Openness to Dialogue – Folha de S. Paulo, February 18, 1973
by Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira
This week, which has seen many references to the TFP in the media, we have focused on what was happening at the XIII General Assembly of Bishops, held in São Paulo.
According to abundant news reports, the Assembly was going to take action against two related organizations, TFP and Cursillos. I say “related” because both are in open conflict: the TFP is widely distributing Bishop Antônio de Castro Mayer’s pastoral letter on infiltrations affecting sectors of the Cursillo movement, while the Cursillo leadership is fighting behind the scenes, avoiding public appearances while, for over a month now, stimulating successive waves of publicity against Bishop Mayer and the TFP. In passing, these attacks come as no surprise to Bishop Mayer or the TFP. I had already predicted them in an article in Folha de São Paulo, published as soon as the great prelate’s pastoral letter was released.
Before the meeting, various media outlets announced, with varying degrees of prominence and sometimes with thundering headlines, that the CNBB would condemn the TFP. At the beginning of the proceedings, Most Rev. José Freire Falcão, Archbishop of Teresina, designated by his peers to speak to the press, eagerly anticipating the plenary session’s pronouncement, stated that “the TFP will probably receive a reprimand.” This statement appeared corroborated by other CNBB sources, who told the press that the TFP’s inclusion on the Assembly’s agenda had been approved by a majority vote and that a commission of three bishops had been formed to study our entity. The Archbishop of Teresina also reported—this detail is noteworthy—that the TFP had been put on trial because of a planned vote of support for Cursillos in Christianity.
The “cheering section” of Cursillos’ leftist sectors rejoiced. Things could not have gone better for them. A vast, fat, and bombastic praise of the Cursillos, and above all, a condemnation of the TFP. What a find!
I understand the joy of these Cursillistas perfectly. With no arguments to counter the citations and arguments with which Bishop Antônio de Castro Mayer justified his reservations about the mischievous “De Colores” movement, its defenders have no choice but to hide behind the argument from authority. In a masterful interview with the press, the bishop of Campos demonstrated, based on Catholic doctrine and irrefutable historical precedents, that such an argument—as it has been exploited by the Cursillo counteroffensive—does not settle the issue and does not exempt the Cursillo leadership from accepting the doctrinal dialogue they have been fleeing. The only remedy for that leadership was to ask its defenders to continue with the same argument from authority. But the Brazilian people are among the most intelligent. The argument from authority bluff, used here as a wild card, failed to stun their quick, agile, and direct perception. And so, despite all the noise made by pro-Cursillistas, Bishop Antônio de Castro Mayer’s pastoral letter has been a success, and the TFP will publish the exact sales figures in due course.
Thus, it would be most useful for Cursillistas to add another note to their worn-out refrain. It could not consist simply of praise for the Cursillos. The copious laudatory material they already possess had not been of much use. More praise would not solve the situation. They really needed to strike a blow against the TFP. Those in trouble who cannot adequately defend themselves against accusations often use the well-known tactic of diverting attention from the issue by insulting their accuser.
When TFP’s planned condemnation was announced, some Cursillistas expressed their joy in a resounding yet cowardly way. Anonymous callers phoned TFP headquarters, hurling insults and heavy profanity. This is no surprise to those who have read Bishop Mayer’s pastoral letter and know that such behavior is widely promoted in certain Cursillos. I have very recent proof of what I am saying, and if any Cursillista doubts this, they can question me. However, I don’t think they will. Another manifestation of the joy with which certain Cursillistas prematurely celebrated their victory was driving by our oratory on Martim Francisco Street and shouting obscenities. One particularly joyful Cursillista threw eggs at the young men who were praying devoutly before a statue of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, their backs to the street.
As I said, the leftist sectors of the Cursillistas rejoiced… in their own way.
* * *
This whole joy of anonymous heroes, champions of pornography, and epic knights who confront, from inside their cars and from behind, those who dare disagree with them, suddenly began to fade when the Cardinal Archbishop of Porto Alegre, His Eminence Vicente Scherer, told the press that the TFP would probably not be condemned and that any reference in the Assembly’s final communiqué would at most censure our organization.
The profanity-laden phone calls ceased. In front of the oratory, blasphemies against Our Lady and insults gradually disappeared. Finally, when the communiqué was released, the Cursillistas’ jubilant expectations fell to the ground. The public saw that it contained no reference to the TFP.
* * *
Why was there such a difference between the bright prospects the Cursillistas saw at the start of the Assembly and the final outcome?
I don’t know. With a clear conscience, the TFP allowed the Assembly to proceed without requesting any information or seeking sympathy or votes. We awaited the result calmly, ready to explain our position to the public if necessary, as we had in 1966, when we were attacked by a CNBB Central Commission communiqué.
Thus, I am not in a position to explain what occurred.
I note only that, according to certain newspapers, there was a heated discussion among the bishops about censuring the TFP, which delayed the publication of the communiqué by one hour. It ultimately contained nothing about the TFP.
We thank the bishops who voted to omit any censure on that occasion, as it can be difficult to uphold justice at times.
* * *
The desolation of frustrated Cursillistas would be complete were it not for the CNBB secretary, Most Rev. Ivo Lorscheiter, issuing statements to the press. To what extent do these statements reflect the Assembly’s thinking? What is their purpose?
The well-known CNBB secretary says that the bishops’ committee charged with studying the TFP question opined that, seeking publicity, our entity was seeking any pronouncement, even an unfavorable one. As a consequence, the CNBB should remain silent about our organization. In my next article, I will analyze this extravagant and petulant attitude that Bishop Lorscheiter attributes to the committee and the illustrious Assembly. Here, I will just recall the well-known fact that those who made such a fuss about TFP’s possible condemnation were not its friends but anonymous bullies and heroes of obscene language.
Bishop Lorscheiter added that the Assembly refrained from condemning us “so as not to give the TFP more importance than this organization has.” I will return to this subject. For the moment, I humbly accept before Bishop Lorscheiter the TFP’s complete irrelevance. However, I am surprised that, despite our insignificance, Bishop Lorscheiter fails to warn the vast audience we address nationwide about us. Is the public also unimportant to this shepherd?
To the delight of his Cursillo supporters, Bishop Lorscheiter also says we are “impervious to dialogue.” I can assure you that the truth is exactly the opposite. If Bishop Lorscheiter wishes, I can provide him with public proof of this. All he has to do is ask.
Finally, Bishop Lorscheiter insinuates that we lack respect for the episcopate. I also affirm that this is not the case. If Bishop Lorscheiter shows me otherwise, I will not hesitate to apologize to whom it may concern. What I would like is for Bishop Lorscheiter—who, as a bishop, should set a good example in the practice of all virtues, publicly and privately—to publicly apologize if, after being duly informed, he becomes convinced that the TFP is open to dialogue.
But I am already exceeding the limits of this article. The rest will have to wait for another time.
