In
this book, Roberto de Mattei steers us perceptively through centuries
of Church history concerning both the wise, and the disastrous,
decisions of popes and councils: from the role of Pope Liberius in
the Arian crisis to the troubled Vatican compromises with the French
Third Republic; from the Ostpolitik and liturgical rupture of
Paul VI to the erosion of dogmatic truths and moral absolutes under
Pope Francis. In these and in many more examples de Mattei’s
judgment rings true: popes have been mistaken in their political,
pastoral, and even magisterial acts, and the resistance of the
faithful to such acts is a duty and a cause of benefit. Along the way
we are offered an illuminating catechism in ecclesiology, the nature
of the Magisterium, and the limits of papal authority. Especially
helpful are de Mattei’s discussion of the hypothesis of a heretical
pope, his clear explanation of the difference between filial
resistance and disobedience to the Successors of the Apostles when
they make heterodox pronouncements, and his ample treatment of the
significance and profound implications of recent public
remonstrations with the current pontificate on behalf of orthodoxy.
The author’s rich historical narratives, deftly intertwined with
dogmatic, moral, and canonical principles, make this work a potent
resource for grappling with the current crises of the Church.
“This
unified collection of essays and lectures by Roberto de Mattei
provides an invaluable service not only to the Catholic faithful but
to the world. In a time of extraordinary confusion in the Church of
Christ, de Mattei offers nothing less than a guide for the perplexed.
His new book is a masterly combination of scholarship and popular
theological exposition in limpid prose. I cannot recommend enough
this indispensable work.”—FR.
RICHARD MUNKELT,
author of Ocean
of Being: An Odyssey to the Isle of St. Anselm (forthcoming)
“As
the publisher of a Catholic newspaper, I can say without hesitation
or exaggeration that I would front-page each and every chapter of
this book. Professor de Mattei’s deep and abiding concern for Holy
Mother Church is palpable on every page. He encourages his readers
not to despair but rather to consult history itself in order to learn
how to face an increasingly uncertain future. This book is a lifeline
for those struggling to navigate the whitewater rapids of the
pontificate of Pope Francis.”—MICHAEL
J. MATT,
Editor, The
Remnant
“Historian
Roberto de Mattei has put together a wide-ranging, focused, and
eminently useful book for Catholics trying to remain oriented in a
time of confusion. His discussion covers the philosophical and
historical background of current secularizing trends as well as more
specific topics such as papal authority, past instances of papal
error, what clergy, theologians, and ordinary believers have done to
limit the resulting damage, and the present outlook. It is the most
helpful book I have read on the current situation.”—JAMES
KALB,
author of Against
Inclusiveness andThe
Tyranny of Liberalism
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