Earlier this year following Vatican advice, Bishop Michael Gielen instructed the Sons (aka Transalpine Redemptorists) to leave the Christchurch Catholic diocese. That order was later rescinded but others were not.

They may not, however, celebrate Mass or conduct any other "priestly ministry" for anyone outside their religious community.

Growth pains

Rather than follow Vatican instructions, the Catholic sect is in expansion mode. As CathNews recently reported, they're re staying in the Christchurch diocese where they have bought a church and land from the (blindsided) Anglican Church.

The Sons have also appealed Gielen's orders, saying they will take him to the Catholic equivalent of the Supreme Court.

With the new property, the cult's entire New Zealand property portfolio has a rateable value of $5 million.

Abusive power-hungry leaders

Former sect members fear the group's leadership will never cede control. The Church should do more to stop them, they say.

Fr Colin Marshall says his former superior, Fr Michael Mary, enjoyed having control over people.

One aspect of his management style is to isolate members from their families, he says.

Several former members - or their families - attest to this.

As an example, after not having a relationship with her child for several years, one mother recently discovered that might be because her child had joined the Sons.

Now, they have a family she is not allowed to see. The loss is "devastating" she says.

"They've been brainwashed and they need help."

Another former member says outsiders have no idea how extreme the Canterbury group has become.

"If you haven't been in there and heard Fr Michael talking, and heard his sermons and the way he communicates ... he has these people completely under his thumb."

She says the sect's defiant expansion ... "tells you it's about establishing power and control".

A man who left the sect after growing disillusioned with Fr Mary's leadership says the Sons' teachings grew increasingly extreme the more involved that priest became.

As a result members involve him in their personal decisions.

Even those who feel abused stay because most haven't experienced the Latin Mass outside the sect, a former member says.

"So it's like, because they offer the Latin Mass, it gives them this seal of authority and authenticity to anything and everything they say."

The Sons' deny all the pressure and abuse allegations, saying "There is no cult. There is no control".

Cult wants concessions!

Son's leader Michael Mary says he could be willing to do as he's asked - if a few concessions are granted.

He has written to Gielen saying his community will leave if three permanent replacement priests are found from one of three named traditional Church communities.

He says leaving would also be on the condition that it would involve no dereliction of duty on the Sons' part.

Liturgy expert and theologian Fr Joe Grayland has followed the drama surrounding the controversial Catholic sect. He says that the no dereliction of duty condition probably means the Sons want to be absolved of any alleged wrongdoing.

Source

• The Press

Last Friday the Order - also knows as the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer - announced on its "Latin Mass Chaplaincy Christchurch" Facebook page that it had acquired St Albans Church in Ohoka, North Canterbury.

But the Order's banned!

In July, Bishop Michael Gielen, who leads the Catholic Diocese of Christchurch, told the Transalpine Redemptorist community members to leave the diocese within 90 days.

He also ordered four of its priests to stop celebrating Mass or conducting other "priestly ministry" for anyone outside the religious community.

This decision followed a Vatican investigation into serious allegations against the Order, including sexual grooming and unauthorised exorcisms.

Appeal overturns bishop's direction

In September the diocese said Gielen's decree requiring members to leave its area had been overturned following an appeal. However his ruling regarding the four priests remained in place.

Due process

Monsignor Brendan Daly, the canon lawyer acting for the Diocese of Christchurch, said the appeal procedure was an important part of "due process".

"It is important to underline the removal of faculties remains in force, so any Masses the priests celebrate with members of the public are illicit - outside the law of the Church" he said.

New home

St Alban's church - the building the Transalpine Redemptorists are now using - was originally built for the township's Anglican community in 1882. It was reportedly purchased for $500,000 and has been renamed.

It is now known as Mission Immaculata, the "Latin Mass Chaplaincy Christchurch" Facebook page says.

Father Michael Mary, the Transalpine Redemptorist chaplaincy's rector and founder, said the property the Order now owns was a "jewel passed down to us from early settlers".

"We are so grateful to the persons who have made this purchase possible" Father Michael Mary wrote on Facebook.

The chaplaincy intends using the church privately rather than as a public church, he said.

"We do not have any public status for the property... We have chosen to call it a 'Mission'. ...Fundamentally it gives us a presence north of the Waimakariri River" he said.

The Press reports there was a strong weekend turnout at the Mission - all the seats were taken, some people were standing outside.

Source

• The Press

Last month a Vatican investigation into abuse and unauthorised exorcism allegations recommended Christchurch's Catholic bishop Michael Gielen ban the Order from performing Mass in the diocese.

The Vatican recommended that he direct them to move out of the diocese.

The Sons' leaders vow to fight Gielen's decision. They will take their argument to the Church's equivalent of the Supreme Court if necessary.

Leaders deny wrongdoing

The Sons of The Most Holy Redeemer deny any wrongdoing.

Although the Vatican's findings are secret, the consequences are serious for the Order.

The investigation itself - called an apostolic visitation - is a measure rarely taken.

Bishop accused of breaching Canon law

The Sons say Gielen's actions broke Canon law by ordering its professed priests and brothers to leave the diocese. Not all professed members were accused of abuse.

Their canon lawyer has formally presented their petition to Gielen, asking him to revoke his decision.

If that fails they say they will escalate their request to the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life - the Dicastery that made the recommendations to Gielen in the first place.

Failing that, they will take their complaint to the Sacred Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, which the Sons describe as the Supreme Court of the Catholic Church.

Bishop considering response

A spokesperson for Gielen said that while he could have ignored the Vatican's recommendations, he chose to follow them.

They said Gielen would respond to the Sons' petition in the next few weeks.

The Order is still in the diocese, allegedly celebrating private Masses that "uninvited" members of the public attend.

Gielen gave the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer 90 days (until early October) to leave the diocese.

They may move to another diocese in New Zealand but first need that diocesan bishop's permission.

The Sons say they won't consider that option until legal action has ended.

To depart would mean leaving a community of dedicated supporters - and property with a collective rateable value of $4.5 million.

It is possible the group would refuse to follow Gielen's directive, but The Press says that could trigger further action from the Church.

The Son's community is concerned they might end up being "effectively deported" if no one else takes them in.

Sons' gatherings continue

Meanwhile, the Press reports that there are Sunday gatherings at the Sons' Rutland St property.

A source told The Press there was a Mass last week, but it is unclear if it was the old Latin Rite Mass.

The group's spokesperson said the Sons were cooperating with the Bishop. However, they could not rule out that parishioners were attending Mass there.

He said the Mass at the property was considered private but that, when uninvited people arrived, they were not asked to leave.

The spokesperson said "We're living in a grey area right now".

Source

• The Press
• CathNews NZ

Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, the head of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, has expressed a heightened vigilance over the potential for mystical or spiritual elements to be exploited for abusive ends.

Speaking to OSV News, Cardinal Fernández spoke of "false mysticism" and outlined the Vatican's initiative to study and implement measures to forewarn and halt spiritual abuse.

"Today we are more attentive than before to the possibility of mystical or spiritual elements being used to take advantage of people and even abuse them" the Cardinal told OSV News.

This announcement comes amidst a backdrop of several high-profile cases that have shed light on the distortion of the Catholic faith and its mystical tradition by abusers to manipulate and coerce victims into sexual acts.

One such case involves Father Marko Rupnik, a former Jesuit and renowned liturgical artist, whom multiple victims accused of using spiritual justification to facilitate abuse.

Similarly, Third Order Franciscan Father David Morrier, a former chaplain at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, faced allegations and subsequent legal action for sexual battery of a student under the guise of spiritual counselling and rites purportedly aimed at deliverance and exorcism.

The posthumous revelations concerning Jean Vanier, founder of the L'Arche communities and his mentor Dominican Father Thomas Philippe, further underscore the gravity of the issue.

An independent investigation commissioned by L'Arche International revealed that Vanier, Father Philippe and his brother Father Marie-Dominique Philippe, also a Dominican friar, manipulated spiritual beliefs to justify sexual abuse, invoking religious figures and concepts of divine union to coerce their victims.

These cases have prompted the Vatican's doctrinal office to take a proactive stance in preventing the exploitation of spirituality for abusive purposes.

By raising awareness and developing strategies to prevent such abuses, the Church aims to safeguard its followers from those who might pervert its teachings and rituals for nefarious ends.

Local interest

In late 2023, the Vatican responded to Bishop of Christchurch Michael Gielen's request for help dealing with unauthorised exorcisms and related spiritual abuse in the Diocese.

The retired bishop of Toowoomba, Robert McGuckin, has been tasked with conducting an Apostolic Visitation to investigate the allegations.

Following allegations of unauthorised exorcisms by the Latin Mass Trans-Alpine Redemptorists, Gielen suspended all exorcisms in the Christchurch diocese in August this year.

Yet despite the suspension order, Newshub alleges more unauthorised exorcisms and concerns about the wellbeing of young people have emerged.

Sources

• OSV
• CathNews

The retired bishop of Toowoomba, Robert McGuckin (pictured), has been tasked with conducting an Apostolic Visitation to investigate the allegations.

The former professor of Canon Law at the University of Notre Dame, Australia, McGuckin has also served as President of the Canon Law Society of Australia and New Zealand.

As the Apostolic Visitor, McGuckin represents the Pope in the matter.

His appointment is short-term and he will present a report to the Holy See at the end of the visitation.

Gielen suspended exorcisms

Following allegations of unauthorised exorcisms, Gielen suspended all exorcisms in the Christchurch diocese in August this year..

Yet despite the suspension order, Newshub alleges more unauthorised exorcisms and concerns about the wellbeing of young people have emerged.

A man told Newshub he had two exorcisms and he was ‘absolutely' sure Gielen had not given permission for them.

"In my situation, I would count that I knew had exorcisms were about a dozen" (sic).

The man told Newshub that the exorcisms were performed by a man who has since left the Order of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer, also known as the Transalpine Redemptorists. He said that the current leaders of the Order, Frs Michael Mary and Anthony Mary, knew exorcisms were occurring.

However Michael Mary denies this, saying the priest was never a community member.

"If he did illegal exorcisms, I have no knowledge of it" Michael Mary said.

In July, Michael Mary said sprinkling Holy Water does not constitute an exorcism.

However, the Newshub source says he doubts what Michael Mary said.

"The Order is a law unto itself. They are above the law. They don't respect the Bishop or anyone else" he said.

"That sense of privilege must be removed."

Nothing happened

Former congregant Greg Price feels relieved that something is finally happening.

He says his and other complaints to former Church leaders were ignored.

Price believes the 'Holy Sons' should be disbanded.

He told Newshub "I just pray that the truth comes to light and the right decisions are made."

The Press reports that in November 2021 an email from the Bishop of Christchurch, Paul Martin, said that the allegations against the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer had been referred to the Church's National Office for Professional Standards, and the matter was in its hands.

Martin said the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer follow the safeguarding protocols and are monitored by the Christchurch diocese's safeguarding officer like other parish groups.

Current Christchurch bishop Michael Gielen has been in the role for 18 months.

In a statement, he says that he sought guidance from the Holy See soon after his arrival in the diocese, and matters regarding the Institute of the Sons of the Holy Redeemer were brought to his attention.

Gielen recently returned from a visit to Rome and welcomes McGuckin's appointment.

"The Apostolic Visitor is appointed to act as a Papal representative tasked with reviewing circumstances identified by the Holy See. I have requested all parties involved respect this appointment and the visitation process.

"Out of respect for the Visitation, I have no further comment" writes Gielen.

Sources

• Newshub
• Newshub
• The Press
• The Press
• CathNews

Gielen is currently in Portugal at World Youth Day.

The announcement arrives in the wake of a report by TV3 journalist Michael Morrah that exposed alleged unapproved exorcisms conducted by the fringe Latin Rite church group known as 'The Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer', or more colloquially, the 'Transalpine Redemptorists'.

Reports suggest that the group performed at least seven exorcisms, five more than authorised by a Christchurch bishop.

Disturbingly, one individual was allegedly subjected to repeated protracted sessions, including an exorcism that was performed for three consecutive days.

Notably absent were the standard medical and psychological evaluations required before performing an exorcism.

Despite their YouTube Channel having 263,000 subscribers, their most recent video having 563 likes, and 104 comments, a former member of The Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer, Greg Price stands by Gielen's call for a review.

"This goes much deeper and wider than just the exorcisms," Price said. He did not offer more details.

Suggesting that complaints were made to then Christchurch bishop, Paul Martin, Price expressed hope that Gielen would be proactive.

"There are people out there, and they will be willing to converse with the Bishop if he demonstrates a genuine interest in hearing them out."

Retired Professor Peter Lineham, a religious commentator, suggested: "Bishop Michael would be gravely mistaken if he ignored the pressing concerns."

Lineham also believes that in ordering a review, Gielen is looking to see whether these priests should be allowed to have standing in the Diocese of Christchurch.

In Tuesday's CathNews, Dr Joe Grayland questioned why a Bishop of Christchurch give permission to this fringe group to perform exorcisms and why, in light of Pope Francis' most recent instruction, they are still permitted to use the old Latin Rite for Mass.

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Sources

• NewsHub
• CathNews - Christchurch exorcisms - Paddy Gower has issues
• CathNews - Poor Church communication helps trivialise exorcisms

Poor Church communication is in the spotlight.

The nub of the issue is why a fringe group, that does not belong to the mainstream of the Church and does not follow the ordinary form the Mass promuligated by Pope Paul VI in 1969 (Novus Ordo) is permitted to perform any sacrament, let alone a sacramental like a "major exorcism"?

Why did a Bishop of Christchurch give permission to this fringe group to perform exorcisms?

Why, in light of Pope Francis' recent tight restrictions on the old Latin Rite has the permission to perform the old Latin Rite not been withdrawn from this group?

Exorcism

The distinction between a "simple form" of exorcism, such as the one performed in the Rite of Baptism or when blessing ourselves with holy water, and the more elaborate "major" or solemn form used in sacramental exorcisms, has not been made clear.

Due to this lack of clarification, exorcism has been trivialised, along with the serious issue of potential religious or spiritual abuse.

Now we have a situation where people have heard about exorcism and abuse in the same sentence and wonder what is going wrong.

As a point of teaching, it is important to clarify the major or solemn form of exorcism is only performed by a priest who has the explicit permission of the bishop.

No ordinary priest is permitted to perform the solemn form of exorcism.

The priest chosen for this sacramental must be judged against external criteria before being permitted to perform a solemn or major exorcism. The priest must proceed with caution, follow the strict rule laid down by the Church and be in regular contact with the diocesan bishop.

The ritual for this sacramental is found in the Rituale Romanum.

The rite is used to protect a person or object against the power of evil or withdraw the power of evil from a person.

The solemn rite of exorcism must not take place where there is a physical or psychological illness. These illnesses are to be treated through medical science, and engaging in the solemn form of exorcism where it is not warranted is just a return to magic or witchcraft.

NZ Media

The trivialisation of such an important matter by TV journalists shows the sorry state of journalism in New Zealand.

When allegations of ritual abuse are juxtaposed with the nonsense of finding out where the best-fried chips are found, it trivialises something very serious.

Add to this the expressed bias of the main presenter regarding his own Catholic upbringing, and one is left saddened that New Zealand seems to have few informed investigative journalists worthy of the title.

New Zealand Bishops' Conference's Response

The trivialisation by society's media of potential spiritual or ritual abuse was not helped by the communications response of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops' Conference.

In this particular case, a prior communication informing clergy and other diocesan and school leaders of the programme's airing was sent, merely saying that the programme was being aired and that Church representatives had engaged with the journalists.

It was not very helpful, and we still do not know what the Church representatives said to the journalists.

Unlike other recent communications from the Bishops' conference, this one did not forbid recipients from publishing its contents. Nor did it slander a journalist.

The Catholic Church needs to be able to speak clearly and professionally for itself in these matters.

In this instance, the lack of Bishops' Conference communication; its silence left those interviewed to explain the situation when they lacked a working knowledge of the Church, theology and practice of the solemn rite of exorcism.

More generally, the situation shows the paucity of theologically educated people employed by the Bishops' Conference and available to Catholics and local media.

It reveals the lack of skilled communicators who are able to intelligently explain the nature of the sacramental of exorcism and the relationship of the fringe Christchurch sect to the Catholic Church.

Overall, the approach of the Bishops' Conference highlights the mentality that has landed the Church in the scandal of the abuse of minors and others.

Through its lack of communication, the Bishops' Conference seems to suggest it is incapable of addressing issues in adult ways to adult believers and questioners alike.

In this, the Bishops' Conference is poorly served.

As Catholics and members of civil society, we must ask:

• Why were there no informed commentators from the Catholic Church?
• Where was an intelligent and informative press statement from the Bishops' Conference before the programme aired?
• Why was an intelligent and informative follow-up not issued?
• Why didn't the Bishops Conference issue a general press release to balance the television reporting and inform people of the complexity of the issue?

One of the Church's roles is to communicate and engage constructively in dialogue with society.

Where religious authorities do not take up their role of engagement with Catholics and society's media, we are all prey to uninformed journalism.

In times when the Church, its practice and indeed Christianity is not as familiar as it once may have been, and when it is in the spotlight for sexual abuse, the onus is on the Church to communicate effectively.

As instanced by this example, the lack of proper communication increases the likelihood of the Church giving scandal to the Catholic faithful, other Christians and those who see Catholicism as a risk to public safety.

• Joe Grayland is a theologian and a priest of the Diocese of Palmerston North. His latest book is: Liturgical Lockdown. Covid and the Absence of the Laity (Te Hepara Pai, 2020).

He clarified that sprinkling Holy Water around a child does not constitute an exorcism.

The controversy surrounding the 'Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer', also known as the Transalpine Redemptorists, emerged after TV3's programme 'Paddy Gower Has Issues' aired a segment Wednesday night.

The programme claimed that the group had performed exorcisms on children, and one child was allegedly told the Devil possessed them.

It was also reported that the group conducted exorcisms on seven individuals, with one person undergoing multiple lengthy sessions, some lasting for several hours, and one exorcism purportedly spanning three consecutive days.

There were also claims that individuals were restrained during these rituals.

Bishop Steve Lowe, President of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference, acknowledges that exorcisms occasionally occur in New Zealand but said it is very unusual for people to be restrained.

Lowe describes the act of binding people during an exorcism as 'cinematic.'

Drawing from Church data, Gower stated that the official Catholic Church sanctioned 12 exorcisms over the past five years. Six of these were authorised for Auckland and Hamilton dioceses, though not all occurred.

An equal number were sanctioned in the Christchurch diocese.

In a YouTube video, Michael Mary stated that then Bishop Paul Martin of Christchurch permitted two exorcisms; both occurred, and he denies any illicit use of the permission.

Catholic community reaction

CathNews received feedback from a number of concerned Catholics regarding the 'Paddy Gower Has Issues' segments.

One correspondent accuses Gower and investigative journalist Michael Morah of trivialising a very serious matter and accusing the reporting as lacking maturity.

"A really nuanced topic is treated interspersed with getting fried chips!

"The juxtaposition shows the true level of New Zealand journalism,' said one.

"The country needs an injection of journalistic maturity,' another wrote.

The Church's perceived silence also drew attention.

"I think we can reasonably expect some response or even engagement from an official church spokesperson,' said another.

"The rather bizarre nature of these reported events, surely the Church must have something to say.

"It certainly needs to be more transparent and engage more fully.

"It's not the 1950s,' yet another said.

"It's not apt for the Church to remain silent. We, the regular Catholics, bear the brunt of public scrutiny."

A person said over the phone that concerns arose on Thursday while chatting after Mass about the medical and psychological evidence the bishop considered before granting permission for these practices.

"Tying up people, stabbing them with a crucifix is extreme.

"People have their dignity.

"With the Church so much in the spotlight, you'd think it would have something to say," they said.

A communications specialist expressed astonishment at the Church's seeming detachment and weak recent communication strategies.

"It feels like the Catholic Church leans heavily on Peter Lineham for its representation," he said.

Professor Peter Lineham has for many years written and lectured extensively on the religious history of New Zealand. Now retired, he is a member of the Anglican and Baptist Church.

"It would be better if there were a Catholic someone attached to the community.

"These days, the perception of the Church is that the church leadership seems more interested in being spiritual and holy. They're good ideals but are not sufficient. The Church also needs to engage in the here and now.

"The bishop at least needs to explain what training and expertise these priests have to perform exorcisms.

"The Church lacks engagement at critical times" said the communications specialist.

The Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer

The Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer entered the Christchurch diocese in 2009.

Upon their arrival, Bishop Barry Jones cautioned Catholics that the group's services lacked authorisation and weren't in communion with the Pope.

In 2012, Pope Benedict granted his approval and the group continues to be responsible in the diocese for the Latin Mass chaplaincy.

However, in an expression of lex orandi, lex credendi - how we pray reflects what we believe - Pope Francis is not disposed to the belief behind the old Latin Rite.

In February 2023, Francis admonished bishops who permitted the Latin Mass in their dioceses without Vatican consent, urging them to obtain retrospective authorisation.

Following up on correspondence from a reader, CathNews sought clarification from the Catholic Bishops Conference on the practice of the traditional Latin Rite Mass and whether the required authorisations had been applied for.

Sources

• Paddy Gower has Issues (TV3)
• CathNews NZ
• Stuff
• Transalpine Redemptorists
• Earlier this article said that Peter Lineham is involved with the Charismatic Movement and the Pentecostal Church. In making this statement, CathNews used a reference from the National Library. (Reference dated 27 July, 2023).

  Peter Lineham has been in touch, objecting to our initial reference. He accused CathNews of making a false statement about him and told us to do some research.

  By referencing the National Library, we thought we were using an authoritative source; however, in light of his correspondence, we wish to apologise to Peter for what was a genuine mistake and thank him for pointing out the error.

Father Magdala Maria and a fellow member of the group, Father Yousef Marie, were ordained in Rome alongside Father Massimo Botta of the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter.

The Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer, also called the Transalpine Redemptorists, were formerly associated with the schismatic Society of St Pius X founded by Bishop Marcel Lefebvre, but are now in full communion with the Catholic Church.

Based on a tiny windswept island in the Orkney Isles, Scotland, the institute also has a New Zealand community in Christchurch.

Father Magdala, whose parents from Australia attended the ceremony, has said he wanted to be a priest from the time he was a young lad.

"My father is Luamanuvae, chief of the village of Sala'loga in Samoa. When I was a teenager, I thought of making a career as a professional rugby player. I was being considered for a $250,000 per year contract with a professional team in Australia."

But then, he said, he attended a mission at the St Pius X church in Sydney and "I knew then that I had to give my life entirely to God, though in what form I did not know".

Five days after the ordination, on the 25th anniversary of the illicit ordination of four bishops by Bishop Lefebre, the Society of St Pius X announced that its dialogue with the Vatican is over until "Rome returns to Tradition".

Three of the four Pius X bishops — the fourth has been expelled from the society — issued a document criticising the Second Vatican Council and the Novus Ordo Mass promulgated by Pope Paul VI in 1969.

"This Mass is penetrated with an ecumenical and Protestant spirit, democratic and humanist, which empties out the sacrifice of the Cross,"
they declared.

Sources:

Catholic News Agency

Catholic News Agency

Inside the Vatican

Image: Catholic News Agency