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Vatican officials deny involvement in rumored Latin Mass crackdown

VATICAN CITY (LifeSiteNews) — Two of the four Vatican officials reported to be aiding efforts to restrict the traditional Mass have denied any such involvement, whilst rumors not always in accord with evidence continue to stoke fears of upcoming restrictions.

The papal nuncio to France, Archbishop Celestino Migliore, and the prefect of the Dicastery for Eastern Churches, Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, have both denied to this correspondent that they are involved in fresh efforts to restrict the traditional Mass.

Both Migliore and Gugerotti had been named in a June report by The Remnant, along with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, as being the three key aides in a move to compile a new document ushering in restrictions on the traditional Mass.

The document is believed to be being written by Archbishop Vittorio Francesco Viola, who serves as the Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments (CDW), and who – according to some reports – is drawing up a text restricting the traditional Mass which he will present to Pope Francis for approval.

But when questioned by this correspondent, Migliore and Gugerotti denied that they were supporting or encouraging Viola in his project. Full details are provided below, but first some background and context is necessary.

Background to rumors

On June 17, the traditional blog Rorate Caeli issued a report suggesting that the Vatican is set to publish new measures restricting the traditional Mass even further than it already is. Rorate wrote that there is an attempt to implement a “stringent, radical, and final solution banning the Traditional Latin Mass.”

Describing their sources as “credible,” Rorate stated that the sources for the information were

the very same sources that revealed to Rorate that the Vatican had sent out a survey to bishops on Summorum Pontificum (in preparation for what would become Traditionis Custodes), and Rorate was the first source to post this; and the very same sources who first revealed that a document like Traditionis Custodes would come (and Rorate was also the first to reveal it at the time). [Emphasis original]

Rorate’s report was published by one of the site’s editors known as “New Catholic”: this correspondent understands that “New Catholic” has kept information about his sources strictly to himself.

Where would it come from?

No information was given by Rorate as to which body of the Roman Curia would be leading operations in issuing any new document. Were it to affect the former Ecclesia Dei traditional Mass communities, then it would have to also involve the Congregation (now Dicastery) for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (CICLSAL).

However, with Pope Francis having just recently met with, and affirmed the charism of, the two most notable ex-Ecclesia Dei communities offering the traditional Mass – the FSSP and the ICKSP – it is therefore unlikely that restrictions would be ushered in against them via CICLSAL, and would therefore be issued via the CDW.

Indeed when this correspondent questioned the notoriously anti-traditional prefect of CICLSAL – Cardinal João Braz de Aviz – if his dicastery had any document restricting the traditional Mass, his secretary issued a reply July 4, stating:

We cannot answer your question because the topic is not our responsibility but that of the Dicastery for Divine Worship. [Emphasis original]

Such would correspond with the information reported by The Remnant, which cited “well-informed sources” as stating that the rumored document “would prohibit all priests other than those belonging to approved ex-Ecclesia Dei institutes from offering the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in the Vetus Ordo, or old rite as it is commonly called.” This would involved the CDW, rather than CICLSAL.

It appears from these two aspects that the rumored document would originate from the offices of the CDW, and chiefly by the hand of Archbishop Viola.

Disagreement over existence of document

But sources disagree on the existence of the document. Rorate was the first to report that it existed and has maintained that position, with The Remnant following suit in supporting the argument some days later.

“I have been informed by reliable sources that a new Vatican document more restrictive than Traditionis Custodes does indeed exist, is backed by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and has been presented to Pope Francis,” wrote Diane Montagna for The Remmant.

Well-placed Vatican sources close to Pope Francis questioned by this correspondent could not attest to the existence of the document. They highlighted the confusion emanating from the Vatican about the current state of affairs regarding the future of the traditional Mass, though none of the sources consulted denied that such a document might exist.

Nor has The Pillar been able to confirm existence of the rumored document, despite its record of having talkative and apparently well-placed sources throughout the Vatican and especially in the Secretariat of State – the office led by Cardinal Parolin, who is reportedly a key advocate of measures to restrict the traditional Mass.

Cardinal Arthur Roche – prefect of the CDW – and Parolin have not replied to email questions by this correspondent about the rumored document. Roche has, in the meantime, blocked this correspondent on a social media platform.

A source previously informed LifeSiteNews’ John-Henry Westen that the rumored document was likely to be published on July 16, the third anniversary of Traditionis Custodes, the 2021 motu proprio through which Francis ushered in sweeping restrictions on the traditional Mass. The date swiftly became the international focus of much hype, both in the media and for Catholics outside of the media bubble.

The reports – by Rorate and The Remnant – which attested to the existence of the document did not give any details about such a date. Nothing was issued by the Vatican on July 16, with the month officially being a quieter holiday period for Pope Francis.

Vatican officials deny involvement

While Rorate’s original reports had been sparse in providing details of any fresh restrictions, The Remnant’s report provided names of its alleged proponents and details of its alleged contents.

As noted above, papal nuncio Migliore – who is noted for his stance opposing the traditional Mass in France – was listed as a key supporter, along with the prefect of the Dicastery for Eastern Churches Cardinal Gugerotti and Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin.

After 21 years as a nuncio, Gugerotti returned to the Dicastery for Eastern Church in 2022 as its prefect, having served as an official in the Dicastery for 16 years prior to his diplomatic service. He was raised to the cardinalate last September.

Cardinal Parolin (center) with Abp Gugerotti (R) in 2015. Credit: Paval Hadsinzki/Flickr

Following The Remnant’s June 25 report, this correspondent contacted both Migliore and Gugerotti on July 19 asking if they would comment on the report and if they were giving “support or assistance or encouragement to an attempt by Archbishop Vittoria Viola, who is preparing a new document on the ‘Latin Mass.’”

Migliore swiftly replied by saying:

Short question, short answer: these are conjectures, to say the least, fanciful.

Gugerotti’s private secretary replied August 6 with a less direct statement, which nevertheless appeared to distance the cardinal from the rumored document. The reply read:

Thank you for your kind request, of which His Eminence Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Oriental Churches, has taken careful note. In this regard, I would like to inform you that no information appears on the subject to which you refer.

Parolin has yet to reply to the same question posed to Migliore and Gugerotti.

Denials and confusion

In early 2023, similar rumors abounded that Cardinal de Aviz was set to issue issue a document which would usher in hefty restrictions on the former Ecclesia Dei communities. This correspondent managed to meet with de Aviz on April 5 last year, and the cardinal firmly denied that his dicastery was going to issue any such document and that he was not aware of any such document.

The rumored text never emerged, though the strong body of evidence from multiple sources speaking to multiple news outlets and journalists indicated that the document did indeed exist, despite Cdl. de Aviz’s denial. This correspondent’s own Vatican sources also attested to the fact that the document did exist, with the sources adding that the only question was whether it might be published or not.

With the official denials of Migliore and Gugerotti about their involvement in the rumored 2024 document, in the face of reports which named them as specifically involved, the confusion over the entire case appears to grow.

The Remnant places faith in its sources which name the pair amongst the three key supporters of Archbishop Viola; should a document soon emerge and Migliore and Gugerotti be found to have been supporting it, then they would have lied on record to a journalist.

In the meantime, Argentine Catholic blog Caminante Wanderer (CW) published a July 22 report (translated and republished by Rorate) which attested that Francis had actually received a copy of the rumored document but had not signed it. CW suggested that this was partly due to Francis not being as devoted to attacking the Latin Mass as Abp. Viola is – as highlighted already – but partly due to the outpouring of petitions and vocal calls defending the Mass made in recent weeks.

However, in an apparent discrepancy with official details, CW stated that Cardinal Roche had fallen out of favor with Francis – an aspect which sources for multiple outlets do confirm – and that he had not been received in papal audience since February 2022.

Official records of the Pope’s audiences show that Roche was received by Francis in June 2022 with the leadership of the CDW. Roche was then received again in January 2023, in February 2023, and (with the CDW leadership) in September 2023.

Either the Holy See’s records are not accurate or the sources for that aspect of CW’s report were not informed correctly.

Whatever the case, it serves to highlight the immense confusion and lack of clarity surrounding the entire affair, with numerous Catholics concerned over the future of the traditional Mass. With denials, contradictory evidence and rumors circulating, the truth of the affair appears elusive in many respects.

Parents and Teachers Allowed to Join Proposed Class Action Against “Parental Exclusion Policies”

 Federal Judge Roger T. Benitez Permits Thomas More Society to Proceed with Proposed Class Action

San Diego – On August 8, 2024, U.S. District Court Judge Roger T. Benitez allowed Thomas More Society attorneys to join parents and additional teachers and proceed to file the proposed class action complaint in Mirabelli v. Olson. The federal court order also permits the addition of California Attorney General Rob Bonta as a defendant in the proposed class action lawsuit challenging “Parental Exclusion Policies.”

 

On June 7, 2024, Thomas More Society asked the federal court to permit additional teachers, parents, and a school district, to be part of a proposed class action lawsuit, as representatives seeking class-wide relief. While the August 8 order from Judge Benitez denied the addition of a school district-plaintiff, Lakeside Union School District, it does allow the case to proceed forward with added parents and teachers, along with their associated classes and claims.

 

Paul Jonna, Thomas More Society Special Counsel and Partner at LiMandri & Jonna LLP, reacted:

 

“We are incredibly pleased that Judge Benitez has granted our motion for leave to amend our complaint in Mirabelli v. Olson, permitting us to proceed forward with filing a statewide class action lawsuit that includes both teachers and parents. We intend to file a motion for class certification in short order, which will seek to expand our case to secure class-wide protection for not only the teachers forced to keep parents in the dark through unconstitutional Parental Exclusion Policies, but for all parents who seek this critical information about their school-aged children.”

“Moreover, we look forward to prosecuting this case against California Attorney General Rob Bonta, whose addition to the suit has now been permitted with this order. Despite the clarity in the law brought by the federal preliminary injunction we won before Judge Benitez in Mirabelli v. Olson, in September 2023, Attorney General Bonta has ignored it, and state officials have pursued legal action in open defiance of the court’s order. In doing so, Attorney General Bonta is at the tip of the spear of the institutional push to unconstitutionally violate the rights of parents and teachers. Our clients hope to put this issue to rest once and for all—by obtaining class-wide relief on behalf of all teachers and parents.”

Read the Order Granting-In-Part and Denying-In-Part Plaintiffs’ Motion to Amend in Mirabelli, et al. v. Olson, et al., filed by U.S. District Court Judge Roger T. Benitez, on August 8, 2024, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, here.

 

About Thomas More Society

Thomas More Society is a national not-for-profit law firm dedicated to restoring respect in law for life, family, and freedom. Headquartered in Chicago and with offices across the country, Thomas More Society fosters support for these causes by providing high quality pro bono legal services from local trial courts all the way up to the United States Supreme Court. For more information, please visit thomasmoresociety.org.

ANALYSIS: Harris on Crime and Abortion

 

ON CRIME: “Harris faces a serious problem,” writes CatholicVote’s Anthony Iafrate: “no matter which way she turns, she finds people blasting her crime policies one way or another.” Is Harris really the tough-on-crime prosecutor many of her campaign ads claim she is? Is she the soft-on-crime candidate who solicited donations to bail out violent rioters in 2020? Or is she the authoritarian “cop” who wrongfully imprisoned black men in California?  READ ON ABORTION, HER ‘TOP PRIORITY’ “The Democratic Party under Harris is as radically pro-abortion as it can possibly be,” warns Ryan T. Anderson. “Short of coming out for killing toddlers, there simply is no way to be more extreme than Kamala Harris and her party now are.”  READ

This week on Faith On Trial: State forces therapists to affirm gender identity; tuition assistance options for Catholic student parents.

Podcast now up at: https://faith-on-trial.simplecast.com/

Why Scripture Can't Be Canceled

Catholicvote, others respond to new Harris-Walz ticket

A chorus of critics are voicing concerns over Walz’s gubernatorial record and the newly minted Harris-Walz ticket’s agenda. “Harris-Walz is the most anti-Catholic ticket ever,” stated CatholicVote President Brian Burch. “Gov. Walz’s COVID lockdowns, mandates, and ‘stay-at-home orders’ were some of the harshest in the nation – and they targeted the Church in particular.” READ

This week on Faith On Trial: Project 2025, Olympic blasphemy

 Podcast up now: https://faith-on-trial.simplecast.com/episodes/hans-von-spakovsky-erika-ahern-08-03-2024

Florida pro-life leader sues Google

A Catholic pro-life leader in Florida is suing Google for de-platforming her after the tech giant suspended her email account. Trudy Perez-Poveda sent an email on September 23, 2023 to members of Family for Life, her pro-life group which peacefully prays, counsels, and holds Mass and Eucharistic processions outside abortion facilities in Jacksonville, Florida. She had used the account for over 11 years.  READ

CatholicVote confronts Biden-Harris DOJ on church attacks

In a letter to Biden-Harris Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke, CatholicVote President Brian Burch wrote that the administration “has repeatedly met and coordinated with the abortion industry, but has refused to meet with representatives of the millions of pro-life Americans and concerned Catholic citizens who are being threatened and intimidated across the country.” READ

Biden-Harris admin okayed ‘trans’ drug despite knowing risks

According to an internal email, the Biden-Harris administration’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) greenlit hormonal drugs for children despite acknowledging that it could lead to an increased suicide rate among minors. “We did find increased risk of depression and suicidality, as well as increased seizure risk … there is definitely a need for these drugs to be approved for gender transition.” READ

Report from the Iowa Catholic Conference

 

'Heartbeat' law goes into effect The new law prohibiting physicians from performing or inducing abortions after a heartbeat can be detected went into effect this morning, Monday, July 29. As the Iowa bishops have said, “human life is precious and should be protected in our laws to the greatest extent possible.” The law should call us to be even more diligent about standing with moms and families in need and providing care, love, and support.  The law prohibits abortions after the baby’s heartbeat can be detected. Sometimes this is as early as six weeks of pregnancy. Unfortunately, some are spreading confusion about the distinction between any needed medical interventions and elective abortion procedures. Under the law, a woman can receive the emergency health care she needs.  The Iowa Catholic Conference will continue to advocate for the protection of all vulnerable populations from violence and public policies that support pregnant mothers and families. Although the law is going into effect, there still may be a trial against the bill at the district court level. Pregnancy support centers help families across the country. Here in Iowa, several organizations have received funding from the state’s MOMS (More Options for Maternal Support) program. They are: Lutheran Services in Iowa  Bethany Christian Services in NW Iowa  Guiding Star Cedar Valley  Alternative Pregnancy Center in Waterloo  Informed Choice of Iowa Corporation  Obria Clinic of Ames Shenandoah Pregnancy and Resource Center. Solidarity is a cornerstone of Catholic social teaching We invite you to dive into the U.S. bishops’ bulletin insert on solidarity to help deepen your understanding. Pope Francis places solidarity at the center of what it means to cultivate social friendship as one family. He says, “Solidarity means much more than engaging in sporadic acts of generosity. It means thinking and acting in terms of community.” We also ask you to watch the video, “Catholics Love Their Neighbors” on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ YouTube page, https://www.youtube.com/@UsccbOrg.

Olympics Opening Ceremony features people in ‘drag’ appearing to mock the Last Supper

 

CV NEWS FEED // The Paris 2024 Olympics Opening Ceremony this week featured a display of a group of people wearing “drag” costumes appearing to mock the Last Supper, sparking outcry from Catholics and non-Catholic Christians on social media.

Footage from the opening event shows a woman wearing a large crown headpiece standing by the center of a long table, and on both sides of her are people wearing drag costumes. Especially alarming is that a child is present at the table, Collin Rugg pointed out in a July 26 X post.

Per news outlet Deadline: “Recreating a runway to showcase the fashion Paris is known for, a group of drag queens appeared on screen positioned similarly to how Jesus and his Twelve Apostles are depicted in Leonardo da Vinci’s mural painting.”

Catholics, non-Catholic Christians, and some non-Christians on X have spoken out against the display, including a Catholic bishop, who has called for prayers of reparation.

Podcast host Clint Russell posted on his X account on July 26 a video clip of the display, writing:

There are 2.4 billion Christians on earth and apparently the Olympics wanted to declare loudly to all of them, right out of the gate

NOT WELCOME

Dom Lucre posted on his X account more footage from the shocking display, writing: “The dancing blue man featured in the 2024 World Olympic Games opening ceremony is now being placed in the middle of the red carpet to represent being the ‘dish’ in the drag queen recreation of Jesus Last Supper. How could a Catholic nation allow this?”

Marion Maréchal, a member of the European Parliament, posted on X on July 26: “To all the Christians of the world who are watching the #Paris2024 ceremony and felt insulted by this drag queen parody of the Last Supper, know that it is not France that is speaking but a left-wing minority ready for any provocation. #notinmyname”

Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, a Catholic, posted a clip of the display on X, and above the video posted a quote from Galatians: “’Be not deceived, God is not mocked. For what things a man shall sow, those also shall he reap. For he that soweth in his flesh, of the flesh also shall reap corruption. But he that soweth in the spirit, of the spirit shall reap life everlasting.’ Galatians 6:7-8″

In a July 26 video post on X, Bishop Robert Barron of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, decried the display as a “gross, flippant mockery” of the Last Supper.

He explained that he initially started watching the Olympic Opening Ceremonies. He then saw “this gross mockery of the Last Supper.”

“France felt, evidently, as it is trying to put its best cultural foot forward, the right thing to do is to mock this very central moment in Christianity, where Jesus, in His Last Supper, gives His Body and Blood in anticipation of the cross,” he also said.

Bishop Barron later remarked, “This deeply secularist, post-modern society knows who its enemy is, they’re naming it, and we should believe them. They’re telling us who they are. We should believe them. But furthermore, we Christians, we Catholics should not be sheepish. We should resist. We should make our voices heard.”

Bishop Donald Hying of the Diocese of Madison, Wisconsin, in a post on X, called for fasting and prayers in reparation for the blasphemy.

“In reparation for the blasphemy in Paris, let’s fast and pray, renew our devotion to the Eucharist, the Sacred Heart and the Virgin Mary. May Jesus be adored and loved in every tabernacle throughout the world. Thank you Lord for the Eucharist and the Last Supper, your love for us,” he wrote.

Several prayers of reparation can be found here and here.

This week on FOT

New podcast is live now:

https://faith-on-trial.simplecast.com/episodes/kelly-rickert-maggie-dewitte-7-27-2024-cfvRZR4J

 

Jane’s Revenge Vandals Plead Guilty to Felonies

Tampa, FL—Attorneys with First Liberty Institute and Lawson Huck Gonzalez, PLLC announced that four vandals associated with Jane’s Revenge who sought to injure, intimidate, and interfere with access to several Florida pregnancy resource centers, including Heartbeat of Miami, pleaded guilty to felony charges related to violence last year.  Charges against the four were brought under the federal Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (“FACE”) Act just before First Liberty and Attorney General Ashley Moody also filed civil lawsuits authorized under FACE on behalf of several life-affirming reproductive health facilities in Florida.

 

Attorney General Moody said, “We will not allow radicals to threaten and intimidate women seeking help from crisis pregnancy centers or the counselors and health care professionals serving these women and their babies. In Florida, illegal actions have consequences, and I am proud of the work our attorneys did in this case to make sure these extremists were held accountable.”

 

“Women who seek care at life-affirming reproductive health care facilities should never fear for their safety,” said Jason Gonzalez, shareholder at Lawson Huck Gonzalez, PLLC.  “We are grateful that AG Moody has led the effort to not only protect our client, but every life-affirming reproductive health facility across the State of Florida.”

 

“The entry of these felony plea agreements serves as a reminder that no one should suffer violence for simply providing faith-based counseling and baby supplies to women and their babies,” said First Liberty Senior Counsel, Jeremy Dys. “Attorney General Moody’s leadership, together with our lawsuit, sends a clear message: those who target life-affirming reproductive health facilities with violence will face the legal penalties Congress established for their crimes.”

 

Last year, First Liberty Institute and Lawson Huck Gonzalez, PLLC filed a lawsuit similar to one filed by Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody seeking to assess $170,000 in penalties against each defendant.  General Moody’s lawsuit is the first instance of a state attorney general to use the FACE Act to hold violent protestors of life-affirming pregnancy care centers accountable for their actions.

 

Following the leak of the Dobbs decision, vandals associated with Jane’s Revenge began attacking faith-based pregnancy resource centers across the nation.  Vandals spray painted threatening messages like “If abortions aren’t safe, neither are you,” fire-bombed life-affirming reproductive health facilities, broke windows, doxxed the staff, board, and volunteers of pregnancy resource centers, and disrupted private events with supporters in an effort to intimidate those centers, injure their facilities, and interfere with clients seeking to access their free services. 

 

Heartbeat of Miami (“Heartbeat”) is a religious ministry providing life-affirming reproductive health services to women and couples facing unplanned pregnancies in Hialeah, Florida.  First Liberty’s lawsuit, filed on behalf of Heartbeat, alleged that Caleb Freestone and Amber Marie Smith-Stewart, as representatives of Jane’s Revenge, vandalized Heartbeat’s clinic with spray painted threats on July 3, 2022.  Annarella Rivera then allegedly joined Caleb Freestone on September 17, 2022 to hack their way onto Heartbeat’s guest list, giving them access into Heartbeat’s annual gala where they shouted obscenities, disparaged Heartbeat’s staff, volunteers, and supporters, and leafletted the venue with propaganda hoping to dissuade women from using Heartbeat’s services.  On January 18, 2023, a federal grand jury issued a criminal indictment against Freestone and Smith-Stewart.