Hundreds of Traditionalist French Catholics staged a rally today at the office of the Archbishop in Dijon, after his controversial decision to remove the FSSP from the diocese after over two decades of presence there.
The move made headlines around the world recently, with many concerned that the events at the Basilica of St. Bernard in Fontaine-lès-Dijon would be a foretaste of wider restrictions on the Traditional Latin Mass. At the demonstration at the Rue du Petit-Potet, the French Catholics carried signs that expressed their unhappiness at what had transpired, with diocesan priests set to take the places of the FSSP ones.
According to Bishop Roland Minnerath, at the heart of the row was the refusal of the FSSP to partake in concelebration.
The Archbishop left his gate during the event today, speaking to the crowd as they prayed and sang. Although they did not come to any agreement, nonetheless they accepted his blessing upon them before it ended. In a touching moment, the crowd kneeled in front of the Archbishop.
Prior to the event, the Basilica’s page had posted the following:
My lord,
Since you still don't want to receive us, we continue to remind you through tracts, rosaries etc.
The genesis of this story should therefore be remembered:
- You sent two letters in mid-May, one to the senior of the FSSP, the other to the Abbé de Dijon, requiring them to leave after 24 years of good and loyal services.
- No explanation or reason were mentioned.
- For 10 days, the devotees, kept asking you individually for appointment, no response. (quid of art 212 of barrel law).
You even refuse to receive the FSSP superior Abbé Paul-Joseph (dialogue is broken, say to yourself... strange way of seeing things when the breakup is desired by yourself).
Only representatives of the Basilica friends association were received.
What could we do....??
- So a Facebook page was created by the devotees and it allowed us to have some exchanges via press releases...
- A few days after your thank you mail, we are unofficially learning that reason would be a matter of concelebration at the Chrismal Mass.
Once again you sow disorder in the flock while concelebration cannot be a serious or valid motive for such revocation.
We remind you that the FSSP abbots are present at this mass.
This point is a personal decision of every priest and cannot in any case be a means of blackmail.
Since the FSSP has responded to you in a detailed way, enough is enough.
In your second and last internet statement, you say several things to try to argue:
′′ Another party (of the faithful) does not admit ordinary mass and rejects what they call "." the conciliary church "."
(have we read correctly?? stunned! ))
′′ I believe in the Church, One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic."
We are IN the Church and we recognize the validity of the ordinary mass, it is unquestionable.
We are victims of this early judgement, we are victims of your aprioris, we are victims of your baseless allegations, we are victims of your way of exercising power, we are victims of your will to consistency, which is not unity.
- On Wednesday, June 16, some devotees spoke with you in the parking lot of the diocesan house, an unexpected (and amazing) conversation:
You said that decision wasn't ′′ a lubie ′′ and that you were ′′ several who have the same discernment on the issue, it's going to be universal, you'll see!!" you've started.
.... that is??
While they pointed out that you were creating a split voluntarily you replied:
′′ They don't concede, they don't recognize that our mass is a true mass ".
Incredible note from a bishop... it leaves thinking!
Accusing the FSSP, belonging to the Church since 1988, and the faithful of not recognizing the ordinary form and the ′′ true mass ′′ is gravity and false!
The feeling of many faithful and non-faithful, is that you seek any excuse to justify the unjustifiable in a diocese that has lost 18 practicing priests in the space of 6 years (between 2014 and 2020).
It is heartwarming for us to receive many messages of support from priests of the Diocese, local non-faithful who also do not understand this decision.
They are shocked by your refusal to dialog but also your very personal opinion about some of your wounds attending the mass in extraordinary form...
By your decision, you also punish and despise many of those, who benefit from the wide apostolate of our abbots, you disappoint those who believe in the diversity and unity of the Church.
In your Sunday school ′′ The Catholic Church seeks to realize the unity of Christians through dialogue, prayer and conversion of hearts ".
So we will be gathered this Saturday, June 26th from 10 am to 12 pm, at the gates of the bishopric, asking you to review your decision, to show our commitment to the FSSP and to the unity of Christians.
He said that he ‘admired’ Pope Benedict XVI.