A Many-Splendored Thing

Diocesan clergy met this week in conference with Bishop Doherty. Some frank & intense discussion on the subject of the liturgy ensued.

Reportedly, some of the clergy expressed a wish or calling to minister better to the numerous young people, including college students and young couples with children, who are traditional in their spirituality & who desire to attend Mass in the extraordinary form.

Though Pope Francis’ motu proprio is obviously narrowing the circumstances under which this is possible, there were avenues proposed in the course of this meeting which would not violate the document’s rules but would permit the desired ministry to these persons.

We are sorry, though not surprised, to say that our bishop will be applying Traditionis Custodes in the strictest and most Cupichian fashion, permitting no such liturgical ministry to occur in the diocese.

These clergy stated that such young people are taking their children and leaving, finding places of worship and connection in other dioceses outside of Lafayette, like South Bend/Fort Wayne and Indianapolis.

(One must wonder if some will leave for other groups whose status within the church is murkier, all licit doors having been slammed in their faces.)

These concerns were not, however, shared by the bishop.

Expect a decree on this, which the bishop describes as “a love letter” outlining his refusal.

If in the form a valentine, one might expect “GO AWAY YOUNG TRAD FAMILIES: YOU AREN’T WANTED,” in exquisite calligraphy, to be its centerpiece.

Love is indeed a many-splendoured thing.

We need to ask two things of readers.

In the first instance, if this confuses and upsets you, please renew your prayers for our bishop, and indeed for our pope. There are enemy lines where reason, compassion, and humanity can’t penetrate, and beyond these one must implore the Mother of God to go.

Secondly, lift up your priests in prayer & gratitude. It’s becoming plain that some number of our priests are observant and conscientious, and are pained on behalf of their people whom they don’t wish to lose. They are seeing what others choose not to: souls that need care, people they want to serve. May God bless and keep them.