This group's actions have them being accused of

• operating as a law unto themselves,
• disrespecting Church authority, and
• flouting diocesan oversight.

Their actions underscore the concerns that led Pope Francis to issue his Apostolic Letter Traditionis custodes and its accompanying letter to bishops on 16 July 2021.

After extensive consultation with bishops, Pope Francis discerned a troubling pattern among many adherents of the pre-conciliar rites: a rejection of the Church and its institutions.

The rejection was in favour of a so-called "true Church."

This notion, rooted in a mythical ideal, fosters division and undermines ecclesial communion.

The crux of the issue can be traced back to Pope Benedict XVI's Apostolic Letter, Summorum Pontificum,

Benedict introduced the concept of "extraordinary" and "ordinary" expressions coexisting within the Roman Rite with this letter.

Benedict XVI intended to harmonise these expressions without undermining the liturgical reforms.

However, his actions led to unintended consequences, deepening divisions under the guise of a "reform of the reform."

Regrettably, Benedict's initiative inadvertently nurtured a sector within the Church.

Allowing both rites often lacks a comprehensive grasp of their respective understanding of Church.

In many cases, the assumption that these groups adhered to the binding character of Vatican Council II and remained faithful to the Pope and Bishops was misplaced.

In response, Pope Francis, informed by the bishops' experiences, issued Traditiones Custodes.

This document and his explanatory letter emphasised the need to continuously pursue church communion, a cornerstone of his papal duty to preserve unity.

Consequently, Francis revoked Summorum pontificum, nullifying the concept of ordinary and extraordinary forms and affirming the liturgical books promulgated by Saint Paul VI and Saint John Paul II as the sole expression of the Roman Rite's lex orandi.

Diocesan bishop's role modified

The restrictions on the pre-conciliar rites, now subject to the local bishop's authorisation, were further clarified in a Rescript to Traditiones custodes (20 February 2023).

This document reserved certain dispensations to the Apostolic See, including using parish churches for the 1962 Missal and permissions for priests ordained post-Traditionis custodes to celebrate using this Missal.

The Apostolic Visitation by Bishop Emeritus Robert McGuckin to the Diocese of Christchurch is a testament to the pervasive issues in this diocese and potentially in others.

This situation highlights the necessity of Pope Francis's decision to address a liturgically divided Church where fringe groups, unchecked, pose a risk of scandal.

The Pope's directive underscores the diocesan bishop's role as moderator, promoter, and guardian of the liturgical life of their Church.

It is imperative that bishops actively oversee priests who contravene the Rescript of Traditiones custodes and that Metropolitan Archbishops monitor the conduct of their suffragan bishops.

This ensures adherence to the call for unity within Traditiones custodes.

Christchurch - key questions

The Christchurch case presents two critical questions.

• Firstly, who are the bishops and priests with written permission from the Holy See to celebrate the pre-conciliar rites?

Their identities should be transparently communicated to all the baptised in a synodal manner.

• Secondly, who moderates groups not conforming to Traditiones custodes, ensuring compliance with its liturgical theology and principles?

As "Guardians of the tradition," bishops are responsible for preventing liturgical abuses, including unauthorised celebrations of the abrogated rites.

The Church's unity and integrity depend on their vigilant stewardship and adherence to the directives set forth in Traditiones custodes.

• Dr Joe Grayland is currently a visiting professor at the University of Tübingen (Germany). He has been a priest of the Diocese of Palmerston North for nearly thirty years.
• His latest book is: Catholics. Prayer, Belief and Diversity in a Secular Context (Te Hepara Pai, 2021).https://www.amazon.com.au/Catholics-Prayer-Diversity-Secular-Context/dp/0473513382

"They do not belong to the mainstream of the Church and do not follow the ordinary form of the Mass promulgated by Pope Paul VI in 1969 (Novus Ordo).

Last week, NewsHub alleged the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer were knowingly involved in performing exorcisms even after Bishop Michael Gielen placed a ban on all exorcisms in the Christchurch diocese.

Respecting the office of the Pope

Grayland expressed support for the decision Gielen (pictured) made to seek help from the Vatican.

He told CathNews he is perplexed as to why these groups who do not follow the pope's instructions in Traditionis Custodes are allowed to perform any sacraments, especially something as significant as a 'major' exorcism.

"Why, in light of Pope Francis' recent tight restrictions on the old Latin Rite, has the permission to perform the old Latin Rite not been withdrawn from this group?" asked Grayland.

"The actions of this group, accused of operating as a law unto themselves, disrespecting ecclesiastical authority and flouting diocesan oversight, underscore the concerns that led Pope Francis to issue his Apostolic Letter Traditionis Custodes and its accompanying letter to bishops on 16 July 2021" says Grayland.

Traditionis custodes is an apostolic letter issued by Pope Francis, regarding the continued use of pre-Vatican II rites.

It restricts the celebration of the Tridentine Latin Rite Mass.

The apostolic letter was accompanied by an ecclesiastical letter to the Catholic bishops of the world.

Grayland says discipline in these matters is important, not just for the sake of discipline but out of respect for the Pope's teaching office.

Grayland notes the irony of the ‘Holy Sons', the so-called traditionalist movement, contravening a traditional Church principle - lex orandi, lex credendi - how the Church prays is a reflection of what it believes.

Lex orandi, lex credendi is the work of Prosper Aquitanus (c. 390 - 455 AD), a Christian writer and a disciple of Augustine of Hippo.

In February 2023, Pope Francis accused some bishops of having a ‘closed eye' about the need to ask permission for priests to say the Latin Mass.

Further tightening the screws on the availability of the Latin Mass, Francis told bishops that priests who acted without Vatican dispensation to the Latin Mass must seek one retroactively.

"The relevant permissions fall under the authority of the local Bishop who must seek authorisation from the Dicastery for Divine Worship before issuing a decision.

"According to the motu proprio, this step exercises the authority of the Holy See in the matter", writes Cardinal Arthur Roche, Prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

A global issue

The lack of discipline and respect for the papal office is not limited to the "Holy Sons".

Recently, Pope Francis removed Joseph Strickland from his position as Bishop of Tyler, Texas, citing his non-compliance with the Apostolic Letter Traditionis Custodes among the issues.

Speaking on "The World Over" with ETWN's Raymond Arroyo, Strickland told Arroyo that he didn't respond to the Pope's decree Traditionis Custodes because he didn't feel that he could deprive that portion of the flock the nourishment they were receiving.

Commenting on Strickland's removal, papal biographer Austen Ivereigh said on X - "The schism is well advanced.

"It began with rejecting Rome in the name of Tradition, looking to a counter-magisterium, seeking an alliance with secular princes (Orban, Trump) and taking refuge in pre-reform liturgy.

"Now it is developing its own martyrology."

Global is local

The Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer arrived in Christchurch in 2009.

In 2012, Pope Benedict approved them, and they continue to be responsible for the Latin Mass chaplaincy in the Christchurch diocese.

Ecclesia Dei lists the traditional Latin Mass as offered in all dioceses except Wellington and Palmerston North.

The New Zealand Latin Mass directory also adds that the Latin Rite Mass is offered on the first and third Sundays at St Mary and St Francis De Sales Church, Rangiora.

Sources

• Vatican News
• Supplied
• CathNews
• Vatican
• X - Austen Ivereigh

Santamaría says that he has temporarily been sent to his sister's home and that the diocese will send him to a retreat house/clinic that will provide him, "spiritual, psychological and medical attention, at least according to the website of this place." Read mor

Writing in Italy's L'Espresso, Aniello Iannuzzi (Catholic) and Paraskevi Tsironis (Orthodox) say it is impossible for them to receive communion together.

"With many families like our own, we cannot wait for unification," the couple, who are both physicians, noted.

Their article came after the meeting between Pope Francis and Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill in Cuba this month.

Speaking of the liturgies of their traditions, the Australian couple stated: "If liturgy were to be resolved in a boxing ring in 2016, the Orthodox would knock out the Catholics early in the first round."

"Until Vatican II, the two liturgical traditions could be compared with respect and seriousness," they wrote.

"The "Novus Ordo" has plunged the Catholic Church into liturgical chaos and confusion, to the point that some Protestant liturgies would give the Orthodox more comfort and security."

The couple continued: "The Orthodox would rightly point to the dilution and tendency towards banality in the modern Catholic liturgical texts.

"The Orthodox would frown upon the express Sunday liturgies that sometimes are over in 30 minutes.

"Other worries for the Orthodox include: secular music, Communion on the hand, Communion without fasting, priests facing the congregation, liturgical dancing, women at the altar and excessive use of the laity. "

The "filioque" clause in the Creed remains problematic, they noted.

The couple added that "Catholics do have a few weak counterpunches with respect to the liturgy".

- Some argue that congregations are too passive and disconnected in the Byzantine liturgies. The long liturgies see very few present for the beginning of the liturgy, with many arriving just before Holy Communion.

- Communion on a spoon is not a reflection of the Last Supper. Many arrive not long before Communion yet still receive the sacrament. Infants are force-fed Communion.

- The "antidoron" - the blessed bread distributed at the end of the rite - is a source of confusion and distracts from the Eucharist.

- The fasting rules are too complex and outdated.

- Not enough use is made of the vernacular.

Sources

• L'Espresso
• Image: Rochester Orthodox Church