The Remnant (newspaper)
Encyclopedia
The Remnant is a newspaper published twice a month in the United States of America from a traditional Catholic
viewpoint. It is not affiliated with any particular group, although it is sympathetic to Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre
and the Society of St. Pius X
. The name The Remnant is a reference to the remnant
of Isaiah
.
(1962-1965) brought many changes in the Catholic Church, several of which occurred in the Mass and the Sacraments
. This led to a dispute between many Catholics. The Remnant was a result of a dispute between Walter Matt and Alphonse Matt, with Walter opposing the changes and Alphonse supporting them. Walter Matt left The Wanderer
, which was left under the guidance of Alphonse, to start The Remnant in 1967, two years before the most sweeping changes were instituted. In Mr Matt's words, his "reaction to what he saw took the form of a Catholic newspaper called The Remnant."
The Remnant considers itself as the "leading journal
of the counterrevolution, which seeks to restore the traditions of the Church to their rightful place and honor in the Church--especially the Latin
Tridentine Mass
." It serves as a forum for Catholics who, in their words, oppose "that which in any way contradicts the infallible teachings and immutable traditions of the Catholic Church."
The Remnant is now edited by Mr. Matt's youngest son, Michael J. Matt. Many leading traditionalists, including Thomas Woods
, Brian Mershon, Christopher Ferrara
, Brian McCall, Mark Alessio, Robert Dahl, Kenneth Wolfe, Sherry Foster and Martin Blackshaw write for the paper on a regular basis. Columns by Dr. John C. Rao, a professor at St. John's University, are another regular feature. So were columns by Michael Davies
for many years before his death in 2004 and by Thomas Droleskey prior to adopting the sedevacantist position and taking a job with The Four Marks monthly located in Ballantine, MT. It has recently become a very vigorous defender of the pontificate of Benedict XVI as The Remnant writers believe he has vindicated them on issues that have divided them from other Traditionalists and from conservative Catholics associated with The Wanderer
, EWTN and Catholic Answers
. Technically, this is not a reversal as it has always defended the papacy. It does, however, see many reasons for its cautiously optimistic view of the present pontificate as many things are only now being presented in light of tradition. See below.
controversially listed The Remnant and the Remnant Press on its 2009 list of "active U.S. hate groups" under the "Radical Traditionalist Catholic" category, which the SPLC defines as "organizations that embrace anti-Semitism and whose theology is typically rejected by the Vatican and mainstream Catholics in general." The editors reject this label, noting their belief that anti-Semitism is a mortal sin, and that the organization is peaceful. Others have also defended The Remnant from this charge, including the Catholic Family News and Renew America.
Traditionalist Catholic
Traditionalist Catholics are Roman Catholics who believe that there should be a restoration of many or all of the liturgical forms, public and private devotions and presentations of Catholic teachings which prevailed in the Catholic Church before the Second Vatican Council...
viewpoint. It is not affiliated with any particular group, although it is sympathetic to Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre
Marcel Lefebvre
Marcel François Marie Joseph Lefebvre was a French Roman Catholic archbishop. Following a career as an Apostolic Delegate for West Africa and Superior General of the Holy Ghost Fathers, he took the lead in opposing the changes within the Church associated with the Second Vatican Council.In 1970,...
and the Society of St. Pius X
Society of St. Pius X
The Society of Saint Pius X is an international Traditionalist Catholic organisation, founded in 1970 by the French archbishop Marcel Lefebvre...
. The name The Remnant is a reference to the remnant
Remnant (Bible)
The remnant is a recurring theme throughout the Hebrew and Christian Bible. The Anchor Bible Dictionary describes it as "What is left of a community after it undergoes a catastrophe."...
of Isaiah
Isaiah
Isaiah ; Greek: ', Ēsaïās ; "Yahu is salvation") was a prophet in the 8th-century BC Kingdom of Judah.Jews and Christians consider the Book of Isaiah a part of their Biblical canon; he is the first listed of the neviim akharonim, the later prophets. Many of the New Testament teachings of Jesus...
.
History
The aftermath of Second Vatican CouncilSecond Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
(1962-1965) brought many changes in the Catholic Church, several of which occurred in the Mass and the Sacraments
Sacraments of the Catholic Church
The Sacraments of the Catholic Church are, the Roman Catholic Church teaches, "efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us. The visible rites by which the sacraments are celebrated signify and make present the graces proper...
. This led to a dispute between many Catholics. The Remnant was a result of a dispute between Walter Matt and Alphonse Matt, with Walter opposing the changes and Alphonse supporting them. Walter Matt left The Wanderer
The Wanderer (newspaper)
The Wanderer is a lay Roman Catholic weekly newspaper published in St. Paul, Minnesota and distributed to a national market. It was founded by Joseph Matt on 7 October 1867...
, which was left under the guidance of Alphonse, to start The Remnant in 1967, two years before the most sweeping changes were instituted. In Mr Matt's words, his "reaction to what he saw took the form of a Catholic newspaper called The Remnant."
The Remnant considers itself as the "leading journal
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
of the counterrevolution, which seeks to restore the traditions of the Church to their rightful place and honor in the Church--especially the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
Tridentine Mass
Tridentine Mass
The Tridentine Mass is the form of the Roman Rite Mass contained in the typical editions of the Roman Missal that were published from 1570 to 1962. It was the most widely celebrated Mass liturgy in the world until the introduction of the Mass of Paul VI in December 1969...
." It serves as a forum for Catholics who, in their words, oppose "that which in any way contradicts the infallible teachings and immutable traditions of the Catholic Church."
The Remnant is now edited by Mr. Matt's youngest son, Michael J. Matt. Many leading traditionalists, including Thomas Woods
Thomas Woods
Thomas E. "Tom" Woods, Jr. is an American historian, economist, political analyst, and New York Times-bestselling author. He has written extensively on the subjects of American history, contemporary politics, and economic theory...
, Brian Mershon, Christopher Ferrara
Christopher Ferrara
Christopher A. Ferrara is a Catholic attorney, pro-life activist, and journalist. He is the founder and current president and Chief Council of the American Catholic Lawyers Association. He is also a regular columnist of The Remnant, a traditionalist Catholic newspaper.- Legal career :Ferrara...
, Brian McCall, Mark Alessio, Robert Dahl, Kenneth Wolfe, Sherry Foster and Martin Blackshaw write for the paper on a regular basis. Columns by Dr. John C. Rao, a professor at St. John's University, are another regular feature. So were columns by Michael Davies
Michael Davies (Catholic writer)
Michael Treharne Davies was a British teacher, and traditionalist Catholic writer of many books about the Catholic Church following the Second Vatican Council...
for many years before his death in 2004 and by Thomas Droleskey prior to adopting the sedevacantist position and taking a job with The Four Marks monthly located in Ballantine, MT. It has recently become a very vigorous defender of the pontificate of Benedict XVI as The Remnant writers believe he has vindicated them on issues that have divided them from other Traditionalists and from conservative Catholics associated with The Wanderer
The Wanderer (newspaper)
The Wanderer is a lay Roman Catholic weekly newspaper published in St. Paul, Minnesota and distributed to a national market. It was founded by Joseph Matt on 7 October 1867...
, EWTN and Catholic Answers
Catholic Answers
Catholic Answers, based in El Cajon, California, is one of the largest lay-run apostolates of Catholic apologetics and evangelization in the United States. It publishes This Rock, a bimonthly magazine focusing on Catholic evangelism and apologetics...
. Technically, this is not a reversal as it has always defended the papacy. It does, however, see many reasons for its cautiously optimistic view of the present pontificate as many things are only now being presented in light of tradition. See below.
Controversy
The Southern Poverty Law CenterSouthern Poverty Law Center
The Southern Poverty Law Center is an American nonprofit civil rights organization noted for its legal victories against white supremacist groups; legal representation for victims of hate groups; monitoring of alleged hate groups, militias and extremist organizations; and educational programs that...
controversially listed The Remnant and the Remnant Press on its 2009 list of "active U.S. hate groups" under the "Radical Traditionalist Catholic" category, which the SPLC defines as "organizations that embrace anti-Semitism and whose theology is typically rejected by the Vatican and mainstream Catholics in general." The editors reject this label, noting their belief that anti-Semitism is a mortal sin, and that the organization is peaceful. Others have also defended The Remnant from this charge, including the Catholic Family News and Renew America.