Cekada’s Defense of One-Handed Ordination: Arrogance in Action

Doubts about the validity of Daniel L. Dolan’s priestly ordination arose -- and have existed -- ever since his ordination ceremony.  The reason, as many are aware, is that he was ordained with only one hand (instead of the prescribed two) by Archbishop Marcel LeFebvre.  Because of those doubts, nine of his clerical colleagues signed their names to a letter urging him "to stop saying Mass, hearing confessions, and administering the sacrament of Extreme Unction until this problem is solved."  In answer to their concerns, Anthony Cekada "solved the problem" by authoring an “explanation” stating that one-handed ordinations are indeed valid.

For years, this “explanation” was accepted by these nine priests, and accepted as well by those unschooled in the matter.  Because Cekada gave everyone the impression that he was a “scholar,” the “explanation” went unchallenged; and none of them bothered to verify the accuracy or credibility of his words.  However, with those who knew that Cekada’s explanation was flawed (and who had in fact privately warned him about it), doubts still lingered; and those doubts re-emerged in earnest after Cekada’s blatant faux pas on Schiavo.  And after the scandalous events at SGG (St. Gertrude the Great Church) – and Dolan and Cekada’s heavy-handedness in trying to cover up those events -- these doubts kicked into high gear (and, of course, doubts about Cekada’s academic credentials in general).

As reported recently in Lay Pulpit, another traditional blog has just published a series of articles about those doubts (prompted by a “dare” from one of Cekada and Dolan’s supporters -- one “Introibo” -- that the blog’s author provide “proof” that those doubts are well-founded).  The articles not only proved that the doubts were indeed well-founded, but they have also thoroughly shattered what is left of the myth of Cekada’s reputation as a “scholar” (I'm sure that Tony sincerely regrets that this over-zealous underling ever issued that dare!).  After reading those articles, one might question why Cekada even attempted his bogus defense of Dolan’s one-handed ordination, or why Dolan did not get himself “fixed” by undergoing conditional ordination – a completely simple and painless procedure that could have been done with absolutely no “loss of face.”

The answer, of course, is ARROGANCE, which has always been part and parcel of both Dolan’s and Cekada’s personnas.  The first time that the public really took notice of Cekada’s monumental arrogance was probably with Schiavo.  His unbelievable assertions on that were downright embarrassing, showcasing not only his arrogance but his ignorance (and, of course, his total lack of compassion).  But did he recant, or ever admit that he was wrong?  No.  Neither of these men has the humility to admit to any such thing.  Being totally DEVOID of that virtue, their first impulse has always been not to face things openly and honestly. but to cover them up, to explain them away, or to ignore them altogether (as Cekada did in Schiavo).

In the case of Dolan’s one-handed ordination, Cekada used the “explain it away” tactic, hoping that no one would check up on what he said.  But, unfortunately for him (and Dolan), one of their culties, irked that the author of Pistrina raised doubts about Dolan’s ordination, challenged that author to “prove his point” – and the latter obliged.  It is now definitively clear that Cekada not only employed incorrect, sloppy translation in his “explanation,” but completely ignored official papal teaching on the subject – and also ignored that universal maxim always employed by the Church: When in doubt, take the safe course [in this case, conditional ordination].

But Dolan’s arrogance would not let him do that, nor – just as with Schiavo -- would Cekada’s.  Again, that requires humility – something that these two do not possess, nor ever will.  Cekada’s defense of Dolan’s one-handed ordination turns out to have been a sham.  But this should not come as any surprise, because everything they do is a sham.  What else could one expect from people who interpret watching porn on the school computer as “boys will be boys,” or who overlook the principal’s son impregnating a female student (and, in fact, feature him in a complimentary article in a subsequent church bulletin) -- while blaming the girl?  And, again, what else could one expect from people who justified the murder of Terri Schiavo, who lay starving and dehydrating to death while they were feasting at one of their favorite restaurants?   

All they care about (and what it gains them) is “the show”:  the elaborate rites and rubrics, the pontifical pageantry, the processions (complete with bell-ringing, incense -- and even a donkey on Palm Sunday) – the trappings of Catholicism.  But what about the substance?  What about actually being Catholic – in thought and deed.  What did they do about the dozens of mistreated SGG school children?  And where was their concern for Terri?  They cared more for Vivaldi, Puccini, and Caravaggio (their pet cats) than they did for her.  Even the donkey in the Palm Sunday procession no doubt got plenty of hay and water – but not Terri.  And, to cite one more example, how about the parishioner whom they denied the sacraments because he happened to attend a Mass at an SSPX chapel – just one of many instances where they used the sacraments as “weapons” to scare the sheep into compliance?  That is not Catholicism; that is cultism.

Looking at their track record, why should anyone be surprised that Cekada tried to cover up for his buddy Dannie – especially if traddieland’s clerics accepted it?  It’s the only natural thing for this unnatural pair to do.  But the problem for them now is that traditional clerics – at least the rational and intellectually honest of them – no longer accept Cekada’s “explanation.”  They see it for the shoddily crafted expedient that it was.  So what will the dynamic duo do now?  Well, as long as they have a critical mass of groveling lackeys to keep them financially afloat, perhaps they’ll just continue going the “ignore it” route.  After all, if the sheep looked past Schiavo, they’ll look past this, as long as they get their “bread and circuses” (except that Dannie and Tony get the “bread,” while the sheep only get the “circus”).

But for many of the traditional public – especially its clerics -- the “circus” is over.  Cekada’s support with the latter has largely evaporated; and it’s only a matter of time before it does with many of the laity as well – perhaps even to the dynamic duo’s most ardent zombies.  One thing that will hasten this process is for traditional clerics to speak up, and stop hiding behind the cowardly cloak of “not getting involved” or “not causing scandal.”  If there is scandal, it is in what these cult-masters have done – and especially in covering up what they have done.  Silence and inaction are no longer “acceptable alternatives”; they equate to sinful collusion.  How many more souls will be endangered -- and how many more wallets will be drained by these parasites -- before they are stopped?  Those who continue to let these charlatans have their way will be endangering those souls (and wallets).  And those who continue defending the indefensible -- they can look forward to ultimate disillusionment.