The Resurrection of the Roman Catholic Church : A guide to the Traditional Roman Catholic movement

Rating:
Summary: Quite interesting, but must be read cautiously
Review: I would like to rate this book with five stars, nevertheless I can't do that: Griff Ruby apparently falls in the sedevacantist trap, confusing the infallibility and the indefectibility of the Church with the infallibility and indefectibility of her members. One thing hasn't any relationship with the other: not reminding the traditional Catholic teaching about the issue, he seems to forget that even the Pope, outside the strict limits of his infallibility - ex cathedra teachings about faith and morals - is also subjected to error and sin and effectively can err and sin. We can quote the historical examples of Liberius, Honorius or John XXII. So despite their misdeeds and wrongs, Paul VI - probably, the worst Pope the Church ever had in twenty centuries - was a reliable Pope, and John Paul II - not a Saint Pius X at all - is a legitimate Pope. Thanks to the Holy Spirit, they never mixed their infallibility with their errors.

Otherwise, the book is quite interesting and traces a fairly balanced and accurate history of the Catholic traditionalist movement and its opposition to the post-conciliar Church: successively, Griff Ruby presents to the reader the sedevacantist tendency, represented essentially by the so-called "Thuc line" evolving around the CMRI and the SSPV (sedevacantist dissidents from the SSPX); the SSPX, the biggest and largely major group, balancing between the resistance to the modernist assault and the obedience in legitimate matters to the formal authorities of the Church; and finally the indult crowd, that established a reasonably sucessful non-aggression pact with the modernist Rome, composed by the FSSP, the Institute Christ the King and the brazilian Saint John Mary Vianney Apostolic Administration, whose members are usually known as the "Fathers of Campos", and other minor groups.

Two chapters deserve an especial attention from the reader: the one dedicated to prove the total contradiction that exists between the teachings of the pre-conciliar and post-conciliar Popes on several issues - liturgical innovation, freedom of religion and ecumenism, for example -, a chapter correctly named "The Pope condemns Vatican II"; the other enunciating the measures the author sustains as necessary to surpass the modernist crisis, which are generally shared by all the traditionalists: 1st) The total restoration of the Tridentine Mass; 2nd) The revocation of the Second Vatican Council. Highly original is the propose to concede a transitory indult to the New Mass of Paul VI, in order to allow an entire generation of Catholics that haven't ever known the Tridentine Mass (with the exception of those ones that frequented the traditional chapels and churchs) to take a quiet first contact with the perpetual and irrevocable latin-gregorian rite, the most beautiful thing this side of the heaven.

In conclusion, this a quite interesting book, but must be read cautiously, considering the sedevacantist tendencies shown by its author.

Rating:
Summary: Mel Gibson made it famous; What is it?
Review: Learn about the traditional Catholicism professed by actor Mel Gibson on national T.V. with Diane Sawyer!
With all the attention Mel's movie, The Passion of the Christ," has brought to traditional Catholicism, many in the traditional Catholic movement are feeling as if they have been caught with their pants down: "For once, the general public would really like to know what we traditional Catholics are all about and who we are, and we have no one single book to recommend to them so as to introduce ourselves." But really, they need not feel this way. Providence has provided again; This IS that book.
Being the author, it isn't my place to judge how good it is, but the following are extracts from those who have read it:
"This book is a most detailed history of the events subsequent to the second Vatican Council as it relates to all sections of the Traditional Movement. He takes no sides with any group, and shows by a unique interpretation of the documents of V2 (missed by other analysts) where the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church is today."
"Dear Griff, Whew! Wow! I've started reading your book..., and I am really excited!" and several months later, "Tonight I reread Chapters Seven through the Epilogue and would like to comment that your book has passed a very important and standard test: it grows with the reader." - a Latin Professor
"This is an excellent work, showing the intrinsic unity of the true Catholic Church..."
"God bless you for the enormous work you are doing! You have provided a wealth of information..."
"I haven't gotten through it all yet but I just wanted to say that [it] was a balm to a battered, bruised & weary soul. All was lucidly expressed."
"I have read your book with the greatest interest. I found it such exciting reading that I'm afraid I rushed through it too fast - so now I've started from the beginning again. Although I've been reading a lot of traditional literature the last 5 - 7 years, much of what you wrote was new for me. I was particularly grateful for your honest account of the Sedevacantists."
"Thank you as well for the fruits of your seven years of reading and research. They show and are a benefit to all..."
"I have read ... your book, and I must admit that I find it an excellent work." - a Priest
"I ... would like to congratulate you on your information; specifically the balanced outlook on the sspx!"
"You have done an impartial and masterful job. Kudos!"
"I have read your book. It was truly magnificent. Thank you for your efforts. I know it must have taken a great deal of effort... Nevertheless -- research is excellent, and it provides the best explanation I have heard to date, to explain the current crisis."
"Please let me express my deep appreciation for what you have accomplished: the assimilation of an enormous amount of disparate historical information so as to penetrate, organize, and present coherently a comprehensive overview of the events and repercussions of the Vatican II Council. This was much needed..."
"Your book is a masterpiece of Catholic doctrine, accuracy, and a very good assessment of the present situation. I really admire your clear explanations and your documented history of the last 45 years in the Catholic Church, and specifically your approach full of fairness and charity. Your book is a must not only for those who are ignorant of the survival of the Catholic Church, but for anyone with good will and eager to know the truth and correct misinterpretations. I will recommend your book with all my heart... I am going to order 6 copies for 3 bishops and 3 priests who are closer to me..." - a Bishop
"It's a great book, in that it captures the history of the Traditional Roman Catholic movement, and you can figure out the rest by the title: 'The Resurrection of the Roman Catholic Church'."