Bishop Martin of the NC diocese, appointed only one year ago as the ordinary, wasted no time drafting a pastoral letter to diocesan priests on the “Celebration of the Liturgy.” This Charlotte Charlatan screed is 8,000 words. We will not quote extensively from the wordy screed but selectively, to provide just a whiff of the stench.
IT IS COMMON nowadays for diocesan clergy to gather annually or more frequently as a presbyterate, with their bishop, for fellowship, prayer and study. Several years ago, the featured speaker at one such clergy gathering was a diocesan liturgist, who also taught in the diocesan seminary. Midway through his talk, he departed from his notes and spontaneously said, “The Protestant Reformation failed the first time, as it was done from without. This time we will succeed, as we will do it from within!” We were all amazed.
We priests were not amazed over the fact that this perfidious liturgist believed this, as we knew he was a modernist. We were just amazed that this usually cunning modernist was so reckless as to say it publicly. The bishop soon after removed him from his position as liturgist for the diocese and the seminary, not so much for his modernist theology but more for the fact of the scandal and outrage expressed by the clergy.
The outcry from traditional and conservative Catholic clergy and the faithful was such that it appears to have occasioned a pause by the Charlotte Charlatan in promulgating his copious screed. But know this, Remnant readers: what this imprudent modernist bishop recklessly put into print is precisely what other modernist bishops are already doing or intending, more discreetly, in their own dioceses. In his mind and in their estimation, his sin was not disdain for traditional and conservative liturgies, it was getting caught!
The repressed memory of this modernist liturgist and his reckless revelation came to mind recently, with the public cloud of stink and scandal surrounding the Charlotte Charlatan of North Carolina. The bishop of that NC diocese, appointed only one year ago as the ordinary, wasted no time drafting a pastoral letter to diocesan priests on the “Celebration of the Liturgy.” This Charlotte Charlatan screed is 8,000 words.
Fortunately, a draft of the screed was leaked, and published by a traditional Catholic website. The outcry was immediate, and not limited to purely traditional Catholics. For the broad scope of the screed targets not only Tridentine liturgies in the diocese but also Novus Ordo liturgies that are done with reverence and a deference to tradition. As such, the Charlotte Charlatan is gunning for conservative Catholics as well.
We will not quote extensively from the wordy screed but selectively, to provide just a whiff of the stench:
- Latin is used from place to place for various and different motivations. However, the faithful’s full, conscious, and active participation is hindered wherever Latin is employed. Most of our faithful do not understand and will never comprehend the Latin language, especially those on the periphery. It is fallacious to think that if we employ Latin more frequently, the faithful will get used to it and finally understand it. Our ancestors “heard” the Mass in Latin every Sunday but never understood it.
- In order for the faithful to participate as the Council requires, visual engagement is necessary. For this reason, the Church has been clear that ad orientemis not appropriate. It has not been permitted and will not be permitted in the future in any public chapel, church, or oratory in the Diocese of Charlotte. Moreover, it is important that the altar of sacrifice be free of any visual impairment. Candles, standing crucifixes, and Missal stands all impede the ability of the faithful to see the Eucharistic elements. These elements were all incorporated into the Roman Rite when it was offered ad orientem, but they no longer are needed on the altar in the Novus Ordo Missae.
- In new constructions and renovations of sacred spaces, altar rails are not permitted and, therefore, the sanctuary is to be separated from the nave by a change in elevation. Moveable altar rails should be removed, and permanently fixed altar rails should no longer be used. The placement of a prei dieufor the reception of communion is not appropriate.
- The altar is to be freestanding, and Mass must be celebrated facing the people.
- In Masses with the faithful, the vernacular is to be retained for all parts of the Mass. Latin Mass parts are to be chosen judiciously only for those particular celebrations in which the majority of the participants understand the language.
- The ringing of a bell(s) to signal the congregation to stand before the Opening Hymn is no longer to be used at any Mass. A verbal welcome by the Lector (or other suitable minister) followed by an indication of the hymn to be sung and an invitation to stand is most appropriate and should be normative at all Masses
- Women who have chosen to wear a veil as an expression of personal piety are not to do so when they are assisting in any official capacity (lector, cantor, altar server, usher, etc.) at Mass.
- In order to show the equal dignity and role of the baptized faithful, both men and women may serve as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, readers, and altar servers. No one may be denied a liturgical role proper to the faithful based on their gender.
- The number of communion stations at Mass in any church or location should be determined by the number of persons present for the celebration. A good rule of thumb is 1 communion station per 125 persons in attendance. The reduction of communion stations to eliminate the need for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion is considered an affront to the Church’s provision in such circumstances.
- Altar servers are not to kneel in front of the altar during the Eucharistic Prayer with candles. They are to remain at their seat and kneel there. Altar servers are not to wear gloves.
- Since there is no mention in the Conciliar documents, the reform of the liturgy, or current liturgical documents concerning the use of altar rails or kneelers for the distribution of Holy Communion, they are not to be employed in the Diocese of Charlotte.
- When distributing Holy Communion…It is forbidden to make the sign of the cross with the host before the communicant since there is no option to do so in the rubrics.
The outcry from traditional and conservative Catholic clergy and the faithful was such that it appears to have occasioned a pause by the Charlotte Charlatan in promulgating his copious screed. But know this, Remnant readers: what this imprudent modernist bishop recklessly put into print is precisely what other modernist bishops are already doing or intending, more discreetly, in their own dioceses. In his mind and in their estimation, his sin was not disdain for traditional and conservative liturgies, it was getting caught!
The Last Word: thanks to the Charlotte Charlatan, conservative Catholics have even more reason to ally themselves with traditional Catholics. First, they went after Tridentine, and now they are coming for you!
Michael Matt on the NC Bishop — CHARLOTTE SHOWDOWN: Why does Bishop Martin Hate Latin Mass Catholics?
