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Bishop Schneider: ‘We cannot continue with the Novus Ordo’ Bishop Athanasius Schneider defended the positions of the SSPX against Vatican II’s ‘ambiguities’ and the Novus Ordo’s ‘defects.’Bishop Athanasius Schneider called out the “doctrinal and liturgical defects” of the Novus Ordo Mass.In an exclusive interview with journalist Michael Haynes published Tuesday, Schneider praised the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) as a “work of Divine Providence.” The bishop, one of the clerics best acquainted with the SSPX in the world, defended the Society’s criticisms of the Second Vatican Council and of the Novus Ordo Missae.Schneider highlighted the fact that the traditional...

[Catholic Caucus] Roche falsely claims Summorum Pontificum’s goal was SSPX ‘returning’ to Church Pope Benedict XVI has said it is ‘absolutely false’ that the ‘reauthorization’ of the Latin Mass was ‘primarily a concession’ to the SSPX.Anti-traditionalist Cardinal Arthur Roche has repeated the false claim that Pope Benedict XVI issued Summorum Pontificum to “smooth the way” for the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) to “return to the Church.”The prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship told AdVaticanum in an interview published Tuesday that “Summorum Pontificum was created to accommodate, and also to smooth the way for, the Society of Saint...

Exclusive interview: Cardinal Roche to traditionalists: ‘You are edging yourself away from the centre of Catholicism’ In an exclusive interview with AdVaticanum, the Prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship speaks about his dicastery, the controversy over an Islamic chant at a Belgian university Mass, the future of Traditionis Custodes, the validity of SSPX sacraments and whether there was an appetite among bishops for change from Summorum PontificumCardinal Arthur Roche is one of the most senior churchmen in the Vatican. He served as Secretary of the then Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments for almost a...

Interview with Cardinal Roche: the Pope is not going back on Traditionis Custodes, Summorum Pontificum will not returnCardinal Roche, the English head of the Dicastery for Divine Worship, granted an extensive interview to website Ad Vaticanum as he nears the end of his term.We provide below the excerpts that concern Traditional Catholics, the entire interview deals with several other matters.... This year will mark five years since the implementation of Traditionis Custodes, the motu proprio from Pope Francis’s pontificate, which adjusted a previous motu proprio from Pope Benedict’s pontificate. Do you think, in view of these changes from pontificate to...

[Catholic Caucus] “We Demand the Latin Mass”: CIC 2026 Statement to the Vatican “Give Us Back the Mass of Our Fathers!” Michael Matt delivers the extraordinary closing statement of the 2026 Catholic Identity Conference—a direct appeal to Pope Leo XIV, a warning against the continued suppression of Tradition, and a declaration that faithful Catholics will not be silenced or driven from the Church. The message is clear: Restore the Latin Mass—or face the resistance of Catholics determined to defend the Faith.Your Holiness:We address our Holy Father as loyal sons of Holy Mother Church, “with burning concern” for the souls of...

[Catholic Caucus] Latin Mass Persecutor Viola Named to Saint Peter’s - And What Happens Now in Divine Worship Liturgical shake-up today at the Vatican:Appointment of vicar general of His Holiness for Vatican City, archpriest of the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican and president of the Fabric of Saint PeterThe Holy Father has appointed Archbishop Vittorio Francesco Viola, O.F.M., hitherto secretary of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, as vicar general of His Holiness for Vatican City, archpriest of the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican and president of the Fabric...

Leo XIV’s excommunication backfires: SSPX lists multiple priests who just joined them ‘While Rome plans a procedure for priests wishing to leave the SSPX, many priests from diocesan clergy and religious communities continue, around the world, to draw closer to the Fraternity or to join it,’ the SSPX noted.The Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) on Friday posted a list of diocesan and religious priests around the world who have joined the Society, undeterred by penalties or the Vatican’s declared excommunications. “After the ordinations, diocesan priests continue to turn toward Tradition,” the official international SSPX Twitter account wrote in a...

[Catholic Caucus] Bishop Mutsaerts: Go to Latin Mass instead of trying to fix your own parish 'If there's a bad Novus Ordo Mass, you can't improve those priests, I'm afraid. So just go anywhere else,' Mutsaerts told LifeSite at the Catholic Identity Conference.Bishop Robert Mutsaerts said that Catholics who attend parishes with irreverent Novus Ordo Masses should find a Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) or another reverent liturgy instead of attempting to transform their home parish.During a brief October 3 interview with LifeSite after his talk at the 2026 Catholic Identity Conference (CIC), Mutsaerts responded to a question about whether the...

Another diocesan priest links up with SSPX, bishop removes faculties The bishop of Knoxville, TN, who suppressed the Latin Mass earlier this year, has now revoked the faculties of a diocesan priest who has associated himself with the SSPX. The bishop of Knoxville, Tennessee, has revoked all the faculties of a diocesan priest who has associated himself with the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX). A strongly-worded statement issued by the diocese said that Bishop James Beckman had withdrawn all faculties, permissions, and authorizations previously granted to Fr. David Mary Engo for ministry within the diocese. “He is not authorized...

[Catholic Caucus] BREAKING: Toronto Oratory’s Latin Masses to be curtailed Sept. 20: reports Weekly Traditional Latin Masses at the Toronto's Holy Family and St. Vincent de Paul churches will no longer continue, according to two long-established blogs, and traditional-form sacraments will end immediately. Beginning Sunday, September 20, the weekly Traditional Latin Masses (TLM) at the Toronto Oratory’s Holy Family and St. Vincent de Paul churches will no longer continue as weekly celebrations of the 1962 Missal, according to two long-established Toronto blogs with deep ties to the churches in question.Each parish would instead be required to offer one Novus Ordo...

[Catholic Caucus] The Church ‘Cannot Declare War’ on Latin Mass Devotees, Cardinal Robert Sarah Says The cardinal praised Pope Benedict’s 2007 decision to allow the faithful greater access to the Latin Mass but called Pope Francis’ 2021 decision to restrict it neither ‘sensible’ nor ‘respectful.’“We, as a Church, cannot declare war on those who devoutly attend Mass simply because they prefer one form over another; this is a shortsighted and entirely ideological stance and, therefore, neither pastoral nor Christian,” Cardinal Robert Sarah said on Aug. 27. “It is harmful and destructive to the Church.”Cardinal Sarah, the former prefect of the...

[Catholic Caucus] EXCLUSIVE: ‘I hate to see them pained’: Cardinal Radcliffe on traditional CatholicsEXCLUSIVE: Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe speaks to AdVaticanum about Britain’s Catholic revival, the appeal of the faith to young people, synodality, growing Dominican vocations and his sympathy for Catholics attached to the Traditional Latin MassThe first English Dominican cardinal since the convert Cardinal Philip Howard in the 17th century, and the first Englishman ever to serve as Master of the Order of Preachers, Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe is a symbol of Catholicism’s resurgence in the United Kingdom after centuries of persecution. Like St John Henry Newman before him, he...

[Catholic Caucus] Cardinal Sarah condemns Latin Mass restrictions: ‘Destructive to the Church’ Cardinal Sarah said that the Church ‘cannot wage war’ on Catholics who prefer the Latin Mass, calling it ‘a short-sighted and entirely ideological attitude, therefore not pastoral and not Christian.’ Cardinal Robert Sarah said that restricting the Traditional Latin Mass was “neither wise nor respectful” and that war against traditional Catholics is “destructive to the Church.”In a recent interview with Italian newspaper Il Giornale, Cardinal Sarah addressed Pope Francis’ restrictions on the Latin Mass through his motu proprio Traditiones Custodes and the “war” on traditional Catholics.He was asked...

Vatican Double Standard: Communists IN, Traditionalists OUTWhy does the Vatican tolerate Communist China’s state-appointed Catholic bishops while cracking down on the SSPX and the Traditional Latin Mass? Michael Matt examines the growing double standard and the disturbing ramifications for faithful Catholics. Why is the Vatican eager to tolerate bishops appointed by Communist China without a papal mandate while taking increasingly severe action against Traditional Catholic bishops of the SSPX?Michael Matt examines this contradiction alongside a series of developments affecting Traditional Catholics: reported restrictions on the Traditional Latin Mass in Seattle and Pittsburgh, new pressure against the TLM in England, and...

[Catholic Caucus] Bishop Schneider defends consecrations and rejects Vatican charge of schism Bishop Athanasius Schneider has offered one of his strongest defences of the SSPX following its episcopal consecrations. In a statement published by veteran Catholic journalist Diane Montagna, he argues that disobedience to the Pope does not necessarily constitute schism and calls on the Holy See to acknowledge “objective ambiguities” in Vatican II and the New MassBishop Athanasius Schneider has offered a forceful defence of the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) following its recent episcopal consecrations by arguing that disobedience to the Pope does not in itself constitute...

[Catholic Caucus] Pope Leo calls on priests to ‘respect’ the post-Vatican II liturgies in new letter In a recent letter publicly released today, Pope Leo XIV said that anyone involved in preparing liturgies, especially priests, must show “respect” for the liturgical rites of the Second Vatican Council.The letter, addressed to Cardinal Arthur Roche, the head of the Vatican’s liturgy office and dated June 29, is the latest in a series of strong signals Pope Leo has sent indicating he does not plan to reverse Pope Francis’ restrictions on the pre-Vatican II Latin Mass.“In order to promote the dignified celebration of...

[Catholic Caucus] Leo XIV Backs Liturgical Program after 'Traditionis Custodes' Leo XIV has sent a message to Cardinal Arthur Roche, Prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship. The occasion is a meeting at Mount Angel Abbey in Oregon devoted to liturgical formation. Dated June 29, the brief message was published today in the Vatican bulletin. The text appears to reinforce Cardinal Roche’s recent statement that Leo XIV does not intend to abolish Traditionis Custodes. Leo XIV calls for respect for “the rites promulgated by Pope Saint Paul VI and Pope Saint John Paul II.” He adds that this respect must...

[Catholic Caucus] Bishop Schneider: ‘Nothing more dangerous for religion’ than liturgical ‘interference’The Church's 'apostolic rule' is that 'antiquity was retained, novelty was rejected,' according to Bishop Schneider.Bishop Athanasius Schneider warned in a sermon this weekend that “nothing is more dangerous for a religion” than “interference with the liturgy.”The auxiliary bishop of Astana, Kazakhstan, defended the importance of upholding the Church’s sacred tradition, including its traditional liturgy, during a visit to the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest in Limerick, Ireland.He emphasized that it is a perpetual precept of the Catholic Church to remain faithful to its tradition, both “doctrinally...

[Catholic Caucus] Pope Leo approved Cardinal Roche’s document supporting Latin Mass restrictions: report A Spanish outlet reported that Pope Leo requested a document affirming Pope Francis’ claim that the Novus Ordo is ‘the sole expression of the lex orandi of the Roman Rite.’Pope Leo XIV supports the Latin Mass-suppressing document Traditionis Custodes and specifically requested Cardinal Arthur Roche’s document on the liturgy backing Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) restrictions, according to a Spanish publication.La Razón reported Sunday that it has been “able to confirm” Cardinal Roche distributed this year’s consistory document on the liturgy “at the request of Leo XIV and,...

[Catholic Caucus] Pope Leo will not overturn Francis’ Latin Mass restrictions: Cardinal RocheThe Vatican’s liturgy head said Pope Leo XIV will maintain the provisions of ‘Traditionis Custodes’ and will not return to the broader Latin Mass permissions established by Pope Benedict XVI. Cardinal Arthur Roche said in a new interview that Pope Leo will not restore freedoms for the Traditional Latin Mass extended under Pope Benedict XVI.On July 29, British Catholic weekly The Tablet published an interview with Roche, prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, who stated that Pope Leo XIV will maintain...