I have no idea how a prelate can attest that attendance at the SSPX chapel does not fulfill the Sunday obligation when a) I believe Rome has said the exact opposite, and b) how in the world could an Eastern Orthodox Divine liturgy fulfill your obligation and an SSPX Mass cannot?
Dear Claud,
The article is clearly in error regarding SSPX chapels. However, the article also references other "Catholic" churches where things are considerably murkier, like these folks:
"According to Bishop Sherman R. Mosley, 'legally we are Roman since we were never excommunicated. There never was a bull of excommunication from Rome saying we were.' He added, to avoid confusion, the church uses the name Old Catholic Church of America, (OCCA)."
With some of the other churches mentioned, it's very unclear just what their affiliation might be.
I guess the author - and if he has accurately reported, the archdiocese - has used a rather broad brush, perhaps out of a sense of prudence, not wishing to get layfolks into the habit of discerning between this and that non-Catholic church as to which have a real Mass and which do not.
sitetest
Dear Claud,
All the above being said, nonetheless, the official of the archdiocese seems woefully ignorant of Catholic teaching:
"'We are not ex-priests,' wrote Baiocchi, who was ordained in 1960 as a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago, in response to e-mailed questions from your Catholic Herald. 'Catholic theology states that once we are ordained, we are ordained forever. Canon law demands that we respond to the sacramental and eucharistic needs of the people upon their request. That is what we are doing. Our 'Eucharist' is valid and warmly celebratory. Our sacramental ministry is vivid and valid, too, much to the chagrin and frequent denial of some.'
"Decker denies Baiocchi’s claim of validity.
“'The public practice of priesthood is what we focus on,' she explained. 'The public practice of that ministry is what we can regulate, so according to canon law a priest is not allowed to marry and if he chooses to violate that, the consequence is that his bishop or archbishop can restrict his public ministry because he is not adhering to the canons of the church.'
"While Decker said she did not know the circumstances surrounding the three men at Jesus Our Shepherd, she said 'by their actions, they have chosen to separate themselves and now they are trying to justify that.' She added that they cannot validly celebrate the Eucharist in the eyes of the church."
Obviously, if the priest was validly ordained in the Church, no matter what his current clerical status, he may validly confect the Blessed Sacrament.
I don't know where Ms. Decker gets her information.
sitetest
" how in the world could an Eastern Orthodox Divine liturgy fulfill your obligation and an SSPX Mass cannot?"
Is it true that attendence at an Orthodox Divine Liturgy fulfills a Roman Catholic's Sunday Obligation?
It doesn't; attending Eastern Orthodox Divine Liturgies does not fulfill the Sunday obligation.
-Theo