Grace Thompson
America Needs Fatima is an organization inspired by events in Fatima, Portugal, in 1917, where three shepherd children experienced apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima, affirming distinctively Catholic devotions. While not an official Catholic organization, it collaborates with some clergy and laity, promoting devotion to the Holy Rosary and the Blessed Virgin Mary. The group has been labelled a cult by some, including the Archdiocese of Miami, due to its aggressive fundraising and marketing strategies, and its promotion of a false prophet. However, it has gained support from prominent Catholics and is known for protesting films, plays, and art exhibits deemed offensive to Catholicism.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Nature of the organization | America Needs Fatima is not an official Catholic organization, but it is inspired by and loyal to Catholic traditions. |
| Leadership | Led by Fr. John Trigilio and operated by The Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP). |
| Beliefs | Devotion to Our Lady of Fatima, opposition to communism, belief in Armageddon and the "Reign of Mary", belief in the Immaculate Heart of Mary as a solution to the world's problems. |
| Practices | Protesting films, plays, and art exhibits deemed offensive to Catholicism, fundraising, organizing events and meetings, promoting devotion to the Holy Rosary. |
| Perception | Perceived as a cult by some, accused of aggressive fundraising and marketing strategies, spreading to 25 countries. |
| Endorsements | Endorsed by Fr. Trigilio and supported by the Archdiocese of Miami for its message and devotion to the Holy Rosary. |
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What You'll Learn
- America Needs Fatima is a campaign operated by an organisation called The Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP)
- TFP is a cult that preys on Catholic youths and promotes idolatrous admiration of a false prophet
- America Needs Fatima is not an official Catholic organisation but collaborates with some clergy and laity
- The group has been accused of aggressive fundraising and marketing strategies
- America Needs Fatima has protested films, plays, and art exhibits it considers offensive to Catholicism
America Needs Fatima is a campaign operated by an organisation called The Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP)
America Needs Fatima is a campaign wholly operated by an organisation called The Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP). TFP was founded in Brazil by Professor Plinio Corrêa De Oliveira in 1960. America Needs Fatima is not an official Catholic organisation, although it does collaborate with some of the clergy and laity. The group has been described as a cult, and the Catholic Church has not endorsed it. However, some individuals within the Church have shown support for the group, and it has collaborated with some members of the clergy and laity.
TFP is dedicated to spreading the Catholic faith, particularly devotion to Our Lady of Fatima, and to fighting communism. The group has a presence in 25 countries and has been accused of misleading good Catholics into supporting it through front campaigns like America Needs Fatima, which is currently the chief fundraiser for TFP. The group has been criticised for its aggressive fundraising and marketing strategies, and there are many complaints against it online.
TFP has a history of protesting films, plays, and art exhibits that it considers blasphemous or offensive to Catholicism. These protests have included sending protest cards, making phone calls, sending mass emails, and holding street demonstrations. America Needs Fatima has also been accused of promoting the idolatrous admiration of a false prophet and abusing the name of Holy Mary.
TFP requires its male members to make vows of celibacy and obedience, and it circulates stories of the violent deaths of ex-members to discourage current members from leaving. Those who do leave are called "apostates", even if they remain faithful Catholics. This recruitment procedure has been criticised as a violation of Canon Law 219, which prohibits any coercion in choosing or remaining in any state of life.
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TFP is a cult that preys on Catholic youths and promotes idolatrous admiration of a false prophet
The American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property, also known as The American TFP, is a Traditionalist Catholic American advocacy group. It is an autonomous organization that forms part of the larger social conservative, anticommunist, and monarchist international Tradition, Family, Property (TFP) movement. The first TFP was founded by Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira in Brazil in 1960. Inspired by his 1959 book, "Revolution and Counter-Revolution," which became the TFPs' foundational text, the group aimed to defend the values of Christian civilization and counter left-wing ideologies and communism.
TFP has been described by some as a cult that preys on Catholic youths. This characterization stems from allegations of intellectual swindling, indoctrination, destruction of followers' personalities, separation from families, the cult of the founder, and recruitment of young people. TFP has been accused of manipulating and exploiting Catholic youths who join the group with the noble vision of defending tradition, family, and property. These young people often find themselves separated from Catholic tradition, unable to start their own families, and without any substantial property or marketable job experience when they eventually leave the group.
TFP has also been criticized for its anti-LGBT views and activities. TFP Student Action, the university campus outreach of TFP, has campaigned against LGBT student groups at Catholic universities and distributed literature against same-sex marriage. The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) has cited TFP as "virulently anti-LGBT."
Furthermore, TFP has been accused of promoting idolatrous admiration of a false prophet. Followers of TFP's founder, Dr. Plinio, treated him as a "living saint." They bowed in his presence, revered his personal belongings, and composed hymns honoring him and his mother, Donna Lucilla. Some militants even substituted the names of Donna Lucilla and Plinio for Mary and Jesus while reciting the Hail Mary, indicating a potential idolatrous admiration of a false prophet.
In conclusion, while TFP presents itself as a defender of Catholic tradition, family, and property, there are serious concerns that it exhibits cult-like characteristics. Through its manipulation of Catholic youths, promotion of anti-LGBT sentiments, and idolatrous admiration of its founder, TFP has caused harm and separated individuals from their families and traditional support systems.
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America Needs Fatima is not an official Catholic organisation but collaborates with some clergy and laity
America Needs Fatima is a campaign inspired by events that took place in Fatima, Portugal, in 1917, where there were apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima to three shepherd children. These events are considered a compelling case for Catholicism, as they contained elements that were distinctly Catholic in nature, such as Eucharistic Adoration and Marian Devotion.
America Needs Fatima is not an official Catholic organisation. It is inspired by and loyal to the Catholic Church but operates independently. The group has been characterised as a "cult of personality", with excessive devotion to its leader, and accused of "abusing the name of Holy Mary". It has been described as a destructive and insidious cult that preys upon Catholic youths and separates them from Catholic tradition. However, it collaborates with some clergy and laity within the Catholic Church, and some members of the clergy endorse the group.
The Archdiocese of Miami, for example, fully supports the message of the Blessed Virgin Mary from Fatima and promotes devotion to the Holy Rosary. However, it does not endorse the America Needs Fatima group's aggressive fundraising and marketing strategies and does not allow the group to solicit within its archdiocese. The group has also been accused of protesting films, plays, and art exhibits that it considers offensive to Catholicism, with some arguing that these protests draw attention to and advertise the very productions they oppose.
Despite not being officially recognised by the Catholic Church, America Needs Fatima has gained support from many Catholics, especially through its front campaigns. The group has spread to 25 countries and has become a chief fundraiser for the Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family, and Property (TFP), with all monies collected from "free-will" offerings going to TFP. TFP has been accused of misleading Catholics and promoting the idolatrous admiration of a false prophet.
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The group has been accused of aggressive fundraising and marketing strategies
America Needs Fatima (ANF) is a campaign wholly operated by an organisation called The Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP). TFP is not an official Catholic organisation, although it collaborates with some of the clergy and laity. The group has been accused of aggressive fundraising and marketing strategies.
TFP has been accused of using front campaigns, such as America Needs Fatima, to raise funds. The group organises events that draw in faithful Catholics and then uses photographs and endorsement letters to persuade other Catholics to lend their support. All money collected from "free-will" offerings at "Pilgrim Virgin" meetings goes to TFP.
TFP has also been accused of misleading teachings and causing damage to Catholic families. The group has been characterised as a "'cult of personality', giving excessive devotion to its leader and promoting the idolatrous admiration of a false prophet. There have been complaints against the group posted online, and it has been accused of violating Canon Law by coercing boys and young men into making vows of celibacy and obedience to TFP.
TFP has denied these accusations, stating that they are dedicated to spreading the Catholic faith and fighting communism. They have gained support from many devout Catholic families who enrol their sons in schools and training centres run by TFP. However, critics argue that Catholic youths who join TFP end up separated from Catholic tradition and do not start families of their own.
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America Needs Fatima has protested films, plays, and art exhibits it considers offensive to Catholicism
America Needs Fatima is a campaign of the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP), a Catholic non-profit organization. It is not an official Catholic organization, although it does collaborate with some of the clergy and laity. America Needs Fatima advocates for faith and morals based on the teachings of the Virgin Mary, particularly based on the visions of her apparition reported by three children in Fátima, Portugal, in 1917. These events contained elements that were distinctly Catholic in nature, such as Eucharistic Adoration and Marian Devotion.
America Needs Fatima has protested films, plays, and art exhibits that it considers blasphemous or offensive to Catholicism. For example, in December 2013, America Needs Fatima protesters showed up at the Uptown Players' production of 'The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told'. The group also organized protests in 2017 against the Out Front Theater's production of the same play in Atlanta, Georgia. Their protests typically consist of sending protest cards, making phone calls, sending mass emails, and street demonstrations.
In addition to protesting plays, America Needs Fatima has also protested against other forms of entertainment that it deems offensive to Catholic values. For instance, in September 2023, volunteers with Tradition, Family and Property—Texas and America Needs Fatima led over seventy people in a Rosary rally protest against the openly Satanic rock band 'Ghost'. The group has also held rallies of reparation and protest against events like the “Paranormal Cirque” in Topeka, Kansas, and the “drag nuns” outside Dodger Stadium.
America Needs Fatima is a conservative advocacy group that opposes abortion, same-sex marriage, euthanasia, and socialism. It interprets the message of Our Lady of Fatima as a solution to what it sees as a moral crisis in society. The group's primary activity has been the "Mary in Every Home" program.
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Frequently asked questions
America Needs Fatima is a campaign wholly operated by an organization called The Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP). It is inspired by the events that took place in Fatima, Portugal, in 1917, where Our Lady of Fatima appeared to three shepherd children. America Needs Fatima is not an official Catholic organization, although it does collaborate with some of the clergy and laity.
TFP is a cult-like organization founded in Brazil by Professor Plinio Corrêa De Oliveira in 1960. America Needs Fatima is one of its front campaigns and is its chief fundraiser. TFP has been accused of misleading good Catholics and robbing the Church of vocations.
America Needs Fatima has protested films, plays, and art exhibits it considers blasphemous or offensive to Catholicism. It also promotes devotion to the Holy Rosary and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
