In defense of Father Malachi Brendan Martin

Seattle Catholic ^ | March 2003 | William H. Kennedy

[bornacatholic]

Many extremists like Malachi Martin because he tends to confirm their wrong idea the Catholic Church has virtually ceased to exist and/or has been co-opted by Satanists in Rome.

[bornacatholic]

Fr. Malachi Martin & "perfect possesion"
QUESTION from Blake on June 2, 2004 Dear Brother John-Paul,

I had a question and comment about your reply to "Jim" from his May 26, 2004 question entitled, "exorcise perfectly possessed?"

It seems to me that Malachi Martin's assertion of a "perfect possession" is not heresy but doctrinally sound. Take for instance Our Lord's teaching about those who are guilty of the sin against the Holy Spirit. Christ said, if I remember correctly, that this sin will not be forgiven. I was always taught that this is due not to some inability of God to extend forgiveness and mercy but to a person completely cutting themselves off from the working of the Holy Spirit. This person is no longer able to receive God's mercy due to the working of his or her own free will and decision and even God will not violate someone's own free will. Of course, I am assuming that such a person has the capacity to freely choose.

So, is it not possible for a person to so give themselves over to a demon or demons that they cannot be exorcised due to the person's own actions and free will?

This kind of person might live in accord with a demon and function fine in the world and all the time be headed for ruin. This person could also be content in their life choice and have no desire to change it. I believe that is what Malachi is saying about "perfect possession." Not that demons have free reign over the earth. A demon only has the power that God allows it to have and it seems you were implying that a perfectly possessed person was not complicit enough in their own possession to where they could be "perfectly possessed" in the first place. Malachi never said, that I can remember, that God cannot do whatever he wants to do. If God wanted to intervene in some special way, He has the power to do as he wills. To me, there are those persons who have by their own choice completely turned away from God and if they died at this moment in such a state would be damned, of course depending on the individual circumstance. Only God can judge. But, still the same, the church does teach us that those dying in a state of mortal sin will be lost. And hence, Christ's command to "pray always." I've never heard of a case where God forces a person to do right. Correct me if I have misinterpreted what you said.

I listened to many radio interviews with Fr. Martin before he died and heard him address this subject many times. I also read a couple of his books and listened to some of his tapes. If he is spreading heresy and discord in the church, let me know where. But, he has, to my knowledge never misled me in my faith in the church or the Holy Father. This is not to say that I agree with him on everything.

Could you please address my comments and questions and if you have time, say if you actually use Malachi's book (Hostage To The Devil??) as a doorstop. Maybe you were just kidding. I was not sure.

Thank you for your time. I truly enjoy your website. It is full of great material and wisdom.

Sincerely,

Blake

---

ANSWER by Staff on June 2, 2004 Dear Blake:

Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is about a person refusing to accept God's saving grace even unto death.

Martin uses the term "perfect possession" and says that the person cannot be exorcized. This is nonsense as is most of Martin's assertions.

It is possible for a person not to be freed from demons because they choose not to be, but this is a point of the person's free will, not the possession itself.

There is no such thing as a possession that is invulnerable to God. The only thing that can stop God is one's own free will. God has chosen never to intrude upon one's free will.

In cases of full possession, if a demon is preventing the person of the use of his free will, this would not stop God from granting that person freedom. Then AFTER the exorcism, the person can always invite the demons back.

Yes, I use Martian's book as a doorstop. That is all that it is worth.

If you have listened to many of Martin's interviews and have not noticed his trying to stir up discord, then, with all due respect, you have not listened very well.

This is understandable, however, since Martin was a slick salesman that would make a used car salesman proud. For example, in order to give the appearance that he is not against Pope John Paul II he, in one interview, he mentioned how the Church is being led into hell, or something to that effect, then 40 minutes later he mentioned Pope John Paul II as the leader of bringing the Church astray. The 40 minutes separation of these comments allows the listener to not catch that he is saying the Pope is leading the Church to hell. Classic technique.

Martin was an ultra-traditionalist kook and like all ultra-traditionalist thought that his opinion outranked the Pope's. This is the definition of a liberal. Both those whom we generally call "liberals" and those whom we call "ultra-traditionalists" are actually both liberals; they are nothing more than two sides of the same coin -- lacking faith and replacing that faith with their own brand of orthodoxy and constantly sewing discord, especially through conspiracy theories bare of any actual proof.

I have more than 25 interviews of Martin on tape. I was going to use them to expose this man and his tactics to sell books. As a former publisher, editor, and public relations person I know the tricks of the trade. Martin used about every one of the standard tricks to sell books.

I have no respect for the man or his memory and was not going to waste my time doing the report on him after he died. His groupies, however, are still going strong and so I may go ahead with the report to prove the assertions I am making; and I can prove them.

When I can get that done with the time I have I do not know. In the meantime I recommend avoiding this man for anything serious. His novels might be good but remember that they are only novels.

That reminds me. Art Bell once asked Martin why he didn't write a non-fiction book to expose all these corruptions that he claims are in the Vatican. His response are comical. He said that he wrote novels as "Fact-ion" -- a combination of fact and fiction. The reason for this was to protect the people involved (why do this, if they are corrupt then needed exposed) and to protect the public. He thinks the public could not take it if they were to know the truth. Give me a break!

Art Bell asked about how much of the novels are truth. Martin replied 80%. I thought he did not want to alarm the public. Instead he tells the public that 80% of his novel is truth, but does not say which portions are true and which are not, leaving the public to wildly speculate causing confusion and discord.

However, the real reason for writing FACT-ion is an old book selling trick. It peaks the imagination of the public to figure out which is which tantalizing the public's hunger for conspiracies, and most importantly, as a FACT-ion book he does not have to provide footnotes or one shred of evidence. Such an approach is the stuff of the "National Enquirer".

I feel sorry for the man. He was very confused at best. I pray for his soul.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

[k omalley]

I would read "Final Conclave" first, then "Keys of this Blood," then "Windswept House." His books "The Jesuits" and "Hostage to the Devil" could be read in any order. Actually, I read "Windswept" first and my curiosity was whetted to read the others and find out how the Church got in such a state.

[bornacatholic]

the extremists have picked an odd character on whom to hang their hopes...

He abandons his vows, likely committed adultry ,tells us the Pope is leading us to Hell and frequently appeared on the Art Bell show..

Yep, quite a hero

[bornacatholic]

Martin's stated reason for leaving the Jesuits and the institutional Church was that he felt that Roman Catholicism was changing too fast and the institution he had grown up with was becoming an alien form of religion for him.

My wife has really changed since we first married. I think I'll invoke the Malachi clause and abandon my marital vows.

[bornacatholic]

Martin was an ultra-traditionalist kook and like all ultra-traditionalist thought that his opinion outranked the Pope's. This is the definition of a liberal. Both those whom we generally call "liberals" and those whom we call "ultra-traditionalists" are actually both liberals; they are nothing more than two sides of the same coin -- lacking faith and replacing that faith with their own brand of orthodoxy and constantly sewing discord, especially through conspiracy theories bare of any actual proof

*Bro. Ignatius Mary nails it.

[GirlShortstop]

Martin became more and more disenchanted with the Holy Father...to move toward a position called sedevacantism....
    Martin began to associate more and more with sedevacantist Churches...

Tsk, tsk... as Fox's Shep Smith says, "not lookin' pretty, folks".

Have you seen Father Corapi's talks entitled "END GAME" on EWTN?  He gives for thought many sobering aspects of evil in action: attacking Truth, Beauty, Goodness, and, I can see as applicable to this thread,  an attack on Unity.  

With such an infinite array of sound, Catholic books to be read,  I'll stick with the "safe" choices, leaving others to wonder just how healthy Martin's "fact-ion" truly is.

Pax et bonum.

[Mark in the Old South]

I might recommend the interviews Bernard Janzen did with Fr Martin. They are available on tape from Triumph Communications 121 Horsham Ave, Willowdale, Ontario M2N 2A1 or maybe a person at your church will loan you their copy assuming you go to a Traditional Church.

[Mark in the Old South]

Re: "Upon his return to the United States Father Malachi Martin had adopted a full sedevacantist stance"

I have heard several interviews of Fr Martin by Bernard Janzen that referred to his novel "Windswept House" and he was very clear that sedevacantist were outside the church and therefore outside salvation. I am not making that claim about sedevacantist myself but what I have heard several times from Fr Martins own mouth contradicts your statement. I do agree with you about caution but I believe that applies to everyone these days. Trust in God and look upon men with a squint of suspicion.

[Land of the Irish]

My wife has really changed since we first married. I think I'll invoke the Malachi clause and abandon my marital vows.

Go for it while you can. For the right price and with few questions asked, your new Church, which Malachi warned about, will grant you an annulment.

[Mark in the Old South]

Re: "the extremists have picked an odd character on whom to hang their hopes...He abandons his vows, likely committed adultry..."

:-D
Odd indeed, sound like a typical Novus Ordo hero, by you description of him.
:-D

[Mark in the Old South]

Re: "I can see as applicable to this thread, an attack on Unity."

I am racking my brain and can not think of a single quote by Christ that urged "unity" the closest is His instructions to love one another, which is close enough I guess but consider how many times He was clear that His would cause division.

Christian unity is fine as far as it goes but is not an end unto itself, and it is not that high of a goal when compared to obedience to God's commands. Such as mixing pagan and Christian worship (ASSISI)

[onyx]

GREAT post, thor.
I have several of his books.

[GirlShortstop]

can not think of a single quote by Christ that urged "unity"

I'd say these apply:
If a kingdom is divided against iself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not stand.

Jesus then said to those Jews who believed in him, "If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free".

Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.

Truth, Beauty, Goodness and Unity are the transcendentals that Father Corapi speaks about.

Satan's scheme is an assault that comes through the attack on what Father Corapi termed the transcendentals — unity, truth, good (the moral life) and beauty. It is an attack on life itself, he said. The ultimate goal is an attack on the Eucharist — the source, center and summit of the Church's life. "And how do you get rid of the Eucharist?" he asked. "You get rid of priests. Strike the shepherd and scatter the sheep."

Father Corapi outlined how scandals coming from within the Church (sexual abuse by priests) and scandals coming from outside the Church (via attacks by the media) are combining to do the devil's work.

"Divide and conquer is part of the end game," he said, and it can be traced back to that division within human beings themselves — sin.

The disintegration of the family, the dismissal of truth, the dissolution of morals, and the corruption of beauty are the results of what Pope Pius XII described in 1948: "The sin of the century is the loss of the sense of sin."
see a recap from Archdiocese of Denver newspaper here

I'd recommend catching the series if you can.

[bornacatholic]

Stop racking...John's Gospel....

11 And now I am not in the world, and these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep them in thy name whom thou hast given me: that they may be one, as we also are.

12 While I was with them, I kept them in thy name. Those whom thou gavest me have I kept: and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition: that the scripture may be fulfilled.

13 And now I come to thee: and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy filled in themselves.

14 I have given them thy word, and the world hath hated them: because they are not of the world, as I also am not of the world.

15 I pray not that thou shouldst take them out of the world, but that thou shouldst keep them from evil.

16 They are not of the world, as I also am not of the world.

17 Sanctify them in truth. Thy word is truth.

18 As thou hast sent me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.

19 And for them do I sanctify myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

20 And not for them only do I pray, but for them also who through their word shall believe in me.

21 That they all may be one, as thou, Father, in me, and I in thee; that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

22 And the glory which thou hast given me, I have given to them: that, they may be one, as we also are one.

23 I in them, and thou in me: that they may be made perfect in one: and the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them, as thou hast also loved me.

[Mark in the Old South]

The only one that works, in a stretch is the first one, obliquely, maybe. It presumes all of these people are part of Christ's kingdom, I make no such assumption about anyone, God knows I can only guess.

[Mark in the Old South]

You give a lot of quotes but I don't see how they speak on unity. I noticed how many protestant preachers on TV give what I call footnote sermons. You can tell who they are with the sound off. When the TV pans the congregation many of them have a note pads and pens in their hands. They give lots of references to biblical verses but if you make a note and look them up to see them in context they often have nothing to do with what the preacher was trying to prove. It looks convincing, educated and informed but is often with out substance or is a stretch at best. For example your fist example seems to deal with the Trinity. I guess that is unity but it isn't the unity I was talking about. The second one you gave I believe deals with the true Apostles being safe from the devil's clutches, but I am going by memory.

[sinkspur]

I'd tread extremely warily where Martin is concerned and take his writings with a grain of salt.

The only interviews he was able to get toward the end of his life were on outlets like Art Bell and Alex Jones, two radio hosts who proudly further every kook conspiracy known to man.

[AlbionGirl]

Thanks, I think I'll take your advise.

Just got back from Mass; High Tridentine for Christ the King. It was absolutely spectacular. A lone, melancholy trumpet accompanied by chant reverberated in your marrow. It was stupendous.

Priest gave a very good Sermon, too. Said Christ was the King of all of us: terrorists and atheists, alike. He said that Christ is the King of the heart, of the Family, of the City, of the County, of the State, of the legislature, of the Senate, and of the President. He admonished us to vote according to our Catholic Faith.

I love this Mass, and I love this Church. If you're ever out in Rochester, NY, go to Saint Stanislaus Church, you won't regret it.

A baby was cooing througout the Mass. It was so beautiful. I just wanted to go over to him or her and kiss his or her chubby little cheek. The baby's Mother had 5 other kids with her, about a year and a half apart from each other. She was the most beautiful sight I've seen in a while.

God Bless Mothers, and God Bless the Family, that tiniest, most Sacred of Churches.

[Fast Ed97]

I believe Kathleen Keating was close to Fr. Martin- She has not appeared on Coast to Coast AM for some time- she is one of those Catholic Endtimes-Antichrist talking heads and she is quite on the kooky side but in one of her weekly updates I found this:

"In answer to whether or not the satanic rituals in my book are fiction or based on truth, sadly, they are true and the rituals continue in churches all over the world, including St. Peter's in Rome. A former cardinal of Chicago, now deceased, was supposedly a main participant in these despicable black masses. I don't have any current information about the Holy Name Cathedral. I do doubt, however, if the deceased cardinal's coven has disbanded entirely. The odds are against it. There is an American cardinal alive today who does actively conduct black masses and seeks newborn infants for human sacrifice.

Before I ever started writing and talking about this cardinal, I did a lot of research about the man, the people connected with him and the murders that take place during the black masses. I have spoken to law enforcement personnel in the cardinal's diocese who are familiar with the cardinal and his dark goals. It was confirmed that law enforcement is aware of the cardinal and his sadistic penchant for newborns. You have to remember that the cardinal doesn't comb the streets in his clericals looking for suitable victims. He does, however, have people working with him who are assigned the monstrous task. Fortunately, his people are not always successful in obtaining a child.

Certainly, there are holy bishops and archbishops in this country like Archbishop Chaput in the Denver diocese.

We should pray for the protection of holy bishops and priests who are fighting the dark side. "