Is Feeneyism Catholic? - Society of St. Pius X

64 IS F EENEYISM C ATHOLIC?
precious than a death by which a man’s sins are all forgiven, and
his merits increased an hundredfold? For those who have been
baptized when they could no longer escape death, and have departed
this life with all their sins blotted out have not equal merit
with those who did not defer death, though it was in their power
to do so, but preferred to end their life by confessing Christ,
rather than by denying Him to secure an opportunity of baptism.
And even had they denied Him under pressure of the fear
of death, this too would have been forgiven them in that baptism,
in which was remitted even the enormous wickedness of
those who had slain Christ. But how abundant in these men
must have been the grace of the Spirit, who breathes where He
wishes (Jn. 3:8), seeing that they so dearly loved Christ as to be
unable to deny Him even in so sore an emergency, and with so
sure a hope of pardon! 95
ST. GREGORY NAZIANZEN
§23: And so also in those who fail to receive the Gift [of Baptism],
some are altogether animal or bestial, according as they are
either foolish or wicked; and this, I think, has to be added to
their other sins, that they have no reverence at all for this Gift,
but look upon it as a mere gift—to be acquiesced in if given
them, and if not given them, then to be neglected. Others know
and honor the Gift, but put it off; some through laziness, some
through greediness. Others are not in a position to receive it,
perhaps on account of infancy, or some perfectly involuntary circumstance
through which they are prevented from receiving it,
even if they wish. As then in the former case we found much
difference, so too in this. They who altogether despise it are
worse than they who neglect it through greed or carelessness.
These are worse than they who have lost the Gift through ignorance
or tyranny, for tyranny is nothing but an involuntary error.
And I think that the first will have to suffer punishment, as
for all their sins, so for their contempt of baptism; and that the
95 De Civitate Dei, 13:7; R.J., No.1759. Note that Fr. Feeney says exactly the
contrary of St. Augustine: “Suppose a non-baptized person had his choice
between Baptism of Water on the one hand, and what is called ‘Baptism of
Blood’ on the other. Were he not to choose Baptism of Water, the shedding
of his blood would be useless and he would lose his soul.” (Bread of Life,
p.41). Given the fact that the “choice” of baptism of blood is none other
than either to deny Christ or to be killed, to affirm that one ought not to
choose baptism of blood is to affirm that one should rather deny Christ.
How impious!