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| The new Archbishop, Don Matteo celebrating (not the Traditional Latin) Mass. |
Most of the Katholik Krazy blogs are run by white
post-menopausal matrons with too much time and too little understanding of our
authentic Tradition and consequently are a bit down at the heels when it comes
to any theological élan. An exception
used to be Rorate Caeli which, at one
time had contributors who could present some cogent arguments for the
neo-Traditionalist position. Over the
past three or four years however Rorate
Caeli has retained the superciliousness of its glory days but due to
contributors like the Reverend Doctor Richard Cipolla and Francesca Romana and the increasingly
pretentious Professor Peter Kwasniewski of Wyoming Catholic College has let the
intellectual ground beneath it give way to the most vapid of neo-Traditionalist
mush.
In light of all this, I got a particular kick out of a Rorate posting by “New Catholic” entitled
New Archbishop of Bologna a friend of the Traditional Mass
Pope Francis named today as new
Archbishop of Bologna Matteo Zuppi, up to now Auxiliary Bishop of Rome. He has
been mentioned here in Rorate for his visits to Santissima Trinita dei
Pellegrini, the Personal Parish of the Traditional Mass in Rome (run by the
Fraternity of St. Peter) - for instance, in 2014 - and
his discreet attempts to help the Franciscans of the Immaculate.
May God keep him faithful, and may
he be a worthy successor of the faithful Cardinal Caffarra in the defense of
Christian morality.
First of all, all due respect to those who have entered
the Catholic Church as adults, but you don’t let “new converts” speak
authoritatively about all things Catholic.
It takes time to plumb the depths of our doctrine, our practices, and
our culture. It takes time and
practice—and integration into the community of those who have been born and
raised in Catholicism—to absorb a genuine experience of the faith. Some of the clerical voices of the
neo-trads—such distinguished priests as Father Z or the above referenced Rev.
Dr. Cipolla or the English Father Hunwicke are all examples of converts who
confuse incense with blowing smoke. They want to teach before they have even
learned. “New Catholic” is no different
but this time unfamiliarity with Catholicism left egg all over New Catholic’s
face and spattered onto the rest of Rorate. Despite his having celebrated, as an
auxiliary bishop of Rome, the Traditional Latin Mass for the FSSP parish at
Santissima Trinita, Archbishop Matteo Zuppi is no friend of neo-traditionalism. Quite to the contrary. Don Matteo is a protégé Archbishop Vincenzo
Paglia, the President of the Holy See’s Pontifical Council For the Family and a
leading architect of the recent Synod and pusher of the “Kasper Agenda.” Moreover Archbishop Zuppi has been life-long
member of the left-wing Catholic Movement, the Community of Sant’Egidio.
In my Rome days I regularly attended Mass with the Sant’
Egidio Community. In the early years
when they were still in the Church of Sant’Egidio the Saturday night Eucharists
were anything but rubrical. Reverent,
yes; beautiful, yes—but very unique liturgically. Don Matteo was frequently the presider and
very relaxed in his style of presiding over the two-hour plus Mass followed by
the communal supper. When the community
outgrew the church of Sant’Egidio and moved into the Basilica of Santa Maria in
Trastevere, the community began inviting various bishops and
cardinals—invariably of the left wing of the Church—to preside and preach. I remember often hearing Cardinal Kasper
preach and in particular I remember the remarkable homily on the eve of the
2005 Conclave in which Kasper outlined what the Church needed in a “Good
Shepherd.” (It was Good Shepherd Sunday) It was clear from his homily that
Cardinal Kasper didn’t consider Cardinal Ratzinger as meeting the bill. Very clear.
At Santa Maria in Trastevere liturgies became more “high church” and for
the most part conformed to the Roman Missal
but remained good examples of Vatican II style liturgy with much contemporary
music, communion in both kinds, and both men and women active in various lay
ministries.
Sant’Egidio was the main agency behind the Assisi
Interfaith meetings which drew Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus and
others to Assisi in1986 and again in 2002.
The Community also sponsored yearly interfaith “prayers for peace” at
various sites around the world. John
Paul II was an enthusiastic supporter of these prayer services and of the
Community itself, but Cardinal Ratzinger had serious issues about what he
perceived to be common worship with those not of Christian faith. An interfaith meeting was held in Assisi in
2011 with Pope Benedict present but without a common worship service.
The Community of Sant’Egidio has also been the
principle Catholic voice calling for an end to the Death Penalty in the United
States and those other countries which still resort to it. In addition the Community of Sant’Egidio has
maintained ties with dozens of organizations that promote a “peace and justice”
agenda. Both theologically and
politically it sits on the far left side of the Catholic spectrum. So while Archbishop Zuppi may know how to say
the TLM he comes from a Church that is thoroughly in the Pope Francis
model. Good Luck, Rorate with men like
Zuppi in key sees, the Church is getting tied in closer and closer to Pope
Francis’ vision. Let’s hope he gets to
fill a few more sees and leave his stamp on the Church.
