It is true that there are a few aspects of what Pope Pius was condemning which have found their way into Catholic thought, and have commonly become accepted. Is that supposed to make it right? How is it that something that was condemned as a major heresy could become a part of commonly accepted Catholic thought? Was Pope Pius X wrong? Was he merely over exaggerated? Or have we failed to fight off an enemy and instead chosen to make a peace treaty with him, allowing him to move in and take control?
It seems when you read some Catholics today that the only people who care about modernism are those in the SSPX, and everyone else just ignores it. I will openly admit that I agree with much of what Abp. Marcel Lefebvre was concerned about (he is the Archbishop who founded the Society of St. Pius X--the "SSPX"), although I disagree with how he responded to it. As I understand it, the clergymen in the SSPX are required to swear the "Oath Against Modernism" that Pope Pius X wrote as a part of their vows. No, I am not planning on heading off and joining the SSPX (or even the FSSP, the break-off from the SSPX that is in full communion with the Catholic Church), but there is something to this idea. After all, they did not invent it, it came from Pope Saint Pius X.
Here is the last paragraph from The Oath Against Modernism, (written in 1920):
Finally, I declare that I am completely opposed to the error of the modernists who hold that there is nothing divine in sacred tradition; or what is far worse, say that there is, but in a pantheistic sense, with the result that there would remain nothing but this plain simple fact--one to be put on a par with the ordinary facts of history--the fact, namely, that a group of men by their own labor, skill, and talent have continued through subsequent ages a school begun by Christ and his apostles. I firmly hold, then, and shall hold to my dying breath the belief of the Fathers in the charism of truth, which certainly is, was, and always will be in the succession of the episcopacy from the apostles. The purpose of this is, then, not that dogma may be tailored according to what seems better and more suited to the culture of each age; rather, that the absolute and immutable truth preached by the apostles from the beginning may never be believed to be different, may never be understood in any other way [italics mine].
I have no doubt neither Pope Francis, nor many other Bishops in the United States, would approve of such a move as my title suggests; writing and requiring a new "Oath Against Modernism". Yet, it is something that should be considered. This is most especially significant when we realize the problems that we have today with clergymen who do not appear to be faithful to the Magisterium and who want To Change the Church into something different from what was founded by Christ. Obviously if something like this were required of priests (at the very least of parish priests, and priests who write publicly), there would be some who would lie and say "yes" when they never really planned on being obedient; but it would become evident soon enough.
I presume that all of you know the "frog in the kettle" illustration, but just in case not I will reiterate it here. If you put a frog in pot of boiling water, he will jump out right away; he knows if he stays he will die. If, however, you put a frog in a pot of cold water, and then turn up the heat slowly, he will slowly boil to death. Has the slow spread of modernist thought effectively established itself in our very hearts and minds? I think it is very likely the case.
It does not take much to see that our thinking has been infected with various forms of modernism (and quite a bit of Americanism) in many areas of the Catholic Church. Errors have been taught for so long (in pulpits, RCIA courses and in children's religious instruction) that we can no longer sit back and presume that whatever we believe is genuinely Catholic. Each of us must be willing to subject our thinking to a deep examination; only pride would prevent it. We must understand what Modernism and Americanism are (or we will never recognize them!), and we must be cautious that we not be holding to these heresies, as well as that we not be teaching them to our children. The Church will endure, but that does not mean that we ourselves will.
