[Catholic Caucus] BREAKING: Traditionalist Redemptorists issue open letter to ‘repudiate the Synodal Church’

LifeSite News ^ | October 16, 2025 | LifeSite News Staff

[ebb tide]

[Catholic Caucus] BREAKING: Traditionalist Redemptorists issue open letter to ‘repudiate the Synodal Church’

The Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer accused the modern hierarchy of betraying the Faith, invoking anathema and pledging to offer the Traditional Mass and spiritual help ‘so long as there is but one soul that asks.’

The Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer, a traditionalist Catholic congregation based on Papa Stronsay in Scotland, have issued an open letter “to the Catholic Bishops, Priests, Religious and Faithful” following their General Chapter.

The community – often called the “Transalpine Redemptorists” – was founded by Fr. Michael Mary Sim in 1987 under the auspices of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre and the Society of St. Pius X, at the encouragement of Cardinal Édouard Gagnon. It was reconciled with the Vatican in 2012 and has operations in the USA and New Zealand.

In July 2024, the Redemptorists were ordered to leave the Diocese of Christchurch within 24 hours by Bishop Michael Gielen. The community denied accusations made by Gielen and took canonical action against the eviction notice.

The Open Letter does not indicate whether they now intend to return to working with the Society of St Pius X or will pursue another course. The statement and its introduction are below.

This story is developing.

An Open Letter to the Catholic Bishops, Priests, Religious and Faithful

Source

Dear Catholic Soul,

We have just concluded our General Chapter where we considered our Congregation and its vocation in the Church and in the Diocese of Christchurch, New Zealand where the Bishop had decreed its expulsion.

The attached letter expresses the convictions of our Congregation.

This is not a task we embrace lightly. We have considered the array of possible punishments that the hierarchy may use against us – all mentally terrifying really, yet buttressed in the knowledge that the hierarchy has broken with the chain of command, which renders it humanm,   and spiritually null. But when Our Lord’s honour is at stake, silence becomes a form of betrayal. We therefore take up this work with trembling hearts but with firm conviction, desiring only to defend the Holy Name of Jesus Christ and the purity of His Spouse, the Church.

“Every one therefore that shall confess Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father Who is in Heaven. But he that shall deny Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father Who is in Heaven.”

(Matt. 10:32)

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CONGREGATION OF THE SONS OF THE MOST HOLY REDEEMER
TRANSALPINE REDEMPTORISTS

Open Letter to the Catholic Bishops, Priests, Religious and Faithful
from the General Chapter
of the
Congregation of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer
Being held in Papa Stronsay, Scotland
St Therese of the Child Jesus, 3rd October – St Gerard Majella 16th October, 2025

Open Letter in PDF format

Dear Faithful,

Live Jesus our love and Mary our hope!

It is with a heavy heart and great sadness that we write to you. What unites us is our great love for our Holy Mother, the Catholic Church and Bride of Jesus Christ, for whom the martyrs shed their blood and the saints gave their lives. It is this love that forces us to express a truth that is difficult, however essential. (Lk. 12: 4-9)

Just like you, we too have cherished great hope for many years. We believed it was possible to live as faithful children of the Tradition within the structures of the modern Church. We believed that the old and beautiful traditions of our Faith, in particular the Latin Mass of all times, would be rightfully returned to us. This gave us hope, especially during the time of Benedict XVI. We confidently expected that we would be able to freely practise the Faith of our Fathers in the Church. We didn’t know how wrong we were!

Through years of trials and experience we have come to the unfortunate conclusion that the Traditional Catholic Faith, the Faith of all times and of the saints, is incompatible with the new, modern Church, the fruit of the Second Vatican Council. They simply cannot coexist in one body.

Since we deeply cherish and honour the Traditional Latin Mass and cannot give up the Holy Mass of the centuries and of the saints, this new Church does not want us. Because of our fidelity, we have been considered stubborn, difficult and rebellious; stitched up and lied about in never-ending acrimony.

This letter appeals to all who sense that something is tremendously wrong in the Church or who think that the new Church and the unchanging Faith can peacefully coexist. Alas! Allow us to state the sad truth that our experience clearly shows this to be impossible. Surely this new Church would shock all the holy Popes who declared time and again that Religious Indifferentism is a very great evil, absolutely incompatible with the Catholic Faith.

We tell you, we will not be complicit by silence in this ongoing destruction of the Church. We must speak up at some time and what better time than now? After 17 years as a community within the structures of the Church, we have been continually isolated and harassed. More especially these last years the Bishop of Christchurch has made us to be as the offscouring or scum of the earth. By his numerous Decrees and recourse to Rome he has sought to expel our monks from the diocese. He wants to have fifteen local vocations perpetually exiled from their families and homeland. We tell you now, higher duty forbids it. So long as there is but one soul that asks us for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the Sacraments or spiritual help, with God’s grace we will not desert it. The Good Shepherd urges us to lay down our lives for His sheep and keep the hungry wolf at bay. It is our duty in charity, in theology and by Canon Law.

Why? Because the chain of command has been broken. Authority in the Church is ministerial (serving Our Lord), not absolute (doing whatever it likes): it binds us because it is itself bound to Christ, to the deposit of the Faith, to the constant Magisterium. When a superior departs from his own obedience to Christ the King, his command is no longer the arm of Christ but the gesture of a man. (S.T., IIa IIæ, q. 104, a. 5) These churchmen disobey God. And then, having shattered the chain of God’s command they attempt to invoke religious obedience for matters that deplete the Church, and take away the Holy Mass. Tolle Missam, Tolle Ecclesiam – Take away the Mass, you destroy the Church (Luther). No! We must obey God before Man.

And therefore, cleaving with might and main to our deep communion with our Holy Mother the Church, our duty before our Lord Jesus Christ and towards souls demands that:

We repudiate Amoris Laetitia permitting Holy Communion to couples living in sin.
We repudiate Traditionis Custodes’ persecution of the Mass and Catholics.
We repudiate Fiducia Supplicans permitting the blessing of same-sex couples.
We repudiate “The Document on Human Fraternity” stating that God wills all religions.
We repudiate the false theology of “sister churches” and “partial communion”.
We repudiate the false shepherds who triumphantly processed the Pachamama idol in St Peter’s.
We repudiate Francis apologising for the heroic Catholic who threw that idol into the Tiber.
We repudiate the scourge of religious indifference in New Zealand and throughout the Church.
We repudiate the New Zealand Bishops’ acts of closing churches, and denying the sacraments in cowardly submission to the Covid-19 oppression.
We repudiate the Bishop of Christchurch receiving his ashes on Ash Wednesday from the Anglican bishop of Christchurch.
We repudiate the corruption of children, and scandal given to the innocent through evil catechetical programs.
We repudiate Francis teaching that all religions are as different languages, and asking “Is my God more important than yours?”
We repudiate the silence of those bishops who failed to speak out against that betrayal of the Faith.
We repudiate the Synodal Church as distinct from the Divinely constituted Catholic Church.
We repudiate the ongoing destruction and humiliation of our Holy Mother the Church.
We repudiate those who attack or undermine the Church in her dogma, morals, sacraments, or discipline with a new cult of man.

To all who read this: How long will all this nonsense go on?
Whatever may be the cost to us, with the Apostle we must say: Anathema!

“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach a gospel to you besides that which we have preached to you, let him be anathema. As we said before, so now I say again: If any one preach to you a gospel, besides that which you have received, let him be anathema.” (Gal. 1:8-9)

Do not remain silent! Defend the Faith of our Fathers!

“Although all nations obey King Antiochus, so as to depart every man from the law of his father and consent to his commandments: I and my sons and my brethren will obey the law of our fathers.” (1 Maccabees 2:19-20)

“On the contrary, it is written (Acts 5:29): We ought to obey God rather than men. Now sometimes the things commanded by a superior are against God. Therefore, superiors are not to be obeyed in all things.” — St. Thomas Aquinas (S.T., IIa IIæ, q. 104, a. 5)

Expecta Dominum, Viriliter Age et Confortetur cor tuum.
Expect the Lord, do manfully, and let thy heart take courage. (Ps 26:14)

Gaude, Maria Virgo… Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; thou alone hast crushed all heresies in the whole world.

Signatures:

Fr Michael Mary. F.SS.R.

Fr Anthony Mary, F.SS.R.

Br Nicodemus Mary, F.SS.R.

Br Paul Mary, F.SS.R.

Br Dominic Mary, F.SS.R.

Fr Magdala Maria, F.SS.R.

Fr Martin Mary, F.SS.R.

Br Xavier Maria, F.SS.R.

Br Alfonso Maria, F.SS.R.

Fr Seelos Maria, F.SS.R.

Fr Celestine Maria, F.SS.R.

Br Raphael Maria, F.SS.R.

Br Maksymilian Maria, F.SS.R.

Br Charles-Marie, F.SS.R.

Br Damasus Maria, F.SS.R.

Br Bogumił Maria, F.SS.R.

Br Francisco Maria, F.SS.R.

Br Ernest Maria, F.SS.R.

Br Hyacinth Maria, F.SS.R.

Br Gabriel Maria, F.SS.R.

Br Dysmas

Br George Marie

Br Ignatius Maria

Br Aloysius Maria

Br Zacchaeus Maria

Br Gerardo

Br William

[ebb tide]

Through years of trials and experience we have come to the unfortunate conclusion that the Traditional Catholic Faith, the Faith of all times and of the saints, is incompatible with the new, modern Church, the fruit of the Second Vatican Council. They simply cannot coexist in one body.

[ebb tide]

Major Ping

The pendulum has swung in Frankenchurch

[Trump_Triumphant]

I know a guy who joined that order after it was “reconciled”. I wonder if he’ll stay ; he was a real stickler for following the rules. Personally, I’m thrilled that Stronsay has gotten back into the fight.

[iontheball]

Through years of trials and experience we have come to the unfortunate conclusion that the Traditional Catholic Faith, the Faith of all times and of the saints, is incompatible with the new, modern Church, the fruit of the Second Vatican Council. They simply cannot coexist in one body.
_____________________________________
The physical schism is happening.

[ebb tide]

Leo has inherited Bergoglio’s mess.

Hagan lio!

Will he add to it; or clean it up?

[ebb tide]

An example of the perversity of Bergoglio’s “sin-nodal” church:

The school is now offering “gender-inclusive housing” which allows male and female students to live together, regardless of their biological sex.

— Official university policy states:

“Gender-inclusive housing allows students to live in the same unit with others of their choosing, regardless of sex assigned at birth, gender expression, or gender identity.”

This policy directly contradicts Catholic moral teaching and undermines the very identity of the school, which is named after Saint Joseph, the model of purity, fatherhood, and obedience to God.

[one guy in new jersey]

They will need to be subject to one or another bishop, diocesan (local ordinary) or FSSPX.

[one guy in new jersey]

Having now read the letter in full they are clearly stepping away from what they clearly see as the Ape of the Church (the new Synodal Church), including the man the world sees as Pope.

They would say they are not in schism from Holy Mother Church, but rather, they are merely recognizing a mass apostasy in the part of so many others, which in practice only appears, to the untutored eye, to constitute a schism on their part.

[caddie]

These guys are the BEST.

Remnant City.

[Kudsman]

May I please be added to your ping list? I probably won’t comment much, but the readings sure fascinate me.

[ClarityGuy]

I can’t come down hard on them if that’s their perspective. There is too much self-evident heresy and scandal among the episcopate. A healthy conscience is repulsed by it and asks, how does a person obey the disobedient and adhere to the heretical?

[one guy in new jersey]

Good faith Catholics who are NOT in the hierarchy, or who are NOT maneuvering to get their tucchuses into the hierarchy, largely either share your sentiments, or seem as if they would share your sentiments, if they were to merely look into the issue, study up, and think about it like an adult.

Holy Mother Church’s prelates need to cut this out. At this point they are laughably isolating themselves from the flock.

[ebb tide]

Bishop Strickland was “fired” by your buddy, Jorge the Heretic.

The same heretic who promoted his fellow heretics like Cupich, McElroy, Tobin, and Gregory to his perverted college of lavender cardinals.

[Oystir]

Why was Fired strickland fired, ebby? (Other than failing to follow his oath.) You are a know-it-all. Please enlighten us?

[ebb tide]

Why was Fired strickland fired, ebby?

He was too Catholic for your buddy, Jorge the Heretic.

He did not "toe the line" like Jorge's Homos, e.g., Cupich, Tobin, McElroy, Gregory, et al.

He also refused to enforce the Dictator Pope's draconian "Traditiones Custodes", i.e, "Jailers of Tradition".

[Oystir]

Those aren’t facts, ebby. The honest answer is, ebby doesn’t know. Why would you submit a false answer, ebby? Is this called a, “lie?” Lie and liar are words ebby likes to bandy about. Time again to look in the mirror?

[ebb tide]

These are the facts.

Bishop Strickland Says He Was Removed for ‘Speaking the Truth’

Bishop Strickland FIRED for not implementing Traditionis custodes

[ebb tide]

Vindictive Vatican Cancels Tyler TLM Exactly One Year After Sacking Strickland

When Bishop Joseph Strickland was removed as bishop of the Diocese of Tyler, TX in November 2023, one of the reasons given for his termination by Apostolic Nuncio Christophe Pierre was that he refused to “implement the motu propoio Traditionis custodes,” i.e. cancel Latin Masses throughout his diocese. Bishop Strickland refused to do so because he could not, in good conscience, hurt well-meaning, faithful Catholics in his diocese: “As a shepherd and protector of my Diocese, I could not take actions which I knew with certainty would injure part of my flock and deprive them of the spiritual goods which Christ entrusted to His Church.”

[Oystir]

Nice try. How many Bishops have been fired for this reason? And remember, ebby, many Bishops have been slow over TC and some seemingly refuse. The answer, so you aren’t confused, ebby, is ZERO. So only Fired strickland, ebby? NOPE. Don’t be a DOPE, ebby.

BTW, oath breakers and fired individuals are not considered reliable witnesses anywhere in the world.