My concern is that neither you nor the author seems to understand the way that an Institute of Consecrated Life or a Society of Apostolic Life comes to be erected under Canon Law. It doesn't happen all at once -- it happens in stages, and at each stage, the Diocesan Bishop must approve. As the Order/Society progresses, it has more rights under Canon Law (and is harder for a Diocesan Bishop to suppress).
This was a new "Society" -- Yes, Bishop Slattery created it (as I said, most likely as a Private Association of the Faithful), and Ecclesia Dei approved of it. That said, if it is in fact a Private Association of the Faithful, the new bishop would be able to suppress it (though the benefactors do then have a right to know what is happening). Whether it was done in a "solemn proclamation" at a Pontifical Mass or a letter delivered to Fr. Ripperger privately matters not (though if I saw the text of the proclamation, that would clarify the status that I am speaking about above).
(Rant on) This is part of the reason why we as Traditional Catholics have had such a hard go of things in the past decades. Have we been treated badly? Certainly. However, there are too many folks who look at a situation like this and cast aspersions on the bishop without understanding 1) why he chose to ask the Society to stop its apostolate in the diocese or 2) the rights the Diocesan Bishop has to do just that and then 3) begin to stir up people by questioning what will happen to the rest of the Traditional orders and parishes (all of whom have more rights under Canon Law than a Private Association of the Faithful). This is especially true when one of the works is Exorcism, which falls under the oversight of the Diocesan Bishop.
In my opinion, the way The Okie Traditionalist has reported on this is imprudent bordering on irresponsible and will only hurt Traditional Catholics in Oklahoma. (Rant Off)
Yeah, I’m sure he had a good reason. /s
Please be sure to share it when the “truth” comes out.
First of all, I don’t consider, for one second, that you are a traditional Roman Catholic. Otherwise you would have known that Fr. Chad Ripperger, ordained in 1997, had been a long time member of the FSSP, for 18 years, and the author of quite a few orthodox books.
Secondly, your entire strawman is based on your personal assumption that the society is nothing more than a private assosciation.
But as a commentator stated on August 25, 2015, on the AKA Catholic website:
“To your point about Fr. Chad Ripperger the take away from your comment is “whilst still a priest of the FSSP” Fr. Chad Ripperger is no longer an active member of the FSSP that speaks volumes for those who know him. Fr. Chad Ripperger has gone deeper into new church and my prediction is that he will get burned for doing so. I could be wrong we will wait and see. I hope he does well.”
Looks like the waiting is over and Fr. Ripperger did get burned by francischurch/newchurch.
Excellent points. Trads too frequently shout “fire” and even though the theatre is half-empty, it does get annoying for those responsible for trucks and ladders.
To continue with bizarre metaphors, much more progress would be made if trads did not compulsively cut off the nose to spite the face.
Ripperger has been a problem in the past. Until the matter becomes clear, should we not give the benefit of the doubt to the Bishop?
Those who don’t first look to their own bishop to explain his reasons are not exactly acting in good faith as Catholics. Thus they come across as ignorant and reactionary whiners and will continue to be ignored. And as long as their attitude is arrogant superiority over all those “moderns” and “N.O.” people, they deserve to be ignored.