The Anglican diocese recently sold St Albans via a trust. The church is now being used by the Sons of the Redeemer, also known as the Transalpine Redemptorists.

The group has drawn controversy over reported illicit exorcism practices and over unlicensed priests presiding over the Mass.

Reports raised questions about whether the vendors knowingly transferred the property to the group.

However, the Anglican Diocese clarified that the trust's stated purpose did not reveal any links to the Alpine Redemptorists.

They maintain a strong relationship with Bishop Michael Gielen and have kept him informed throughout the sale process.

"Bishop Michael and I have been in communication in the course of the past week" the Anglican bishop of Christchurch Dr Peter Carroll told CathNews.

"He understands that we sold the church in good faith to a potential ownership trust whose stated purposes betrayed no connection with the Alpine Redemptorists.

"We sold the church via a lawyer for a trust to be formed" Carroll explained.

"The name of the trust concerned a group styled ‘friends of St Albans'.

"At no point in our dealings with the lawyer was there information provided that identified that the effective owner would turn out be the Transalpine Redemptorists."

Earlier this month CathNews reported that the "booted" Transalpine Redemptorists acquired a historic chapel.

Catholic Bishop Michael Gielen earlier this year ordered the Transalpine Redemptorists to leave the Christchurch Catholic Diocese.

He also ordered four of its priests to cease celebrating Mass and not to conduct other "priestly ministry" for anyone outside the religious community.

"It is important to underline that the removal of faculties remains in force, so any Masses the priests celebrate with members of the public are illicit - outside the law of the Church", said Monsignor Brendan Daly, the canon lawyer acting for the Diocese of Christchurch.

Gielen's decision followed a Vatican investigation into serious allegations against the Order, including sexual grooming and unauthorised exorcisms.

In early November, the Transalpine Redemptorists announced on its "Latin Mass Chaplaincy Christchurch" Facebook page that it had acquired St Albans Church in Ohoka, North Canterbury.

Sources

• Supplied: Anglican Diocese of Christchurch
• CathNews

Last Friday the Order - also knows as the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer - announced on its "Latin Mass Chaplaincy Christchurch" Facebook page that it had acquired St Albans Church in Ohoka, North Canterbury.

But the Order's banned!

In July, Bishop Michael Gielen, who leads the Catholic Diocese of Christchurch, told the Transalpine Redemptorist community members to leave the diocese within 90 days.

He also ordered four of its priests to stop celebrating Mass or conducting other "priestly ministry" for anyone outside the religious community.

This decision followed a Vatican investigation into serious allegations against the Order, including sexual grooming and unauthorised exorcisms.

Appeal overturns bishop's direction

In September the diocese said Gielen's decree requiring members to leave its area had been overturned following an appeal. However his ruling regarding the four priests remained in place.

Due process

Monsignor Brendan Daly, the canon lawyer acting for the Diocese of Christchurch, said the appeal procedure was an important part of "due process".

"It is important to underline the removal of faculties remains in force, so any Masses the priests celebrate with members of the public are illicit - outside the law of the Church" he said.

New home

St Alban's church - the building the Transalpine Redemptorists are now using - was originally built for the township's Anglican community in 1882. It was reportedly purchased for $500,000 and has been renamed.

It is now known as Mission Immaculata, the "Latin Mass Chaplaincy Christchurch" Facebook page says.

Father Michael Mary, the Transalpine Redemptorist chaplaincy's rector and founder, said the property the Order now owns was a "jewel passed down to us from early settlers".

"We are so grateful to the persons who have made this purchase possible" Father Michael Mary wrote on Facebook.

The chaplaincy intends using the church privately rather than as a public church, he said.

"We do not have any public status for the property... We have chosen to call it a 'Mission'. ...Fundamentally it gives us a presence north of the Waimakariri River" he said.

The Press reports there was a strong weekend turnout at the Mission - all the seats were taken, some people were standing outside.

Source

• The Press

When the Vatican was investigating Catholic priests and brothers from The Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer about abuse and unauthorised exorcisms, it found Canterbury-based women known as the Daughters of the Holy Redeemer to be operating as an illicit order of nuns.

They share a leader with the Sons.

Christchurch Catholic bishop Michael Gielen has asked the Sons to leave the diocese and the Daughters to disband.

We're not nuns!

In a kind of peek-a-boo with reality, the Daughters insist that to some people they are not nuns, yet they call themselves nuns on a Givealittle page.

Founded in 2014, they registered as a charity in 2017. Since then, The Press reports that they have collected hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations for work and living expenses.

They say they don't need church recognition to solicit donations, claiming donors know their "unofficial" status.

In a published statement to supporters, the women said they did not seek official recognition as nuns because they did not want Church authorities to interfere with their activities.

While supporters might call them nuns, the Daughters stated they are officially a private association of women who had made private vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.

They said they felt "deeply shocked and scandalised" by the church's action against them and that former Christchurch bishops knew about the group.

At the same time, they said "a nun is a nun, officially recognised or not" and "a rose by any name would smell as sweet [sic]".

Not without support

Given that neither the Church nor the Sons are able to help the women, religion expert Peter Lineham was concerned the women were effectively "stranded".

However a spokesperson for the Sons said community members had been volunteering to help the Daughters with property maintenance and other needs.

He said their support would continue while the Sons appealed Gielen's request.

Source

• The Press

However Adams is being cautious, saying he will seek advice if the Sons' ask to move to his diocese.

He will also be considering recommendations from a Vatican investigation.

It has been alleged that the Sons' leadership has spiritually abused people and performed unauthorised exorcisms on members of its community, but the group denied any wrongdoing.

The Vatican recommendations resulted in Christchurch's Bishop Michael Gielen giving the Sons' professed priests and brothers until October to quit the Christchurch diocese.

The Sons could move to another New Zealand diocese, but could only do so with the permission of the bishop of that diocese.

A Sons' spokesperson said they would not consider that option until the legal action had finished.

Leaving Christchurch also means farewelling their current support base along with property with a ratable value of $4.5 million.

There are six Catholic diocese in New Zealand. The other bishops ruled out welcoming the Sons' to their diocese, however Auckland Bishop Steve Lowe was traveling internationally and was unavailable to comment.

Adams wants to be inclusive

Adams supports the use of the Latin Rite, the same rite that the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer is controversially using.

Some of the Sons were spotted at Adams' episcopal ordination in Palmerston North in 2023.

Before becoming bishop of Palmerston North, Adams, also from Christchurch, regularly offered the old Latin Rite Mass in his Waimakariri parish.

Adams says his approach to the old liturgy is that he wants to be more inclusive.

When asked by Sinead Gill from The Press if he was sympathetic to the possibility of priests being effectively deported if no one else takes them in - as was the concern of the Sons' community - he said the investigation may uncover issues the public did not know about.

Source

• The Press

Last month a Vatican investigation into abuse and unauthorised exorcism allegations recommended Christchurch's Catholic bishop Michael Gielen ban the Order from performing Mass in the diocese.

The Vatican recommended that he direct them to move out of the diocese.

The Sons' leaders vow to fight Gielen's decision. They will take their argument to the Church's equivalent of the Supreme Court if necessary.

Leaders deny wrongdoing

The Sons of The Most Holy Redeemer deny any wrongdoing.

Although the Vatican's findings are secret, the consequences are serious for the Order.

The investigation itself - called an apostolic visitation - is a measure rarely taken.

Bishop accused of breaching Canon law

The Sons say Gielen's actions broke Canon law by ordering its professed priests and brothers to leave the diocese. Not all professed members were accused of abuse.

Their canon lawyer has formally presented their petition to Gielen, asking him to revoke his decision.

If that fails they say they will escalate their request to the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life - the Dicastery that made the recommendations to Gielen in the first place.

Failing that, they will take their complaint to the Sacred Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, which the Sons describe as the Supreme Court of the Catholic Church.

Bishop considering response

A spokesperson for Gielen said that while he could have ignored the Vatican's recommendations, he chose to follow them.

They said Gielen would respond to the Sons' petition in the next few weeks.

The Order is still in the diocese, allegedly celebrating private Masses that "uninvited" members of the public attend.

Gielen gave the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer 90 days (until early October) to leave the diocese.

They may move to another diocese in New Zealand but first need that diocesan bishop's permission.

The Sons say they won't consider that option until legal action has ended.

To depart would mean leaving a community of dedicated supporters - and property with a collective rateable value of $4.5 million.

It is possible the group would refuse to follow Gielen's directive, but The Press says that could trigger further action from the Church.

The Son's community is concerned they might end up being "effectively deported" if no one else takes them in.

Sons' gatherings continue

Meanwhile, the Press reports that there are Sunday gatherings at the Sons' Rutland St property.

A source told The Press there was a Mass last week, but it is unclear if it was the old Latin Rite Mass.

The group's spokesperson said the Sons were cooperating with the Bishop. However, they could not rule out that parishioners were attending Mass there.

He said the Mass at the property was considered private but that, when uninvited people arrived, they were not asked to leave.

The spokesperson said "We're living in a grey area right now".

Source

• The Press
• CathNews NZ

Although the women claim to be Catholic nuns called The Daughters of The Most Holy Redeemer, the Church does not recognise them.

A Christchurch diocese spokesperson says the Sons of The Most Holy Redeemer secretly established the sisterhood without the Bishop's approval.

The Christchurch diocese confirms that the Son's order has no official Church recognition.

The Press says the Sons is the order Bishop Michael Gielan recently ousted following abuse allegations and unauthorised exorcisms.

The Daughters

Established about 10 years ago, the Daughters registered as a charity in 2017.

Although they have no status as far as the Catholic Church is concerned, over the years they have solicited hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations.

They are not nuns but seem to be a private association.

The women wear habits and the Sons refer to them as nuns.

The women live on an 8 hectare orchard, bought mortgage-free in the Son's name for $740,000 in 2023.

The property has five small sheds which the women call "cells". They use these for prayer and apparently for sleeping.

Not kosher

It is unclear exactly when the Catholic Church's Christchurch diocese became aware of the nuns' existence.

One professed Catholic nun in an approved order is wary.

Creating an order of nuns without permission "sounds suspicious to me" she says.

"I wouldn't trust them.

"This is not kosher. It's not Catholic."

A nun's life is a spiritual calling she says.

There are important support networks within her own order and with other orders of nuns she says.

She finds it concerning that the Daughters are isolated from the Church and operating without authority.

"People can't set things up willy nilly ... [for] the safety of the people, their wellbeing and the Church's wellbeing" she said.

Religious orders and societies were once able to be created simply with the approval of a bishop.

In in 2020 Pope Francis changed this.

Since then the Holy See must give permission.

Who's responsible?

The Press was interested in the women's welfare and had a number of questions for the Christchurch diocese.

These included:

• Does the diocese have any responsibility to look after the women?
• Has the diocese made any enquiries about them or undertaken welfare checks prior to the Vatican investigation?
• How was the group able to fly under the radar despite being a registered charity and posting photos of its activity online?

So far The Press reports there has been no response from the diocese's communications team.

Source

• The Press

The Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer and its congregation have been targeted by a deliberate and coordinated misinformation campaign.

This campaign along with the outrageous, false, and fanciful allegations have not resulted in any discernible findings and have lacked any of the components of rigour or natural justice.

The bishop of Christchurch only managed to turn up minor administrative issues which are being used to suppress and shut down the Holy Latin Mass and issue proxy deportation orders to several New Zealand citizens.

The Bishop of Christchurch has repeatedly and continues to refuse to meet or open any dialogue with members of our congregation and community.

Overall, this is a direct attack on a strong and vibrant multicultural Roman Catholic community that provides much fruit for Holy Church in the way of vocations.

The bishop has patronisingly offered ONE Latin Mass at a different location in place of the 9+ masses, catechism, and confessions, said and heard weekly for 300+ souls.

This is grossly inadequate for a congregation of our size and given the bishop's hostility toward the Holy Traditional Latin Mass, we have grave concerns for the longevity of this alternative arrangement.

Legal dispute looming

We believe the bishop is violating the human rights of members of The Sons of The Most Holy Redeemer and potentially violating various criminal laws.

We know that the Church has clear guidelines around taking such draconian actions and we know these have been suspended.

We the Faithful have engaged with lawyers and will pursue these cases in lengthy civil and canonical court cases until we are satisfied with the resolution.

There is a global movement to reduce the number of Traditional orders and this agenda is being pursued vigorously by those who claim to have absolute power in the Church and those with a destructive agenda.

May God have mercy on us all.

• Will McCartney is a lay member of the St Alban's parish church in Christchurch, where the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer say Mass and dispense the sacraments.

The scandal-plagued group came to prominence through their illicit use of the rites of exorcism and have been investigated by both the local media and by the Church.

One must hope that the other New Zealand bishops will support Bishop Gielen by not undercutting his decision by offering this fringe group a home in their dioceses.

The Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer are an excellent example of the reasons why Pope Francis wrote his letter (motu proprio) Traditionis custodes (Guardian of Tradition) in 2021 to the bishops.

In it, he restricted the use of the 1962 Missal and removed the incorrect distinction of "ordinary" and "extraordinary" forms of the Mass that Pope Benedict XIV in his letter (motu proprio) Summorum pontificium (2007) had introduced.

The bishops are the protectors of the authentic tradition of the Church and are not there to further a fringe group.

They must be concerned for the unity of the Church and for the liturgical unity of their dioceses, in this they have been given a clear direction by Pope Francis.

Traditionis custodes

In Traditionis custodes, Pope Francis affirmed that the Latin Church has one Lex Orandi or one law of prayer.

The exceptions to this are ancient rites such as in Milan or in Spain.

Further exceptions are where a group of the baptised leave the communion of the Church to establish their own ecclesial communion and worship using their own rites, as happened following the early schisms of the Church and the European Reformation.

At the end of the First Vatican Council the Old Catholic Church was set up by those who disagreed with the theology of papal infallibility.

Traditionis custodes forbids the use of the 1962 in parish churches without Roman permission.

It requires every priest wanting to celebrate this form to seek the explicit permission of his bishop. It also requires any seminarian, ordained after 2021, who wishes to use these rites, to have the Vatican's permission.

In February 2023, Francis tightened the rules again when he removed the diocesan bishops' authority to grant dispensations for the 1962 Missal by transferring this to his liturgical office.

It was stipulated that bishops may not dispense from the prohibition of the celebration of the pre-conciliar liturgy in parish churches and must seek the explicit permission of the Holy See.

This has led to the refusal of Archbishop Comemsoli's request to use the Melbourne Cathedral, because of the role a cathedral plays as the "parish church of the diocese".

How we pray shows what we believe

One of the main reasons for the restrictions on use of the 1962 missal and associated rites used before the Second Vatican Council is what these rites mean theologically.

Liturgical rites have meaning and liturgical rituals express an inner meaning of belief, which is why the liturgy is called a lex orandi, or a law of prayer.

While many people might have a transactional understanding of the Mass and not care about what is said or done—as long as its quick—how we pray matters.

The way we pray identifies for oneself and to others what we believe. So in the 1950 rite of Good Friday where the Church prayed for the "perfidious Jews", no one blinked an eye at the deep antisemitism.

When now we pray for the "Jewish People, the first to hear the word of God" we pray differently. In the 1962 rite, only the priest prayed the Mass and everyone else attended, now we all the pray the Mass.

These differences are key to understanding the ecclesiological difference between these rites.

For those who choose one over the other there should be respect for their choice. Those to try to celebrate in both rites create a schizophrenic relationship to the Church.

Magisterium and Liturgy

Pope Benedict XVI wrote that the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium (1963) came first because the liturgy is the heart and centre of the Church's life.

We are not a social club, but a community of the baptised who worship God and seek to live the Gospel of Christ in our daily living.

The Second Vatican Council is the highest teaching authority of the Church of the pope and bishops, in Council.

The baptised listen to the Spirit guiding the Church through the Church's magisterium. To deny this is to turn ones back on the Church and to call into question the reality of one's baptism.

Since the Council, most so-called "Latin Mass" groups have become deniers of the magisterium of the bishops and pope in Council.

A recent example of this is the ordinations of priests in the traditionalist Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) in the Bavarian diocese of Regensburg.

The diocesan Bishop, Rudolf Voderholze, emphasized that the SSPX's ordinations were unauthorized and violated ecclesiastical norms. He also expressed hope for the SSPX's genuine efforts to return to full communion with the Catholic Church, respecting canonical regulations.

The current situation is not helped by the sending of mixed messages.

While traditionalist groups like the Institute of Christ the King continue to celebrate the pre-conciliar Mass based on their statutes, but the seminarians of the traditionalist Missionaries of Divine Mercy in France are refused permission for ordination based on their adherence to pre-conciliar liturgy, nothing is clear.

The Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer have received this judgment and expulsion because they crossed a very important line and used liturgical rituals in an abusive way.

They are not to be trusted as representative of the Church. Those who would support them need to examine their own consciences as to reasons they are doing so.

• Dr Joe Grayland is New Zealand's only liturgically trained theologian. He is teaching at the University of Tubingen, Germany.

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

The retired bishop of Toowoomba, Robert McGuckin (pictured), has been tasked with conducting an Apostolic Visitation to investigate the allegations.

The former professor of Canon Law at the University of Notre Dame, Australia, McGuckin has also served as President of the Canon Law Society of Australia and New Zealand.

As the Apostolic Visitor, McGuckin represents the Pope in the matter.

His appointment is short-term and he will present a report to the Holy See at the end of the visitation.

Gielen suspended exorcisms

Following allegations of unauthorised exorcisms, Gielen suspended all exorcisms in the Christchurch diocese in August this year..

Yet despite the suspension order, Newshub alleges more unauthorised exorcisms and concerns about the wellbeing of young people have emerged.

A man told Newshub he had two exorcisms and he was ‘absolutely' sure Gielen had not given permission for them.

"In my situation, I would count that I knew had exorcisms were about a dozen" (sic).

The man told Newshub that the exorcisms were performed by a man who has since left the Order of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer, also known as the Transalpine Redemptorists. He said that the current leaders of the Order, Frs Michael Mary and Anthony Mary, knew exorcisms were occurring.

However Michael Mary denies this, saying the priest was never a community member.

"If he did illegal exorcisms, I have no knowledge of it" Michael Mary said.

In July, Michael Mary said sprinkling Holy Water does not constitute an exorcism.

However, the Newshub source says he doubts what Michael Mary said.

"The Order is a law unto itself. They are above the law. They don't respect the Bishop or anyone else" he said.

"That sense of privilege must be removed."

Nothing happened

Former congregant Greg Price feels relieved that something is finally happening.

He says his and other complaints to former Church leaders were ignored.

Price believes the 'Holy Sons' should be disbanded.

He told Newshub "I just pray that the truth comes to light and the right decisions are made."

The Press reports that in November 2021 an email from the Bishop of Christchurch, Paul Martin, said that the allegations against the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer had been referred to the Church's National Office for Professional Standards, and the matter was in its hands.

Martin said the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer follow the safeguarding protocols and are monitored by the Christchurch diocese's safeguarding officer like other parish groups.

Current Christchurch bishop Michael Gielen has been in the role for 18 months.

In a statement, he says that he sought guidance from the Holy See soon after his arrival in the diocese, and matters regarding the Institute of the Sons of the Holy Redeemer were brought to his attention.

Gielen recently returned from a visit to Rome and welcomes McGuckin's appointment.

"The Apostolic Visitor is appointed to act as a Papal representative tasked with reviewing circumstances identified by the Holy See. I have requested all parties involved respect this appointment and the visitation process.

"Out of respect for the Visitation, I have no further comment" writes Gielen.

Sources

• Newshub
• Newshub
• The Press
• The Press
• CathNews

Gielen is currently in Portugal at World Youth Day.

The announcement arrives in the wake of a report by TV3 journalist Michael Morrah that exposed alleged unapproved exorcisms conducted by the fringe Latin Rite church group known as 'The Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer', or more colloquially, the 'Transalpine Redemptorists'.

Reports suggest that the group performed at least seven exorcisms, five more than authorised by a Christchurch bishop.

Disturbingly, one individual was allegedly subjected to repeated protracted sessions, including an exorcism that was performed for three consecutive days.

Notably absent were the standard medical and psychological evaluations required before performing an exorcism.

Despite their YouTube Channel having 263,000 subscribers, their most recent video having 563 likes, and 104 comments, a former member of The Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer, Greg Price stands by Gielen's call for a review.

"This goes much deeper and wider than just the exorcisms," Price said. He did not offer more details.

Suggesting that complaints were made to then Christchurch bishop, Paul Martin, Price expressed hope that Gielen would be proactive.

"There are people out there, and they will be willing to converse with the Bishop if he demonstrates a genuine interest in hearing them out."

Retired Professor Peter Lineham, a religious commentator, suggested: "Bishop Michael would be gravely mistaken if he ignored the pressing concerns."

Lineham also believes that in ordering a review, Gielen is looking to see whether these priests should be allowed to have standing in the Diocese of Christchurch.

In Tuesday's CathNews, Dr Joe Grayland questioned why a Bishop of Christchurch give permission to this fringe group to perform exorcisms and why, in light of Pope Francis' most recent instruction, they are still permitted to use the old Latin Rite for Mass.

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Sources

• NewsHub
• CathNews - Christchurch exorcisms - Paddy Gower has issues
• CathNews - Poor Church communication helps trivialise exorcisms

Poor Church communication is in the spotlight.

The nub of the issue is why a fringe group, that does not belong to the mainstream of the Church and does not follow the ordinary form the Mass promuligated by Pope Paul VI in 1969 (Novus Ordo) is permitted to perform any sacrament, let alone a sacramental like a "major exorcism"?

Why did a Bishop of Christchurch give permission to this fringe group to perform exorcisms?

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?

Exorcism

The distinction between a "simple form" of exorcism, such as the one performed in the Rite of Baptism or when blessing ourselves with holy water, and the more elaborate "major" or solemn form used in sacramental exorcisms, has not been made clear.

Due to this lack of clarification, exorcism has been trivialised, along with the serious issue of potential religious or spiritual abuse.

Now we have a situation where people have heard about exorcism and abuse in the same sentence and wonder what is going wrong.

As a point of teaching, it is important to clarify the major or solemn form of exorcism is only performed by a priest who has the explicit permission of the bishop.

No ordinary priest is permitted to perform the solemn form of exorcism.

The priest chosen for this sacramental must be judged against external criteria before being permitted to perform a solemn or major exorcism. The priest must proceed with caution, follow the strict rule laid down by the Church and be in regular contact with the diocesan bishop.

The ritual for this sacramental is found in the Rituale Romanum.

The rite is used to protect a person or object against the power of evil or withdraw the power of evil from a person.

The solemn rite of exorcism must not take place where there is a physical or psychological illness. These illnesses are to be treated through medical science, and engaging in the solemn form of exorcism where it is not warranted is just a return to magic or witchcraft.

NZ Media

The trivialisation of such an important matter by TV journalists shows the sorry state of journalism in New Zealand.

When allegations of ritual abuse are juxtaposed with the nonsense of finding out where the best-fried chips are found, it trivialises something very serious.

Add to this the expressed bias of the main presenter regarding his own Catholic upbringing, and one is left saddened that New Zealand seems to have few informed investigative journalists worthy of the title.

New Zealand Bishops' Conference's Response

The trivialisation by society's media of potential spiritual or ritual abuse was not helped by the communications response of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops' Conference.

In this particular case, a prior communication informing clergy and other diocesan and school leaders of the programme's airing was sent, merely saying that the programme was being aired and that Church representatives had engaged with the journalists.

It was not very helpful, and we still do not know what the Church representatives said to the journalists.

Unlike other recent communications from the Bishops' conference, this one did not forbid recipients from publishing its contents. Nor did it slander a journalist.

The Catholic Church needs to be able to speak clearly and professionally for itself in these matters.

In this instance, the lack of Bishops' Conference communication; its silence left those interviewed to explain the situation when they lacked a working knowledge of the Church, theology and practice of the solemn rite of exorcism.

More generally, the situation shows the paucity of theologically educated people employed by the Bishops' Conference and available to Catholics and local media.

It reveals the lack of skilled communicators who are able to intelligently explain the nature of the sacramental of exorcism and the relationship of the fringe Christchurch sect to the Catholic Church.

Overall, the approach of the Bishops' Conference highlights the mentality that has landed the Church in the scandal of the abuse of minors and others.

Through its lack of communication, the Bishops' Conference seems to suggest it is incapable of addressing issues in adult ways to adult believers and questioners alike.

In this, the Bishops' Conference is poorly served.

As Catholics and members of civil society, we must ask:

• Why were there no informed commentators from the Catholic Church?
• Where was an intelligent and informative press statement from the Bishops' Conference before the programme aired?
• Why was an intelligent and informative follow-up not issued?
• Why didn't the Bishops Conference issue a general press release to balance the television reporting and inform people of the complexity of the issue?

One of the Church's roles is to communicate and engage constructively in dialogue with society.

Where religious authorities do not take up their role of engagement with Catholics and society's media, we are all prey to uninformed journalism.

In times when the Church, its practice and indeed Christianity is not as familiar as it once may have been, and when it is in the spotlight for sexual abuse, the onus is on the Church to communicate effectively.

As instanced by this example, the lack of proper communication increases the likelihood of the Church giving scandal to the Catholic faithful, other Christians and those who see Catholicism as a risk to public safety.

• Joe Grayland is a theologian and a priest of the Diocese of Palmerston North. His latest book is: Liturgical Lockdown. Covid and the Absence of the Laity (Te Hepara Pai, 2020).

He clarified that sprinkling Holy Water around a child does not constitute an exorcism.

The controversy surrounding the 'Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer', also known as the Transalpine Redemptorists, emerged after TV3's programme 'Paddy Gower Has Issues' aired a segment Wednesday night.

The programme claimed that the group had performed exorcisms on children, and one child was allegedly told the Devil possessed them.

It was also reported that the group conducted exorcisms on seven individuals, with one person undergoing multiple lengthy sessions, some lasting for several hours, and one exorcism purportedly spanning three consecutive days.

There were also claims that individuals were restrained during these rituals.

Bishop Steve Lowe, President of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference, acknowledges that exorcisms occasionally occur in New Zealand but said it is very unusual for people to be restrained.

Lowe describes the act of binding people during an exorcism as 'cinematic.'

Drawing from Church data, Gower stated that the official Catholic Church sanctioned 12 exorcisms over the past five years. Six of these were authorised for Auckland and Hamilton dioceses, though not all occurred.

An equal number were sanctioned in the Christchurch diocese.

In a YouTube video, Michael Mary stated that then Bishop Paul Martin of Christchurch permitted two exorcisms; both occurred, and he denies any illicit use of the permission.

Catholic community reaction

CathNews received feedback from a number of concerned Catholics regarding the 'Paddy Gower Has Issues' segments.

One correspondent accuses Gower and investigative journalist Michael Morah of trivialising a very serious matter and accusing the reporting as lacking maturity.

"A really nuanced topic is treated interspersed with getting fried chips!

"The juxtaposition shows the true level of New Zealand journalism,' said one.

"The country needs an injection of journalistic maturity,' another wrote.

The Church's perceived silence also drew attention.

"I think we can reasonably expect some response or even engagement from an official church spokesperson,' said another.

"The rather bizarre nature of these reported events, surely the Church must have something to say.

"It certainly needs to be more transparent and engage more fully.

"It's not the 1950s,' yet another said.

"It's not apt for the Church to remain silent. We, the regular Catholics, bear the brunt of public scrutiny."

A person said over the phone that concerns arose on Thursday while chatting after Mass about the medical and psychological evidence the bishop considered before granting permission for these practices.

"Tying up people, stabbing them with a crucifix is extreme.

"People have their dignity.

"With the Church so much in the spotlight, you'd think it would have something to say," they said.

A communications specialist expressed astonishment at the Church's seeming detachment and weak recent communication strategies.

"It feels like the Catholic Church leans heavily on Peter Lineham for its representation," he said.

Professor Peter Lineham has for many years written and lectured extensively on the religious history of New Zealand. Now retired, he is a member of the Anglican and Baptist Church.

"It would be better if there were a Catholic someone attached to the community.

"These days, the perception of the Church is that the church leadership seems more interested in being spiritual and holy. They're good ideals but are not sufficient. The Church also needs to engage in the here and now.

"The bishop at least needs to explain what training and expertise these priests have to perform exorcisms.

"The Church lacks engagement at critical times" said the communications specialist.

The Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer

The Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer entered the Christchurch diocese in 2009.

Upon their arrival, Bishop Barry Jones cautioned Catholics that the group's services lacked authorisation and weren't in communion with the Pope.

In 2012, Pope Benedict granted his approval and the group continues to be responsible in the diocese for the Latin Mass chaplaincy.

However, in an expression of lex orandi, lex credendi - how we pray reflects what we believe - Pope Francis is not disposed to the belief behind the old Latin Rite.

In February 2023, Francis admonished bishops who permitted the Latin Mass in their dioceses without Vatican consent, urging them to obtain retrospective authorisation.

Following up on correspondence from a reader, CathNews sought clarification from the Catholic Bishops Conference on the practice of the traditional Latin Rite Mass and whether the required authorisations had been applied for.

Sources

• Paddy Gower has Issues (TV3)
• CathNews NZ
• Stuff
• Transalpine Redemptorists
• Earlier this article said that Peter Lineham is involved with the Charismatic Movement and the Pentecostal Church. In making this statement, CathNews used a reference from the National Library. (Reference dated 27 July, 2023).

  Peter Lineham has been in touch, objecting to our initial reference. He accused CathNews of making a false statement about him and told us to do some research.

  By referencing the National Library, we thought we were using an authoritative source; however, in light of his correspondence, we wish to apologise to Peter for what was a genuine mistake and thank him for pointing out the error.

Father Magdala Maria and a fellow member of the group, Father Yousef Marie, were ordained in Rome alongside Father Massimo Botta of the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter.

The Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer, also called the Transalpine Redemptorists, were formerly associated with the schismatic Society of St Pius X founded by Bishop Marcel Lefebvre, but are now in full communion with the Catholic Church.

Based on a tiny windswept island in the Orkney Isles, Scotland, the institute also has a New Zealand community in Christchurch.

Father Magdala, whose parents from Australia attended the ceremony, has said he wanted to be a priest from the time he was a young lad.

"My father is Luamanuvae, chief of the village of Sala'loga in Samoa. When I was a teenager, I thought of making a career as a professional rugby player. I was being considered for a $250,000 per year contract with a professional team in Australia."

But then, he said, he attended a mission at the St Pius X church in Sydney and "I knew then that I had to give my life entirely to God, though in what form I did not know".

Five days after the ordination, on the 25th anniversary of the illicit ordination of four bishops by Bishop Lefebre, the Society of St Pius X announced that its dialogue with the Vatican is over until "Rome returns to Tradition".

Three of the four Pius X bishops — the fourth has been expelled from the society — issued a document criticising the Second Vatican Council and the Novus Ordo Mass promulgated by Pope Paul VI in 1969.

"This Mass is penetrated with an ecumenical and Protestant spirit, democratic and humanist, which empties out the sacrifice of the Cross,"
they declared.

Sources:

Catholic News Agency

Catholic News Agency

Inside the Vatican

Image: Catholic News Agency