The pope made the move on Monday by issuing a new "motu proprio" called Fidem servare - "keep the faith".

The "doctrinal section" will be in charge of defending Church teaching. In contrast, the "disciplinary section" will deal with cases of sexual abuse committed against minors and other grave delicts.

According to the new motu proprio, each section will now have its own secretary, considered the No 2 official in rank. That role will be "to assist the prefect in the specific area of his competence".

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"We cannot minimise the attack that this document represents on what we love most in this life; or — better to say — something we hold most dear that we long to give to someone we love most.

"But neither can we permit anxiety, bitterness, or resentment to enter in and poison the interior life. Remain at peace and with a loving confidence in Christ our King, who may permit us to suffer, but will never abandon us."

Writing in his parish newsletter Fr Antony Sumich, FSSP (pictured) says it is important to "remember that our duty today is the same as it was yesterday: to watch and to pray, to fast and to give alms, to conform ourselves more and more, not to the world, but the heart of our beloved Redeemer".

As a result of Francis' Traditionis Custodes, those already offering the Tridentine Mass must ask the diocesan bishop permission to continue.

According to the Latin Mass directory, the Tridentine Mass is offered at twelve venues throughout the week, not always on a Sunday.

The Traditional Latin Mass is also live-streamed.

The New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference, National Communications Office says it has received two replies seeking clarification from New Zealand bishops.

Cardinal Dew said that of late there have been no Tridentine Masses celebrated in the Archdiocese mostly because the Archdiocese does not have priests who are available and who are able to celebrate that Mass.

Bishop Dooley said that the Dunedin diocese has one Latin Mass celebrated regularly on a Sunday morning in the Cathedral chapel and he will approve a request to continue its celebration.

In his 25 July Newsletter Sumich reports that after a meeting with Bishop Dunn it is "business as usual" in the Auckland diocese.

Sumich writes that Bishop Dunn "was very happy with the Latin Mass Chaplaincy and the work of the FSSP.

"His belief is that the relationship between the Diocese and the FSSP will not be affected by this Motu Proprio, as the articles have very little to do with us (FSSP) or our mission"

Sumich reports that Traditionis Custodes came as a "great surprise" to Bishop Dunn who as yet has not spoken with the diocese's Canon Lawyer as to the meaning of a 'few points'.

Calling Traditionis Custodes a 'restrictive decree' Sumich believes that while it is currently business as usual he personally think the parish has not heard the last of the matter.

Internationally ripples are spreading the world following the pope's motu proprio restricting the celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass.

On July 19, Washington DC cardinal, Wilton Gregory wrote to his priests saying he would prayerfully reflect on Traditionis Custodes to ensure he fully understood the Holy Father's intentions and how they might be realised.

He added that priests using the traditional liturgy had permission to continue using it.

However, on Thursday, reports began circulating that Gregory has withdrawn permission for a solemn pontifical Mass scheduled for next month's Feast of the Assumption.

The solemn pontifical Mass was scheduled for the vigil of the Solemnity of the Assumption and was to take place at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

In the letter to the world's bishops accompanying the motu proprio, Francis says his motivations are the unity of the Church saying that concessions granted by his predecessors relating to using the 1962 Roman Missal were "motivated by the desire to foster the healing of the schism with the movement of Mons Lefebvre" and "the ecclesial intention of restoring the unity of the Church."

Despite these aims, the concessions were "exploited to widen the gaps, reinforce the divergences and encourage disagreements that injure the church, block her path and expose her to the peril of division," he explained.

Source

• Catholic News Agency
• Catholic Culture
• Auckland Latin Mass Chaplaincy newsletter - 18 July
• Auckland Latin Mass Chaplaincy newsletter - 25 July
• Image: Wikimedia Commons

Apostolic See guidelines say it is the bishop's exclusive responsibility as the moderator of his diocese's liturgical life to authorise the 1962 Roman Missal's use.

In a motu proprio Traditionis Custodes (Guardians of the Tradition) published on Friday, Francis restored limits on the celebration of the Missal in use before the Second Vatican Council for the sake of church unity.

His decision overturns or restricts permissions St. John Paul II and Benedict XVI had given to celebrate the Tridentine-rite Mass.

Francis said the bishop must verify that those attending the pre-Vatican liturgy "do not deny the validity and the legitimacy of the liturgical reform, dictated by Vatican Council II and the Magisterium of the Supreme Pontiffs".

The motu proprio says:

Masses celebrated according to the 1962 Missal are not to take place in parishes.

Bishops must establish where and when the Mass will be celebrated.

The readings must be proclaimed "in the vernacular language", using the translations approved by local episcopal conferences.

The bishop will delegate the celebrant.

The bishop must evaluate the Mass to see "effectiveness for spiritual growth" and "to take care not to authorize the establishment of new groups".

Priests ordained after this motu proprio wanting to celebrate the Tridentine Mass "should submit a formal request to the diocesan Bishop who shall consult the Apostolic See before granting this authorization".

Those already doing so may ask permission to continue.

In a letter to the world's bishops accompanying the motu proprio, Francis says concessions granted by his predecessors relating to using the 1962 Roman Missal were "motivated by the desire to foster the healing of the schism with the movement of Mons. Lefebvre" and "the ecclesial intention of restoring the unity of the Church".

Despite these aims, the concessions were "exploited to widen the gaps, reinforce the divergences and encourage disagreements that injure the church, block her path and expose her to the peril of division," Francis said.

"Indications about how to proceed in your dioceses are chiefly dictated by two principles," he continued.

"On the one hand, to provide for the good of those who are rooted in the previous form of celebration and need to return in due time to the Roman Rite promulgated by Saints Paul VI and John Paul II.

"And, on the other hand, to discontinue the erection of new personal parishes tied more to the desire and wishes of individual priests than to the real need of the 'holy People of God',"

Francis is "saddened by abuses in the celebration of the liturgy on all sides" and deplores the fact that the "instrumental use of Missale Romanum of 1962 is often characterized by a rejection not only of the liturgical reform, but of the Vatican Council II itself, claiming, with unfounded and unsustainable assertions, that it betrayed the Tradition and the 'true Church'".

To doubt the Council "is ... in the final analysis, to doubt the Holy Spirit himself who guides the Church," Francis said.

As well as the Moto Proprio, Francis wrote to all bishops.

Source

• La Croix
• Catholic News Service
• La Croix
• Image: Quora

It also includes actions or omissions of bishops and religious superiors that in any way interfere with or fail to investigate abuse.

"The crimes of sexual abuse offend Our Lord, cause physical, psychological and spiritual damage to the victims and harm the community of the faithful.

"In order that these phenomena, in all their forms, never happen again, a continuous and profound conversion of hearts is needed, attested by concrete and effective actions that involve everyone in the Church," Francis said in the document — technically a motu proprio, meaning a change to Church law under the pope's authority.

Titled Vos estis lux mundi, "You are the light of the world," the document opens with that phrase and completes a quote from the Gospel of Matthew: "A town built on a hill cannot be hidden."

The motu proprio, which applies to the whole Catholic Church, will come into effect June 1, 2019.

"It is good that procedures be universally adopted to prevent and combat these crimes that betray the trust of the faithful.

"I desire that this commitment be implemented in a fully ecclesial manner, so that it may express the communion that keeps us united, in mutual listening and open to the contributions of those who care deeply about this process of conversion," Pope Francis said.

The new law regulates how Church representatives are to respond with crimes against the sixth Commandment: forcing someone through violence or abuse of authority to

• perform sexual acts,
• performing sexual acts with a minor or a vulnerable person, and
• the production, exhibition, possession or distribution of child pornography.

It establishes new procedural rules to combat sexual abuse and to ensure that bishops and religious superiors are held accountable for their actions.

Every diocese must have a system that allows the public to submit reports easily.

Here is an abridged version of the editorial director of the Dicastery for Communication Andrea Tornielli's synopsis of the pope's document:

An 'office' for reporting in every diocese

Among the new indications given is the obligation for every Diocese in the world to set up, by June 2020, "one or more public, stable and easily accessible systems for submission of reports" concerning sexual abuse committed by clerics and religious, the use of child pornography, and cover-ups of the same abuse.

The obligation to report

The obligation for all clerics, and all men and women religious, to "report promptly" all accusations of abuse of which they become aware, as well as any omissions and cover-ups in the management of cases of abuse, to ecclesiastical authorities.

Though this obligation was formerly left up to individual consciences, it now becomes a universally established legal precept.

Not only child abuse

The document covers not only violence and abuse against children and vulnerable adults, but also sexual abuse and violence resulting from an abuse of authority as well.

This includes cases of violence against religious by clerics, as well as abuse committed against adult seminarians or novices.

Dealing with cover-ups

One of the most important elements is the identification, as a specific category, of so-called cover-ups, defined as "actions or omissions intended to interfere with or avoid civil investigations or canonical investigations, whether administrative or penal, against a cleric or a religious regarding the delicts" of sexual abuse.

The protection of vulnerable people

Vos estis lux mundi stresses the importance of protecting minors (anyone under 18) and vulnerable people.

The definition of a "vulnerable person" is broadened to include "any person in a state of infirmity, physical or mental deficiency, or deprivation of personal liberty which, in fact, even occasionally, limits their ability to understand or to want to otherwise resist the offense."

Respecting the laws of states

The obligation to report to the local Ordinary or Religious Superior does not interfere with, or change, any other reporting obligation that may exist in respective countries' legislation.

The norms "apply without prejudice to the rights and obligations established in each place by state laws, particularly those concerning any reporting obligations to the competent civil authorities."

The protection of victims and those reporting abuse

The sections dedicated to protecting those who come forward to report abuse are also significant.

According to the provisions of the motu proprio, someone reporting abuse cannot be subjected to "prejudice, retaliation or discrimination" because of what they report.

The problem of victims who in the past have been told to keep silent is also addressed."

The seal of confession remains absolute and inviolable and is in no way affected by this legislation.

The investigation of bishops

The motu proprio regulates the investigation of Bishops, Cardinals, Religious Superiors and all those who lead a Diocese, or another particular Church, in various capacities and even temporarily.

The rules apply not only in the case of these persons being investigated for having committed sexual abuse themselves, but also if they are accused of having "covered up," or of failing to pursue abuses of which they were aware, and which it was their duty to address.

The role of the Metropolitan

There are new indications regarding the role of the Metropolitan Archbishop in preliminary investigations: if the accused individual is a Bishop, the Metropolitan receives a mandate from the Holy See to investigate.

Involvement of the laity

The Metropolitan, in conducting the investigations, can avail himself of the help of "qualified persons", according to "the needs of the individual case and, in particular, taking into account the cooperation that can be offered by the lay faithful".

Presumption of innocence

The principle of presumption of innocence of the person under investigation is reaffirmed.

The accused will be informed of the investigation when requested to do so by the competent Dicastery. The accusation must be notified only if formal proceedings are opened.

Conclusion of the investigation

The motu proprio does not modify the penalties for crimes committed, but it does establish the procedures for reporting and carrying out the preliminary investigation.

At the conclusion of the investigation, the Metropolitan (or bishop) forwards the results to the competent Vatican dicastery. This completes his contribution.

The competent dicastery then proceeds "in accordance with the law provided for the specific case", acting on the basis of already existing canonical norms.

Based on the results of the preliminary investigation, the Holy See can immediately impose preventive and restrictive measures on the person under investigation.

Concrete commitment

With this new juridical instrument, the Catholic Church takes a further and incisive step in the prevention and fight against abuse, putting the emphasis on concrete actions.

• Image: ABSCBN News