So, Kamala Harris has turned down an invitation to the Al Smith dinner of the New York Archdiocese. Now some have asked what Kamala Harris may have lost  – or gained –  by not attending this event. I believe she has lost nothing and has avoided some not insignificant political risks. 

The Al Smith dinner, which saw the light of day in 1946,  is a classic relic of the “Age of Spellman.” The Catholic Church after World War II sought to demonstrate its alignment with – and acceptance by –  the governing powers of the United States. Catholics have arrived and are now respected by all  – that was the message. And that alleged newly won Catholic influence was firmly under the direction  of the hierarchy. The dinner took on additional significance when, starting in1960, it became customary in an election year for the two presidential candidates to jointly appear. (There have been several instances since 1960 when they did not.) 

But even in 1946, apparently overlooked by the leadership of the Catholic Church,  the total secularization of the United States government and society was well underway. (e.g., Everson v. Board of Education (1947) and its “wall of separation between church and state”). As the years passed, Cardinal Spellman himself was forced into conflicts with the rising secularist tide. He even lived long enough to see himself demonized as a reactionary by the media. By 2024, what with the “devout” Catholic President Joe Biden fighting for abortion (amid the subdued voices of the American Catholic hierarchy), the notion of any specifically Catholic political influence had become a sick joke.  

Clearly,  Kamala Harris’s presence at an event like the Al Smith dinner, although it may be important to the prestige of the Archbishop of New York,  will have no effect on the actual voting by Catholics. We read that the views of Catholics today on issues traditionally seen as “Catholic” – abortion, “LGBT,” contraception, etc. – track those of the general population.  This moral indifferentism is also implicit in the format of the Al Smith dinner, which attempts to simulate an aura of good feeling, of equivalence between the candidates of the two parties. The message is that their differences may be, after all, not that great. Indeed, did not Pope Francis just recently declare the same thing himself (Catholics should vote for “the lesser of two evils”)? 1) The “seamless garment” has become the de facto ideology of the Catholic Church. 

If Kamala Harris gains nothing by attending the dinner, what risks does she avoid by skipping it? Various commentators have focused on the danger of an unscripted exchange with Trump that could prove damaging to her. For the key to her campaign strategy  is maintaining a totally controlled outward appearance. This point has obviously been raised by the Trump camp. But progressive Catholic commentators devoted to Kamala Harris say essentially the same thing. They assert that Trump would violate the rules of the game of the Al Smith dinner (as he allegedly did in 2016),  go on the attack,  and put her on the spot.1)

Reading carefully this progressive Catholic commentary, however,  I sense there’s a more profound reason why Kamala Harris might have been well advised to avoid this event. The entire focus of this year’s campaign of the Democratic party – and of the American establishment  –  is to depict Trump as an untouchable, a demonic figure, an enemy of democracy. One does not engage in friendly banter with such an adversary! Thus, this strategy directly contradicts the image that the Al Smith dinner seeks to project: that, at some level, there exists an underlying unity between the two candidates and between them and the Roman Catholic Church. Indeed, regarding the last point,  Harris might be reluctant to participate in an event with this Church that could raise doubts among her supporters regarding her militancy in favor of abortion.

Is it not a strange outcome? The party of unrestricted abortion is making the (unexpressed) case that, contrary to what the hierarchy of the Catholic Church is explicitly or implicitly teaching,  there is a profound and unbridgeable gap between the two candidates. This remains so even after the recent waffling of Trump and Vance on abortion. For it is one thing to be lukewarm on this issue, it is another to be a fanatic advocate of unrestricted abortion. Kamala Harris is thereby unwittingly but helpfully pointing out the underlying fallacy of the Al Smith dinner itself.

1. Of course, it is ironic that Pope Francis’s recent statement on the American election, along with his repeated gestures in favor of Joe Biden, raise exactly the issue of papal interference in American politics that the opponents of Al Smith alleged in 1928!
2. Winters, Michael Sean, “Why it is smart for Kamala Harris to skip the Al Smith dinner,” National Catholic Reporter (9/24/2024); Spang, Thomas, “Harris meidet Kirchen-Dinner: Verpasste Chance oder kluger Schachzug?” katholisch.de ( (9/27/2024) (From Germany (!) but quoting a professor from Fordham) (Both accessed 9/29/2024)

Remaining Tour Dates: 

Friday, September 20: Nashua NH
 

Saturday, September 21: Providence, RI
 

Tuesday, September 24: Washington, DC
 

Friday, September 27 to 29: Pittsburgh, PA

For more information about locations, times and to register: https://sophiainstitute.com/promo/bishop-schneiders-book-tour/?mc_cid=44d621b4f9&mc_eid=a9c04ed159

Below is a listing of churches in the area that offer Traditional Masses on First Friday and First Saturday. Please let us know about other churches to add to this schedule.

First Friday, September 6

St. Mary Church, Norwalk, CT, 8 am and 12:10 pm; Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 9 am -11:15; 1-8 pm

Sacred Heart Oratory, Georgetown, CT, 8:30 am; Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 9 am to 9 pm.

Sts. Cyrl and Methodius Oratory, Bridgeport, CT, 7:45 am

St. Patrick Oratory, Waterbury, CT, 6 pm. Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament at 5pm, Benediction at 5:45pm.

St. Martha Church, Enfield, CT, 7 pm

Holy Innocents Church, New York, NY, 6 pm

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, New York, NY, 7 am, 7:45 am; Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament 9:30 am to 6 pm

St. Josaphat, Bayside, Queens, NY, 7 am.

Corpus Christi Church, South River, NJ, 7 pm low Mass at St. Mark’s location. At Corpus Christi Church location: Confession 6 pm, Benediction 6:45 pm.

Oratory of Saint Anthony of Padua, West Orange NJ. 9:00AM

St. John the Baptist, Allentown, NJ, 8 am, 9 pm followed by adoration of Blessed Sacrament and Confessions; at midnight a low Mass will be offered in reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Mt Carmel, Lyndhurst, NJ, 1^st Friday Missa Cantata – Votive Mass of the Sacred Heart at 7pm.

First Saturday, September 7

St. Mary Church, Greenwich, CT, 8 am followed by the Holy Rosary, in downstairs chapel, entrance to left of the church.

Sacred Heart Oratory, Georgetown, CT, 8:30 am

Sts. Cyrl and Methodius Oratory, Bridgeport, CT, 8:30 am Votive Mass of the Immaculate Heart followed by Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Holy Rosary, 15 minutes of silent Adoration concluding with Benediction

St. Patrick Oratory, Waterbury, CT, 8 am. After Holy Mass, exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Holy Rosary & Benediction

St. Martha Church, Enfield, CT, 9 am

Holy Innocents Church, New York, NY, 1 pm followed by First Saturday devotions.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, New York, NY, 7:45 AM and  9:00 AM Masses; 10:00 AM Adoration, Rosary and Confessions,  12 Noon Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament

St. Margaret of Cortona, Riverdale, Bronx, NY, 12 pm

St. Josaphat, Bayside, Queens, NY,, 6:45 am Benediction; 7 am Mass; followed by an hour of reparation.

St. Paul the Apostle, Yonkers, NY, 12 noon

Shrine Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, Raritan, NJ, 8:30 am Holy Rosary; 9 am Low Mass.

Oratory of Saint Anthony of  Padua, West Orange, NJ  8:00AM

Corpus Christi Church, South River, NJ, First Saturday devotions at 11 am; low Mass at 12 noon. Convivium following Mass.

St. John the Baptist, Allentown, NJ, 12 midnight (from Friday to Saturday) low Mass offered in reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

By Jill Chessman

If one is travelling in the Wisconsin area, it is worth it to visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse. The shrine project was conceived by Raymond Cardinal Burke, while he was Bishop of La Crosse in the 1990s. Beginning with the ground breaking in 2001, Cardinal Burke oversaw its design and construction, which took place in the course of about a decade. Duncan Stroik is the architect.

It’s clear that the great Catholic basilicas of Rome are the inspiration behind the architectural form of the shrine. It is in fact remarkable and gratifying to look upon so beautiful a Catholic church built entirely in the 21st century.

The shrine interior, above, could be modeled after any number of Roman churches of the baroque period, with its central dome, arched ceiling, and symmetrical architraves and pilasters. Compare it to Sant’ Andrea della Valle, below.

In this view of the shrine’s nave, we see the attention to detail in the plaster work, gilding, and beautiful golden color palette, with no expenses spared.

The shrine’s baldacchino, above, directly imitates the baldacchino of Santa Maria Maggiore, below.

The stark front facade of the shrine does not come off nearly so well as the interior. But perhaps a baroque inspired facade will be added at a later time. We can think of beautiful simple American examples that might show the way, like the facade of Visitation Convent in Brooklyn (below), whose story we covered a few weeks ago (it has just been closed!).

Many of the side altars of the shrine are devoted to the recently canonized and beatified, such as St. Gianna Molla (above) and Blessed Miguel Pro (below). One can spot references to the Guadalupe story in some of the original paintings that grace these altars. The Madonna who looks down upon St. Gianna, for example, is dressed as Our Lady of Guadalupe. Behind Blessed Miguel at his martyrdom, we see him celebrating Mass, with an image of the Guadalupe tilma on his back.

In this painting of the 13th century St. Peregrine, an anachronistic stained glass window shows Our Lady of Guadalupe curing Juan Diego’s uncle. The theme of healing ties the featured saint to the Guadalupe story. (These three paintings are by Neilson Carlin)

The lush grounds are meant to be an important part of the pilgrimage. One must park a half mile distance from the shrine and walk up a hill that is punctuated with wayside statues. (An alternative is to ride up in a golf cart driven by a shrine volunteer.)

This Holy Family group tells the story of the shrine’s founding. The donors of the land for the shrine, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Swing, are shown kneeling while Cardinal Burke stands behind them.

On the outdoor Rosary walk, one spies another reference to the shrine. Our Lady and the Apostles receive the gift of the Holy Spirit within the shrine itself.

A group of students from the University of Wisconsin prayed the Rosary at the memorial to the unborn. The memorial provides a resting place for babies lost in misacrriage (below).

A separate chapel houses this tall tower of votive candles.

A visit to the shrine is a rewarding experience. One’s spiritual needs are met by a group of dedicated Norbertine priests who say Mass and hear confessions. Priests from a nearby oratory of the Institute of Christ the King also serve at the shrine. While most Masses on the schedule are Novus Ordo, a Traditional Mass is offered every Sunday. All Masses are said ad orientem and pilgrims are asked to receive Communion kneeling and on the tongue. At the Mass I attended, an a capella choir sang Gregorian chant. A spirit of silence and prayer prevaded in the shrine church and on the grounds. I was told that there are plans to build a retreat center, which will include overnight accommodations and will be staffed by religious sisters.

29th Pilgrimage for Restoration in the footsteps of the martyrs returns to Our Blessed Lady’s Shrine of the Martyrs at Auriesville, NY, September 27-29 — Friday to Sunday!

The pilgrimage, now in its 29th year, is an journey of the faithful to Our Lady’s Shrine of the Martyrs in upstate New York, at Auriesville. Here, Jesuit Father Isaac Jogues and Companions were martyred, beginning with lay-brother René Goupîl and several Native American Converts in 1642, and later layman John de LaLande and Jogues himself in 1646.

Since 1996, pilgrims walk near and along the paths the saints followed as captives of the Iroquois. Their journey was hundreds of miles over 28 days under torture. Our journey, modeled on the ancient annual Pentecost Pilgrimage to Notre-Dame de Chartres, France, is 62 miles over 3 days and, though penitential, is full of joy. Our purpose is to honor Christ Our King publicly, to pray for the restoration of His Kingship in the family and civil society, and to make reparation for sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Pilgrims return to pray the traditional Roman (Latin) Mass, to confess, and to receive counsel and teaching from priests of solid faith every day.

Register online at https://pilgrimage-for-restoration.org/registration/

Questions?    mail@pilgrimage-for-restoration.org    484/240-5797    http://pilgrimage-for-restoration.org/blog/

To register go to this link.

I recently heard that erstwhile Catholic writer Michael Warren Davis has joined the Orthodox Church. Now over the years I have had to take issue with articles by Davis that touched on Catholic traditionalism. I disputed Davis’s self-identification as a reactionary, even a “trad.”   For in these writings Davis took aim at Catholics of the past and present ( Triumph magazine, Joe Sobran, ordinary traditionalists in the pews) while displaying great understanding for secular and ecclesiastical  establishments (National Review, Archbishop Gregory,  Pope Francis).  1)

I also had a mixed reaction to Davis’s very latest article, a review of a book on the Jesuits.   Davis there takes some clever shots at the Jesuit order and the current papal regime. Yet he leads off with a serious misinterpretation of Waugh’s Brideshead Revisited and his review features several startling errors (the latter,  of course, not necessarily Davis’s fault). A more substantial problem for the reader is the difficulty of separating Davis’s own views from those of the author of the book being reviewed. 2)

On YouTube Davis is now claiming he came to Catholicism from “theistic Luciferian Satanism.” And after Latin Rite Catholicism. he seems to have joined briefly the Melkite Catholic community before finally turning to Orthodoxy. Obviously, Davis is a man who unfortunately has experienced significant vicissitudes in his spiritual life. I hope he can find a degree of peace in Orthodoxy. On YouTube he does read a statement which makes a presentation of Orthodoxy more positive than those of some other Orthodox converts from Catholicism. 3)

Of course, Orthodoxy is not without its own issues. Certain representatives of major Orthodox churches in the United States, for example,  want to import into Orthodoxy features of Vatican II Catholicism and even of modern secular society. Outside the United States,  political issues wrack the Orthodoxy world(e.g., the ongoing ecclesiastical conflict in Ukraine).  Davis, however, seems to be well aware of those problems.4)

Is the conversion of Davis not another example of the crackup of conservative Catholicism? For despite his “trad” pretensions,  Davis really represented the conservative tendency within Catholicism: advocating aspects of traditional Catholic morality, faith and liturgy while simultaneously showing reverence for the hierarchy and the papacy. Under the current pope,  this balancing act became increasingly unsustainable. As the old song goes: ”Something’s got to give.”   

Undoubtedly,  many more Catholics are considering the step Michael Warren Davis has now taken.   The “fault” for this, however,  resides squarely with the pope, the Catholic hierarchy and the clergy. It is their outrageous and scandalous conduct that motivates some faithful to seek in Orthodoxy respect for Christian tradition, a reverent and beautiful liturgy and, above all, a focus on the spiritual, on the union of the individual and the community with God.  The Eastern Orthodox Church, which Davis has joined,  is not necessarily the answer  – much more should be said on this subject, pro and con. Orthodoxy will always remain an attraction for a minority. Yet,  at some point, on some issue and in some way we all may be forced to decide between loyalty to the clerical establishment or to the truth. And it is the leadership of Roman Catholic Church which has created such a situation  – making distinctly possible for everyone a previously unimaginable choice.

1. See, in sthughofcluny.org, , “Sobranistas without Sobran” (2/21/18); Sediziose Voci (6/14/21): Papal without a Pope: Recent Manifestations of Conservative Catholicism (10/21/22).
2. Davis, Michael Warren, “Jesuit Plots” at 55 The American Conservative (July/August 2024).
3. Barrel Aged Faith,  “Satanist to Orthodox Christian” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFnYUkfgSmk (accessed 7/12/2024);“Why this Catholic Writer became Orthodox” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6jdGZH1HRQ (accessed 7/12/2024). For a book by another convert to the Eastern Church see “Orthodoxy?” at sthughofcluny.org (2/28/23)
4. Davis, Michael Warren, “The CIA’s Man in Constantinople” (The American Conservative, 4/23/24).

For Spanish speakers, a very nice recent article by Maricarmen Godoy about the current state of the Traditional Mass:

Misa Tradicional en latín atrae más

Even with a couple of minor mistakes, it eloquently attests to the continued and growing popularity of the Latin Mass.

This Thursday, May 30, is the Feast of Corpus Christi. The following churches will offer Traditional Masses.

Thursday, May 30

St. Mary Church, Norwalk, CT, 12:10 pm, Solemn Mass and Eucharistic procession. Mass for 4 Voices by William Byrd

Sacred Heart Oratory, Georgetown, CT, 6 pm, Solemn Mass with procession and Benediction

St. Patrick Oratory, Waterbury, CT, 6 pm with procession of the Most Blessed Sacrament around the church building.

Sts. Cyril and Methodius, Bridgeport, CT, 6 pm, Solemn Mass and procession.

Holy Innocents Church, New York, NY, 6 pm, Missa Cantata followed by outdoor procession and triple Benediction

Most Holy Redeemer, New York, NY, 6 pm followed by Eucharistic procession to St. Brigid’s Church with Benediction.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, New York, NY, 7 pm Solemn Mass; 8 pm Outdoor procession; 8:30 pm Benediction.

St Josaphat, Bayside, Queens, 7pm Missa Cantata followed by procession

St. Paul the Apostle, Yonkers, 12 noon

St. Andrew Church, Ellenville, NY, 7pm Missa Cantata

Our Lady of Sorrows, Jersey City, 7 pm

Our Lady of Fatima, Pequannock, NJ, 7 am, 9 am, 7 pm

St. Athony of Padua Oratory, West Orange, NJ, 9 am, Low Mass, 7 pm High Mass and procession

St. John the Baptist, Allentown, NJ, 7:00p.m. Mass followed by Eucharistic procession.