in the realisation that one day they will end at the Judgment Seat of Christ and answer to Him for deserting their flocks at the first sign of the Covid 'wolf' - which as time goes by looks more and more like a dog. A poodle, perhaps.

For some the “closed room” has led to family tensions or concerns about future employment." 

That's a nice way of putting it - which is these nice bishops' way of putting everything. How nicely will they be able to describe to the Lord, on that frightful Day when He comes again, how they cancelled the Mass and the Sacraments and locked our churches and hid themselves when their flocks were frightened by Covid the poodle?

Police figures comparing the week before the lockdown show a 22 percent increase in investigations.

Mirroring the police figures are those from Women's Refuge, showing a 20 percent increase in calls related to domestic violence.

Women's Refuge chief executive Dr Ang Jury said it had not yet seen the sorts of horror stories that were being reported overseas and the worst could be yet to come."https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/415553/domestic-violence-calls-to-police-increase-in-lockdown

"Concerns about future employment." say the bishops. More euphemism. 

Job losses due to Covid-19 may already be matching those seen in the Global Financial Crisis and economists warn we may be at the start of a "second wave" of redundancies, as the reality of the new economy dawns.

And with many of the current job losses affecting lower-paid workers, the next wave is expected to creep "higher up the food chain".

Since the start of Covid-19 restrictions around 43,000 people have signed up for the job seeker benefit, pointing to a sharp upturn in job losses.

The real number of people out of work may be higher because some people are not entitled to a benefit because their partner is in work.https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12335512

"For others still this has been a time when they have allowed their faith to drift." 

I beg your pardon? It is primarily you, bishops, who have allowed your people's faith to drift, by denying them the Sacrifice of the Mass and the Sacraments.

"Now the “closed room” of our churches is coming to an end." Only because the Government said it could. No thanks to you, bishops.

"We thank all those in our faith communities who have worked tirelessly to connect with parishioners offering spiritual support."

To whom, bishops, do you refer? Surely not parish priests. One turned a praying parishioner out of the church grounds, locked the gates and put a sign up warning any others off. Another aggrieved parishioner says, "I have not seen my parish priest since before the instruction was given to close my church on the morning of the Feast of the Annunciation, without a Mass being held or any kind of church service that day, many hours before the official lockdown at 11:59pm on 25 March 2020. Real support has been non-existent all along.

"I must look to the Latin Mass, it seems, to meet my spiritual needs" - Bob Gill, St Joseph's, Dannevirke.

My first sighting of our PP - in spite of praying on the public footpath right outside my church, St Joseph's Waipukurau, most days during lockdown - was at Mass last Thursday. Haven't seen him since. 

"Again, we have been delighted by the creative initiatives that have arisen and the way the risen Lord has used these to bestow his graces."

Do you mean live-streamed Masses, bishops? Which have served at least, thank God, to show up the NO in all its anthropocentrism, with the poor priest offering the Sacrifice of Calvary to a camera rather than to God. Oh all right, there might have been 10 highly-favoured parishioners present, probably feeling guilty because in their humility they all knew someone else who would have loved their place.

"We share your joy at being able to celebrate Eucharist together."

Speak for yourselves, bishops. After weeks of the Immemorial (Latin) Mass I was dreading the Novus Ordo and now I realise I have to play the organ. After all these weeks of not touching a keyboard because I don't have an instrument at home and the organ was locked up, my time in the church, limited to the last week as it has been, has been given to prayer rather than practice. I hope the Eucharist will bring joy to the parish. Certainly my playing will not. All I can say is, a congregation gets the organist it deserves.

"However, we still have to live under the restrictions that are there for the good of our vulnerable and elderly."

Oh, spare me. The restrictions are there, bishops, for the good of this Government!!! In a few short months we'll have the referendum on euthanasia, and probably us 'smiling zombies' will go for it, and then just watch the 'vulnerable' elderly that 'kind' Jacinda has been caring so much about, being offered (or given willy-nilly) a lethal jab. Jacinda wants euthanasia, and what Jacinda wants, Jacinda gets, because we'll hand it over.

"Each parish is going to have to determine how it will offer Masses while ensuring health guidelines are kept." 

So bishops, you've passed the buck. In effect PPs will determine it, because we all know what Father wants Father gets, too. And the PPs will toe the bishops' line or forfeit any chance of promotion to a bigger parish; that's the example given, after all, by you bishops who have toed the Pope's line for the same reason: ambition. 

You, bishops, are seem to want to reinvent the Catholic Church in New Zealand by turning a hierarchy into a democracy. You may get somewhere with this pope, but some time in the future the Holy Spirit will send a holy pope to put right all that has gone wrong since Vatican II. For instance, tomorrow we're supposed to celebrate the feast of 'Saint' Pope Paul VI. Groan. 

"This may mean some churches will not open immediately."

Oh bishops, the opening of churches is for you to decide. As 'Bishop' Brian Tamaki would say, MAN UP.  

"It may mean that there are more people wanting to attend Mass than can be accommodated." Wishful thinking, again, bishops.

"We ask you to be patient and understanding while your parish leadership determine what will happen in your parish."

How long does it take to 'determine' what to do about letting more than 100 into the church? Once 100 are in (at the ridiculous anti-social distancing ordered by this atheistic Government, of whom only a handful attend church) the rest stay outside. Just like they do at a funeral. Get it?

"With the Government, we ask those who are vulnerable to the virus, those who are afraid and anyone who is not well to stay at home." 

I think the message has already sunk in, bishops, that you are 'with the Government' and have might on your side. That is worldly thinking: the godly want only to be on the side of the might of the Almighty.

"All people continue to be dispensed from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass during this time."

What 'time', bishops? Until the Gummint finally lets us out of the Levels? And when will that be? Have you any idea? Do you care?

"As we emerge from our “closed room” we hope and pray that the Lord will pour out his Spirit upon us, guiding us to work for a better, more caring society."

We must hope and pray, bishops, that the Lord will pour out His Spirit upon us, guiding us to work for better, more caring bishops.

"We hope and pray that the Spirit will inspire our faith communities, our parishes, schools and chaplaincies, to re-vision themselves towards a revitalised spiritual life, a renewed effort towards welcome and evangelisation and to a deeper awareness of and response to the needs of the wider community."

Platitudes, platitudes, platitudes. We must continue to believe that God works miracles, yes, bishops. Nothing is impossible to God. But you surely know that we cannot 're-vision' ourselves; that is the task of the Holy Spirit and He does it only insomuch as we ask for, and cooperate with, His grace. 

"As we look towards Pentecost may we be inspired by the early Church that emerged from the “closed room” so long ago. Like those Spirit-filled disciples, may we too take the risen Christ to the world."

While limping along, weak and sick not from Covid (fat chance!) but deprivation of the Eucharist which, bishops, you have stated will continue for all the faithful who love their Eucharistic Lord too much to treat him like a potato chip; a deprivation which is beyond belief and which is not within your power to implement. 

It is truly a terrible thing for New Zealand Catholics to be at the mercy of a totalitarian government without even one bishop at their back who obeys the Code of Canon Law, which in Canon 387 for example states that the diocesan bishop, mindful that he is bound to give an example of holiness, charity, humility and simplicity of life, is to seek in every way to promote the holiness of Christ's faithful; that since the bishop is the principal dispenser of the mysteries of God he is to strive constantly that Christ's faithful entrusted to his care may grow in grace through the celebration of the sacraments.   

And passing the buck to parish priests won't wash, either: Canon 384 tells us that priests are under the authority of the bishop who is to ensure that priests fulfill the obligations proper to their state. And Canon 519 says the pastor of a parish is to exercise pastoral care on the community entrusted to his care; and canon 528.2 says the PP is to take care that the blessed Eucharist is the centre of the parish assembly of the faithful, and that they are nourished by the devout celebration of the sacraments, particularly frequent reception of the Eucharist and Penance.

The Church has always taught that lex iniusta non est lex - an unjust law is no law at all. When the Government passes unjust laws, you, bishops, should not obey. And when bishops issue unjust instructions to you, priests, to cancel Mass or refuse Communion on the tongue, you, priests, should not obey.  

According to canon 455 any decision by a Bishops' Conference to cancel Mass is invalid. 

A conference of bishops can only issue general decrees in cases where either (a) universal law has prescribed it, or 9b) a special mandate of the Apostolic See has established it.

As the saying goes, bishops: "A crisis does not build character; it merely reveals it." .https://canonlawmadeeasy.com/2020/03/20/bishops-authority-cancel-masses/

St Damien De Veuster, the leper saint of Molokai

St Damien de Veuster, who toiled on the island of Molokai among the lepers, got nothing but grief  from his bishop - for the financial support he received from American Catholics who heard of his plight, being without building requirements or even another priest to hear his confession as he'd begged for - because such support from elsewhere made the bishop look bad. His religious superior, his vice-provincial, openly described as being "excessively devoted to the lepers".

Father De Veuster showed his superiors up as greatly inferior in charity, and they resented it. They tried to stop his heroic ministry but he persevered, sometimes ignoring instructions from on high. Obedience wasn't his long suit, but he loved his Lord unto death.

Good priests, take courage from St Damien, just as a good bishop could take courage from Pope St John Paul II, who celebrated Mass (without a permit!) every Christmas on a field in a new Communist city where churches were not permitted, in spite of knowing his colleague the Polish Cardinal Archbishop Stefan Wyszinski was in prison and he could suffer the same fate.

As the NZ Bishops omit to refer at all, in their 'Pastoral' Letter, to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mediatrix of all Graces, I will try to supply for their deficiency.

"O Lady, our Mediatrix and our advocate, reconcile us with your Son, recommend us to your Son, present us to your Son! Obtain for us that Jesus, who through you deigned to share our infirmity and our wretchedness, may grant us also through you a share in His glory and His beatitude" (St Bernard).