Who Is Still Catholic in the Catholic Church? – Folha de S. Paulo, January 5, 1975

by Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira

In a room next to the Church of Mercy in Salvador, Capuchin monks allowed a boutique to open, selling unisex items, including bikinis.

As one might imagine, the initiative caused a scandal among many churchgoers.

Friar Benjamim Capelli explained that the store’s rent will help increase the parish’s income for its charitable works.

Perhaps sensing the inconsistency of this argument—since a lawful end cannot justify immoral means—Friar Bruno Rossi added, “I only regret that some of our brothers, who are firmly rooted in the faith, are so easily scandalized and harbor such childish prejudices. It is interesting and symptomatic that traditionally austere friars, such as the Capuchins, have not perceived the impropriety of the business. Has the time not come to overturn false prejudices?” This information comes from a news item in the Jornal do Brasil daily on December 5, exactly one month ago.

* * *

As far as I know, this information has not been denied. I would be very happy to receive a letter stating that the reported fact is untrue. I hereby undertake to inform readers of any denial.

However, I doubt it will come, so I will go ahead with my comment.

When I published a news item a few months ago about a convent of nuns in Spain that manufactured bikinis, I caused an understandable sensation among readers. Although no one dared deny the unusual news, some considered it doubtful; such a scandal could not have happened.

A similar case has now erupted in Bahia’s capital, Salvador. After all, there is little difference between manufacturing and selling bikinis.

However, in neither the Spanish nor the Bahian case do the vast majority of people draw the appropriate conclusions.

One of these, however, stands out. If, from its foundation to the present day, the Church has regarded nudism—of which the bikini is one of the most aggressive manifestations—with horror, and if church entities now manufacture and sell bikinis, then one of two things must be true:

Either Catholic morality has changed completely, and therefore the Church is neither infallible nor divine.
Or, by implicitly but ostensibly affirming the legitimacy of the bikini, these ecclesiastical entities are adulterating Church teaching and thereby excluding themselves from it.

Now, since the first hypothesis is unacceptable, the second must stand.

* * *

Let us not be afraid to face the truth. This issue — nudism — raises a question that extends far beyond the case of the two “bikini-dealing” convents.

It is impossible that the use of bikinis and other forms of blatant sexual aggression has become so widespread without many spiritual directors granting absolution to people who could not receive it because of their manner of dress. They, too, must be asked: If you believe the Church’s morality has changed, how can you still call yourselves Catholics? And if you allow your penitents to wear bikinis, what right do you have to call yourselves Catholic priests?

* * *

Obviously, the question goes even further. Countless women who engage in sexual “aggression” have learned from the Catechism that Catholic morality is immutable.

If they think it has changed, how can they acknowledge the Church’s infallibility and divinity?

And if they think it hasn’t changed, how can they claim to be Catholic?

* * *

But someone might say that wearing a bikini is a sin against the 6th or 9th Commandment, depending on the case. However, a person does not sin against the Faith by violating one of these Commandments. Therefore, my argument is baseless.

Of course, I am not saying that those who manufacture, sell, or wear bikinis sin against the Faith. But those who implicitly or explicitly affirm that the Church’s morality has changed do indeed sin against the Faith.

* * *

And so a question also arises about one’s conduct in the face of communism and other issues: Who among this immense mass of 600 million people—cardinals, bishops, priests, religious, and laypeople, usually regarded as members of the one and immortal Church of God—remains a Roman Catholic?

Who Is Still Catholic in the Catholic Church? – Folha de S. Paulo, January 5, 1975

by Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira

In a room next to the Church of Mercy in Salvador, Capuchin monks allowed a boutique to open, selling unisex items, including bikinis.

As one might imagine, the initiative caused a scandal among many churchgoers.

Friar Benjamim Capelli explained that the store’s rent will help increase the parish’s income for its charitable works.

* * *

As far as I know, this information has not been denied. I would be very happy to receive a letter stating that the reported fact is untrue. I hereby undertake to inform readers of any denial.

However, I doubt it will come, so I will go ahead with my comment.

When I published a news item a few months ago about a convent of nuns in Spain that manufactured bikinis, I caused an understandable sensation among readers. Although no one dared deny the unusual news, some considered it doubtful; such a scandal could not have happened.

A similar case has now erupted in Bahia’s capital, Salvador. After all, there is little difference between manufacturing and selling bikinis.

However, in neither the Spanish nor the Bahian case do the vast majority of people draw the appropriate conclusions.

One of these, however, stands out. If, from its foundation to the present day, the Church has regarded nudism—of which the bikini is one of the most aggressive manifestations—with horror, and if church entities now manufacture and sell bikinis, then one of two things must be true:

Either Catholic morality has changed completely, and therefore the Church is neither infallible nor divine.

Or, by implicitly but ostensibly affirming the legitimacy of the bikini, these ecclesiastical entities are adulterating Church teaching and thereby excluding themselves from it.

Now, since the first hypothesis is unacceptable, the second must stand.

* * *

Let us not be afraid to face the truth. This issue — nudism — raises a question that extends far beyond the case of the two “bikini-dealing” convents.

* * *

Obviously, the question goes even further. Countless women who engage in sexual “aggression” have learned from the Catechism that Catholic morality is immutable.

If they think it has changed, how can they acknowledge the Church’s infallibility and divinity?

And if they think it hasn’t changed, how can they claim to be Catholic?

* * *

But someone might say that wearing a bikini is a sin against the 6th or 9th Commandment, depending on the case. However, a person does not sin against the Faith by violating one of these Commandments. Therefore, my argument is baseless.

Of course, I am not saying that those who manufacture, sell, or wear bikinis sin against the Faith. But those who implicitly or explicitly affirm that the Church’s morality has changed do indeed sin against the Faith.

* * *

And so a question also arises about one’s conduct in the face of communism and other issues: Who among this immense mass of 600 million people—cardinals, bishops, priests, religious, and laypeople, usually regarded as members of the one and immortal Church of God—remains a Roman Catholic?

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