The Smoke of Satan: Conservative and Traditionalist Dissent in Contemporary American Catholicism

Since the convening of the Second Vatican Council during the reign of Pope John XXIII, many adjustments and renovations have been made to the Roman Catholic Church and to its traditions, including among other things traditional teachings on religious liberty and ecumenism as well as alterations made to the mass during the reign of Pope Paul VI. With the subsequent turbulent era of the 1960s and the social revolution which ensued, changes within the church continued to be made, often completely without justification. Today, many of those in the church of a liberal or progressive mind argue for even further changes in the Catholic Christian tradition, abandoning traditional morality and the teachings of the church, justified by calling upon the "Spirit of Vatican II". In a document referred to as the _Syllabus of Errors_ issued by Pope Pius IX on December 8, 1864, well before Vatican II, the notion that the pope "can and should reconcile himself to, or agree with, progress, liberalism, or modern civilization" was explicitly condemned. Many conservatives and traditionalists within the Catholic Church hold this document to be sacrosanct and see within the Second Vatican Council and the subsequent developments which have taken place within the church a direct contradiction to this traditional teaching and thus the heresy of modernism. This book serves as a sociological study examining some of the reactionary movements which have arisen in opposition either directly to Vatican II or to the subsequent liberalization of the church (especially the American church, under the spell of the heresy of Americanism and often rejecting the authority of the Roman Pontiff). The author divides these movements into three types: the conservative reaction, the traditionalist and Catholic separatist movements, and the mystical Marianist and apocalypticist movements which rely on private revelation to fill an absence of authority. Among conservative groups within the church, many adhere strongly to a document proliferated by Pope Paul VI (who is otherwise regarded with some suspicion especially by traditionalists for "changing the mass"). This document referred to as _Humanae Vitae_ issued by Paul VI in 1968, explicitly condemns birth control for Catholics and reasserts traditional Catholic teaching on sexual morality. Among the Catholic conservatives, abortion and birth control are regarded as part of the same problem involving loose sexual morals within American society. While conservatives affirm Vatican II and the subsequent "post-conciliar" popes (as well as the validity of the new mass, although they may not particularly like it), they continue to believe that many in the church are corrupted by liberalism and various heresies and thus have taken it upon themselves to enforce the Catholic tradition within the church and society at large. The author of this book considers such conservative groups as Catholics United for the Faith (CUF), E. Michael Jones

The title, "Smoke of Satan", derives from a comment made by Pope Paul VI describing the confusion and rebellion which seemed to have invaded the Roman Catholic Church in the 1970's. Anyone who has become even tangentially involved with the so-called Traditionalist Movement in the Catholic Church will run into the Pope's phrase sooner or later. This choice of title for his book by Mr. Cuneo shows just how well he, a professor of sociology, has done his research. Everybody's here: from the so-called "CUF Catholics" to the uncharitable E. Michael Jones; from the fringe Society of St. Pius X to the even-loonier Society of St. Pius V; from the Bayside cult to the hysterical Fr. Nicholas Gruener! I give Cuneo credit for REALLY doing his homework: He visits Traddy "remnants" and Conservative upstarts, while frankly and seriously discussing their views. What I enjoyed was how Cuneo weaved one interesting story into another. What is more, many times while reading the book I chuckled to myself saying, "I've been there" or "I used to think the same thing." Whatever his real views are about CUF or Mount St. Michael's, I didn't get the impression that they got in the way of his research: If an interviewee came off as a blowhard, a hypocrite, or a nut, it was usually due to his or her verbatim comments! I could not give his book five stars as I would've liked on account of two gaping holes in Mr. Cuneo's work: the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter and EWTN. I don't see how he could write about such "mainstream" Conservative groups (CUF, The Wanderer) and, then, completely forget about that scourge of liberal American Catholicism, Mother Angelica. Moreover, how could Cuneo fail to treat the Fraternity, which is THE religious community at the forefront of Traditionalism's "reform of the reform"? Alas, nobody's perfect. Really, though, a must-read for anyone who's ever attended a Latin Mass--approved or not--in the United States.

As a loyal, loving Roman Catholic, I'm over-joyed to finally see something said about the so called, self proclaimed "true Catholics," "real Catholics," "loyal Catholics." These are the people that cause the rest of us embarassment, and Michael Cuneo does a fine job highlighting the sensibility of an interesting cast of characters to read about. Sad thing is realizing that these groups exist, really, in the world. And too often, when looking at "what's wrong" with or in the Catholic Church, the finger is pointed at supposedly "liberal" priests and theologians and so on. Here Cuneo sheds light on "the other side". Excellent book.

I was prepared to dislike this book, expecting another "left-wing hatchet job" (we conservative Catholics have seen more than one recently). But, surprise! Though Dr. Cuneo obviously favors a more liberal Catholic positions, he does not let his bias prevent him from fair, objective and highly entertaining reports on various factions within the Catholic right. I still disagree with some of his conclusions, but was surprised at how often I found myself nodding my head and saying, "Right on, Doc!"