The Remnant Faithful: A Case Study of Contemporary Apocalyptic Catholicism

Sociology of Religion, Summer, 2001 by Amy Luebbers

According to believers, the illegitimate dismissing of Pope John Paul II will be an urgent sign for all to go into hiding and avoid the taking of the chip. The Faithful are instructed to pack up only the bare necessities and sacramentals and head toward caves, which will be found with the help of angels. These caves will provide refuge from satellite and helicopter detection by the New World Order. Food and medicine are to be shared with others and will be divinely multiplied.

The dual, mystical perspective is the mechanism through which technological and global change is understood as proof of Evil permeating the world, and believers' respond to this world mystically, as well. No participant stated to having stopped using their TV, computer, or credit cards, or stocking extra food that goes beyond the normal preparation for temporary weather or short-term Y2K problems, and only one noted a more serious preparation of possibly purchasing a wood-burning stove. All, however, mentioned a strong spiritual preparation of prayer.

Thaumaturgical Legitimacy

A dual worldview is affirmed through End Times prophets such as Leary. 14] However, interviews also suggest that visionaries are weighted against the standards of other more legendary visionary experiences, such as Fatima. [15] However, full legitimacy is based on the Bible.

As Dan stated, "Until the point comes that he [Leary] starts saying something that's against the Bible, then that would probably be the point that I'd turn away.... I live my life according to the Bible and John Leary's just another aid or another explanation of a point in the Bible." For this believer, Leary's prophetic authority lies in the ability to interpret the contemporary world and provide individuals with a sense of reason that clearly corresponds with scripture. Because the prophet is not the authority, there is a process of discernment between "true" and "false" prophets among believers. For instance, the proclamation of a specific End date is considered false prophecy, as Biblically, we "know not the day nor the hour," as many participants stated, yet they do suspect it is soon. "There's something very sinister in the world today, and we're going to be brought to our knees in this country. We're definitely going to be brought to our knees."

Though believers in the End interpreted evidence differently in terms of imminence and "doom and gloom," all maintained that the state of the world is declining. With a romanticized notion of the past, Catherine stated,

You know, sometimes I think to myself, it can't get any worse. Just looking back fifty years, and you think of the Cunninghams and Happy Days, and the world was a lot different. The respect children had for their parents, abortion wasn't an issue that it is now.... Things are so easy for people now. There's so much materialism, a lack of respect for life. It's hard for me to imagine that it could get any worse, you know? Which makes me go back to what John [Leary] said, and think, you know, this very well could be a final tribulation for people to get through. But geeze, I hope we don't have to see much more terrible things happening.