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[Catholic Caucus] Bishop Schneider Severely Criticizes Cardinal Roche's ReportInterviewed by Diane Montagna, Bishop Schneider challenges the historical assumptions and theological premises underlying Cardinal Arthur Roche's document. He maintains that the report does not reflect an impartial and thorough analysis, but rather an ideological approach marked by what he calls "rigid clericalism." Bishop Schneider argues that the Mass most faithful to the Council was the Ordo Missae of 1965, and that the form later promulgated by Pope Paul VI—the Novus Ordo Missae—was substantially rejected by the first Synod of Bishops after the Council in 1967. He disputes the interpretation of the...

[Catholic Caucus] What to make of Cardinal Cupich’s comments on the Latin Mass?Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago has said that restrictions on the Tridentine Latin Mass are necessary to preserve the unity of the Church. In a recent article published on the Archdiocese of Chicago’s website, Cardinal Cupich discussed the extraordinary consistory convened by Pope Leo XIV and drew attention to a resource document prepared by Cardinal Arthur Roche, prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. Cardinal Cupich wrote that the liturgy before the Second Vatican Council underwent reform throughout Christian history and argued...

[Catholic Caucus] Chicago Cardinal Escalates Against Roman Rite: "There Must Be Only One Rite"Ongoing reform is central to the liturgy because it has cultural elements that change over time and across places, pro-homosexual Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago - an ardent enemy of the Roman Rite and a good friend of Leo XIV - wrote on ChicagoCatholic.com (January 21).He repeated the historical misrepresentations which Cardinal Arthur Roche used at the January 7–8 consistory to polemise against the Mass of all ages.For Cupich, “with the passage of time and changes in the culture, there is always a need to reform the...

[Catholic/Orthodox Caucus] Bishop Schneider demolishes Cardinal Roche’s attack on Latin Mass Cardinal Roche claimed at Pope Leo’s consistory that ‘we cannot go back’ to the traditional Latin Mass. Bishop Schneider explained why his argument falls apart. Bishop Athanasius Schneider dismantled Cardinal Arthur Roche’s justification for suppression of the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) in an exclusive interview with Diane Montagna published Tuesday.Bishop Schneider decried as “manipulative” a document on the liturgy distributed by Roche at the extraordinary consistory convened by Pope Leo XIV earlier this month, in which Roche claimed that “we cannot go back” to the Traditional Latin Mass. In...

[Catholic Caucus] Cardinal Roche is Sad and WorriedThose who visit the Dicastery for Divine Worship say that Cardinal Roche has been looking downcast lately; they find him sad and worried. And no wonder. His career as a bishop, now drawing to a close in the shadows of old age, has been a series of failures. His pontificate in Leeds was disastrous in many respects, including financially. That is why—and this is no secret—the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales asked Pope Benedict in 2012 to find him another position where he could do no harm to souls or banks. And...

[Catholic Caucus] Cardinal Roche Doubles Down on ‘Traditionis Custodes’In an undelivered consistory address, the prefect for the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments reiterated that the 1969 Missal of Paul VI should be ‘the sole expression’ of the Roman Rite liturgy.In an undelivered address to cardinals last week, Cardinal Arthur Roche planned to voice opposition to the traditional Roman Rite, which he sees as a concession that needs to be eventually phased out in favor of the post-Vatican II liturgy as the unique expression of the Latin Rite.In a two-page text on Traditionis Custodes (Guardians of...

[Catholic Caucus] Roche’s Consistory Manifesto: The Liturgical Revolution Still Demands Its VictimsEvery few months the postconciliar machine produces another document that pretends to be calm, pastoral, historically informed, even reverent toward “Tradition.” Then the mask slips. The target is always the same. The old Mass must not merely be regulated, not merely “balanced,” not merely “integrated.” It must be starved, shamed, and finally buried.Cardinal Arthur Roche’s consistory report is that pattern distilled. It is written for cardinals, packaged as a neutral overview, and built around the same three moves the regime has used for decades. First, a selective timeline where...

[Catholic Caucus] Ten Reasons Why Cardinal Roche’s Document is Only Good for Lining Your Parrot Cage WithCardinal Roche’s defense does not represent continuity with the Catholic tradition but represents a rupture disguised as historical inevitability.The document that, according to an article by Diane Montagna, was presented by Cardinal Arthur Roche to the Extraordinary Consistory of January 2026 purports to defend “sound tradition” while simultaneously advocating a theory of perpetual liturgical reform.If Roche’s treatment of the concept of Catholic Tradition is sound, then I am a time traveller from the planet Zorg.Upon examination, the theological foundations of this two-page document, which...

[Catholic Caucus] Una Voce responds to Roche Consistory Report against the Traditional MassDuring the recent consistory, the meeting of cardinals in Rome, Cardinal Arthur Roche, Prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship, handed out a two-sided piece of paper containing some reflections on the liturgy to those present: this has been made available by Diane Montagna here. The liturgy had been among the four topics originally proposed for discussion at the meeting, but the cardinals decided to focus on just two, leaving the liturgy out. Cardinal Roche’s document was accordingly handed out without being formally discussed.Versions were available in Italian...

[Catholic Caucus] Attack on the Traditional Mass and on Orthodoxy in the consistory - Roche and Tucho Fernandez Via Messa in Latino; the Roche report against the Mass at the end, made available by Diane Montagna:Nico Spuntoni for Il GiornaleJanuary 13, 2026Almost a week has passed since the extraordinary Consistory, and curiosity remains about what the Pope and the cardinals said behind closed doors in the new Synod hall. As Il Giornale had anticipated on December 16, the four topics brought to the twenty working tables were a re-reading of the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii gaudium, the Synod and synodality, an...

[Catholic Caucus] Leo poised to grant ‘generous’ exemptions to Traditionis custodes, UK bishops told“Leo will ask Cardinal Arthur [Roche, prefect of the dicastery] to be generous.”Sources close to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales told The Pillar that Pope Leo appears poised to grant widespread exemptions to Traditionis custodes, without revoking the motu proprio itself. Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendía, apostolic nuncio to Great Britain, gave a recent address to the plenary assembly of the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales, informing the bishops that the Vatican would “be generous” when asked to dispense from the restrictions to...

Leo XIV Keeps Cardinal Roche Who Curtails the Traditional Latin MassEWTN journalist Raymond Arroyo spoke in his World Over show on October 16 about the traditional Latin Mass in the USA. His main questions and comments.- US bishops are announcing bans on the traditional Latin Mass in an attempt to comply with the late Pope Francis’ document, 'Traditionis Custodes'.- It seems like an unjust document.- The drive to implement Pope Francis’ directive continues. Eleven US dioceses have so far embraced this.- You would have thought with the new Pope we might have seen a cessation of this.- A brand new...

[Catholic Caucus] New Members of Congregation for Clergy - Destructive Course ContinuesPope Leo XIV appointed today many members of the Congregation for the Clergy. Most of them are "liberals" of the Francis’ fraction.Cardinals include Luis Antonio Tagle (Evangelisation), Arthur Roche (Liturgy), Mario Grech (Synod), José Tolentino de Mendonça (Education) and Jean-Marc Aveline (Marseille).As a fig leaf to fool the conservatives, Leo XIV appointed the Catholic Bishop Erik Varden of Trondheim, Norway.This personnel policy - many liberals and a few fig leaf Catholics - ongoing for decades, has pushed the Church toward ruin.

[Catholic Caucus] 4 Years of Traditionis Custodes - 4 Years of Lies An interview with Christian Marquant, of French association Paix Liturgique:Paix Liturgique – Dear Christian, what do you mean by the title you chose for this interview? Christian Marquant – That the motu proprio Traditionis Custodes, which was published exactly four years ago on July 16, 2021, was an extraordinary exercise of manipulation aimed at putting and end once and for all to the increasingly disturbing question of the renewal of those who are known as traditionalists, and whom I prefer to call faithful Catholics. Paix Liturgique – But...

[Catholic Caucus] Official Vatican Report Dismantles Traditionis CustodesA major exposé on Traditionis Custodes leaked a confidential Vatican document summarizing the 2020 global survey of bishops—a document that allegedly influenced Pope Francis’s controversial decision to restrict the Traditional Latin Mass. According to the leaked findings, the majority of bishops did not support limiting the Latin Mass and even warned that such restrictions could worsen tensions within the Catholic Church.Journalist Diane Montagna recently published the report prepared by the Vatican following the questionnaire that, in 2020, the then Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith had sent to the presidents of episcopal...

[Catholic Caucus] EXCLUSIVE: Official Vatican Report Exposes Major Cracks in Foundation of Traditionis CustodesPreviously undisclosed documents raise serious questions about the stated rationale for Pope Francis’ 2021 decree restricting the Traditional Latin Mass.A Traditional Latin Mass is celebrated at the tomb of St. Catherine of Siena at the Basilica of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome, Sept. 15, 2017 (Photo: Edward PentinVATICAN CITY, July 1, 2025 — New evidence has come to light that exposes major cracks in the foundation of Traditionis Custodes, Pope Francis’ 2021 decree that restricted the traditional Roman liturgy.This journalist has obtained the Vatican’s overall assessment of...

[Catholic Caucus] Pope Leo appoints Cardinal Roche, same-sex ‘blessing’ supporters to Dicastery for Consecrated LifeThe new members include 5 cardinals – including Cardinal Arthur Roche – 5 bishops, 4 priests, 4 religious women, and one lay woman.Pope Leo today appointed a rank of members to the Vatican office overseeing religious orders and the Latin Mass communities, including some cardinals who have opposed the traditional Mass and supported blessings for same-sex couples.As outlined in the Holy See Press Office bulletin on June 24, Leo XIV appointed 19 new members to the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic...

[Catholic Caucus] The Bishops of France and Cardinal Roche Still at War Against the Traditional Pilgrimages of France -- What Will Leo XIV do?Sometimes, decisions can wait. At other times, they have to be made fast.In April and early May, making use of the interregnum for their nefarious ends, the anti-traditional bishops of France negotiated with Cardinal Roche, Prefect of Divine Worship, in order to make as hard as possible the celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass and sacraments in the Paris-Chartres Pilgrimage -- and all other pilgrimages in France.Leo XIV was not involved in these decisions. What will he...

[Catholic Caucus] THE FUTURE OF TRADITIONIS CUSTODES -- AND OF THE TRADITIONAL MASSTraditionis custodes is back in the news. Following DDW Prefect Arthur Cardinal Roche’s interview with The Catholic Herald, even non-traditionalist commentators are wondering: does Traditionis custodes have a future? (One of the individuals interviewed was RC contributor Joseph Shaw.) In considering this question, I would like to take a slightly different approach, and also directly answer one of the stated justifications for it in the article.The Zone is FloodedOne of the biggest threats to the survival of Traditionis has been the ability of traditionalists to dominate the discourse...

[Catholic Caucus] Cardinal Roche Repudiates Traditionis CustodesEver since Traditionis Custodes was issued more than 3½ years ago, its defenders have struggled to come up with a rationale for why it was issued at all. This is hardly surprising. The motu proprio Summorum Pontificum, in repudiation of which it was written, was the fruit of decades of careful meditation on the Church’s liturgy problem, on the part of one of the finest minds of our times. And the theological and pastoral problems which Benedict XVI addressed with such wisdom and sensitivity are not one whit less real and serious now than...