Surprising Surprise – Folha de S. Paulo, November 16, 1969

by Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira

Yes, a surprising surprise is not a proofreading error. I am surprised to see people of high standing and great responsibility surprised at “Catholic” terrorism.

Some time ago, my archbishop, His Eminence Cardinal Agnello Rossi, told the press he was unaware of the existence of communist priests in Brazil. More recently, upon returning from Rome, the archbishop of Rio, Cardinal Jaime de Barros Câmara, declared to the press that he had informed the Holy Father, Paul VI, that the situation of the Brazilian clergy was entirely normal. However, one cannot consider the situation of a clergy normal when the most terrible of enemies has managed to infiltrate its ranks.

Now, the tumor of terrorist infiltration within the clergy is spreading rapidly. It represents the worst form of communism—defending not only atheism, materialism, disdain for the family, and denial of private property but also promoting organized killing, kidnapping, and looting.

Faced with this ultimate scandal, everything in the attitude of the illustrious prelates, at least as I write this Wednesday morning, seems as if they have not recovered from the enormous surprise that presumably stunned them.

Naturally, the lively and perceptive Brazilian public does not confuse police reports with the conclusions of a court ruling. Police reports might have flaws that a magistrate can identify, point out, and correct. However, the entire country is convinced that most of the facts described are true. And this majority is so large and convincing that it has shocked public opinion. Newspapers, radio stations, and TV networks have covered the scandal from north to south. It has become the hot topic of conversation everywhere. Outcries have emerged from all sides, blending into a single national outcry.

Of course, the nation expected the leading church organizations and prominent ecclesiastical figures to voice their outrage with a strong cry of pain and protest against the terrible and confirmed events already known. However, the nation saw the opposite in them: silence, caution, delay, and cautious waiting for more information, as if what is already widely recognized wasn’t enough to justify a firm stance by CNBB’s spokespeople.

Let’s be clear. I am not surprised that the CNBB tries to mention mitigating circumstances that might be involved in the case and avoids commenting on still uncertain details. What surprises me is that the CNBB has remained silent, waiting for further investigations, as if, surprised by what has happened, it still questions what is already certain, well-known, undeniable, and clearly obvious. This uncertainty in the face of what is certain, this surprise despite what was expected, surprises me.

* * *

Indeed, who in Brazil has denied communist infiltration of the clergy except for a few circles unaware of the current reality or others sympathetic to the infiltrators?

The Comblin document—a landmark in this matter that we must always refer back to—exposed the communist tendencies and subversive aims of a faction within the clergy. It involved Father Joseph Comblin and many other clergymen who supported “Comblinism” through the press or other channels. Because of this, 1,600,368 Brazilians, including 15 bishops, numerous priests and nuns, government ministers, high-ranking officers in all three military branches, university professors, lawmakers, and people from all social classes, signed the TFP’s successful petition urging His Holiness Paul VI to take immediate action on the issue. Everyone saw it, everyone knew it—except for the CNBB’s highest levels, which continued to insist everything was normal.

Consequently, Father Comblin remains free to access ecclesiastical circles as he has announced a series of articles for Grande Sinal—Revista da Espiritualidade e Pastoral (Great Sign—Magazine of Spirituality and Pastoral Care).

Faced with a monumental petition, which today marks a significant moment in the history of contemporary Brazil, CNBB’s senior leadership remained silent, inactive, and in denial. “Silent,” I said, was only true initially, when they issued optimistic statements that essentially denied the petition. The police case has now escalated, and the same circles are surprised.

To me, this surprise is surprising.

* * *

Objectivity requires me to take one more step. The surprise is so overwhelming that it seems to have paralyzed CNBB’s senior leadership. They appear completely absorbed in the police investigations, waiting for what they will reveal. However, the situation demands much more from the CNBB.

Indeed, the Church’s internal security urgently requires the CNBB to carry out a comprehensive investigation of an entirely ecclesiastical nature to understand the full extent of the problem that has grown exponentially. Bishops, priests, nuns, laypeople, and anyone interested in testifying before church authorities should be invited to do so with strong protections against possible persecution or pressure (this point cannot be stressed enough). I do not see any of this happening. Yet, for the CNBB, this is the only approach that makes sense given the disastrous situation. The Church would then be in a prime position, working alongside the State, to defend itself and Brazil from this serious threat.

However, this surprising surprise apparently hinders the most necessary measures—at least so far…