Interrogation? No. Rather a Brotherly Appeal.

To you, beloved brothers in the Faith, whose vigilance was circumvented or is being circumvented by the communist fallacy, we address no interrogation. To you, from our ever‑serene heart, there issues forth an appeal overflowing with ardent affection in Christo Domino: Confronted with the terrible picture of our days, admit, at long last, that you were deceived. Burn what you were aiding and abetting. And fight alongside those whom even to this day you are helping to "burn."

Sincerely, categorically, without biased ambiguity, but rather with the enormously respectable frankness inherent to humble contrition, turn your back on those who have deceived you so cruelly. And direct toward us a serene and fraternal gaze of brothers in the Faith.

This is our appeal to you today. It expresses our timeless dispositions, those of yesterday as well as tomorrow.

As we conclude this document, our voice is taken by emotion, and veneration hinders our words. Our filial and reverent gaze is now raised to you, O venerable shepherds who disagreed with us. Where can we find the befitting terms of affection and respect to be placed in your hands‑in your hearts‑at a moment like this?

Mutatis mutandis, we can find none better than those which we addressed to Pope Paul VI in 1974.

We utter them on our knees, while requesting your blessings and prayers.

***

The TFP assumes the responsibility and risks for the questions asked in sections II through V and for the appeal to the Catholics of the left in section VI of this document. All were made on the TFP's own account.

Obviously, those questioned and those to whom the appeal is addressed have the right to respond.

Indeed, because they are in the very countries in which we live, the communist leaders of the West and the Catholic left have not only a right to respond but a duty to do so.

To them, therefore, we address our final question: Will you remain silent or will you speak?

You have the floor.

Sao Paulo, February 11, 1990