Wind-Down Of The USCCB Meeting

This meeting of the USCCB is showing us the true colors of many of our shepherds - and those colors aren't pretty.  First we have Bishop Olson of Fort Worth TX calling on the US bishops to rebuke Archbishop Vigano for calling on Pope Francis to resign.  Some might remember that four years ago Olson banned the Tridentine Mass from Fisher More College.  Also refer to the Church Militant link for an account of how Olson and other Texas bishops worked to undermine the efforts of Texas Right to Life.

We also learned that the bishops voted against asking the Vatican to share its documents regarding ex-cardinal McCarrick.  Well, surprise surprise - not!  These bishops are either buddies of McCarrick or those on whom McCarrick et al have dirt.  It doesn't take a genius to figure that out.  One of McCarrick's buddies is Cardinal Cupich.  At that same meeting, he opined to the other bishops that sex between two adults (including clerics) was "consentual sex".  In other words, he tried to keep the focus on the abuse of minor children.  While that indeed is a horrific crime, the de facto rapes of young men by pervert clergy cannot be overlooked, as some believe to be the hope of Cupich and others.

On the other hand, Bishop Joseph Strickland, also of Texas, challenged his brother bishops regarding their belief in Jesus' teachings regarding homosexual conduct.  In particular, he wondered aloud how, if they believe the Church's teachings, how they could allow pro-LGBT priests to speak in their dioceses.  It doesn't take a genius to figure that he was speaking of Father James Martin; why Strickland didn't name him, I don't know.  He might as well have also mentioned Cardinal Wuerl, who invited Martin to give a meditation during the services on Good Friday 2017 at St. Matthew's Cathedral.  And of course there is Pope Francis himself, who invited him to join the Vatican Communications Office.  Martin is actually in charge of handling the Vatican's tweets.

I understand that this gabfest cost almost a million dollars.  With all the kvelling about the funding for their various "social justice" outreaches, one might think they could have held their meeting in some retreat house already owned by the Church.  Whatever happened to being wise stewards of financial resources?  But time after time they have shown their propensity to squander their spiritual resources.  I still remain of the opinion that the USCCB should be dismantled, and soon.

Dr. Taylor Marshall On The Fisher More College Situation

Dr. Taylor Marshall, former Chancellor at Fisher More College, has broken silence on the matter and revealed many details that show Fisher More College to be a plight-ridden school due to incompetence and dissidence on the part of its president, Dr. Michael King.  Dr. Marshall has posted his statement on his Facebook page and I now link to it https://www.facebook.com/DrTaylorMarshall/posts/400180263452671

He alludes to "a public repudiation of Vatican II and the Ordinary Form of Mass in April 2013".  I believe he is referring to this address given by Dr. John Dudley; here is the pdf.  I've only gotten through page 12 and can attest to the disdain for the Ordinary Form contained therein.  How a valid Mass "does not provide the same level of graces" as another valid Mass when the same Sacrament is present is a bit of a stretch, to say the least.  If this is the kind of teaching championed by Dr. King, the financial bunglings were the least of his problems.

Getting back to Dr. Marshall's article, he states that Dr. King did not allow the Ordinary Form of Mass on campus and enlisted suspended priests to say the TLM.  He also states that King hired "trad resistance" faculty; if the new hires were of the same ilk as Dr. Dudley, Dr. Marshall is correct.

So there was gross financial mismanagement, dissidence from Vatican II and disrespect for the Ordinary Form of Mass.  Based on the words of both Dr. Marshall and Dr. Dudley, I must assume that to be the case.  I now link to some questions that Pat Archibald publicly asks of the bishop, as some of those questions came to mind as I was reading what Dr. Marshall said.  The main question is how the banning of the Traditional Latin Mass from the campus is supposed to address the financial and doctrinal misbehaviors of Dr. King.  It would seem that any remedy, if it is to be effective, must address the specific issues at hand.  The banning of the Traditional Latin Mass does not answer Dr. King's disdain of the Ordinary Form.  I do gather that Dr. King still retains his position as president of Fisher More College.   I have not heard whether or not Dr. Dudley is still on the faculty; at this time the FMC website is moving at a snail's pace so I cannot tell if that's the case.  If these men are at least part of the problem with FMC, why do they remain while the Traditional Latin Mass is being given the heave-ho?

Again, I ask, if there are problems, why aren't the specific problems being addressed?  The bishop's letter only spoke of the ban on the Traditional Latin Mass.  Nowhere in it is mentioned any of the problems listed in Dr. Marshall's article.  I for one fail to see how banning the Traditional Latin Mass will cure any financial difficulties there.  It will only impinge upon the few students who still remain at FMC.

More On The Situation At Fisher More College

Since I wrote the post this morning, some new information has surfaced.  Such information causes me to reconsider a statement that I made in the earlier post: "There is also no doubt that there is malevolence towards the Traditional Latin Mass, either by the bishop himself or someone within his chancery."  In fact, there may well be doubt as to their reasons.  Right now, as things are coming to light, we don't know one way or the other.

A Blog for Dallas Area Catholics put up a post about the situation.  As their name suggests, they are geographically much closer to the situation than am I.  There is talk of a heavy-handed approach to administration taken by Fisher More President Michael King and use of suspended priests in offering the Traditional Latin Mass on campus.  Dr. Taylor Marshall worked there for a while but had to leave due to the situation; he has promised to shed some light on the matter shortly.  Father John Zuhlsdorf also put up a piece regarding his impressions.

Fisher More College is in dire straits; there are only about 30 students left (not sure if that's total or just "on campus").  One of the main attractions for Catholic students was the ability to attend the Traditional Latin Mass on campus.  That was removed when Bishop Olson banned that Mass from campus.  Barring a miracle, this will be the death knell for that school.

I will post updates as they come my way.

Fort Worth Bishop Unlawfully Bans Traditional Latin Mass At Fisher More College

Reverend Michael Olson, who was installed as Bishop of the Diocese of Fort Worth has, as one of his first actions, banned the Traditional Latin Mass from being offered at Fisher More College (ht Rorate Caeli).

There is no doubt that such a move flies in the face of the Apostolic letter issued July 7, 2007 by Pope Benedict XVI.  There is also no doubt that there is malevolence towards the Traditional Latin Mass, either by the bishop himself or someone within his chancery.  To the right are copies of: Bishop Olson's letter to the President of Fisher More College (Dr. Michael King), unlawfully banning the TLM from the campus and a copy of a letter from the Canon Law Centre explaining why the bishop's actions fly in the face of church law.

Consider this, as you read the bishop's letter.  It was dated late February, less than one month after he was installed as bishop.  How, in less than one month's time, could he possibly divine that such a move was "necessary for the soul" of Dr. King?  That's sanctimonious nonsense.

I suspect the draconian treatment being meted out to the Franciscans of the Immaculate (see here and here) has only emboldened those who, for whatever reason, hold the Extraordinary Form in disdain.  Bishop Olson's actions should remove all doubt of that.

Here is the contact information (scroll to the bottom) for Bishop Olson.  Please write and/or email and or phone his office.  He needs to hear from many of us.  Please be respectful of his office, but also be firm regarding the dictates of Pope Benedict XVI's letter.

Those of you within the Diocese of Fort Worth, if your concerns aren't being met with the respect they deserve, consider a boycott of diocesan appeals until such time they are met.