[Catholic Caucus] Guest Post: Spiritual Diocesan Malfeasance in the Diocese of Arlington? by Brian Kopp

Les Femmes ^ | July 12, 2023 | Brian Kopp

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[Catholic Caucus] Guest Post: Spiritual Diocesan Malfeasance in the Diocese of Arlington? by Brian Kopp

The SSPX Chapel in Linden at Christmas

Editor's note: All the information in the commentary below by Brian Kopp is first hand witnessed by Brian himself and the people involved and/or their parents. The situation in the Front Royal area is tragic. Rather than recognizing who the real enemy is, the local diocese and parishes have chosen to attack the SSPX and those who attend the chapel. It is hard to believe a priest would label a faithful believing and practicing Catholic as "not a Catholic." My question would be, "Father, is James Martin a Catholic as he promotes sins that cry to heaven for vengeance? How about the new head of DDF (Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith) who is about to be made a cardinal? Víctor Manuel Fernández covered up abuse allegations for years. Is he a danger to the faith? Is he a Catholic? Is Archbishop Paglia, who put a blasphemous homoerotic fresco in his cathedral complete with his own image in a red zucchetto, a faithful Catholic? These men occupy high level positions at the Vatican. And you're going to tell me that those who go to the SSPX chapel aren't Catholic? Really?"

Bishop Burbidge and some of our diocesan priests are doing everything they can to undermine the ministry of the SSPX. At the same time, they cannot honestly assure local Catholics that the sacraments in the traditional form will continue. Unfortunately few of our bishops will stand up to the papal overreach of Traditionis Custodes.

I saw Brian's comments on his Facebook (FB) page. I also saw them on the Traditional Latin Mass -- Diocese of Arlington FB page where most quickly disappeared apparently censored by the administrators. Goodness, can't let local Catholics know anything about the chapel. They might visit it. 

I've gone to the Arlington TLM page occasionally where they pretend that the SSPX doesn't exist. Fortunately, the article in Crisis included the SSPX as one of the traditional sites available in Front Royal. Apparently the FB Arlington TLM group are among the Diocesan appartchiks. Just disappear the SSPX in a snap. POOF! 

The chapel doesn't recruit. We don't have to. The Holy Spirit does. 

The diocese and local pastors would be wise to follow Gamaliel's advice. If it's not from God it will disappear. If it is from God, they will find themselves fighting against God. Frankly, I have no doubt whatsoever. "By their fruits you will know them." Among the fruits of the chapel are an abundant harvest of little souls for the Lord. 

Archbishop Paglia is a good Catholic while those attending the SSPX chapel are not? Really? And the diocese expects us to believe it?

Spiritual Diocesan Malfeasance in the Diocese of Arlington?

by Brian Kopp

Yesterday, Crisis Magazine ran an article, Ten of the best Cities in America to raise a Catholic Family, that mentioned the FSSP was permitted by the local bishop [Michael Burbidge] to come to Front Royal, VA to establish a small apostolate there. [Editor's note: The FSSP priest has been assigned as chaplain to Chelsea Academy.]

This of course draws my intense interest as I’m only 15 miles away, and the local diocesan TLMs have been banished to gyms or small local Catholic school chapels. I attend a local diocesan parish so I make these observations from that perspective.

I think what brought this to a head was the number of faithful flocking to the local SSPX chapel. During the Covid lockdowns, while the local parishes “obeyed” the demand that “non essential businesses” close (while Walmart and the local abortuaries stayed open nationwide), the SSPX came into Front Royal and took care of these spiritual orphans. The faithful rewarded their efforts by forming a thriving - and still growing - SSPX chapel.
Of course this drew away many of the most faithful - and financially contributing - members of local parishes.

For this, the local diocesan pastors will not “forgive” the local SSPX efforts. In their opinion, and this was told to me personally by one of the pastors involved, Catholics are sinning in going to the local SSPX chapel when "orthodoxy and orthopraxis are available in local diocesan parishes."

The situation was further exacerbated when members of local parishes married members of the SSPX chapel and the chancery refused to recognize their marriages as they’ve been instructed by the Vatican.

Finally, local diocesan Catholics who requested as their sacramental sponsors faithful who were attending the local SSPX chapel were told they could not have that individual as a sponsor as they “aren’t Catholic.”

And expecting parents who had planned to have their child baptized in the ancient rite were told they couldn’t, due to the recent TLM guidelines, so they too went to the SSPX to have their rightful desire for sacraments in the traditional rite fulfilled.

The FSSP has a big mess to clean up if they take this on.

These spiritual abuse victims won't easily be drawn away from their SSPX chapel and the priests who gave them spiritual nourishment while the diocese and some local pastors dropped the ball during Covid - if not committed spiritual malfeasance - and continue to do so.

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Ping

[Dr. Sivana]

I went to Christendom before FSSP. The school just built a huge new chapel, and as it is not a diocesan church building, I know of no reason why it should not be includes for celebration of the Vetus Ordo, even under terms of Trafitiones Custodies. But it isn’t.

[Dr. Sivana]

I went to Christendom before FSSP. The school just built a huge new chapel, and as it is not a diocesan church building, I know of no reason why it should not be includes for celebration of the Vetus Ordo, even under terms of Trafitiones Custodies. But it isn’t.