Malachi Martin: A Persistent Voice from the Past, Part I

Recently, the name of a long dead man has popped up with great frequency in Catholic intellectual circles in light of the recent massive, massive scandal enveloping the Catholic Church. His name is (Fr.) Malachi Martin. Malachi was a complicated man, as all men are, and I do not propose a definitive judgment on him. I find the thought repugnant to suggest what you should think about him. Rather, I will present some facts and reasoned opinions about Martin written years ago in our journey towards truth. You can then decide what you will.

The telos is quite simple; his book Windswept Housebears a striking resemblance to the current Catholic Church’s crisis. It also bears a stark similarity to Father Elijahby Michael O’ Brien. Most importantly, there are definite echoes of Lord of the Worldby Robert Hugh Benson. Interestingly, both Popes Benedict XVI and Francis have recommended reading Lord of the World. In my quest, to do my own research as the recent pontiff stated, understanding Malachi Martin became relevant and insightful.

Malachi Brendan Martin, writer and priest, was born in Ballylongford County in Kerry Ireland on July 23, 1921. Martin was one of 10 children. He was raised in a devout home with some of the other siblings choosing the priesthood and religious life as well. Martin entered the Jesuits in 1939 at the age of 18 years, and was ordained a Jesuit priest in 1954. He professed final vows for the Jesuits in 1957. Martin was a Jesuit priest for 10 years before leaving the order.[1]

During the course of his studies, Malachi received doctorates from the prestigious universities of Louvain and Oxford. He was a professor of Palaeography at the Vatican’s Pontifical Biblical Institute. With his scholastic grasp of Scriptural languages, especially Hebrew, the Church relied on his expertise. Starting in 1958, he served as secretary to Cardinal Bea during the preparations for the Second Vatican Council. A future Martinian criticism will be his Semitism, both pro-and anti, which stems in large part from this work.

Fr. Malachi, disillusioned by the reforms, asked to be released from certain aspects of his Jesuit vows in 1964. He moved to New York City to eventually pursue a living as a writer and became an American citizen. Twice, Martin received the Guggenheim Fellowship. Martin might be accused of many things but intellectually lazy cannot be one of them. He had a piercing intellect and perspective eye.

The title Father is also debated. Some reports say that he was laicized. Other sources suggest that, he was not dispensed of his priesthood. Finally, the issue of whether he lived a chaste life after his leaving the Jesuits is also debated. He did have a woman companion, though their relationship is not clear. In this essay, I will alternate between the use of the title Father.

Malachi Martin died in July 1999 after suffering a suspicious fall in his Manhattan apartment. He was alone at the time. Malachi told a friend at the hospital a short time afterwards he thought he had been pushed off a stool on which he was standing. Fr. Martin died three years after publishing Windswept Hill in 1996. When asked if he feared for his life he said, “ he was but was too old to change his ways.”[2]Fr. Martin fell into a coma after the fall and died on July 27, 1999. He was 78 years at the time of his death.

Malachi will characterize Windswept Hillas a faction as opposed to fiction. Faction is a non-fiction novel which broadly speaking weaves actual characters and events with fictional conversations and other minor details to propel the story forward. Malachi claims that 85% of Windswept Hillis true. An online key is a helpful reference while reading the book.[3]

A severe criticism is that within the course of the book, ritualized Masonic acts of pedophilia and murder are presented, recalling Martin purports his book to be 85% factual, does not report to law enforcement. If the events are accurate, why didn’t Martin report these events to the police? A reasonable retort in light of Archbishop Vigano and Fr. Paul Kalchik, both in hiding, is that he was fearful for his life. Another possible explanation is that the local law investigators could also be corrupted. This appears to be the case of the Buffalo NY murdered priest. Fr. Kunz.[4]

Consider this example, Father Charles C. Fiore of Lodi, Wisconsin, occasionally spoke of “secret missions” he and Kunz made to Chicago to combat Satanism and priestly pederasty, according to Joseph Ostermeir, a former St. Michael’s parishioner. “Their goal was to put a dent in the underground, satanic, pedophiliac clerical cabal that operated there,” Ostermeir wrote on his blog, “The Okie Traditionalist.” Ostermeir confirmed the story to Catholic World Report. He said Fiore, who died in February 2003, did not go into much detail about the trips. Although the details have faded, Ostermeir said what Fiore described “made the hairs on the back of my arms stand on end.” Fiore often counseled victims of priestly sexual abuse. He supplied material to Malachi Martin for use in several books, including Windswept House.[5]This example lends credence to Matin’s claims of actual events as well as criticism of not coming forward to law enforcement.

The historical setting of Windswept Hill is within the pontificate of John Paul II, with flash backs to a satanic enthronement on June 29, 1963. June 29 is the Solemnity of Sts. Peter & Paul, is the day when the Pope elevates cardinals and bishops to the new assignments. It is a most important and solemn day in the liturgical calendar and it would be a perverselyfitting day for a satanic enthronement. The climax, like this essay, is unresolved. The main conflicts are left unanswered and the reader is left to supply his own conclusion.