Texas Pastor Removed Over Latin Masses

Seattle Catholic ^ | July 4, 2003 | Peter Miller

[Land of the Irish]

For a Catholic priest in a small Texas town, it has been a particularly eventful week.

Over the course of three days, Fr. Stephen Zigrang JCL, pastor of St. Andrew's Church in Channelview, has been called into his bishop's office, threatened with suspension, removed from his parish and even forced to defend his mental health to his own father. These unfortunate events have taken place because Fr. Zigrang did something new during last Sunday's Masses — or, more accurately, did something very, very old.

Before each Mass on the morning of June 29th, Fr. Zigrang announced that he would no longer be offering Mass according to the revised missal of Pope Paul VI, instituted in 1969. He proceeded to offer the Mass according to the Roman Missal of 1962 (also called the "Latin", "Traditional" or "Tridentine" Mass). Parishioners who were used to attending a Mass in English, with the priest facing the congregation, witnessed a priest offer a Mass almost entirely in Latin, while facing the altar. Guitar bands and sing-along hymns were replaced by chants and reverential silence. Rather then standing up to receive Holy Communion in their hands, congregants were instructed to kneel and receive the Blessed Sacrament on their tongues. One of the three masses was a sung mass, also called a Missa Contata.

The Diocese Reacts Fr. Zigrang is a priest of the Diocese of Galveston-Houston, under Bishop Joseph Fiorenza. Upon hearing of the weekend's events, the diocese reacted immediately. Unable to reach him for most of the day Monday, the chancery sent word to Fr. Zigrang that the bishop would like to meet with him the following morning, July 1st.

Despite advice from others suggesting he be accompanied by a lawyer, Fr. Zigrang went to see the bishop on his own. He was told that he would be suspended and had until the next day to vacate the St. Andrew's rectory. He was provided a letter signed by Bishop Fiorenza and the diocesan Chancellor, Monsignor Frank Rossi, admonishing him for his actions and informing him that failure to "follow the liturgical directives of the Holy See in the celebration of the Eucharist and the other sacraments … is a grave disobedience and threatens the unity of the Church within the parish committed to your pastoral care."

First thing the following morning, the Director of Communications for the diocese, Mrs. Annette Gonzales Taylor, responded to an inquiry from the night before with an email claiming that, "…your inquiry is a bit premature in that Fr. Zigrang has not been suspended. At this time, Bishop Fiorenza and Fr. Zigrang continue to be in conversation."

When reached by phone to clarify the matter, Mrs. Taylor reiterated that Fr. Zigrang was not suspended, is still the pastor of St. Andrew's and no action has been taken against him. She said that she did not know whether he was at the parish today as priests take some days off. When asked why Fr. Zigrang would be (as witnesses claimed) in the process of moving out of the rectory if no action had been taken against him, she did not know.

At some point that same morning, as he was moving out of the parish rectory, Fr. Zigrang was called by Bishop Fiorenza, who recommended that he take a two month leave of duty. It was further suggested that Fr. Zigrang may want to seek psychiatric counseling during this time.

The following day, June 3rd, parishioners found a note on the St. Andrew's church door explaining that there would be no daily Mass or Eucharistic adoration. The note also referenced the name and number of another priest to contact.

Finally, Fr. Zigrang's elderly father was contacted this week by Chancellor Monsignor Frank Rossi, who expressed to him concerns about Fr. Zigrang's psychological well-being.

Past Efforts Fr. Stephen Zigrang has been a priest in the Diocese of Galveston-Houston for over 25 years and pastor at St. Andrew's for the past six. He is a former seminary instructor and has a licentiate in canon law. He was previously a member of the diocesan marriage tribunal where his lack of lenience toward annulment applications brought him into conflict with his peers.

Prompted by years of liturgical research and studies which drew him toward the Traditional Latin Mass, Fr. Zigrang had requested on multiple occasions for the opportunity to offer a public Tridentine Mass in a parish. His most recent request came in January of this year when he sent a letter to Bishop Fiorenza requesting permission to convert St. Andrew's parish in to a traditional parish (dedicated to the practice of the Tridentine Mass and other sacraments) or start such a parish in another location. Six months later, he had still not received a reply.

For the past couple years, Fr. Zigrang has been offering the Latin Mass privately in the rectory at 6:30 each morning. When he attempted to offer a single Latin Mass for his congregation on Sunday mornings, he was ordered by Bishop Fiorenza to stop.

In 1988, responding to Catholics attached to the Traditional Mass and sacraments, Pope John Paul II called for the "wide and generous application" of Latin Masses throughout the Church, but the decision was left up to each bishop on whether or how to implement those directives. Many bishops have refused to allow any such Masses, while some have allowed only limited access.

In the Diocese of Galveston-Houston, home to 1.5 million Catholics and the largest diocese in Texas (eleventh largest in the United States), there is a single Latin Mass offered on Sundays in downtown Houston. Not all believe that these accommodations are adequate to meet their spiritual needs, or in the "wide and generous" spirit alluded to by the Holy Father. Catholics who need to travel great distances with families have requested that the early Mass time be moved or another Mass be added for more reasonable access. Some have requested daily Masses; others Masses on Holy Days of Obligation; and still others a traditional parish, going so far as to locate property and priests available for such an arrangement. These requests to Bishop Fiorenza have reportedly been ignored or denied. The attendants of the Mass also are under certain restrictions, including a prohibition from promoting or advertising the Mass.

Critics point out that this diocese, which prides itself on promoting and celebrating diversity, particularly in liturgical matters, has demonstrated a clear and disturbing exception when it comes to the Tridentine Mass. Although hundreds of Masses are said throughout the diocese in a multitude of languages from Spanish to Chinese, and in a multitude of styles from "Country Music" to "Gospel Spiritual" with little to no concern from the bishop, requests for Traditional Masses are ignored and attempts to offer Masses in Latin quickly and definitively put to a stop.

Parishioners Respond The parishioners' responses to Fr. Zigrang's Latin Masses have been varied. Many were surprised but respectful of their pastor's decision, but there were also some notable negative and positive reactions. Some were openly hostile toward the move, storming out of the church at the beginning of Mass. Members of the musical band which performs at the 10:30 Mass were particularly dismayed (having no role during a Latin Mass), as were lectors and extraordinary ministers. After one of the Masses, a regular guitar player was particularly vocal about the complaint that would be forthcoming to the bishop.

On the other end of the spectrum, other parishioners were greatly appreciative of the opportunity afforded to them. Some old enough to remember when the Mass was in Latin were given a reminder of how much had changed and some of what was lost. Others who had never experienced such a Mass were struck by its simplicity and beauty. At least once attendant commented on the contemplative rather than "entertainment" focus, and another described it as "absolutely beautiful".

Several congregants came up to Fr. Stephen Zigrang after Mass to personally thank him. In what now appears to be his last Sunday at the parish, he gave them the rare opportunity to experience a Latin Mass in their parish, and allowed them to witness firsthand the reason for which their pastor was willing to risk the consequences which would soon follow.

***

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St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle...

[ultima ratio]

Maybe this priest got tired of waiting for hell to freeze over.

[ultima ratio]

"he could have said the entire Novus Ordo in Latin"

The Novus Ordo in Latin is still an abomination to anybody who understands the theology behind it. Do you think the objection to the New Mass is based only on language? If so, you need to do some studying. The New Mass, in whatever language, is designed to appeal to Protestants by suppressing Catholic dogmas in precisely the ways condemned by the Council of Trent. It emphasizes the commemorative meal aspect of the liturgy rather than the sacrificial aspect, and even its Consecration is placed in a commemorative mode, just as Trent prohibited; and it has eliminated expiatory prayers of propitiation so that both the dogma of the Real Presence and the dogma of expiation have been subverted. In other words, it is a profoundly unCatholic, pro-Protestant liturgy. Until you fathom this, you can't appreciate the scope of the crisis. Catholics the world over are becoming Protestant--even while the Pope writes encyclicals complaining, but does nothing to stop the process.

[k omalley]

"If he would have had a teenage male lover move into the rectory I wonder what his bishop would have done."

Probably nothing. But then saying an unauthorized Tridentine Mass is a far worse offense than pederasty. It's amazing how fast these bishops can act when they want to.

[k omalley]

Shame on those parents trying to figure out if the $30,000/yr they are about to shell out is going for the real McCoy. The nerve!

[ultima ratio]

from Traditio.com:

____________________________________________________________

Dear Fr. Moderator:

The latest spin from the diocese is that this presbyter pastor, who stopped saying the Novus Ordo service and went exclusively to the Traditional Latin Mass, has been put on "medical leave." The implication is that the presbyter must be mentally ill, or he would not being celebrating the Traditional Latin Mass. Nothing original about that. The Communists have used that tactic for decades. Anyone who doesn't follow the party line must be insane. Send them to Siberia for life.

Fr. Moderator Replies.

Indeed, it is an old tactic. Shortly after Vatican II, when nuns were given the "option" to wear their traditional habits or not, there was a noted case of one nun who chose to stay with her traditional habit. Her sisters taunted her mercilessly, but she stuck to her guns. Eventually, they had her committed.

A few years ago there was a case in Boston, in which a presbyter informed the bishop about some morally objectionable activities going on at the seminary where he taught. He thought (foolish man that he was!) that the bishop would take responsible action. Instead, he himself was illegally committed to an asylum until he had a court hearing and was freed by the judge. Some woman purporting to be a psychologist from the diocese signed the commitment papers; it turned out that she had no degree and no authority to do so. The presbyter entered a multi-million dollar lawsuit against the diocese.

These cases simply confirm the fact that the Novus Ordo cannot be negotiated with, compromised with, or even recognized as Catholic (which it is not). There are some conservative Novus Ordinarians around who delude themselves by saying: "If only the bishop knew." "If only the pope knew." They know: they're behind it all!

[Maximilian]

Prompted by years of liturgical research and studies which drew him toward the Traditional Latin Mass, Fr. Zigrang had requested on multiple occasions for the opportunity to offer a public Tridentine Mass in a parish. His most recent request came in January of this year when he sent a letter to Bishop Fiorenza requesting permission to convert St. Andrew's parish in to a traditional parish (dedicated to the practice of the Tridentine Mass and other sacraments) or start such a parish in another location. Six months later, he had still not received a reply.

Several posters said that Fr. Zigrang went about it the wrong way and shouldn't "have been in the bishop's face." But reading the article tells you that he tried for a long time, apparently for years, to get permission to offer the Latin Mass. Notice that the bishop didn't find time in 6 months to respond the priest's latest request, but somehow he found time the SAME DAY to kick the pastor out of his parish when he committed the unforgivable sin of believing and practicing the Catholic faith.

A few other points worth mentioning: 1. Decades are not too long a time for responding to the crisis of priestly pederasts. But a priest who dares to say the Latin Mass finds himself out on his ear the SAME DAY.

2. The "psychiatric evaluation" theme recurs in a large number of these stories. Anyone who won't go along with the program must obviously be crazy. Remember Fr. Haley, the priest from Arlington VA who blew the whistle on 3 consecutive pastors he served under? They tried to have him indefinitely committed to a mental hospital. He only got out by getting his own private psychiatrist to come down to the hospital and get him released.

Regarding Fiorenza's remarkable speed in dealing with a priest who dares to say the Latin Mass, in comparison with his speed in dealing with sexual predators, here are some excerpts from a 1997 article (apparently Fiorenza was on the cutting edge before the abuse scandal became big news):

Documents show bishops transferred known abuser

"In 1982, Bishop Joseph A. Fiorenza wrote that he knew of Father Holley's "past difficulties" and stated: "With our shortage of priests, I am willing to risk incardinating him" - which means formally making him a priest of the Diocese of San Angelo, Texas.

At the time, Bishop Fiorenza headed that diocese. Today, he governs the Diocese of Galveston-Houston and, as vice president of the national bishops group, is expected to become president next year.

Bishop Fiorenza, 66, declined interview requests, saying through spokesman Ron Regan that he didn't want to revisit old traumas. "The church needs to move beyond this," Mr. Regan said Thursday .

Father Holley isn't the only child molester whom Bishop Fiorenza has allowed to continue working. After going to Houston in 1985, the bishop reassigned a priest caught in the act of abusing a girl and offered her no help, according to published reports that his spokesman doesn't dispute. The woman who discovered the abuse said the diocese pressured her not to tell police.

Here's another story from just last month:
Houston priest still working despite abuse accusation

The Rev. John T. Keller had allegedly let a deacon's teenage son drink wine on a trip two decades ago, then called the intoxicated boy into bed and fondled him. Questioned by the diocese, Father Keller denied abusing the youth but acknowledged he "crossed a proper boundary by holding you in a manner inappropriate for a priest," Bishop Joseph A. Fiorenza wrote the deacon's now-grown son in January. For his actions, Father Keller would have to undergo counseling "to ensure he is not at risk for any future inappropriate behavior," the bishop wrote. His job was safe, though.

[k omalley]

I am as puzzled as you by the reaction of many of our bishops to the Tridentine Mass, like it is horrifying, something to be hidden in the back room. This was the gem and the pride of the Church until the last 30-35 years. I wish I could understand why they react the way they do. I'm sure they would say something about church unity or the mind of the church or some such but I think it goes deeper than that.

[k omalley]

Unfortunately, my fears and suspicions are verified by your post. I was hoping I was simply thinking the worst and being too harsh in my judgement of Fiorenza.

[RobbyS]

What I find abominable is the employment of mental health professionals. If there is anything certain it is that psychology is half-baked science.

[Loyalist]

The Soviets often sent dissidents to psychiatric hospitals on the basis that opposition to the regime was a symptom of mental illness.

Sigmund Freud believed that religious belief was itself a form of mental illness, as does much of the psychiatric profession.

The AmChurch bishops would not be so hostile to the Catholic faith as it was held for nineteen and a half centuries unless their true faith was a less venerable man-made creed.

[B Knotts]

This was not the right way to go about it.

I agree with you; the way the priest went about doing this was wrong. On the other hand, it is extremely insulting that the bishop strongly implies that he is insane, simply because he prefers the Tridentine Mass.

The way this should have been handled is: the bishop should have replied months ago when the priest contacted him, and he should have made some reasonable accomodation of his request, perhaps allowing a weekly Tridentine Mass, which would have been a small step towards a "wide and general application," as per Ecclesia Dei.

No, I'm not an ultra-trad; I've never even been to an Old Mass. I just tire of the antics of too many of our bishops.

[B Knotts]

Well, I didn't mean to make any judgment on the bishop's belief, or lack thereof, of God. I just find the implication of mental illness in what appears to be a good and faithful priest (if a bit intemperate) to be extremely unbecoming a man of his position.

[B Knotts]

You know...I wonder how quickly the bishop would have cracked down if, instead of committing the act of celebrating the Tridentine Mass, this priest had allowed "liturgical dance" during Mass?

[BlackElk]

Ping. Have to go to confession with kids. Be back soon.

[k omalley]

If I'm not mistaken, Fiorenza already allows liturgical dance. Wasn't it in his cathedral that the people were dancing around with baskets of bread? Anyone remember?

[sinkspur]

I wonder why the bishop thinks this priest is insane; maybe because the priest actually believes in God?

He's not insane, but he's just as selfish as Fiorenza is.

Fiorenza should have allowed a Tridentine Indult Mass, and Fr. Fig should have left the regular Sunday Novus Ordo lineup alone.

[sinkspur]

Sorry, Fr. Zig (he can't call himself that, though. I think Zig Ziglar has the servicemark on "Zig.")

[ultima ratio]

You are for a "universal indult"? This incident should put the lie to that. The American bishops, for the most part, are opposed to such an "indult" and would oppose it, regardless of what Rome decided. In fact, there is no need for any indult. The whole concept of an "indult" is a fiction--since the old Mass was never abrogated in the first place. But Rome would rather be dishonest and pretend such an abrogation has taken place than buck modernism by being truthful.