Expert: Griff Ruby - 2/17/2005

Question
I have a friend who is getting involved with some feenyites, specifically Michael Diamond and his tapes. Where can I go to find info to refute this heresy?
Anne


Answer
The best single source I can point to at this time would be Fr. Laisney's book, Is Feeneyism Catholic?  Angelus Press carries the title, and while I don't see it convincing any confirmed Feeneyite, at least those still in a position to weigh the issues objectively and neutally would find in it a good and solid Catholic response to the specific doctrinal mistakes Fr. Feeney made.

The following link is one place where a copy can be ordered.

http://www.angeluspress.org/catechetics_theology.htm

Here is the catalog spiel regarding this work:

Is Feeneyism Catholic?
by Rev. Fr. François Laisney
Sr. Sunshine says, "All nice people go to heaven."  Fr. OverReact says, "Only water-baptized Catholics go to heaven." Both are dead wrong!
Question 321, Baltimore Catechism: "How can those be saved who through no fault of their own have not received the sacrament of Baptism?"
Answer: "Those who through no fault of their own have not received the sacrament of Baptism can be saved through what is called baptism of blood or baptism of desire."  Period.  Amen... for most of us.
But some, who even call themselves traditional Catholics, cannot accept this simple teaching of our catechism. They cannot accept baptism of desire because they confuse the grace of baptism (which is necessary for salvation) with the character of baptism (which is not necessary for salvation). Because of this confusion, they deny the simple truth that all that is really necessary for salvation is to die in the state of grace. This is serious. And you need to know how to address these errors, how to defend the orthodox Faith, how to defend yourself and your family, and how to help those sitting in the darkness of error.
This book examines these simple truths of our catechism. Quoting heavily the Church's Magisterium, Sacred Tradition, Sacred Scripture, and the writings of the Saints, Fr. Laisney explains the Church's teaching on Baptism of Desire. A defense of Catholicism, not of false ecumenism. Father's new edition is twice the size of his original work and is enriched and made more convincing by copious quotations from the writings of the Saints.
128pp, color softcover, AP Publication. STK# 3093. $9.95

There is also on the same page another work which may also prove helpful, but I have not as yet read it:

Baptism of Desire: A Patristic Commentary
Fr. Jean-Marc Rulleau
While visiting the United States, Fr. Rulleau, (former Professor of Dogmatic Theology in Ecône, Switzerland) could not help but notice the specifically American problem of the denial of baptism of desire. Rising above all polemics, Fr. Rulleau clearly explains the mind of the Church, based upon the Magisterium and the Fathers.
75pp, color softcover, AP Publication, STK# 6722. $7.95

Hope this helps!  God bless!