Recently, the FoederatioInternationalis Una Voce (FIUV), of which I am Secretary, conducted a survey of its member associations and other contacts to supply information for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith: to supplement the survey of bishops the Congregation had itself initiated. We received a large number of responses, including from almost every Spanish-speaking country.
There are many dioceses for which we had no reports, in Latin America, where there are almost certainly no EF Masses taking place; in Canada and the USA, on the other hand, we are more likely to have missed out on places where there are celebrations. This means the graph probably understates the contrast.
Of greater value than figures, I believe, are the personal testimonies of the people filling in the survey. I offer a selection here, anonymised to protect the individuals and groups concerned. I will let them speak for themselves, from a full range of experiences, both good and bad, in seeking the Church’s ancient liturgy.
These quotations are translations from the Spanish. The original Spanish can be seen in a Spanish-language version of this blogpost at the Adelante la fe blog here
If anyone would like to join the FIUV’s list of local contacts, please email me at secretary@fiuv.org
From Argentina
We were
treated with contempt on the part of the bishop.
(another diocese)
We are
segregated and labelled, by the clergy and laity with positions in the diocese,
as execrable traditionalist recalcitrants, when we only wish to offer our Lord
the honour he deserves…
The Ordinary
is totally hostile. He has forbidden kneeling for Holy Communion. He has
persecuted all who want to celebrate Mass in the Extraordinary Form.
(another diocese)
To make
clear the attitude of the bishop, and of many priests, they reject not only the
celebration of the EF, but every public manifestation of religiosity and
devotion, as Phariseeism.
(another diocese)
The
Ordinary has rejected requests from separate stable small groups, claiming that
‘it would be a cause of division in the diocese.’
(another diocese)
I have been
denied the possibility of baptizing my children according to the Extraordinary Form.
(another diocese)
Neither the
current nor the former Bishop have shown any hostility towards the EF. The Motu
Proprio has applied very calmly.
(another diocese)
The
Ordinary respects the faithful who desire [the EF] but he does not promote it,
probably out of fear of progressive priests, or through their influence.
From Chile
The
Ordinary shows no opposition to Holy Mass in the Extraordinary Form. However, he
does not exercise control or sanction over those parish priests,
administrators, and ordinary lay people, who harass and/or hinder the faithful attached
to the Extraordinary Form, when they refuse to comply with the standards of Summorum
Pontificum, or when they exercise unfair discrimination against the
faithful of the EF.
(another diocese)
We (the
Coetus Fidelium) was asked to leave one parish by the parishioners, and we have
since then asked successive bishops to establish a Personal Parish, Quasi-parish,
or Private Association of the Faithful. We have never even had an acknowledgement
of receipt of these requests … The current Ordinary assigned us a church that
was disused and we have restored it to use with the contributions of the Faithful.
From Columbia
The
Archbishop did not wish to satisfy the request of the faithful, and furthermore
has forbidden a priest who celebrated [the EF] by threatening him. The
Archbishop relentlessly pursues the anyone who celebrates the Traditional Mass.
(another diocese)
We have
been disturbed by priests and local groups who say that this Mass should no
longer be celebrated, that it is a forbidden Mass, and that the Pope has said
nothing about it. Some priests have said that this Mass takes the people away
from God.
From Costa Rica (a diocese where there are celebrations of the EF every Sunday)
The
Ordinary has communicated with priests and faithful explaining the conditions
which make the EF possible and how it can be accessed. He’s an excellent man
who’s not afraid of the drastic decisions the Costa Rican government has made.
From the Dominican Republic
…we are
ignored, we only learn from contacts with the clergy that we are not at all
well regarded.
(another diocese)
He is a
good Shepherd, very attentive and solicitous for his flock. But his attitude to
the EF has been very neutral. 80% of the clergy frown at those of us who
request Mass in the EF.
From Honduras
We have
spoken to the Bishop but he does not agree very much with the traditional Mass
and has even made mocking comments. He says whoever wants Tridentine Mass should
go to France, with reference to the SSPX. He is totally against it, and has
even instilled fear in diocesan priests who would like to celebrate it.
(another diocese)
We’re labelled
as retrogrades. For lack of information and knowledge of the Church, the
faithful who attend the Novus Ordo tend to condemn (for example) those who receive
Holy Communion on their knees and on the tongue. …
When it was
heard that several faithful asked for Mass in the Extraordinary Form, the Bishop
threatened them with excommunication, and met with the clergy to threaten the
faithful.
From Mexico
Since the creation
of our Association, [the Ordinary] has been increasingly open and willing to
collaborate. He has been generous in terms of the space and expansion of the
movement in the Diocese.
(another diocese)
The
Ordinary welcomed us with kindness and gave us the requested facilities.
(another diocese)
They have
been trying to isolate us in obscure churches with small congregations, in
order to limit Catholics’ exposure to the EF. However, the Bishop has assigned
us a priest and a place. He’s allowed the EF, but he didn't want to broadcast
it. He has discouraged the diocesan clergy from establishing regular EF
celebrations.
(another diocese)
[the Holy
See is requested:] To clarify through the Bishops’ Conference that they should
not prohibit the celebration of Holy Mass in the Extraordinary Form, nor
frighten the faithful interested in it, who are often victims of harassment and
false accusations.
(another diocese)
…despite
having sought hearings with the Bishop, we have not been received and we are
forced to go to places outside the Diocese
(another diocese)
Despite
having made several requests for a meeting in order to be able to put our
request in person, we have not received a response, only a verbal response was
sent which placed unwarranted conditions on the application of Summorum
Pontificum and asking us not to invite the parishioners to celebrations of
the EF. The group of faithful has found a celebrant, place, ornaments; however,
we don’t count on the authorisation of the Ordinary. …
[Request to Holy See:] the group of faithful is loyal to the service and support of the Holy See, and is fully committed to prevent [EF Masses] from becoming an additional burden on the diocese. However, if they continue to encounter obstructions some faithful might resort to places that are not in full communion with the Holy Catholic Church.
(another diocese)
[The
Ordinary] is very overbearing and claims that he can ban that Mass. Adding that
the Traditional Liturgy is something ‘extraordinary’ that is, once or twice a
month and nothing more, and that it is not possible that in the 21st century
there are people attached to this Rite that has already been superseded.
(another diocese)
The Auxiliary
Bishop has always been very attentive and generous to community at our chapel.
The previous Ordinary was very generous and always made us feel part of the
Diocese.
(another diocese)
With the
previous Ordinary we had a relationship where he let us celebrate and work.
With the current one things have been very difficult. First of all, he forbade
us to celebrate Mass, and already years later people of the diocese, during a programme
of ‘Popular Devotions’, let us celebrate a Mass in the Basilica, which was at
its maximum capacity. As a result of this Mass many people began to ask through
social media about whether this Mass was held on a regular basis, to which the organisers
responded that it was something extraordinary and that was only celebrated on that
one day. …
[Request to the Holy See] Perhaps one way would be for the bishops themselves to be aware of Summorum Pontificum and its contents, as well as to respect it. In addition to promoting it among the faithful so that they know what it contains, and not just calling us ‘Lefebvrists’, or excluding us from the activities of the local church.
(another diocese)
From what
we have observed, it will be difficult to get an interview with the Ordinary in
the short term as his secretary has a negative perception of those who follow
this form of Holy Mass, and does not pass our request to interview the
Archbishop.
(another diocese)
[The
Ordinary] told us that he had no interest in the EF because there were other
pastoral priorities.
(another diocese)
We have
been treated with great generosity and respect. We feel like a small active
group that is part of the diocese.
(another diocese)
He has
welcomed our requests with paternal generosity and respect. We’re very grateful
to him.
(another diocese)
He is a
very pastoral Bishop who receives and cares for the small flock attached to the
Traditional Mass
(another diocese)
The
Ordinary has been attentive to all our requests. He has been very generous,
although his auxiliary bishop is not as favourable as he is to the EF. …
Although the Ordinary has supported EF, the Rector of the Seminary and some of the formators are often very hostile to seminarians interested in the EF. Whenever a seminarian expresses an interest in the EF he is invited to leave the seminary for an alleged absence of vocation.
(another diocese: one of several with no public celebrations)
A year ago
seminarians of the FSSP were visiting and asked to be allowed to celebrate the EF
in some parishes including the Cathedral, and at the last minute they were
forbidden. The diocesan Chancellor issued a statement labelling the Traditional
Mass as invalid, but some priests came out in defence of the Traditional Mass and
offered the use of their churches.
From Paraguay
He’s been
open to the possibility, but he’s never made a decision. So the celebration of
the EF is never allowed to the faithful.
(another diocese)
The hostility
of the ordinary is clear; he permits nothing prayed in Latin, he rejects
modesty such as veils or the systematic wearing of skirts, he does not promote
the divine office, and is against the liturgical celebration of any Sacrament
according to the ancient rite.
Some small countries, grouped together to preserve their anonymity.
While the
Ordinary has always been distant from us, and has delivered words of contempt
to us, on the other hand I recognise that he has so far acceded to the requests
we have made to him through the mediation of priests.
(another country)
The diocese
has set out to ridicule and suppress any movement related to the Extraordinary
Form.
(another country)
[The
Ordinary] does not grant appointments and even less does he respond to formal
letters requesting the Holy Tridentine Mass. Unofficially we have been informed
that the Extraordinary Rite is forbidden in the diocese. Several priests have
tried to approach the Ordinary and have receive only threats, or have been removed
from their parishes.
(another country)
He rejects
everything concerning Tradition.
(another country)
The times I’ve approached the Ordinary through the correct channels, he has made himself available. The current bishop is not reluctant to help us. But the clergy are either reluctant or indifferent.
