I’m not a convert to the Catholic faith, but I have known lots of converts. You get to know lots of converts if you’ve worked in Catholic apologetics for, oh, 47 years.
Most converts settle into the Church quite comfortably, and in a year or two you can’t tell, at first meeting, whether or not they’re converts. They act and think just like other Catholics (with all the ups and downs implied by that).
But some converts turn out to be what Msgr. Ronald Knox, in his 1950 magnus opus “Enthusiasm,” called “enthusiasts.” That term wasn’t meant as a compliment. It didn’t mean people who simply were “enthusiastic” or “overjoyed” or, as Hubert Humphrey might have put it, “pleased as punch” to be Catholics.
It meant people of a certain (and sometimes intellectually fatal) mindset.
At first everything seems all right with them, but in transitioning from A to B they don’t know when to stop, and they pass right through C and D and eventually run out of letters. Some of them “convert” right out of the Church, and others end up adopting positions (often in politics or culture) that seem sensible to them but harebrained to nearly everyone else.
I’ve known – and even have worked with–converts who couldn’t stop converting and who ended up leaving the Church. Gerry Matatics is one example. That name may not register with younger readers of this post, but in the late 1980s he was best buddy with Scott Hahn and entered the Church, from conservative Presbyterianism, at about the same time as Hahn.
Matatics worked at Catholic Answers for seven months, in 1990 and 1991, then left to start his own apostolate. After a while he announced that he had “converted” (his term) to Catholic Traditionalism, but he couldn’t stop converting.
He decided that the former English-language consecratory formula for the wine (“for all” instead of “for many”) was so defective that the entire Novus Ordo Mass was invalid. After that, he reasoned that Vatican II had to be invalid and that there hadn’t been any valid popes since at least Pius XII (died 1958).
Then Matatics decided that all then-living bishops had been consecrated invalidly, except for a few centenarians who had been consecrated by Pius XII. A few years later he concluded that there were no valid priests because they had been ordained after Vatican II. The result was that Matatics became a Church of One, even while still claiming to be Catholic.
His is an extreme example, but I’ve known of other converts who either went in his direction in terms of religion, though not as far, or who seem to have remained steady religiously but who hopped onto “enthusiastic” political or social causes.
What seems common to all of these people is a conspiratorial mindset. By that I mean that their first instinct is to imagine that the true explanation of an event or condition is to be found in an underlying conspiracy. No straightforward answer will suffice. (That Tyler Robinson killed Charlie Kirk can’t be true, because that idea is too simple to be true.)….
From Karl Keating Facebook page
Keating is the founder of Catholic Answers, the apologetics organization based in El Cajon, California.
Lay off Gerry M. He has more integrity in his pinky finger than the nincompoops and homoheritics in the hierarchy right now.
I don’t think Mr. Keating is questioning Mr. Matatics’s integrity. Rather, Mr. Matatics lacks good judgement or he would not have left the Catholic Church. God will judge him as He will judge all who’ve left the Catholic Church, as well as you and me and all who stay in the Church founded by Jesus Christ. Heretics and schismatics may have integrity. Let’s hope they come back to Mother Church and don’t abandon the work to make the institutional Church more what Christ wants it to be. Ora et labora.
Not all of Christ’s hand-picked, 12 Apostles were good men. Judas Iscariot betrayed Christ and then killed himself. St. Peter denied Christ thrice, then wept and repented. God gave to Mankind the gift of Free Will– due to this, Mankind, separated from God since Adam’s Fall— like “lost sheep”– is extremely weakened, confused, easily prone to selfishness and sin. I believe in following Christ’s Teachings, preserved for the ages by the Church, taught by a very few good clerical leaders. It is sufficient to help prepare my soul for Heaven. The rest is between me and God, alone. I don’t think that very many of our clerical leaders are or ever have been faithful and holy. All men are weak. Clerical leaders of Vatican II and the Synod on Synodality– and Pope Francis– did not faithfully listen to the Holy Spirit’s guidance, either. A farce! I follow Christ, Our Lady, and the great and holy Saints. And the Holy Bible and Catholic Teaching and Tradition, as handed down from ancient times. Nothing corrupted, compromised, “modernized,” to wrongfully conform to worldly evils, fads and fashions –the “zeitgeist” of the day.
Cardinal Mario Grech, Secretary General of the Synod on Synodality, stated that the Holy Spirit has inspired both the Vatican’s Synod on Synodality and the German Synodal Way. A farce! Cardinal Grech also accepts gay civil unions and stated that the Church should “warmly accept” gay couples in civil unions.
Be sure to click on the blue link at the end to read the second half of Karl’s posting, as this is just the first half. Karl’s statements: “A common denominator is that people with this mindset may develop or accept convoluted theories, but almost never are they able to name the supposed culprits. They know a committee (as I call it) is behind the thing, but they can’t name any members of the committee.” are particularly resonating. Those caught up in these conspiracy theories often become obsessed with individuals AFTER they have passed away. One of the most popular is the late Cardinal Archbishop Annibale Bugnini. When people do this, I challenge them to go to Archive dot org, create a free account, and read his book THE REFORM OF THE LITURGY 1948-1975. Or at the very least just read Chapter 20 “Opposition” (p.277-304). Just click the blue “Borrow” button. That’s it, you can read it right there for free. No need spending hundreds of dollars to purchase this long out of print book. In that chapter, you might be very surprised to learn that the author, Archbishop Bugnini himself-was very aware of all these mindless conspiracy theories about him and others in the Vatican at the time, and how he addresses each of these accusations in a clear methodical way. Yes, all those Freemasonry rumors and other things that folks like Michael Davies went on to accuse him endlessly of.
and that, more than anything else, is why things are so
astonishingly great with the Church, to this very day.
Nobody cares about conspiracy theories. But the post-Conciliar Church and its Mass are a terrible failure. Abp. Bugnini and his crew of Protestant clerics who assisted in “reforming, “updating,” “modernizing,” or “ecumenizing,” “protestantizing” (or whatever their “agenda” was) the Catholic Mass were a bunch of fools.
Abp. Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury and primary architect of the Anglican liturgy, did a much better job in crafting a new version of the Catholic Mass, to suit the needs of the English Reformation. But he had a different theology of the Eucharist and different English Reformation concepts that were put into his Anglican Mass. Cranmer intentionally abolished the sacrificial nature of the Mass, and the Doctrine of Transubstantiation. He was better at crafting liturgy for the English Reformation, than Bugnini and his crew of Protestant clerics, for the interests of Vatican II. What a laugh! Queen Mary I, a devout Catholic, had Cranmer burned at the stake. But his work in the shaping of the Church of England was later re-established and continued.
Abp. Bugnini’s crew– the “Consilium” — that worked on the Vatican II Mass, included Catholic clerics– but also, six Protestant clerics and several Jewish clerical observers, who gave assistance on ecumenical concepts to be integrated into the Novus Ordo Missae. Laughable.
Gosh, couldn’t the two of you use your real names?
Actually, the Jewish clerical leaders who were Vatican II observers, were highly involved in crafting “Nostra Aetate” and ridding the Catholic Church of all concepts of anti-Semitism, blaming the Jews for “killing Christ,”” etc. — and establishing good relations between the Jewish and Catholic religions. Jewish leaders helped purge all concepts of anti-Semitism in the Catholic liturgy. But they were actually not involved in the “Consilium,” crafting texts for the New Mass. However, the six Protestant clerics who were observers, were very involved in the “Consilium,” with advice and assistance in crafting the new “ecumenized” Mass– which the Vatican hoped would foster Christian unity.
Of course, the Vatican II Mass is perfectly valid, and Christ is present on the altar, in Transubstantiation. I think we all should be very concerned, however, about what Cardinal Grech’s plans may be– and how far he will actually go– with the Synod on Synodality. He is the Secretary General of the Synod– and is a key architect of it. He and other Vatican prelates have stated the next step, to implement the Synod, wiorldwide — and create a new “Synodal Church (??)” — with a new, “Synodal Mass (??)” Uh, oh!! Watch out!
Jim,
Fair question. We fearful, cowardly, negative people who don’t want to be associated with our opinions and claims hide behind anonymity. That’s most who post on this site, whether “traditionalists” or “progressives.” Some, like those who work for the Church, may have legitimate reasons for anonymity, most commonly retaliation of some sort. Thanks for using your name.
Use of one’s name on the Internet can be a danger. Personal information is daily collected by unseen entities. Younger generations did not have Christian Morality, goood manners, and proper use of the English language instilled in them, growing up in the extremely degenerate, evil, filthy, foul-mouthed, disrespectful and violent, anti-Christian, post-1960s, Satanic era. Many also are mentally unstable or sick, and are a danger to society. Those with professional jobs or Church work, teaching in the schools, university professors, or anyone working with the public, should also be very careful. The Internet is not properly monitired, with a good Code of Ethics and traditional American family values, based on Christian Morality. Use of monikers to share ideas, opinions and information on the Internet is a good idea– such as the poster, “Anonymous Clergyman.” Those involved in work in controversial areas today– pro Christian Marriage and Family life, Pro Life, anti-LGBT/Transgender/feminist/DEI agendas, should be careful.
Very tragic, but true– if a fine Catholic cleric like soon-to-be Blessed Abp. Fulton J. Sheen were to speak out very truthfully against immorality in the Church and in society today, with strong rhetoric– he might be unwanted and even banned at the Vatican, and in society. Radical feminists, Antifa, BLM, SPLC, LGBT and Transgender (etc.) terrorists, and pro abortion zealots, might even send him death threats. Yet evil, immoral clerics like Jesuit Fr. James Martin are accepted and praised for their evil works, and their books sell very well. They are hosting a great big LGBT event during June “Pride” month at Georgetown Univ., led by Fr. Martin. I just signed a petition against it.
During the turbulent, immoral era of the 1960s and onward into the 1970s, Bl. Abp. Sheen faced industry and TV network pressures, regarding preaching on topics of traditional Christian Morality.
How do you know Bishop Sheen’s name? Wait a minute… , he preached publicly using his real name. As did Saint Peter. Otherwise we might not know about Pentecost (which we just celebrated) as did Saint Luke, who, inspired by the Holy Spirit, told us about it. St. Peter and countless others used their real names, even in times of opposition to the Church, like today. Saint Isaac Jogues, Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Blessed Miguel Pro, Saint Lucy, Saint Catherine of Alexandria and myriad others did not hide behind anonymity.
Tragic and Reply to Jim Sheridan, you don’t have to agree with everything Mr. Sheridan posted about the Mass, but let’s be honest. We’re the ones hiding behind anonymity, not the Saints or even Jim Sheridan. Holy martyrs, pray for us.
Where does “Jim Sheridan” get the idea that people are “hiding behind anonymity?” Very simple-minded thinking. And the moniker “Jim Sheridan” is probably not his real name.
Remember, soon-to-be Blessed Abp. Sheen’s original baptismal name was “Peter John Sheen.” He was very close to his maternal grandparents, who lived with the Sheen family. His grandfather took him to Catholic school to register him for the First Grade, and noted that he was dubbed “Fulton” because that was his maternal grandparents’ surname. He was called “Fulton’s baby,” as a term of endearment. So he became known as “Fulton John Sheen ” And he never changed his name back to his baptismal name, because he was happy as “Fulton.”
My comment of May 25 at 11:33pm should have been titled, “Reply to A. Non, a mouse.” Can’t wait for the Beatification Mass for soon-to-be Blessed Abp. Fulton J. Sheen. It is long overdue.
“.. but I’ve known of other converts who either went in his direction in terms of religion, though not as far, or who seem to have remained steady religiously but who hopped onto “enthusiastic” political or social causes….” Following in Sheridan’s lead, I realize I should read Keating thoroughly before attempting any response. But then came True Believer’s sarcasm which points out at the very least a difficulty some might have with Keating: things aren’t astonishingly great in the Church and the synodal process, absent some strong correction by Pope Leo, seems to be leading the Church into the quagmire of liberal protestantism, esp. that of the Episcopal Church. If that is what God wants of Rome, it will be evident in time, but at present an appropriate response might be some form of “enthusiasm,” whatever Keating means by the term. The opposite, complacency, hardly seems warranted. I am assuming there is a need to clean up some of the mess Pope Francis left us with– a sign perhaps that this convert (Easter Vigil 1978) has succumbed to wading in conspiratorial waters–some might say. I stand ready to be corrected.
Daniel, your Easter Vigil, 1978 conversion was our good fortune.
P.S. – Hey CCD, Matatics’ first name is spelled with a G, not a J.
Thanks – fixed
You Be a good speller. Thanx.