Is Feeneyism Catholic? - Society of St. Pius X

S OME L IBERAL E RRORS 17
The subjection of the intelligence to God is an essential part
of the moral law. St. Paul wants “to bring into captivity every intelligence
unto the obedience of Christ” (II Cor. 10:5). Moreover,
if one neglects the first three Commandments, he will be led to
neglect the last seven. If one does not honor God, he will lose respect
for his neighbor, created to the image and likeness of God; if
he does not give “glory to God in the highest,” he will not enjoy
the “peace on earth to men of good will.” Hence the false utopia
of the meeting at Assisi. 20
Many wrongly think that, away from the Church, one can
keep the moral law without the grace of Christ. It is the constant
teaching of the Church that it is not possible to keep the whole
natural law without the grace of Christ! By the sole forces of our
nature, it is possible to do some good, but not all our duty. Man’s
nature, wounded by original sin, can keep some moral commandments,
but not all of them. At each given occasion, man can avoid
sin (thus he is guilty if he does fall), yet without the grace of
Christ he cannot persevere in all times of temptation. To say the
contrary would be the heresy of Pelagius, which is very common
among modern Liberals! 21
If, without the grace of Christ, one can live righteously and
go to heaven, then Our Lord Jesus Christ is no longer the Savior!
Why would Christ have come down from heaven, if man did
not need Him to be saved?
The Church also taught that it is not possible even to merit
the beginning of justification. Indeed, before being justified, one
is not yet just, one is a sinner, and, on his own, only merits condemnation.
The Council of Orange says:
He is an adversary of the Apostolic teaching, who says that
the increase of faith as well as the beginning of faith and the very
desire of faith–by which we believe in Him who justifies the unjustified,
and by which we come to the regeneration of sacred
baptism–inheres in us naturally and not by a gift of grace. This
grace is the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, guiding our will away
from infidelity to faith, from godlessness to piety. For St. Paul
says: “By grace you have been saved through faith; and that not
20 The scandalous ecumenical meeting arranged by Pope John Paul II was held
at Assisi, Italy, October 27, 1986.
21 See Dz. 178, 1011.