Dear Friends in Christ,

I was listening to a taped interview between Fr. Malachi Martin and Bernard Jenson. The interview was probably 1991 or so. Fr. Malachi said there was a flourishing underground Catholic Church in America with their own seminaries. He was not speaking about SSPX or SSPV. How can I find information on this network?

     JMJ,

     R.K.



TIA responds:

Dear Mr. R.K.,

We don't have any precise information about the mentioned network, just some tidbits and rumors. We believe that Fr. Malachi Martin knew much more on this topic than we do.

Sorry not to be of more assistance on this topic.

     Cordially,

     TIA correspondence desk.

Traditionalists,

I happened upon your site today and observed your page dedicated to criticizing Mother Theresa.

Your page states that Mother Theresa is "worshipping" the Buddha. I wonder if your organization is at all familiar with the short volumes of work that discuss Mother Theresa's quotes and comments? It was her belief that people of all faiths should pray together to promote peace and unity. Since Mother Theresa spent most of her life working for the poor and proclaiming God's mercy through her work, I'm quite sure she wasn't worshipping Buddha.

It is disappointing that a Christian group went to all the trouble to attempt to defame anyone who has done so much good in the world. But I'm sure that you will take down this picture, or put a retraction on your site now that you realize that there was no way that Mother Theresa was "worshipping the Buddha."

     Best,

     S.O.



TIA responds:

Mr. S.O.,

When you pray together with Buddhists in a Buddhist temple during a Buddhist ceremony in a recollected position under a statue of Buddha, you are for all purposes publicly worshipping Buddha. This is what Mother Teresa did in the mentioned picture.

The picture was disseminated by her religious congregation, therefore there is no risk that it was altered. We are not discussing her intention, but exposing the picture and analyzing her visible, public attitude. Therefore, this is not a matter of defamation, as you accused.

Your affirmation that you are "quite sure that she wasn't worshipping Buddha" is entirely subjective. You are certainly entitled to have this opinion, but it has no apologetic value. Perhaps you would benefit from reading the reply we made to a similar objection about Mother Teresa praying to Gandhi.

Next time, please offer a more conclusive argument.

     Cordially,

     TIA correspondence desk

Dear TIA,

Here's another shocker. What about Catho-Hinduism? Just see how this inculturation stuff clouds the mind.

How can such practices that belong to an absolute monism, be compatible with the Catholic Faith? You had an article on the tabernacle shaped in the form of the phallic symbol recently. That's how far the degeneration of Catholicism in India has gone in some places.

The article below is also a good example of how the unsuspecting may be influenced. The only casualty of inculturation is the Catholic Faith and Christ. I recollect decades back I had been to a religious house in Bombay, and there was a huge canvas depicting Christ as a yogi!! Then I thought it was OK.

     N.R. Goa, India



Catholic Yoga and Mantras
Letter to the editor of The Examiner
Sir,

Christopher Mendona's article 'The Rediscovery of the Tradition of Christian Meditation' (The Examiner, February 24, 2007) is interesting. He quotes a Hindu monk, Swami Satyananda, who instructs that one should meditate on a word/phrase or mantra, repeat it faithfully, lovingly and continually. However, both have not revealed to us this form of yoga or mantra.

I would like to suggest some efficacious Catholic mantras, along with two principles of asthanga-yoga or 8-fold path of Patanjali. These include asanas or postural positions, and pranayanas or breath control.

Some axioms which could be contemplated on are:

Merciful Jesus, I trust in You / Sacred Heart of Jesus, Thy Kingdom come / Jesus Christ, have mercy on me a sinner / Maranatha - Come Lord Jesus. One may also profitably utter the Holy Name of Jesus! Intone 'JE' on deep inhalation and express 'SUS' on gradual exhalation, in a slow rhythmic manner.

The above techniques will help reduce mental stress, promote physical well-being and nurture spiritual growth, through mind discipline, body relaxation and soul upliftment. One must try to practice yoga before an image of Jesus or in profound Eucharistic adoration. This devotion may help you to realize the 'love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God' (Ephesians 3:19).

Dr. Trevor Colaso, Bandra, Mumbai

Dear Dr. Horvat,

I have become familiar with TIA's work over the past three years or so and have wanted to thank you many times. So much of the work is excellent, that it would be difficult to pick out my favorites. I am particularly grateful to you, Dr. Horvat, for the many cultural articles, especially those on dress and manners, all of which my husband and I use as material for the instruction of our children (as well as ourselves). This is an essential and missing piece in the lives of Catholics, as you know. Even for those of us aware enough to recognize some troubles around us, most of us have not been raised truly Catholic, but instead like barbarians in a world devoid of grace.

Mr. Guimaraes, thank you also, for the Saint of the Day articles which accompany our prayers and instructions throughout the liturgical year. Your works, as well as the works of Professor Plinio that you have made available, are so beautifully elevated that they must inspire many towards a true, substantive hope and a resounding call to battle.

Please allow me to give special thanks for my favorite works: our Catholic Faith as explained in The Fidelity of the Remnant throughout History, our Catholic hope as inspired by the 40 Martyrs of Sebaste, and our Catholic charity which can only grow with the understanding of God's creation as described in the Professor's comments in Fra Angelico.

There is so much confusion and deception, both in and out of circles known as Catholic, that it becomes difficult to know who to support. I would like to share with you why I have chosen to offer my support to TIA as a sound way to promote our Catholic cause. It is simply this: when I read the opinions and instructions made available by TIA, I can feel both completely at peace and lit on fire for the Faith at the same time. I recognize this as something to be trusted and this must be pleasing to Our Lord, as it is a reflection of what He wishes us to possess forever.

     Thank you.

     P.D.

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  Mother Teresa Worshiping Buddha

  Doubts about the Orthodoxy of Mother Teresa

  Mother Teresa Praying to Gandhi

  No, She Is Not Praying to Gandhi

  A Tabernacle and a Catholic Church in the Shape of a Phalus

  A Statue of Buddha Over the Altar in St. Peter Church

  Card. Ivan Dias Paying Homage to a Hindu Deity

  The Fidelity of the Remnant Throughout History