Priests Appealed to Charlotte Bishop Prior to Roman Mass Ban

Bishop Michael Martin, 63, of of Charlotte, North Carolina, received a May letter from the four pastors of the parishes where the remaining Roman Masses are celebrated. This was prior to the bishop's decree eliminating the Roman Masses, effective July 8. The letter was published in full today by the Charlotte Latin Mass Community on Facebook and is reproduced below.
The pastors express serious concern that Bishop Martin’s implementation of Traditionis Custodes exceeds the document’s actual requirements. They specifically object to:
- The decision not to request an extension of permissions from the Holy See,
- The decision to permit only a single designated site, and
- The failure to establish a dedicated Latin Mass community for the faithful.
The priests highlight that other dioceses have taken a more pastoral approach, allowing multiple sites and forming stable communities. They also note that even Cardinal Roche, a principal architect of Traditionis Custodes, recently affirmed the …More