Adrian Milag: And Bishop, how do you respond to those who worry that your strong defense of tradition risks division in the Church?
Bishop Schneider: This is not division when we speak the truth. Our Lord also spoke the truth, and our Lord caused division even among the apostles. Our Lord said, when He spoke clearly about the Eucharist in John chapter six, then the disciples said, This is too hard, we cannot accept it. And our Lord said, “Okay, you can go away”. So he accepted division for the sake of the truth.
And then with the Pharisees, He spoke clear words with no compromise. So He caused division, and the Pharisees accused our Lord that He was dividing the people, exactly because He accused the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the high priest, because He spoke the truth.
The same accusation, when you speak the truth, you divide. They could say this even to our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the Apostle Paul, and all the Church Fathers. They were accused several times. Saint Athanasius as someone who was dividing, and even a pope, Pope Liberius, accused Saint Athanasius that he was dividing the Church because he defended the full divinity and clarity of expression of the faith.
And the pope accused Athanasius of dividing the Church, that he was not making peace with the bishops there who were basically heretical bishops, Arians. And therefore, the pope punished Saint Athanasius and excommunicated him, Pope Liberius. This is a historical fact, but it was for a short time, and then his successor, Saint Damasus, restored and praised Athanasius.
So you see, this is a short time. And when I defend Jesus Christ and His teaching, and when I am doing my task as a bishop, as a teacher of the faith, and I am therefore accused of dividing, it is an honor for me. So I am in good company with so many Church Fathers, and with our Lord Jesus Christ.
And I must add, I always try to defend the truth with charity, at least with respect. I do not use foul words, bad words, or polemics. In all my statements, I try to keep respectful language. This is important.
Adrian Milag: Is your name inspired by the saint, Bishop? St. Athanasius?
Bishop Schneider: You know, I was baptized, not Athanasius. I was baptized Antonius of Padua. This is the saint of my baptism, and I received the name Athanasius in the monastery when I made my religious profession. It was not my choice at all. I was given the name without knowing anything about it.
So it was for me, as a young religious, a complete surprise. Why I got the name Athanasius, I did not know in my youth. I was 22 or 23 years old. I did not know why they gave me the name Athanasius.
Well, I had known his life. I was reading the breviary and so on. But now I understand, since I have been a bishop for 19 years and have been basically thrown into the midst of the battle for the faith of our time, I understand more why divine providence probably gave me this name.