Say what?

“even though that group has expressed concern about reversing the gains of Vatican II.”

Uh right..
Even though I don’t completely agree with the SSPX’s analysis of VII (a good amount of it I do agree with BTW) they certainly do not want to �reverse gains” but rather clear up ambiguity that exists in the council texts and “error” as they call it. They and others argue that VII was not infallible in some areas due to it’s pastoral nature, thus error can exist – I have not concluded this one way or another for myself personally but the council sure does need it�s vague language cleared up in some areas badly.

Hmm. Your Motu Proprio Random Date Generator is still up. In fact, at the moment it says:

The Tridentine Indult will be issued on:
6/27/2008

Oh thou of little faith!

POST-MOTU PROPRIO: What Traditional Catholics Want After Promulgation

It appears certain that, in the coming days, our Holy Father will promulgate a motu proprio freeing the Traditional Latin Mass which was perfected in the sixth century and canonized in 1570 by Pope St. Pius V. However, without proper enforcement and enactment, it will mean little to traditional Catholics in their every day lives. Below is a respectful request to our prelates world wide upon its promulgation. Please pass along and spread the word:

1. That all traditional Catholics, upon its promulgation, welcome it with humility and joy and not a �we win� attitude;
2. That non-traditional Catholics see it less as an attack on the Novus Ordo Mass and liturgy but as an opportunity to grow their own Faith and return to the Church�s roots and the way of the Saints;
3. That our bishops accept it in joy and gladness and profound respect for the Holy Father and implement it fully and without hesitation understanding that, while we do not just �prefer� the Traditional Latin Mass but desire it exclusively, we also do not question the validity of the Novus Ordo Mass if it adheres fully to the rubrics of the new missal and absent of abuses;
4. That our bishops ensure at least one Traditional Latin Mass every day of the week, every week of the year;
5. That every priest who wishes to pray the Traditional Latin Mass, whether publicly or privately, be able to do so without threat or intimidation by his bishop or the lay people of the diocese;
6. That, if a diocese does not have a priest who wishes to pray the Traditional Latin Mass daily, the bishop work with a traditional group like the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP) or the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest (ICKSP) to bring one of their priests into his diocese for this purpose;
7. That each and every diocese has at least one full parish that offers only the Traditional Latin Mass and Sacraments as well as the traditional Baltimore Catechism for the formation of traditional young Catholics;
8. That our bishops provide at least one traditional Catholic school per diocese in order that our children may receive a classical Catholic education focused on the traditional Faith and Sacraments;
9. That every bishop once a year confirms young, traditional Catholics into the Church in the traditional rite (which does not include a Mass during the ceremony);
10. That every diocese has at least one parish with more than one Traditional Latin Mass each Sunday so that traditional Catholics have a choice in Mass times like all other Catholics who assist at the Novus Ordo Mass;
11. That at least one parish have a priest who exclusively prays the Traditional Latin Mass and is not forced to �concelebrate� with Novus Ordo priests or confer new rite sacraments at another parish;
12. That there be no mixing of the rites � if 1962 is the year for which traditionalism is recognized, then nothing post-1962 should ever enter the Traditional Latin Mass, Sacraments or liturgy;
13. That the traditional calendar in place in 1962 is used in accordance with each and every Traditional Latin Mass;
14. That at least one Traditional Latin Mass is available on each and every Holy Day of Obligation in effect in 1962 according to the traditional calendar;
15. That every attempt is made by each bishop to bring any and all independent chapels or Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) chapels into full communion with him in his diocese. If they refuse, so be it, but at least make an honest attempt for the sake of the Faith.

Many bishops are already using the talking points that they already allow a Traditional Latin Mass and �there really just isn�t any interest.� That is because, in most cases, they grant only one Mass a Sunday, at an hour too late in the day for most to attend, in the worst neighborhood in town, without the traditional Sacraments or chance of a daily Mass. Once they make it impossible to survive, they tell the media no one wants �that old Mass.� Let�s pray they put these desires into action and see what kind of response they get.

While there is much more than this which is needed to finally bring the One True Faith back to its full glory in the future, this would be a wonderful and holy place to start once the motu proprio is promulgated. Let us pray that all Catholics, whether traditionally minded or not, welcome the wishes of the Holy Father and pray that this undertaking of his brings us closer together as we once were. Oremus pro invicem.