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I belonged to Our Lady of Peace for the last couple of years, until I had to move out of state. It's been hard to leave such a devout, lively parish. The only blessing is that my new diocese is much more supportive of orthodox Catholic teaching.

Here are a few points for clarification:

1) The monthly Tridentine Mass is licitly celebrated. The permission was (grudgingly) given by the previous bishop, and hasn't been taken away. I'm not sure who celebrates it, but I don't think it's Msgr. Sweeney himself. Also, about 99% of the Masses, including all the Sunday ones, are not Tridentine. Given the rampant flakiness and liturgical abuse in other parishes, the vast majority of parishioners are very happy to have a reverently celebrated English Mass.

Elsewhere in the SJ diocese, my friends and I have seen (all at different churches):

- A priest denying belief in the Real Presence.
- A priest stating, in a homily, that we shouldn't trust the Church's interpretation of Scripture.
- Eight eucharistic ministers for a weekday Mass with a congregation of about 30 people. (Now that really is extraordinary!)
- Doubtfully valid matter, e.g. bread with sugar and eggs, being used for communion.

2) Our Lady of Peace isn't a "personality cult" around the pastor. There are at least half a dozen active priests - including some real characters! - and all their Masses, confessions, and devotions are packed. Unfortunately, it seems unlikely that any of them could be the new pastor, since most are quite elderly.

3) The parish is supportive of Vatican II. The Bible study and young adult groups often discuss the council documents, and consider them authoritative. In addition, Msgr. Sweeney has made the new Catechism available at cost, and sent out a letter urging all families to buy and read it.

(Meanwhile, other parishes celebrate the supposed "spirit of Vatican II" by giving Zen meditation classes. Ack.)

4) My sense is that the current bishop is a good man, who just lacks the fortitude to deal with the entrenched liberal bureaucracy. According to The Wanderer, he expressed shock at the atrocious quasi-pagan confirmation ceremony. (Contrary to the article, Our Lady of Peace did take part in the event, although many parents chose not to involve their children - as was also the case at other parishes.)

Bishop McGrath's situation reminds me of the fictional archbishop in Michael O'Brien's Eclipse of the Sun. Pray that God gives him the strength to stand up for the faith, rather than giving in to those who pray to strange gods of feminism, relativism, multiculturalism, etc.

"They will know we are Christians by our...mariachi band?"

Oops - I just re-read the article, and they did get it right about the confirmation thing.

I also have some personal knowledge of the situation with the disabled woman, which I won't divulge except to say that 1) the issue has no bearing on the pastor's competence, and 2) the woman isn't a "liberal," but she seems to have played right into their hands.

That leaves the "sin and hell" topic, which is probably true, though not something Msgr. Sweeny tends to dwell on. I've heard much more from him about love, hope, and forgiveness.