Archbishop Lefebvre and the Vatican - Part I: The Documents (1988) - 23 June Telegram of Keep the Faith to Pope John Paul II

This telegram was sent to His Holiness Pope John Paul II and to His Eminence Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger. A copy was sent to Archbishop Lefebvre. Keep the Faith, Inc. (Fairfield, NJ), directed by Mr. Howard Walsh, is a leading US distributor of conservative Catholic media materials.

We at Keep the Faith, as with millions of American Catholics, were deeply saddened by the sudden break in negotiations between your commission and the Society of Saint Pius X. Hopes were high for certain reconciliation.

Keep the Faith is the largest media center in the US. We produce over 500,000 tapes a year and are unreservedly loyal to the Holy Father. Our program, The Pope Speaks, is listened to by thousands and our Catholic Newswire features the Vatican Report bimonthly. We mailed out millions of catalogs highlighting the Holy Father’s activities, and we have the largest customer base in the country. We reach thousands of priests, seminarians, and religious with tapes and books, and many of them are deeply disturbed by the turn of events.

We distributed over 70,000 videotapes on the Tridentine Mass narrated by Archbishop Sheen, which have reached countless homes and seminaries. The hunger for the Immemorial Mass is still very much present and growing. Are these millions to be denied fundamental pastoral care and consideration as their right?

We respectfully tell you this to indicate that we are keenly aware of the prevailing spirit in the Catholic community. It is presently one of shock and confusion over the break in negotiations. We speak for millions of souls who pray the negotiations will re-open.

Archbishop Lefebvre has become a symbol of orthodoxy and sanity to countless souls in a church now being denied by dissent and scandal. Those many will not understand his imminent excommunication.

For the good of the Church and the salvation of souls, this tragedy must not be permitted to happen. We implore you, Holy Father, to re-open negotiations with Ecône. Our prayers are with you in this most trying hour for Holy Mother Church and the faithful

Howard J. Walsh, Director
Keep the Faith, Inc.

Countless other telegrams and letters had been sent to the Vatican. This one was chosen just as a sample. Even a retired diocesan bishop from the United States wrote to the Pope asking him to grant at least one bishop on June 30, 1988 and guaranteeing others on pre-determined dates in the near future, but to no avail.