Soon after the promulgation of "Traditionis custodes", the illegitimate motu proprio promoting the cultural genocide of Traditional Catholics, in July 2021, Traditional Catholics in France, almost always in small numbers, but always faithfully and constantly, started to stage protests every Saturday in defense of the Traditional Mass and our rights as Catholic faithful, in front of the Apostolic Nunciature (the "Vatican Embassy") in Paris. They are still going on, in hot summer as well as in frigid winter.
We thought this was the right idea: prayer along with defiance and showing our presence. As we pray in front of abortion clinics, we also pray in front of the representatives of our ecclesiastical persecutors. We suggested to several U.S. Catholics that this was the right move to do: week in and week out, show to Francis' representative in the United States that we exist and that we will never back down. Others thought this would be a provocation, and that the response of American bishops to Traditionis custodes showed they didn't want to pursue our persecution.
One year later, and the picture has certainly changed. It is obvious, and it is openly discussed in chanceries throughout America, that there is a concerted effort promoted directly by Francis and his closest circle to suppress the Traditional Latin Mass in American dioceses. Bishops who disobey this concerted effort are warned that they will be simply sacked by Francis. This is also obviously being mediated by the Nunciature in Washington. First Savannah, then Washington DC, now Arlington immediately across the Potomac show the development of this new stage of the cultural genocide against us.
It is well past time for American Traditional Catholics, especially those in the DC region, to follow the lead of French Catholics and organize weekly protests in front of the Nunciature in Washington DC. Ideally, those protests would culminate in huge national rallies of Traditional Catholics praying and celebrating the Traditional Mass, once or twice a year, showing Francis' ambassador that we are here, that we will always be here, and making sure he transmits to Francis' minions in Rome that, like good bread dough, the more they punch us, the more we will rise -- and rise up. We have tried sheepishness and timidity for one year, and they clearly have confused our pacifism for cowardliness. The March for Life has shown that a simple witness of presence and prayer can achieve miracles.
We hope those with organizational skills will pursue this course. This too shall pass, and our descendants will be proud of our struggle for Christ and His Church.
