Historicism, the "Key" to Conciliar Chaos

As discussed in other posts, Historicism is the conceptual framework which Progressivists have embraced in order to justify their repudiation of the perennial Roman Catholic doctrine/dogma that characterized offical Church teaching for most of the past 2 thousand years. This neo-modernist theory holds that all dogma and doctrine is applicable only to the time period in which it was propounded a notion which totally contradicts the very definition of doctrine (being that doctrine is fundamentally characterized by its immutability). Thus in one fell-swoop the Progressivists have managed to avoid the charge that their teachings violate the law of non-contradiction--diabolically clever that!

Through the use of the "doctrine" of Historicism, Progressivists have been able to foist a totally ad-hoc set of propositions upon the Catholic faithful none of which bear any actual resemblance to perennial Roman Catholic theology. For example, there is the lack of discipline which all post-Conciliar Popes have evinced with regard to those among the hierarchy and certain neo-modernist theologians who by pre-Vatican II standards have repeatedly embraced and circulated totally heterodox (heretical) views. Since the entire concept of doctrinal/dogmatic integrity is no longer applicable by virtue of the acceptance of Historicism, heresy itself is also an antiquated notion and thus not worthy of sanction. As a result, not one progressivist of note who has promulgated heretical views (from the perspective of pre-Vatican II teaching) has been formally and properly disciplined for their transgressions.

Pope John Paul II was notorious for his inability or unwillingness to provide proper disciplinary oversight a reality which greatly disturbed theological conservatives. Viewed in light of Historicism and with the knowledge in retrospect that he embraced Progressivism, his lack of action is completely consistent with the neo-modernist bent that he and other Progressivists so enthusiastically sought to normalize.

If one assumes that Progressivists desire to create a pan-ecumenical religion which they term the "Church of Christ" open to schismatics, apostates, even to atheists and that doing so has become the overriding concern, to the complete repudiation of all traditional doctrine/dogma and in its place construct a generic global religion based solely on a feelings-based communitarian amalgam of disparate entities--it is possible to understand all of the seemingly incomprehensible developments which have befallen the Roman Catholic Church since 1962. This is a shocking statement but on careful analysis it is the only one which seems to fit the evidence when looked at dispassionately in an a-posteriori way. Progressivists have systematically secularized the Roman Catholic Church and have managed through "dialogue" to remove all doctrinal stumbling blocks to the creation of a pan-ecumenical religious entity based solely on visceral comfortability and sincerity of belief.

For any Catholic who attempts to make sense of all the disparate statements and actions of the Conciliar Church, it is impossible to know how far Progressivists might go in way of mirroring the post-modern world. The Novus Ordo Missae has been almost completely and systematically Protestantized. The 10 commandments and the 2 great laws of Christ are now passe. What seems to matter is whether a person is true to whatever belief system one has at a given moment recognizing that it could change any time. This is apparently the reason why no serious effort is now being made to convert non-Catholics. From the perspective of Progressivists, it simply doesn't matter all that much what current religion one espouses.

Traditional Catholics should ask Progressivists what evidence exists in either Sacred Scripture or Sacred Tradition that doctrine/dogma was intended to apply only to the time in which it was promulgated. The assumption that Historicism is a correct theological view is contradictory of the very notion upon which Historicism itself is based. In other words, it is impossible to know if Historicism is a legitimate conceptual belief--due to it being self-referentially absurd--i.e. if Historicism is true you could not know it. The idea that the Progressivist hierarchy could foist with ease such an obviously irrational idea on the faithful is more than disturbing and suggests a demonic origin to this writer.

--Dr. J. P. Hubert

Conciliar Church Embraced "Feelings" Abandoned Dogma/Doctrine

Unity and Ecumenism seem to have been the constant overarching theme of the post-Vatican II Catholic Church. The "unity" which has been so fervently sought by post-conciliar Popes however would appear to have been purchased at the expense of doctrinal integrity--meaning that it is a false unity.

Progressivists have managed to completely eliminate all doctrinal differences with other religious groups by simply purporting that doctrine/dogma is valid only for the time in which it is produced--another way of saying that dogma/doctrine is passe. This concept referred to as Historicism has been embraced by all of the post-Vatican II popes especially Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger now Pope Benedict XVI who all but totally rejects the clarity of Thomism and the doctrinal corpus which was so fully developed in the scholastic period.

What "unites" these varied and disparate groups post-Vatican II is a "feelings" based pan-religiosity in the absence of all dogma/doctrine. Progressivists appear to accept all fervantly held beliefs and belief systems including atheism in their willingness to include adherents in the newly constructed "church of Christ." Obviously this Indifferentism is incompatible with all prior (pre-1962) Magisterial teaching on the subject. Understanding this goes a long way to explaining the otherwise inconceivable practices of post-Conciliar Popes participating in non-Catholic even non-Christian worship services etc.