"I would like to give you just one example of what the Council was: We did everything possible so that Vatican Council II would condemn Communism. Being a pastoral council (we must remember that Vatican II was a pastoral council), that is to say, a council which has as its principal preoccupation the salvation of souls, which has as its object the destruction of the errors that menace souls, it was necessary, without doubt that this Council should be opposed to the greatest danger presenting itself in this age, as is Communism—a danger which extends itself throughout the world. This Council, where 2,500 bishops responsible for the Catholic Church were meeting was not capable of formally condemning Communism."
- Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, 1982
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Well, I have often said that the Church is largely a European phenomenon and, therefore, is far too comfortable with socialistic/communistic forms of government. There have been very few true "republics" in European history, most governments going by that name still having powerful central committees or one powerful, de-facto monarch running the show. The Church, often for reasons of self-preservation, has at many times during her history held hands rather tightly with the ruling powers. This has not always been bad; the Church has been able to exert her influence upon worldly philosophies this way. However, it has caused her to be blind to the subtleties of socialistic/monolithic forms of government. Unless there are blatant human rights violations, she is rather quiet about things tyrannical. So, with regard to communism, the Church is rather like the proverbial frog in a pot of warm water that is gradually coming to a boil...
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