ROME SUSPENDS ITS DIKTAT AGAINST THE SONS

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Father Michael Mary of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer

The Vatican has suspended Bishop Michael Gielen's unexplained expulsion of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer (Transalpine Redemptorists, FSSR) from Christchurch Diocese. Which, considering the fact that +Gielen was directed to move the Sons out of the diocese by the Vatican itself, is intriguing to say the least. 

Father Michael Mary FSSR says the case against the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer and against the Daughters will be properly reviewed by the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. The priests remain suspended and their Masses will remain private until the review is completed.

Could Rome's suspension of its own diktat be a reaction to the Sons taking court action against Bishop Gielen - if necessary, to the Dicastery which issued the recommendation for expulsion in the first place? In the interests of not causing any further trouble for the Sons, we'll say no more. For the nonce, that is.

The Sons follow the monastic rule of St Alphonsus Liguori (1696 -1787) 

Below is the letter issued yesterday to the Sons' supporters:

My dearly beloved faithful

 

I am pasting here a message from Fr Michael Mary about our recourse to Rome. This is not the end, but indeed a good beginning. Thanks be to God we are being listened to.

 

"I have just heard from the Dicastery in Rome that they have SUSPENDED our expulsion from the diocese until they have properly reviewed the case.

 

The Daughters' expulsion from the diocese and suppression of their community has also been SUSPENDED until the case is properly reviewed.

As expected, the priests remain suspended and their Masses remain private until after the case is reviewed. That is to be expected because it would be a very negative and confrontational thing to force a bishop to return us our faculties. This is not so difficult to live with either.

The term "private Mass" does not refer to Mass with neither a server nor a congregation, but rather to an unscheduled Mass, regardless of the number of faithful present and regardless of the degree of solemnity (a High Mass can still be a private Mass).  https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2009/08/on-private-masses.html

 

We have a priest present for Confessions and the others of us, while in the diocese of Christchurch, offer our Masses privately.

I suppose the Bishop of Christchurch is not going to tell people that his case against us and our expulsion have been suspended by Rome. But we will be able to tell anyone who asks. Please pass the news around."

 

God bless

 

Fr Anthony Mary

 

Raising the Young Man of Naim (Paolo Veronese)



"And he that was dead, sat up, and began to speak."

- Gospel, Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost