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I most certainly will retract nothing. Same address, different name. I was there about fifteen years ago. The name then was "Our Lady of the Rosary", or some variation on that. I, personally, saw it listed as an SSPX (rather than SSPV or Diocesan) chapel on more than one list of "Traditional Mass" locations. It appears to be operating under new management. I realise that you are a bit touchy about your society, but I was there. You weren't. (Or maybe you were? If so, then maybe you were one of the pinheads who told me I wasn't a 'real' Catholic and that the new Mass was going to send me straight to Hell if I didn't join their little group forthwith?)

but I was there. You weren't. (Or maybe you were? If so, then maybe you were one of the pinheads who told me I wasn't a 'real' Catholic and that the new Mass was going to send me straight to Hell if I didn't join their little group forthwith?)

Sweet talk, Arrogant. No, my "pinhead" self has never visited that Chapel which has magically transformed to a Diocese Chapel with an OSB Pastor. I will check to see if it ever was an SSPX Chapel some 15 years ago. But it probably isn't worth the effort. It is not up to me or anyone to decide whether you are going to hell, and I don't believe that anyone ever said that to you. I am confident that you have made that up along the complete story about the ignorant, self-righteous parishioners. The tale is redolent of viciousness, not veracity. Good, hateful story, though.

Dear AB,

A little web research shows the following: Prior to 1992, this church was called "Our Lady of the Rosary Chapel". It was "owned" by an organization called "Traditional Roman Catholics, Inc."

I don't know a lot about "Traditional Roman Catholics, Inc." However, at their website, www.traditio.com, they have a "Q&A" feature with their "independent traditional priest" who essentially rejects the validity of the Mass of Pope Paul VI. According to St. Benedict's website, the chapel offers the Tridentine Mass in agreement with the Bishop of Richmond, under the Holy Father's allowance.

This represents a significant break with the "Traditional Roman Catholic, Inc." organization, as "Fr. Moderator" there seems to hold the "Indult Mass" in contempt.

The website's history of the church indicates that in the past, the chapel sometimes utilized the services of the priests of the Society of St. Pius V as well as those of the Society of St. Pius X. It is unclear whether this assistance was rendered only prior to 1992, when the church's status was regularized, and brought into communion with the Catholic Church. I think that their assistance was terminated after the church was brought back into communion with Rome.

The website further indicates that they currently receive, or will receive in the near future, assistance from the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter.

Thus, today, and even five years ago, this parish was in communion with the Catholic Church, though it is a Tridentine Rite parish.

But prior to 10 years ago, this parish was run in a way that placed itself outside of communion with Rome, and though it appears that it was not organically a part of the SSPX, it's clear that it was closely tied thereto.

The parish's website is: www.stbenedict-chesapeake.com.

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