- Feb 5, 2002
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The Vatican “carried out a detailed consultation of the bishops in 2020” regarding the use of the traditional Latin Mass. Although we’ve never seen the results of that consultation, Pope Francis determined that “the wishes expressed by the episcopate” called for a crackdown on traditionalism. But the bishops who wanted that crackdown can’t be trusted to do it themselves.
In a “synodal” Church, the Vatican listens carefully to all the faithful, and serves the needs of the diocesan bishops—in this case, by telling them what to do.
In Traditionis Custodes (#4), when the Pope wrote that the diocesan bishop has “exclusive competence to authorize the use of the 1962 Roman Missal in his diocese, according to the guidelines of the Apostolic See,” what he meant was that a diocesan bishop cannot authorize the use of the traditional liturgy without explicit permission from the Holy See.
Traditions Custodes set forth the guidelines for diocesan bishops to follow. Canon Law (#87) gives bishops the authority to offer dispensations from liturgical guidelines, unless the Holy See reserves that authority to itself. Nothing in the language indicates that the Holy See reserved that authority. But it did, and you should have known that.
Although it is obvious from the above language that the Pope wanted the Dicastery for Divine Worship to approve any dispensation from the guidelines of Traditionis Custodes— “an absurdity” to think otherwise—the Vatican still felt it imperative to issue a new document “confirming” that message.
Pope Francis is acting to unify the Church—“to press on ever more in the constant search for ecclesial communion”—so he felt it necessary to take actions that will leave thousands of Catholics frustrated, angry, and dispirited. He wants to “reach out to the marginalized,” so he needs to marginalize traditionalist Catholics.
Ecumenism is “not something optional” for this papacy. Yet the Vatican has taken peremptory action to strip diocesan bishops of their normal powers and to suppress an ancient liturgical form. These steps will undoubtedly be noticed by the bishops of the Orthodox churches, who cherish both their own authority and their liturgical traditions.
It remains licit (under some circumstances) to celebrate the traditional Mass in a school auditorium, but not in a beautiful parish church. The liturgy may be celebrated by older priests, but not those newly ordained. Because we want to appeal to young people, and to those drawn to the way of beauty.
Continued below.
www.catholicculture.org
In a “synodal” Church, the Vatican listens carefully to all the faithful, and serves the needs of the diocesan bishops—in this case, by telling them what to do.
In Traditionis Custodes (#4), when the Pope wrote that the diocesan bishop has “exclusive competence to authorize the use of the 1962 Roman Missal in his diocese, according to the guidelines of the Apostolic See,” what he meant was that a diocesan bishop cannot authorize the use of the traditional liturgy without explicit permission from the Holy See.
Traditions Custodes set forth the guidelines for diocesan bishops to follow. Canon Law (#87) gives bishops the authority to offer dispensations from liturgical guidelines, unless the Holy See reserves that authority to itself. Nothing in the language indicates that the Holy See reserved that authority. But it did, and you should have known that.
Although it is obvious from the above language that the Pope wanted the Dicastery for Divine Worship to approve any dispensation from the guidelines of Traditionis Custodes— “an absurdity” to think otherwise—the Vatican still felt it imperative to issue a new document “confirming” that message.
Pope Francis is acting to unify the Church—“to press on ever more in the constant search for ecclesial communion”—so he felt it necessary to take actions that will leave thousands of Catholics frustrated, angry, and dispirited. He wants to “reach out to the marginalized,” so he needs to marginalize traditionalist Catholics.
Ecumenism is “not something optional” for this papacy. Yet the Vatican has taken peremptory action to strip diocesan bishops of their normal powers and to suppress an ancient liturgical form. These steps will undoubtedly be noticed by the bishops of the Orthodox churches, who cherish both their own authority and their liturgical traditions.
It remains licit (under some circumstances) to celebrate the traditional Mass in a school auditorium, but not in a beautiful parish church. The liturgy may be celebrated by older priests, but not those newly ordained. Because we want to appeal to young people, and to those drawn to the way of beauty.
Continued below.
Understanding the Vatican crusade against tradition
In a “synodal” Church, the Vatican serves the needs of the diocesan bishops— in this case, by telling them what to do.
www.catholicculture.org
