"Martin Luther and Marcel Lefebvre shared more than their initials."

Source: "More Catholic than the Pope No More." Article. Pete Vere, JCL. Surprised by Truth 3. Patrick Madrid, editor.Manchester, New Hampshire: Sofia Institute Press, 2002.

"Who would want to read a story about someone who left the Catholic Church, joined the Lefebvre schism, then came back?

"Stories like mine are few and far between, unlike those of the great number of Protestants who annually convert to Catholicism.

"Yet my story really isn't so different:

"Martin Luther and Marcel Lefebvre shared more than their initials and the sacrament of Holy Orders -- they shared a common spirit of private interpretation and private judgement.

"In a futile attempt to recover what he perceived as an earlier and purer form of Christianity, each separated himself from full communion with the Church founded by Jesus Christ.

"In so doing, Luther and Lefebvre both rebelled against the Church's living Magisterium.

"They asserted their own private interpretation -- of Scripture in the one case and Tradition in the other -- over the authoritative interpretation of the Roman Pontiff, who, as St. Peter's successor, is entrusted with the task of safeguarding both Scripture and Tradition.

"Each man's actions led to movements that continue to divide into ever smaller sects, since with private interpretation every individual enjoys his own little papacy.

"This is in spite of the fact the first followers of both movements steadfastly believed they were still Catholic.

"During my time as a Lefebvrite schismatic, I believed it too."

Amen, amigo! Amen!