What Happens When Two Thirds Of A Nations Bishops Formally Embrace Heresy?
Absolutely nothing
Helmet tip to Derek Remus of Milites Veritatis

Almost 40 years ago, a little known abomination happened up in Canada. A lil' something known as "The Winnipeg Statement". Essentially, most of the Canadian Bishops flat-out rejected Humanae Vitae, The Church teaching on (in general) human sexuality, but specifically, artificial birth control.

The Winnipeg Statement left a mile-wide loop hole for Canadian Catholics to freely participate in abortion, homosexuality, artificial birth control, call for women's ordination, etc.

The now infamous "Paragraph 26", which in one breath claims loyalty to the teachings of the Pope, then in the next, trots out the "follow your conscience" drivel. And as we all know, when our so-called shepherds start spouting that "primacy of conscience" clap-trap, it's nothing more than a $50 phrase for the 25 cent sentence - "if it feels good... do it".

Specifically, here's paragraph 26;

"Counsellors may meet others who, accepting the teaching of the Holy Father, find that because of particular circumstances they are involved in what seems to them a clear conflict of duties, e.g., the reconciling of conjugal love and responsible parenthood with the education of children already born or with the health of the mother. In accord with the accepted principles of moral theology, if these persons have tried sincerely, but without success to pursue a line of conduct in keeping with the given directives, they may be safely assured that, whoever chooses that course which seems right to him does so in good conscience.”

OK, so what does all that mean? In an article on Wikipedia;

The [Winnipeg] statement was met with immediate and vocal opposition, which found root especially among conservative pro-life activists. The objections of opponents to the statement are perhaps best summarized in the writings of Msgr. Vincent Foy, who contends, among other things, that the Winnipeg Statement:

is tantamount to blasphemy, has increased dissent in the Church, and is an act of disobedience to the Holy See

has fostered support for homosexuality, the ordination of women, the "fundamental option", and abortion

is a major factor in the crisis of vocations to the priesthood and religious life

has facilitated anti-life and immoral government legislation

has deprived spouses of married love, has pitted spouses against one another, has made faithful Catholic couples feel betrayed and unsupported, and has been the cause of many marital breakups

permits extra-marital sex, and has led to a lowered respect for women

has not only adversely affected married life in Canada but in many other countries

has led to the killing of countless persons through abortifacient pills and devices

The Conference of Canadian Bishops have never retracted The Winnipeg Statement. In fact, a year after they authorized it, they stated; "Nothing could be gained and much lost by an attempt to rephrase what we have said in Winnipeg. We stand squarely behind our position but we feel it is our duty to insist on a proper interpretation of that position."

So the next time you hear of individuals who proudly refer to themselves as "Winnipeg Catholics"... you now know what they're talking about. We Traditional Catholics have a word for these kinds of folks... they're called Protestants.

So to all you Winnipeg Catholics, you've lost. Your love affair with Protestantism is as much a failure as you are. Good bye and good riddance.