Archbishop Viola, the violator of Tradition -- the dangerous secretary of Divine Worship and the man behind the attempts to ban the Traditional Mass. His letter to the Melbourne Archbishop

 Who is Archbishop Vittorio Francesco Viola, OFM? The Secretary of the Dicastery for Divine Worship is said to be proud to wear the episcopal ring of none other than the devious creator of the Novus Ordo, Archbishop Annibale Bugnini (cf. here, in Italian). 

(Archbishop Viola, celebrating something - image: Silere non possum)

We can affirm today that he is the main dangerous ideologically motivated cleric whose final intent is to completely ban the Traditional Latin Mass. We could add much more, in much more detail, but instead will present the translation of the post just published by the Italian religious blog Silere non possum (a centrist, non-traditionalist blog) on the appalling ban Viola imposed on the continuation of the celebration of the Traditional Mass in the Cathedral of Melbourne, Australia -- as if the Metropolitan Archbishop of Melbourne were some kind of naughty altar boy who is not in charge even of the liturgy in his OWN cathedral! The absolute opposite of the deceitful allegations contained in Traditionis custodes. 

Op-Ed - The Curious Case of Cardinal Pell: "The Power of the State was Recruited to Destroy Pell"

by Fr Glen Tattersall
Melbourne, Victoria
Special for Rorate Caeli

“State power has been recruited in an effort to destroy Pell. This situation cannot be swept under the carpet.’’

So wrote Paul Kelly, Australia’s pre-eminent political commentator, in The Australian newspaper on Spy Wednesday. A day earlier, the full bench of the nation’s High Court, by a 7-nil margin, quashed five convictions of child abuse for which Cardinal George Pell spent 13 months and 10 days in jail in Melbourne, almost all of it in solitary confinement. There, he was denied the opportunity to celebrate Mass, and had no access to the Sacraments, for months on end.

At the eleventh hour, the nation’s highest court redeemed some of the credibility the Australian justice system had lost, reminding the nation and the world that the rule of law is not yet dead. That assertion, however, remains doubtful in Victoria (Australia’s second largest state in terms of population). There, the conduct of the Pell case routinely violated principles of justice recognised as sacrosanct in every civilised society.

First-time retreats in the USA given by the Benedictine monks of Notre Dame Priory (Australia)

It is rare enough to find a good retreat master, and rarer still one who will offer Mass, hear Confessions, and lead hours of the Divine Office in their traditional forms. That is why these upcoming men’s and women’s 5-day retreats are such a great opportunity for Catholics in the USA.

Events: Dr. Kwasniewski’s Australia Lecture Tour, March 27 – April 7, 2019

Today I am pleased to be able to published the full schedule of my upcoming lecture tour under the auspices of the Latin Mass Society of Australia. Nine public events will be spread over six locations from March 27 to April 7 (full details below). I cordially invite area readers of Rorate Caeli to attend.

Guest Op-Ed: Marriage down under

The following guest op-ed was presented to us by the author:

By an Australian priest

The sensuality in the picture was palpable. Two attractive young men, heads together in a tender moment, against a backdrop of lush farmland. “Crude beauty of a Yorkshire’s shepherd’s gay awakening,’’ the headline proclaimed.The film review of God’s Own Country praised one character’s “respect for intense vulnerability’’ and “depth of love’’. The hint of homo erotica was clear. The sex scenes, readers were promised, were “very graphic’’. Foremost of the film’s themes, readers were told “is the difficulty of living as a gay man in a culture or family where it is not readily accepted.’’ When it comes to sexuality, “culture can be flexible where dogmatic religion cannot.’’

A day earlier, amid Australia’s scorching debate on an upcoming national plebiscite on same-sex “marriage’’, the same online magazine had nailed its colours firmly to the “Yes’’ campaign with two articles. One, entitled “Inside the 'glass closet' of a gay Catholic teacher’’, was written by a religion teacher in a Catholic school. He described his “hurt’’ at needing to conceal his sexuality and his partner’s identity on Facebook, lest “the wrong student or parent catches whiff of our supposedly un-Christian behaviour’’.

On the same day, the magazine carried a related article headed “A credibly Christian church would respect gay employees’’. It was accompanied by a drawing of the rainbow flag.  “The credibility of Catholic organisations as Christian and as humane is at stake,’’ it argued. “It would be inconceivable for Catholic based organisations to dismiss people who contract gay marriages. It would both be inconsistent with their own tradition and would make it impossible for them to commend that tradition to their own members of staff.’’ Its author was Father Andrew Hamilton SJ, consulting editor of the magazine, EurekaStreet, a publication of the Australian Jesuits.

Guest Op-Ed: Catholic Collapse in Australia Even Worse Than It Looks -- and Bishops are to blame

By an Australian Priest

The headlines did not exaggerate: "Christian heritage fades''; "Australia’s rapidly-changing population is more godless'' and "Atheists demand political influence as record numbers choose 'no religion on census'.''

Results of Australia's five-yearly Census, a detailed snapshot of how Australians live, where they come from, what they earn and what they believe were released this week. For those who value the nation's Christian underpinnings the picture was bleak.

The proportion of Australians who marked "no religion'' on their Census form was 29.6 per cent __ in stark contrastto 1966 when just 0.8 per cent of the population ticked that box. That year, 88 per cent of Australians identified as Christian; now it's a bare majority -- 52 per cent. Come the next Census in 2021,nominal Christians could be a minority, for the first time in the nation's history.

UPDATED - Cardinal Pell Charged by Australian Police for Multiple Sexual Offenses - Video

The video is from the press conference given minutes ago by the police of the State of Victoria, Australia. He is summoned to appear in the Magistrates' Court of Victoria in Melbourne on July 18.

Video below:

WATCH the whole press conference where @VictoriaPolice announce Cardinal George Pell has been charged with historical sex offences. pic.twitter.com/kiyGv691Q9

— ABC News (@abcnews) June 29, 2017

[Source: ABC Australia - News]

***

Update: Cardinal Pell's and Holy See statements issued this morning in Rome:

CARDINAL PELL’S STATEMENT

“Good morning to you all.

I want to say one or two brief words about my situation. These matters have been under investigation now for two years. There have been leaks to the media, there’ve been relentless character assassination — a relentless character assassination — and for more than a month claims that a decision whether to delay charges was imminent. I’m looking forward to finally having my day in court. I’m innocent of these charges, they are false. The whole idea of sexual abuse is abhorrent to me. I’ve kept Pope Francis, the Holy Father, regularly informed during these long months, and I have spoken to him on a number of occasions in the last week, most recently I think a day or so ago. We talked about my need to take leave to clear my name. So I am very grateful to the Holy Father for giving me this leave to return to Australia. I’ve spoken to my lawyers when this will be necessary, and I’ve spoken to my doctors for the best way to achieve this. All along I’ve been completely consistent and clear in my total rejection of these allegations. News of these charges strengthens my resolve and court proceedings now offer me the opportunity to clear my name and then return here, back to Rome, to work.”

Holy See Press Office:

“The Holy See has learned with regret the news of charges filed in Australia against Card. George Pell for decades-old actions that have been attributed to him.

Having become aware of the charges, Card. Pell, acting in full respect for civil laws, has decided to return to his country to face the charges against him, recognizing the importance of his participation to ensure that the process is carried out fairly, and to foster the search for truth.

The Holy Father, having been informed by Card. Pell, has granted the Cardinal a leave of absence so he can defend himself.

During the Prefect’s absence, the Secretariat for the Economy will continue to carry out its institutional tasks. The Secretaries will remain at their posts to carry forward the ordinary affairs of the dicastery, donec aliter provideatur [until further notice].

The Holy Father, who has appreciated Cardinal Pell’s honesty during his three years of work in the Roman Curia, is grateful for his collaboration, and in particular, for his energetic dedication to the reforms in the economic and administrative sector, as well as his active participation in the Council of Cardinals (C9).

The Holy See expresses its respect for the Australian justice system that will have to decide the merits of the questions raised. At the same time, it is important to recall that Card. Pell has openly and repeatedly condemned as immoral and intolerable the acts of abuse committed against minors; has cooperated in the past with Australian authorities (for example, in his depositions before the Royal Commission); has supported the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors; and finally, as a diocesan bishop in Australia, has introduced systems and procedures both for the protection of minors and to provide assistance to victims of abuse.”

The Australian Catholic collapse: "Francis Effect".

Also a Catholic collapse, as can be seen from the graphic below, coinciding with the second phase of the 2006-2016 period (therefore, from 2011 to 2016), practically entirely inside the Pope Francis period. During this time, the Church under the "Francis effect" followed the general collapse of all Christian organizations in Australia, as those with "no religion" are now the largest group in the Australian population:

God bless your soul, Alaister: may you rest in peace!

Mr. Alaister Lim was a young parishioner and occasional altar server at the Bl. John Henry Newman Parish (exclusively dedicated to the Traditional Latin Mass), in Melbourne, Australia.

This was his departing letter to his pastor and priests, and fellow parishioners:

June 11, 2015

Dearest Reverend Fathers Tattersall, Marshall, and McDaniels; brothers and sisters of the Newman Parish in Christ,

It is with great sadness that I say goodbye to you through this letter, and not in person. My health is rapidly deteriorating, at this time, after an X-ray scan, I have only half a functioning left lung, all else defective (my lungs, not the rest of my organs!). This means I cannot travel great distances, as the trip would be way too taxing on me.

Dear Fathers, your spiritual guidance has strengthened my faith so much, I’ve said many times that I’ve learned so much more about my faith in my one and a half years there than I did in my entire life, and I mean every word of it. Thank you for all you’ve done for me, the Masses you’ve offered for me, for the honour of letting me serve your Masses, and also for your friendship. May God bless all of you abundantly for the good works that you do.

The Newman Lecture in Melbourne: - Found, not Manufactured: Newman, the Roman Rite, and Cranmer's Prayer Book

The Inaugural Blessed John Henry Newman Lecture was delivered by Dr Stephen McInerney (Senior Lecturer in Literature, Campion College).

***

“Marvellous Disclosures”: 

John Henry Newman’s Anglican Reflections on the Liturgy(1)

Delivered at the Parish of Blessed John Henry Newman, Melbourne

12th October, 2014

[High Mass for All Souls at the Birmingham Oratory - Entrance]

Over fifty years ago, as he reflected on the legacy of John Henry Newman, Fr Frank O’Malley asked: “What was the spirit of this man who is with us a constant reference and a standard and a sign?” By way of an answer, he pointed to something that few Newman scholars before or since have sought to highlight:

the spirit of Newman moved within the spirit of the liturgy, the liturgy thought of in its most significant sense as the very rhythm of Christian existence, stirred and centred by the life of Christ. Newman absorbed the liturgical character of existence. He lived by the liturgy. (2)

We Must Be Ready to Defend the Truth of Marriage, Even at the Cost of Martyrdom

Saint John was called to announce the word of God about the sanctity of marriage as God created man and woman from the beginning, in the face of the opposition of the hateful Herodias who was living in an adulterous relationship with King Herod. Saint John the Baptist was indeed “an iron pillar” in announcing the truth, trusting that the Lord would never abandon him but would make the truth prevail, even at the cost of martyrdom.

Prof Tracey Rowland and her rebuke to Traditional Catholics.- Traditional Catholicism straddles the Income Gap - and that is a very good thing.

Perfectly normal Catholics attached to the Vetus Ordo in York, England, this March.
They were in a procession in honour of St Margaret Clitherow, in the LMS Pilgrimage.

Last July, the Australian theologian Professor Tracey Rowland, caused a stir by her remarks on how Catholics attached to the Traditional Mass can harm their cause by their attitudes and clothing. These, she said, put newcomers of attending the Extraordinary Form. You can see the video of her remarks on here, with some commentary from me.

Among the responses to her was a note from Fr Glen Tattersall, who is in charge of the Archdiocese of Melbourne's provision for the Traditional Mass. Since Rowland lives in that Archdiocese, it would be quite natural that Catholics of that community might feel particularly included in her comments. A view that is obviously not shared by the Archbishop of Melbourne, since the community, since then, has had its relevance to the local Church recognized by the Archbishop, who made it a full Personal Parish. Fr Tattersall said the following:

Dr Rowland is Dean of the John Paul II Institute in Melbourne. She is a person of some prominence in the Church in Australia.

As chaplain [now Parish Priest] for those Catholics in Melbourne attached to the Extraordinary Form, I feel compelled to offer the following observations, given that Dr Rowland claims to speak from experience:

1. Dr Rowland rarely attends Mass in the Extraordinary Form in Melbourne - I can recall having seen her once at Mass (a Low Mass on a weekday) in the last two years;

2. I do not recognise as present among the Catholic Faithful I am privileged to serve any of the problems she alleges in her interview.

This and the other responses have not deflected her from including these remarks in the printed version of her talk, though she has added a long footnote complaining about one accusation from on-line 'rad trads' which I didn't even notice at the time: that she might be a member of Opus Dei. Her defensiveness about this suggestion is at least as puzzling as the relevance of the suggestion itself. In my experience Opus Dei don't go in for trad-bashing, and they are keenly aware, from past and present experience, of the danger of generalisations uninformed by true and long-lasting acquaintance of a community.

Two new permanent establishments for the Traditional Mass: Personal Parish in Australia, Personal Chaplaincy in Argentina

1. The long-established community of faithful attached to the Traditional Roman Rite in the Archdiocese of Melbourne, Australia, has been raised to the canonical status of a Personal Parish. Fr. Tattersall informs in the Community website:

His Grace, Archbishop Denis Hart has promulgated a Decree, raising the Newman Community to the rank of a Personal Parish, effective 28th March.

On that day, we will become the Parish of Bl. John Henry Newman.

Archbishop Hart’s decree is available here.

We will celebrate the commencement of the new Parish with Solemn Mass at 10.30 am on Laetare Sunday, 30th March, followed by a BBQ picnic, and concluding with Solemn Vespers and Benediction.

Fr Tattersall will be formally installed by Archbishop Hart as Parish Priest of the Parish of Bl. John Henry Newman, on Anzac Day, Friday 25th April, at 11.00 am.

Congratulations to the local faithful and to Fr. Tattersall! (Tip: The Tablet; source.)

_____________________________

2. In the province of Buenos Aires that surrounds, but does not include, the Federal Capital of the same name (contiguous with the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires, in which there are no Masses in the Extraordinary Form), the Bishop of Zárate-Campana has just invited the Institute of the Good Shepherd (IBP) to establish themselves permanently there, with responsibility for a local Oratory and a personal chaplaincy. Fr. Matthieu Raffray, IBP superior for Latin America, informs:

I am very happy to officially announce to you that on Tuesday, March 11, Bp. Oscar Sarlinga, bishop of Zárate-Campana (Province of Buenos Aires), granted authorization to our superior, Fr. Laguérie, for the canonical establishment of a house of the Institute of the Good Shepherd in his diocese.

As superior for the district, I signed with him an agreement that rules our pastoral activities in the diocese, in conformity with Canon 681. This agreement canonically grants to the Institute the Oratory of San Juan de Luz, at Maschwitz, Escobar Partido, which is next to the house currently lent to us by an association of faithful. He also named the superior of this house (myself at the moment), "chaplain for all faithful of the diocese who request the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite."

Congratulations to the local faithful and to Fr. Raffray! (Tip & source: Le Forum Catholique)