SSPX District Superior Permits Vernacular Masses

In a recent interview Fr. Daniel Couture, the district superior for Asia of the traditionalist Roman Catholic Society of St. Pius X (SSPX), discussed the practice of his district to encourage mainline Roman Catholic priests who want to serve the traditional Mass and do not know Latin to serve in the local vernacular. Fr. Daniel also discussed the collapse of the spiritual life of Roman Catholic clergy in many dioceses in Southeast Asia. More here.

Kiev Patriarchate Affirms Orthodoxy, Rejects Catholicism

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kiev Patriarchate has responded to recent criticism of its dialogue with the Ukrainian Catholic Church centered on the creation of an independent Church of Ukraine by reaffirming its commitment to the Orthodox Faith and rejecting Roman Catholic innovations, among them the Roman Catholic teachings on the Trinity and universal papal jurisdiction. More (in Ukrainian) here.

Australian Catholic Bishop Placed in Early Retirement

Pope Benedict XVI of Rome has placed a Roman Catholic bishop in Australia in early retirement for his support of the ordination of women to the Roman Catholic priesthood and the recognition of mainstream Protestant clergymen in Australia as clergy. More here. Hat tip to Ad Orientem for posting this first!

"Cardinal George Suspends Reverend Pfleger"

This interesting article on an ongoing dispute in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago can be found here.

Particularly of interest to me was the implication that Roman Catholic priests, in this particular archdiocese anyways, only serve 12-year terms as parish rectors to avoid them becoming too close to their parishes (my wording, not the article's). While I can understand a little of why such a policy would be in place, it seems at the same time to be a violation of the historic understanding of the priest as the father of his parish church. There's certainly an unhealthy closeness that can develop, but on the whole one would think it better for a priest to know and be known by his flock. Thoughts? :-)

Hat tip to Ad Orientem for posting this article!

A Review of "The Popes: A History"

An excellent review by Diarmaid MacCulloch of The Popes: A History can be found here.

Syro-Malabar Catholic Primate Passes Away

Major Archbishop Mar Varkey Cardinal Vithayathil of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church has passed away in Kochi, Kerala. More here.

Metropolitan Hilarion Congratulates New Ukrainian Catholic Primate

Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) of Volokolamsk of the Russian Orthodox Church has sent Major Archbishop Metropolitan Svyatoslav (Shevchuk) of the Ukrainian Catholic Church congratulations on his enthronement this past Sunday. In his congratulations Vladyka Hilarion expressed the hope that the Russian Orthodox and Ukrainian Catholic Churches can "gradually resolve acute and painful problems that accumulated over years to the [better] welfare and prosperity of the Ukrainian people," stating that "the Moscow Patriarchate is ready to develop constructive discussions with the [Ukrainian] Catholic Church...aimed at overcoming the existing difficulties." More here.

Ukrainian Catholic Primate to Request Vatican Establishment of a Ukrainian Catholic Patriarchate

As he prepared to depart for Rome for his first meeting with Pope Benedict XVI the newly enthroned primate of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, Major Archbishop Metropolitan Svyatoslav (Shevchuk) of Kiev and Galicia, stated that he intended to ask that the Vatican elevate his church to the rank of a patriarchate. The Ukrainian Catholic Church is the largest of the Eastern Catholic Churches, but is not ranked as a patriarchate despite the claim of its last two primates to the title. More here.

Betwixt East and West?

Although clearly outside the Orthodox Church, the situation of the Eastern Catholic Churches is a truly unique one. Check this out on the rejection by the Melkite Catholic Church of the post-Great Schism 'ecumenical' councils of the Roman Catholic Church.

Svyatoslav (Shevchuk) Appointed Ukrainian Catholic Primate

The Vatican has appointed Bishop Svyatoslav (Shevchuk) of Buenos Aires as Archbishop Major of Kiev and Galicia and primate of the Ukrainian Catholic Church. The 40-year old bishop was consecrated less than 2 years ago and was nominated for the primacy by the recent electoral meeting of the Ukrainian Catholic Holy Synod. More here.

Ukrainian Catholics Nominate Next Primate

On the third day of voting the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Catholic Church finally nominated one of its members for appointment by the Vatican as the next primate of the Ukrainian Catholic Church. The name will not be released until the head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church's sister church, the Roman Catholic Church, confirms the appointment. More here.

Second Day of Ukrainian Catholic Synod Concludes

Another four rounds of voting by the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Catholic Church have failed to produce a nominee for appointment as its next primate. If tomorrow's voting fails to produce a nominee, then the following day the Synod will only consider the top two candidates. More here.

First Day of Ukrainian Catholic Synod Concludes

The Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Catholic Church has completed its first day of voting to nominate its next primate, with four rounds of voting having been held. If a candidate isn't nominated by two-thirds of the Synod in twelve rounds of voting, then a special round of voting will nominate by a majority one of the two candidates with the most votes so far. More here.

Ukrainian Missionary Training Program

The Ukrainian Catholic Church is introducing a training program for Ukrainian Catholic missionaries. More here.

Maronites Nominate New Patriarch

The hierarchy of the Maronite Catholic Church has nominated Bishop Beshara Rai of Jubayl for appointment by the Vatican as Patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites. The nomination has been greeted by jubilation in Lebanon and came after 6 days of deliberations. More here.

Italian Episcopal Conference Affirms Ban on Married Romanian Catholic Priests

The Italian Episcopal Conference has confirmed its support for a ban on the service of married Romanian Catholic priests in Italy, noting that outside of the heartlands of the Eastern Catholic Churches married clergy must receive a dispensation from the Pope of Rome to serve in other countries. More here. Hat tip to Orthocath for posting this!

German Theologians Once Again Challenge Roman Catholic Church

A group of 144 Roman Catholic theologians from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland have called on the Church of Rome to continue reforming itself. Among other things the theologians' statement recommended dropping clerical celibacy, conciliarity in ecclesiastical life, and the ordination of women to the priesthood. More here.

Orthodoxy and Traditional Catholicism

I may come off sympathetic with traditionalist Roman Catholics from time to time and there's reason to feel that. I greatly respect their preservation of the liturgical heritage of the ancient West as well as their faithfulness to what they believe is truth. When I'm far removed from Roman Rite Orthodox churches I do enjoy going to traditional Roman Catholic churches from time to time to worship in the way that my Orthodox forefathers in the Netherlands and the Isles worshiped.

When I read traditional Roman Catholics' version of the truth, however, I'm reminded of what a gap separates them from our Orthodox Churches. They may have preserved some of the historic life and faith of the Apostolic Church in the West, but in many ways we are very divided. A good example can be found here.

Interview with an SSPX Priest in Italy

A fascinating glimpse into modern Roman Catholicism in Italy through the eyes of an Italian Catholic priest recently received into the traditionalist Society of St. Piux X can be found here.

Clerical Celibacy Theological Dogma?

It appears that the Vatican is moving to lay dogmatic foundations for the discipline of clerical celibacy in the Roman Church, which would have significant implications for the Eastern Catholic ghettos and their largely non-celibate clergy. More on that here. Hat tip to Ad Orientem for posting this!