I am 68 1/2 years of age and retired from the railroad. I first began to realise something was "wrong" with the church in early 1970-71 when my children began getting the new catechism at the local Vatican II parish hall. I asked what was this, and where was the old Penny Catechism that I was taught. The answers were typical and from that day on I took my children away from the local V2 catechetic school and also any "Catholic" private school. 

It was a hard task for me to look for the truth as I was up to then, engrossed in my secular work, which was the AirForce. But I knew by memory from my mother's day, where she always said; "Go to the Blessed Virgin in all your troubles and you will be guided." 

I did just that and joined the Holy Rosary Confraternity in  1970. It was just a joining then, Vat. 2 in its early days, but it was the spiritual act that made me find my way. 

Somewhere along the line I "bumped" into a group called the Latin Mass Society, whose members tried to hold on to the old faith and its Mass. Unfortunately in those early days our understanding of theology was not 100%, and we joined with Archbishop Lefebvre and it was at their "Eucharistic Congress" of 1973 that I first met Fr. Lucian, who actually wrote to me as I did not know of him then and I invited him down. I believe he must have stayed at the local parish priest's house, this PP then acting as some sort of Master of Ceremonies for the Archbishop. 

It was a long road and in those days I was too involved in the LMS being its Vice president. In all my actions I did not compromise even though I was not aware of those around me who would do so later on. And I do remember when saying goodbye to the A/Bishop at the airport, that should he ever equivocate I would leave him and God forbid that this should happen. 

It did, and I quit, the only person who quit as far as I was aware. We moved districts in 1975 and the trip to the LMS masses were very far away so I looked for the local Ukrainian, remembering then, " that it was the true mass that mattered". I kept asking the local priest and even held up their Bishop, the Exarch of that Rite, and questioned them both on their stand with Vatican II and after much evasion they said that Vatican II was valid, and I further questioned them on "UnaCum" and at that time it was just my own opinion that one could not "pray with" an heretic but only For the conversion of an heretic. When I discovered they did say Una Cum JP2, I quit. 

It was a long time before I received the documentation from others about Una Cum and here I was again right by an inward spiritual enlightenment. God was protecting His own in the jungle of viewpoints. 

So I quit the Ukrainians and my family was devastated at having no "mass" to attend, so I started then saying the old Missal prayers at home. Please remember that there was NO guide here, no true priest, and note also that I live in a declared pagan nation as stated by the UN !! 

Not having any priest to say masses for me I contacted Veritas and asked if they knew of a traditional priest and they gave me Father Lucian's name and address at Pittsville, Wisconsin. Glory be, I had found my lost shepherd. From that time till now, we have gone from strength to strength. 

Unfortunately not all the family or relations followed me, even after my many exhortations and prayers, though they all got my Catechism training. The Liberal Universities nailed my 2 sons, but my 2 daughters held fast. My wife did so for a time, and in the Ukrainian rite, in particular. It suited her, till we all left in 1981, and that act rocked the family, but I held firm. I would not attend any church that said prayers “Una Cum” with JP2. My wife's father died in 1991. They are Slovenes like Fr. Stepinac in Chicago. They are a pious people, but quite ignorant of the theology, and though they knowing that something was not right, nevertheless followed their Chaplain, who had his body cremated after death. I pointed out this very sinful act, but alas it is like hitting a brick wall: Some of my many trials and crosses to bear. 

The life of a Catholic in the catacombs today did not fit my wife's need to pray “in company” for her father's soul and she felt the need of parish company. Although she does not support the many inconsistencies of V2, yet she feels the need of “Catholic” company. I have not had any success as at this time and can only pray for the conversions of my wife and 2 sons. I can only lead by example. 

Now we come to that time after my "retirement" in 1993 when I decided that I could now fully apply myself to the task of defending the faith. It was in 1994 that I again saw Fr. Lucian in Antigo, Wisconsin, and it was he, sometime in 1995, who told me of the election plans of Ken. Normally I would be cautious as I was with Bawden in 1993. I realised that this was the real plan, to ring Father in America for "All systems Go", as they say. I was fully committed. 

In 1995 I went to Spokane and met the other members who were involved and also Fr. Adam too who was given the place of honor, and who was I to know otherwise, but in all things I went to Fr. Lucian for I saw in him a man of humility. He always could understand those “priests” who were not in fact Members but frauds regardless of the sects they belonged to. From that time onwards I have always defended Fr. Lucian according to the occasion and from whatever person. I have always used prudent language but nevertheless an uncompromising stand where the faith stood and we, both of us, Father and I, have mutually stated that should either one of us leave the faith, we would leave our company in sorrow. Now that is a true sign of love of God over and above the love of neighbor, and for his statement that he would do just that, even to me, I thanked Father for showing his true colors - God before man. 
 
Birth place: Singapore 1929 

Left for England in 1942 

Came to Australia in 1950 

Laymissionary in New Guinea from Jan 1958 till Dec. 1959 as a Pilot. 
Should have been killed by plane as I was completely clouded in against the ranges, prayed on my knees and yes, God gave me another exemption for only What He knows. 

Had some attempts to enter religious life but was told by the Missionaries in New Guinea to go into the world and help the Church there. Had I entered, I would be an apostate today. Again God has willed me for other tasks. 

Religious affiliation: only with the members of the Instauratio. 
 
Expertise: just a simple layman that has learnt a lot and can recognize the true from the false, be he priest, layman, rites and I agree with Fr. Lucian with V2 Baptisms where we have lost a friend for whom I worked so hard. He listened especially to Fr. Adam's opinion that his V2 baptism was valid.  I disagreed basing my understanding on Pope Leo XIII's Apostolicae Curae on the validity of Anglican Orders and thus by implication, on ALL the Sacraments of the Church. 

Finally since late 1995, I have been the responder on our Catholic website, where many Vatican II people have come to me with problems. Our site has been visited by many from all over the world according to our Webmaster Bobby Lyons of Carrollton, Texas. 

In all matters of the faith, I have given up my own will and replaced it with that of God’s. I place all my trust in His decisions in whatever may happen and my only paramount decision is that all must be done for the glory of God and His Spouse the Catholic Church. All else are inconsequential at this very important time in the history of the Church and its very survival. I believe God is calling all those who have surrendered themselves to Him that He will mould them according to His designs. Just electing the Pope is not enough, we must also raise an episcopacy and very soon after this election or else lose all when we come under sustained attack by the enemies of the Cross. We MUST have an episcopacy to guarantee Apostolicity, that very guarantee of the truth that Christ founded a Divine institution. 

Gloria in Excelsis Deo.. 

Gordon Bateman