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| Toronto's Thomas Cardinal Collins - Mass in the Presence of a Greater Prelate Vigil of Pentecost, 2014 at St. Lawrence the Martyr Parish |
Can. 87 §1. A diocesan bishop, whenever he judges that it contributes to their spiritual good, is able to dispense the faithful from universal and particular disciplinary laws issued for his territory or his subjects by the supreme authority of the Church. He is not able to dispense, however, from procedural or penal laws nor from those whose dispensation is specially reserved to the Apostolic See or some other authority.
This is what Bishop Paprocki did and surprisingly, Bishop Rick Stika of Knoxville. There have been others. The fundamental problem is that this may not mean what, on first reading, we think it means. First, the Pope is the supreme lawgiver and is not bound by Canon Law. Second, "particular disciplinary laws" would be akin to fasting. So, how does a bishop overrule a pope? Father John Zuhlsdorf believes the Canon applies.
No doubt that some bishops are overjoyed to use this opportunity to destroy the Mass of the Ages and have, most would seem to me to be at least neutral. I have no doubt that the overwhelming majority are saying to themselves, "do I really need this right now?" In some cases, they may not be favourable of the traditional rite but if they have one or two churches in the diocese with it, then it is in their minds "managed" and "contained." That's okay, the future is on our side.
Yet, as Sebastian Morello from The European Conservative notes, there is a goal that the faithful be "scattered and purged." Our job is to not let that happen. It is an excellent read.
Now, presumably, if Pope Francis can reject the claims of his predecessor by the click of his fingers, his successor will be free to do the same to him. Catholic faithful attached to the traditional liturgy may derive comfort from this, as there remains the possibility that the whole thing could be reversed by a future edict. Do not be consoled, for here lies the path to ever-intensifying ecclesiastical tyranny. For example, the reason why revolutionary governments become so draconian when they attain power by the overthrowing of government, immediately requiring a secret police and increasingly severe punishments, is because the revolutionary government has, in acquiring government, legitimised revolution against government. So too, in the game of predecessor repudiations, evermore draconian measures are needed to prevent any reversal by a future edict. In the case of the new Motu Proprio, the measures are so harsh that it is clearly hoped that by the time any future pope is inclined to reverse them, the faithful attached to the traditional liturgy will have been scattered and purged.
Reflections on Pope Francis’s Motu Proprio "Traditionis Custodes" - The European Conservative
It goes without saying once again that the actions of Jorge Bergoglio in this matter are heinous, mean-spirited, cruel, vindictive and lack care and charity for the faithful. That does not come from the Holy Spirit. There can be no doubt that this is an act of evil by a man so utterly devoid of true charity and compassion that he can only be described as a sociopath.