In 2021, Dr Peter Kwasniewski wrote a small but powerful and much-needed book called True Obedience In The Church. It is published by Sophia Institute Press. No doubt the egregious misdeeds of the late Francis was impetus for its writing, since many sincere but unaware Catholics were led to follow him in his heresies, thinking that they were obliged to obey the pope in every way.
In his book, Dr. Kwasniewski laid forth the proper theology behind the concept of obedience, making plain that we are required to obey our prelates only to the extent that they act in concert with the Teachings of the Church as they have always existed. The pope is charged with preserving Church Tradition, and is no more permitted to tinker with it than are the laity. Indeed, Kwasniewski says correctly that we are forbidden to follow our leaders into error. For example, no prelate can order a priest in his diocese to "bless" two gays and their perverted relationship. They are not to conduct idol worship, such as that occurred with the pachamama idolatry in the Vatican Gardens. I need not go into more detail, or I would be typing all night.
In his book, he quoted St Thomas Aquinas who said, "unjust laws are acts of violence rather than laws...Wherefore they do not bind in conscience". He then went on to say that Francis' attempts to stifle the Traditional Latin Mass fall under the category of "unjust laws" and need not, or I should say, may not be obeyed. Traditiones Custodes is a direct violation of Quo Primum, a papal bull issued by Pope Saint Pius V in 1570 that established the Traditional Latin Mass as the true Mass, one that can never be abrogated.
Following the logic set forth by Aquinas, Kwasniewski also pointed out that those priests and bishops who were canceled on account of fidelity to Tradition are by no means bound to act as though their priestly ministries are stifled. Because these priests acted in accord with Tradition, any punishment meted to them in retaliation is illicit and has no claim of obedience. They are still priests in good standing with God and deserve out support. They may not have use of churches in which to administer Sacraments, but can certainly do so away from diocesan property, say for example, in private homes.
At this time, we have a new pontiff - Leo XIV. He's only been pope for a few weeks so we don't know what the future will hold. We hope and pray that he reverses the damage wreaked by Francis. If he does, though, we will still have many aberrant bishops with which to deal: McElroy, Cupich, Tobin, etc. We will have to be vigilant and be ready to resist them when they misbehave.
Many of the young priests being freshly ordained today are more traditionally-minded than were the priests ordained just a generation ago. I'd like to propose a model for them to examine. He was a priest of the Old Testament, and an account of his priestly zeal is given in Numbers 25:6-13. I will reproduce it from the Douay-Rheims version.
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Phineas was a young man at the time. I cannot discern whether or not he was old enough to have exercised priestly functions. At any rate, the Israelites were being punished for engaging in sexual relations with idolatrous people. He saw a well-placed Israelite strut into a tent with a foreign woman. In fact, the whole multitude saw it. Notice that Moses and Eleazar saw it too, and apparently did nothing. Phineas did. He did not wait for Moses or Eleazar to instruct him; he just acted. He did not fear reprisal, for he was acting on God's revealed will.
The Lord Himself told Moses that he was pleased with Phineas, and that the actions of the latter caused God to cease His punishment of the people. Somehow I think that God was also chiding Moses for not acting himself against the wicked Israelite.
Our priests need to act as priests, knowing that aberrant bishops cannot legitimately order them not to be faithful to the Traditions of the Church.
Lay people, we are not off the hook. If anything, we are more able to speak truth to power, as we are under no vows of obedience. We must be ready to speak up and yes, to pay the price for so doing. That means that friends will avoid and shun us. It probably means we'll be expelled from parish committees, CCD and RCIA programs, etc. We'll have to support priests under attack and perhaps allow our homes to be sites for Traditional Latin Masses. As for the last part, it was widely done after the bishops quashed the Latin Mass in the 1970s.
Now a word to those lay people who are parents of priests and vowed religious. Many of you have assumed silence for fear that your children will suffer reprisals. That strategy is futile on your part. Some of you have been politically active in the past and have also been pro life activists. That means that your children already have targets on their backs. Your silence and "staying under the radar" will avail them not one damned thing. In fact, by remaining silent, you are providing an abysmal example of how not to speak against the evil that is in their midst. Rest assured, that unless progressive prelates are removed and the climate in the Vatican improves, your children will - not if, but will - suffer cancelation as has other faithful priests and bishops. Some have even been put in fear for their lives; that is not out of the question. Just within the Archdiocese of Washington, I am aware of four priests that have been "cancelled", because they have preached God's truth against homosexual conduct. Given the stench of perversion that has wafted through the halls of the DC chancery in the past 20+ years, is anyone surprised? At any rate, parents, your beleaguered will need your example of courage and boldness, not one of silence and "hunkering down".
However, hearken back to the words of Dr. Kwasniewski as mentioned in the first part of this post. These cancelations are unjust and thus illicit. They hold no weight morally, and none under canon law. They are still priests, able to perform - just not on property under archdiocesan control. Parents and friend of potentially targeted priests, bear that in mind and be emboldened to speak for the Church and her God.
