Go here to read the story. Bishop Martin is a fanatic and fanatics rarely back down on their own. I detect papal intervention. Be sure his fellow bishops probably are assuming the same thing.
He Didn’t Do This Willingly
- Donald R. McClarey
Donald R. McClarey
Cradle Catholic. Active in the pro-life movement since 1973. Father of three, one in Heaven, and happily married for 43 years. Small town lawyer and amateur historian. Former president of the board of directors of the local crisis pregnancy center for a decade.
I’m very glad for the Latin Mass-goers of the Charlotte diocese— they get a few more months to consider their options and prepare. And who knows? It’s possible that our new Pope may lift all or part of the restrictions imposed by Traditiones Custodes by then.
The thing that shocks me in this latest development is the Bishop’s admission that he had decided to evict the TLM-going part of his flock in July—rather than wait until the October deadline set by Rome— simply because July was the usual month priests’ parish reassignments were announced in his diocese. In other words, not disrupting business-as-usual for his chancery staff by delaying the announcement of parish reassignments was more important than giving this part of his flock time to get ready to leave their parishes and put together their new home in a space that’s nowhere near ready for them.
His Excellency appears to be a rather callous man with a peculiar set of priorities. But I think we already knew that…
“Loose lips sinks ships.” I’m hoping that the leak and the reverberations thereof, sink the poor decision of Pope Francis, RIP, to chloroform the TLM. Just maybe Bishop Martin’s strong words against the Mass of the Ages will be that little push that Pope Leo the XIV needs to scuttle the restrictions altogether and let the Holy Spirit continue to work through that beautuful liturgy.
Who knows?
🙏🙏🙏
Before everyone celebrates too much, I heard that all four pastors in the parishes that offer the TLM have all been reassigned to new parishes. So more than likely the TLM will be over more or less within the month at these parishes.
In that same report, it was stated that many more priests were also reassigned, so a major shakeup has just occurred putting much of the diocese off balance.
Bishop Martin (probably a homosexual) was loosing the adulation yearned for from the crowd -ordinary Catholics.
I think this fissure changed his mind, and I think this and other cruelties shown may now cause a distaste for any bishop who is mean towards those who attend Latin Mass.
It’s unchristian like behavior.
“I heard that all four pastors in the parishes that offer the TLM have all been reassigned to new parishes.”
Excellent news if that does happen. Once the restrictions are lifted the priests start the process of teaching and instruction on the TLM at those four parishes.
Secondary causes can grow a beautiful garden, but it takes time and patience.
The Diocese of Charlotte deserves better than Bishop Martin.
“That said, I want to listen to the concerns of these parishioners and their priests, and I am willing to give them more time to absorb these changes.”
In other words, the changes are coming, he’s just going to do it in October. And if the priests are already transfered, well it’s all done anyway. If you read the rather lengthy diatribe that was leaked, [here] you’ll see this all part of a broader sweep of all things traditional and instituting his personal
preferenceinterpretation of the liturgy. No birettas or elaborate vestments, no ad orientum or anything on the altar including candles, no veils for women lectors, cantors, etc., mandatory “altar girls” and EMEs. It’s all very “contemporary.”In somewhat related news, Pope Leo XIV named Bishop Mark Eckman as the 13th Bishop of Pittsburgh. Bishop Zubik turned 75 last fall and his resignation was accepted by His Holiness.
I don’t expect any big changes to this Diocese. In line with TC, Bishop Zubik ended the few diocesan TLMs. We have Most Precious Blood of Jesus Parish for the TLM, staffed by the Institute of Christ the King. The ICKSP came to Pittsburgh at Bishop Zubik’s invitation, having worked with the ICKSP in the Green Bay Diocese and knowing well Canon Talarico, the North American Provincial Supervisor and a Pittsburgh native.
PF,
I know Canon Talarico; he’s a good man and a good priest. (His brother was in the Marine Corps–so, pretty good credentials!)
I hope none of us goes down the Denethorian path of “prepare for doom as you see fit,” because public pressure inside the Charlotte diocese and throughout the Catholic Church in the U.S. most certainly can bring about changes.
In case no one noticed, Pope Leo has been doing what he can to avoid major provocations, either to the Bergoglionistas or normal (actual) Catholics. He would not be pleased that this imbroglio has erupted in Charlotte due to his action (when he was head of the dicastery of bishops).
So, let’s keep up the pressure! Pray specifically for the outcome we desire (maybe by using the Pentecost novena?).
Fr. J, I have met Canon Talarico and I agree with you completely. His uncle was a priest in McKees Rocks across the Ohio River from our parish.
I haven’t prayed much recently. Prayers for the Charlotte Diocese, and elsewhere, are needed.
Why don’t clerics like Bishop Martin simply go to the Episcopal Church USA where they belong?
Per BillR’s linked letter, Bishop Martin seems to be advocating a view of Catholic faith that …. I have trouble practicing.
I understand what he’s talking about; there are ways in which the altar and vestments can be a distraction. He seems to be seeking for the diocese to embrace the “noble simplicity” we all heard about.
Sadly for His Excellency, ….I’ve been there.
Actually, I think most of us have been there.
I don’t think His Excellency very well understands the value of ceremony. Adornment. I don’t think he understands… the value of music. From the sentiments he expresses, …nobody would ever have cause to attend a performance of Messiah. …Nobody would ever go see Bon Jovi, AC/DC, or The Weeknd. …Nobody would ever wear a nice suit, never mind a tuxedo.
If most people don’t understand the traditional Mass or Latin, …we can guarantee they won’t by this direction. …Too many don’t understand the Novus Ordo either.
I’ve never done anything that didn’t require instruction to a degree. One cannot sing a song in English properly if one doesn’t understand English grammar. ..One cannot offer an Our Father or “actively participate” in the Canon if one doesn’t know what these prayers say… or why.
Remarkably, …though born in the 70s, I did not read the Council til my late 20s. Even then, I did so mostly because …irritation with “the Spirit of Vatican II” finally required it. I had not known the Council Fathers actually wrote anything down.
Bishop Martin does seem to admit–obliquely–that many others does not seem to understand the Council very well either.
He still seems to dedicate most effort to stomping out any traditional norms.
Puzzling, at best.
It does well explain why neither Church nor State willingly teach history in depth. It’s tough to advocate reparations for slavery if you know that tariffs had been contentious too. Likewise, it’s tough to explain removing certain prayers if you know why they came about.
“Nobody would ever wear a nice suit, never mind a tuxedo.”
Someone with more time on their hands than I have can verify this for AB Martin, but I personally don’t recall ever being in a diocese where the bishop didn’t throw black-tie fundraisers.
I think that deep down the bishops who pummel the TLM know that if we ever got a great pope again, he would remove their water gun baptisms and clown cases in a heartbeat.
I think that they also know that the difference between a reverent Mass and a “relevant” Mass is like the difference between a movie on your phone… and that same movie on IMAX!
CAG,
It’s one thing to host a black-tie event for a fundraiser once or twice each year. It’s a different matter entirely to expect the faithful to routinely come to Mass dressed the same way and behaving accordingly.
John F:
It’s one thing to encourage people to dress accordingly for Jesus’ wedding feast, and quite another to require people to dress accordingly for a $500/plate gala event. 😉
FYI: In my experience, when declining an invitation to such an event, writing “Jesus didn’t own a tuxedo” on the RSVP will not get you removed from their mailing list.
CAG,
You’re probably right, it won’t. *chuckles*