Traditionis Custodes around the world: Nantes, France

Nantes, where last year the Gothic cathedral was burned out by a “refugee” employee of the church (who went on to kill a priest this year), has issued restrictive guidelines on TC – with hints of more to come. But it’s one of the few cases – al least in France – where a bishop has deigned to speak with a delegation of the lay faithful affected by TC.. What follows is a report of that meeting.

Dear Friends,

Accordingly, Monseigneur PERCEROU met some thirty parishioners of Saint Clément attached to the multi-age rite, while he never met the demands of Faith and Tradition. He therefore shows that he considers the parishioners of Saint Clément to be the only ones concerned by Motu Proprio Traditionis Custodes and his decree of September 19 This is very unfortunate. However, Faith and Tradition was present, represented by members of this office but also because almost all the faithful present are members. Monseigneur PERCEROU started this meeting with a reminder of the decisions of the Popes since the promulgation of the so-called Paul VI Mass. His address, without any words of kindness, compassion, fatherly love for the Catholics who have suffered since July 16th and even more so since the publication of the Decree of September 19th, was intended to serve as a legal justification for the Motu Proprio Traditionis Custodes and the strict application he intended to establish in the Diocese of Nantes. We were stunned. The charity of Saint John Paul II, the goodness of Benedict XVI, all of this does not exist anymore…

Opportunity to speak was then given to the faithful present, well representative of the “traditionalist” Catholics (we put this word in quotes because we will not be (such) ). Dear friends, it was with real emotion that we listened to you. All of you have manifested your incomprehension, your pain – very vivid for some – and, very often, your anger. To these cries of the heart, Monseigneur PERCEROU systematically answered by the law. It was trying. We particularly think of a young woman, crying out because of her immense suffering, to this emotional family man talking about his children, to the slightly older faithful who asked why they were being punished… Have they been heard?

The president of Faith and Tradition also spoke. He respectfully, but firmly, recalled the decisions of Saint John Paul II and Benedict XVI by taking a contrasting look at those popes who welcomed us with open arms and recognized our legitimate aspirations. He regretted the broken confidence and offered to rebuild it together. Finally, on behalf of all of you, our president has officially asked Monseigneur PERCEROU to withdraw his decree, to accept a meeting so together we can work for the good of the faithful and in faithfulness to the Church.

Dear friends, we have a duty to present to you the points raised by Monseigneur PERCEROU during this evening:

Monseigneur PERCEROU intends to apply what is requested of him (by the Pope – SC) scrupulously. Even though we know that any bishop can adjust the disciplinary rules of the Church for the sake of souls. Monseigneur PERCEROU only wants the Tridentine rite in the church of Saint Clément de Nantes. All others are suppressed. The faithful of Fr. JIMENEZ no longer exist. The faithful of the coast who benefited from Mass in the summer months are no longer a stable group…For weddings, baptisms and funerals, even if you desire your childhood village church, you will not be allowed because you will not be a parishioner of that church. For schools, Monseigneur PERCEROU had very disturbing words. Indeed, he asked whether it was normal for children to be raised in the Tridentine rite alone. His whispered response was that he didn’t believe it. Finally, we were crushed by the clear threats against the traditional institutes. “They will have to choose“…. they will have to decide if they remain in the Church…. All this said very coldly.

You will have understood that the times are serious, very serious. So we will once again ask for an appointment with our bishop and very soon turn to you because we must show our resolve, unity and alas, our number. Meanwhile, we beg you to pray to the Blessed Virgin for the future of the rite we love and for our priests. They baptized us, have forgiven us, married us. They buried our parents and sometimes our children. They also showed us the path of Heaven and always called to faithfulness to the Church. Believe in our dedication and willingness to do everything we can to stop the injustice that has struck us.

From Foi et Tradition; their translation from the Foi et Tradition Facebook page. (slightly edited for clarity)