An ultra-traditionalist Catholic group known for strict dogmatic positions and a controversial history with the Church.
The Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary is a religious community with a rich yet contentious history, deeply rooted in ultra-traditionalist Catholic beliefs. This group was initially founded in 1949, emerging from the Saint Benedict Center, which itself was established in 1940 by Catherine Goddard Clarke in Harvard Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts. The center was designed to be an educational oasis near secular universities, aiming to propagate Catholic teachings. Leonard Feeney, a Jesuit priest who became the center’s chaplain in 1945, played a crucial role in shaping the group’s ideology, particularly through his strict adherence to the doctrine “extra Ecclesiam nulla salus” (outside the Church there is no salvation), often referred to as “Feeneyism.”
The doctrine posits that only baptized Catholics could achieve salvation, a stance that has led to significant controversies and strained relations with the broader Catholic Church. Father Feeney was excommunicated in 1953, although he reconciled with the Church before his death in 1978. However, his teachings continued to influence the group, prompting ongoing tensions and eventual sanctions from Church authorities. In 2016, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) declared their interpretation of the salvation doctrine unacceptable, and in 2019, the Diocese of Manchester prohibited Catholics from receiving sacraments at the Saint Benedict Center or participating in its activities due to these doctrinal disputes.
Despite these challenges, the Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary have continued their mission, operating several religious houses across the United States, including in Massachusetts, Ohio, California, and a notable center in New Hampshire. They are involved in various forms of apostolate, such as publishing, running a school, and missionary work, which includes door-to-door distribution of books and engaging in traditional Catholic community activities. The community emphasizes traditional Catholic doctrine and practices, including adherence to the Latin Mass and traditional sacramental rites.
The group also fosters a Catholic community life at their center in Richmond, working with Third Order members and other faithful to maintain a vibrant Catholic culture that emphasizes traditional values and practices. They run an internet radio show, Reconquest, aimed at promoting their version of the Catholic faith.
However, the Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary have faced both internal and external challenges. Internal divisions have led to the formation of independent houses that still adhere to Father Feeney’s original mission, often stemming from doctrinal and administrative disputes. Externally, they have been labeled as schismatic and antisemitic by some critics, further complicating their relationship with the Catholic hierarchy.
Overall, the Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary represent a complex element within Catholicism, marked by a staunch conservative stance on doctrine and an ongoing commitment to traditional practices amidst controversy and criticism.
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