In a piece on the explosive revelation of the generally positive response of the world's bishops to Summorum Pontificum, the news website of the German Bishops' Conference uses the most diplomatic of languages:
Pope Francis appears to have ignored the advice of the bishops previously consulted worldwide when he restricted the Traditional Latin Mass. According to documents that have now become public, the responses to a survey conducted by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on the implementation of the rules for the pre-conciliar liturgy put in place by Pope Benedict XVI were significantly more positive than the Pope himself presented. [emphasis added]
Yes: Francis lied. He lied.
Because he chose to present the hidden bishops' report, prepared by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith with strict reference to the answers presented by the bishops of the world, as a cause for his program of current limitation and future extinction of the Traditional Latin Mass and Rites. In Traditionis custodes, Francis said:
"At this time, having considered the wishes expressed by the episcopate and having heard the opinion of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith..."
But that was a complete and total lie. He DID NOT consider the wishes expressed by the episcopate. He considered his own ideological wishes.
So much pain, so much persecution, so much abuse moved simply by the whims of a disturbed soul.
