Alleanza Cattolica acknowledges its debt to "Doctor Plinio" 

by Miguel Martinez


Alleanza Cattolica is proud to publish Plinio Correa de Oliveira's writings in his magazine: 

"His writings were often published again abroad, especially by the magazines of the several TFP ("Tradition Family and Property") associations around the world. In Italy, they appear in the monthly Cristianità, official voice of Alleanza Cattolica, and on Quaderni di Cristianità, published every four months." 
("In memoriam: Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira", Cristianità, Nov.-Dec. 1995, p. 6)


Here is the full statement of the relationship as expressed in AC's official magazine: 

"Alleanza Cattolica, neither founded nor directed by Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira, refers in the issues it deals with to the counter-revolutionary magisterium he expressed during his life on earth [...]. From the testament of the Brazilian Master, Alleanza Cattolica has reason to expect a more effective help from his eternal life at this end of the century, which is also the end of a millennium, in view of a new century, which is also a new millennium. Finally, it shares with him the profound belief that the new century and the new millennium cannot but be a Christian century and millennium, a Marian century and millennium; as well as the hope, nourished by the promise of Fatima - 'In the end, my immaculate heart will triumph' - of a great and socially relevant conversion, and hence, of a restoration of Christendom"  
("In memoriam", Cristianità, n. 247-248, Nov.-Dec. 1995, p. 7) 


The complicated reference to the "millennium" reveals, in parochially correct language, Plinio's fantasies about a coming Middle Age,. 

The Internet site of IDIS (the more political off-shoot of AC) hosts a page, written by Giovanni Cantoni, "reggente" of AC, devoted to "Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira (1908-1995): a life for the Church and the Christian civilization": 

"Outstanding among Corrêa de Oliveira's works was the creation of the spiritual family of the TFP's, and hence the fatherhood over them; these are civic assocations of a Catholic inspiration, which in their very name are a reminder of a basic feature of social life, tradition, and of two equally basic institutions of the same, the family and private property; these organisations use pacific methods to promote such values among public opinion and fight against the cultural revolution which aims at overthrowing them."


It is a small world after all: the IDIS Internet page also hosts an article by Introvigne exclusively devoted to attacking the "anti-cult movement". 

The "spiritual family" of TFP is active in 26 countries - Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Columbia, Ecuador, Spain, Italy, France, Poland, Germany, the Philippines, South Africa, India, New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom, the USA, Peru, Portugal, Paraguay, Uruguay, Costa Rica and Venezuela; however the "family" includes many different local branches - for example in Italy, besides T.F.P. itself, there are AC and Centro Lepanto, each with a great many sub-groups. As we said before, AC is not a cult, and it manages therefore to keep rather good relations with what, for other groups, would be traitors. 

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