The Lethal Weapon: Modernism

Pope St Pius X said, that Modernists 'put their designs for [the Church's] ruin into operation not from without but from within; hence, the danger is present almost in the very veins and heart of the Church, whose injury is the more certain, the more intimate is their knowledge of her. Moreover, they lay the axe not to the branches and shoots, but to the very root, that is, to the faith and its deepest fires'. 

From Corpus Christi for Unity and Truth

Modernism is a term that refers to a movement that continually tries to reconcile the Catholic Church with the modern world, especially in terms of biblical interpretation, philosophy, and politics. It was condemned by the popes in the early 20th century as a dangerous and heretical error that threatened the faith and authority of the Church. Pope Pius X, in his encyclical Pascendi Dominici Gregis, called Modernism the “synthesis of all heresies” because it is a way of thinking that does not respect the Church’s authority or teaching, which comes from God and does not change.

Modernism is playing a central role in how the contemporary Church is operating!

Peter Kwasniewski calls Modernism "a radical rejection of the supernatural order" in his book Resurgent In The Midst of Crisis and "a form of secularization or naturalization of Christianity" in his book Noble Beauty, Transcendent Holiness.

Modernism does not believe in miracles, heaven, hell, and the authority of the pope. It treats religion as a human invention in which everyone can have his version of it. It is a way of thinking that tries to make the Church more like the world, instead of making the world more like the Church. It changes or rejects the Church’s traditions, liturgy, and doctrines to fit modern culture and values.

Modernism is THE major problem in the Church today.

Modernism today is the denial or distortion of the natural law, which is the moral law that God has written in our hearts and that can be known by human reason. Modernists claim that the natural law is not universal or objective, but relative and subjective; and that it can change according to the circumstances or preferences of each person.

Modernists today have diluted or corrupted the sacraments, which are the signs and instruments of God’s grace that sanctify and nourish our souls. Modernists claim that the sacraments are not necessary or efficacious, but symbolic and optional; and that they can be altered or discarded according to the needs or desires of each person.

Modernists are undermining the faith of many Catholics by promoting false doctrines, such as universalism, relativism, syncretism, and indifferentism; infiltrating the Church at various levels, from theologians to bishops to lay people; and influencing the Church to adopt ideologies – such as feminism, moral relativism, and secularism – that are incompatible with Catholic doctrine.

Modernism erodes the faith and devotion of the faithful, who are called to adhere to the Church’s teachings and practices with humility and obedience. It undermines doctrine, liturgy, authority, and unity of the Church eroding the faith and morals of Catholics. It causes the faithful to reject the natural law and sacredness of human life. Modernism is a grave threat to the faith and morals of Catholics as it leads to confusion, error, and apostasy promoting a spirit of doubt, dissent, and rebellion against the Church’s authority and tradition.

Modernism needs to be resisted and corrected by faithful Catholics who love and follow the traditional teachings and practices of the Church. Instead, in the face of this affront to the Church, many Church leaders have fallen mute instead of speaking loudly to denounce these heresies.

We can see the influence Modernism has on Pope Francis and that influence, by his words and actions, has caused confusion and division among Catholics. Pope Francis:

• Has undermined the moral teachings of the Church on issues such as marriage, divorce, remarriage, contraception, homosexuality, and abortion, by allowing ambiguity, confusion, and dissent to spread among the faithful and the clergy.
• Uses the term “fundamentalism” to condemn Catholics who hold fast to the truths of faith, such as the immutability of doctrine, the reality of hell, and the incompatibility of Catholicism with other religions.
• Promotes a more collegial, synodal, and decentralized papacy, yet is more authoritarian, unpredictable, and personalistic.
• Has promoted a false ecumenism that encourages dialogue and cooperation with other religions, especially Islam, while downplaying the uniqueness and necessity of the Catholic Church for salvation.
• Has appointed and elevated bishops and cardinals who are sympathetic to his agenda of reforming the Church in a way that challenges natural law, fosters a socialist philosophy, and embraces feminism.
• Undermines the liturgical reform of Pope Benedict XVI, who encouraged a more reverent and traditional celebration of the Mass.
• Favors a more casual and spontaneous style of worship, which is a sign of Modernism’s rejection of objective truth and beauty.Beyond Pope Francis, we have many Church leaders, especially in Europe and South America who are trying to revamp the Church according to their Modernistic views.

If we go back in history to when the Modernist movement emerged (late 19th and early 20th centuries), Pope Pius X warned the faithful that Modernist heretics would adapt Christianity to the modern world by rejecting or reinterpreting traditional doctrines, dogmas, and practices. Modernists (just like today) wanted to reform the Church in light of the advances in science, philosophy, and history. The “Synodal Path” and the arguments to “open wide the tent” for the LGBTQ community and ordain women as deacons are clear signs of embracing Modernism and rejecting traditional doctrines and practices.

People have argued that the Synodal Path is a process of just listening and dialogue not meant to influence or change doctrine. Yet, as we know, Pope Francis has appointed Archbishop Fernández as the new prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. Fernandez has stated in several public interviews that he supports the blessing of same-sex unions and endorses accompanying those with same-sex attraction by not condemning them or having an obsession with this issue.

Pope Pius X, whose feast day we just celebrated, championed the fight against Modernism. He coined the term Modernism and fiercely condemned and combatted it in all its forms. He published the encyclical Pascendi Dominici Gregis (on the Doctrine of the Modernists) in 1907, which exposed and refuted the main errors and tendencies of Modernism. He also warned of the dangers of Modernism for the Church and society urging the bishops and clergy to be vigilant and faithful in defending the deposit of faith.

He required all clergy, religious, and teachers of theology and philosophy to take an oath against Modernism in 1910, which affirmed their adherence to the Church’s teachings on revelation, faith, Scripture, tradition, magisterium, miracles, and other doctrines.

He also ordered that seminaries and universities should be free from Modernist influences; and that candidates for ordination should be carefully examined for their orthodoxy.

He promoted Thomism, or the philosophy and theology of St. Thomas Aquinas, as the surest antidote to Modernism.

He encouraged a greater devotion to the Eucharist and the Blessed Virgin Mary as sources of grace and protection for the faithful. He lowered the age for First Communion to about seven years, the age of reason. He also approved of many Marian apparitions and devotions.

In our time, we have some great leaders such as Dr. Taylor Marshall, Dr. Janet Smith, Dr. Peter Kwasniewski, Dr. Scott Haan, Dr. Ralph Martin, including the late Dr. Alice von Hildenbrand; they have warned us about Modernism today.

We must remain faithful to our Catholic faith. We must resist the errors and temptations of Modernism, which is "the synthesis of all heresies." We must pray for the conversion of those who have fallen into Modernism and defend the Church from all these attacks with courage and zeal.

St. Pius X, Pray for Us!