LifeSite | “I feel like I’m almost not welcome in the Church for wanting to go to the Latin Mass and for wanting to have a traditional confirmation for my children,” Butker said. “I feel like I’m a lesser-than Catholic and not part of the Church because I want to attend the traditional rite.”
He said he wants “to be obedient to the Church” and “stay within the Church,” but it “seems like I’m getting persecuted just because I have a love for the traditional rite.”
He said if he could have a one-on-one meeting with Pope Francis, he would tell him that the crackdown has isolated traditional Catholics.
Holy Father, all the Catholics that I’ve been around that have a devotion to the Traditional Latin Mass and the traditional sacraments, they want to be saints. They want to get their children to heaven. They’re not trying to have this big revolt against the Church.”
“Holy Father, all the Catholics that I’ve been around that have a devotion to the Traditional Latin Mass and the traditional sacraments, they want to be saints,” he said. “They want to get their children to heaven. They’re not trying to have this big revolt against the Church. They’re not denying the papacy.”
“And now it’s being brought into question whether Catholics who prefer the traditional sacraments for the means of their salvation are even good Catholics at all. And I think that really isolates a lot of traditional Catholics,” Butker said.
CNA | You believe that the Latin Mass is bringing young people back to the Church. How so?
Butker: I wholeheartedly do. I think we live in confusing times. I think the culture is changing rapidly and the Traditional Latin Mass is so countercultural that I think it really entices a lot of young people who are looking for answers.
Why are you speaking out about the restrictions to the Traditional Latin Mass?
Butker: I think God has definitely given me a platform. He's given me a voice for a lot of people that aren't able to voice their opinions. I put so much into being the best kicker I can possibly be and for whatever reason, God has allowed me to continue to be successful as a kicker. I'm so thankful for that. … My success in football has given me a pedestal and I feel a responsibility to raise awareness to different issues that I think God wants me to bring to the forefront. And the Traditional Latin Mass is definitely one of them. It’s an issue that I'm passionate about, and again, I feel I need to bring a voice to a lot of people who are frustrated, who feel like they're outcasted, and who don't have the outlet to say anything. I feel like I can be a voice for all those who feel like they're being persecuted for their love of the traditional sacraments.
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