Newly Born Religious Groups, Strangled in Their Cradles

Fr Zed on the latest destruction of a Traditional Order. 'All they want to be is Catholic, and, as their groups are being born, those who ought to parent them to maturity are strangling them in their cradles.'

From Fr Z's Blog

In July I wrote about a group in Ferrara (HERE) which, having great success, is being treated rather curiously by the local bishop.   The Priestly Brotherhood of the Family of Christ (FSFC) seems to be doing great things.

I read at Fr. Hunwicke’s place that the Holy See has imposed yet another commissar on the FSFC.  That doesn’t bode well.

Fr. H has some sharp comments.  Including…

Readers will remember the regulations according to which diocesan bishops were peremptorily deprived of the right to set up religious communities of diocesan right within their jurisdictions without interference from the Congregation for Religious. I imagine that wise bishops will refrain from canonically erecting any new and orthodox groups, but will instead protect and foster them in an informal uncanonical state until the days of joy and freedom return. Is it a sign of health in an ecclesial body that pastoral and prudent hierarchs will feel the necessity to operate beneath the canonical radar?

It is hardly surprising that, when an orthodox Shepherd dies or retires, there should be such anxieties about what might happen to his diocese. There must be quite a few seedy would-be misthotoi slouching impatiently  behind Roman pillars puffing away at their fags while eagerly awaiting the rewards of sycophancy and networking.

And you should see what follows.

Hard times for traditional religious, my friends.   All the want to be is Catholic, and, as their groups are being born, those who ought to parent them to maturity are strangling them in their cradles.