"The Phantom Directive"

Thrilling movie title or business as usual at the chancery?

If you chose the latter, then you have chosen wisely!

The latest nonsense coming out of the Scranton Diocese chancery is that NO priest can say the Old Mass anywhere other than the cathedral.

With the exception of the FSSP guys at St. Michael's, I understand.

I have spent nearly two weeks in vain attempting to contact Monsignor Bambera (delegate to the Cardinal), Fr. Clarke (his assistant), Fr. Washington (the director of worship), Fr. Polednak (the Episcopal Vicar for the Southern region), and William Genello (Diocesan mouthpiece).
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No one wanted to comment on this story. Let me make one more attempt: If any of you chancery guys would like to add to the record, you have my email and my phone number, please feel free to weigh in on the issue.

So, I am forced to move on without their input. Here's what happened:

A certain diocesan priest wanted to say the Old Mass at his parish. He was soon contacted by the chancery. Father Polednak, his Episcopal Vicar told him that there was a 'diocesan directive' compelling priests to celebrate the Old Mass only at the cathedral. And nowhere else.

When I and several others got wind of this we collectively said "Whoa! Hold yer horses, partner. That's not what the Pope said!"

I now present you with the text of His Holiness' Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum (which is more than the Diocese can do with their 'phantom directive') from article 2 "...each Catholic priest of the Latin rite, whether secular or regular, may use the Roman Missal published by Bl. Pope John XXIII in 1962, or the Roman Missal promulgated by Pope Paul VI in 1970, and may do so on any day with the exception of the Easter Triduum. For such celebrations, with either one Missal or the other, the priest has no need for permission from the Apostolic See or from his Ordinary."

So we can plainly see, the diocesan priest who wished to celebrate the Old Mass at HIS OWN CHURCH was well within his rights to do so, and Fr. Polednak was well outside of his. A persistent question is how does the directive of an Episcopal Vicar trump the Motu Proprio of a Pope?

Chancery guys? Anything?

(insert cricket chirping)

I hesitate to say Polednak was lying, but no one at the chancery was willing to provide me with a copy of the directive, including Polednak. I have to think this directive does not exist, which means that there is an attempt here to deny both Catholic priests and Catholic faithful of their rights as Catholics. Even if it does exist, the fact that they would use it when they know full well that it is contrary to the Pope's wishes is evil of itself. They are disobedient, and they are not carrying out God's plans for His Church.

I'll leave it up to you what their agenda is.

Other things are in motion concerning this issue, but until I can make them known to you, please pray that our Lord will soften the hearts of the men at our chancery, and that His will be done.

Saint Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray;
and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host -
by the Divine Power of God -
cast into hell, Satan and all the evil spirits,
who roam throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.