The Letter
This is a public document read publicly from the pulpit in church, a public announcement about a public decision, affecting the public of the Tulsa diocese, related to the current public shut down of many diocesan TLM's this summer around the world, due to Traditionis Custodes. It was addressed and distributed to all Catholics who attend the TLM at SSPP, including to me and my wife, whether parishioner or not. With no direction not to share privately or publicly.
It also lays out a new diocesan policy related to all local Catholics, that there will now only be two parishes permitted the TLM (one FSSP, the other parochial way out east of the urban center).
Since some local readers attend the TLM there at least on occasion, who might never be given any open and frank explanation as to the details of WHY the SHUT DOWN, or read this Letter, they also have a right to read this public announcement from the bishop.
The Okie Traditionalist's Assessment/Interpretation:
1. There it is. The primary reason? TRADITIONIS CUSTODES.
2. And the bishop is not merely mentioning it as a formality, or indicating simple compliance with TC, he is EMBRACING IT as his own policy going forward.
3. Essentially, to bring the trads back in line with the Novus Ordo. The diocesan TLM's are great if they are bridge back to Tradition, and to help restore Tradition to the "mainstream." But this policy letter is essentially indicating the continuing of the diocesan TLM is to serve as a bridge to connect to the Novus Ordo. No Roman Catholic is obliged to make the Novus Ordo their rite of Mass. Yet, every Roman Catholic is guaranteed the right to the Tridentine Mass, i.e. the ancient Mass later codified by Pope St. Pius V.
4. Note there are no clear, concrete explanations, or anything clearly, directly addressing the elephant in the room, how somehow the diocese cannot continue the TLM at SSPP with only one resident priest, Fr. Garcia. There is no mention of any effort to do so for this 13 year old community and parish family.
Even though the city area is obviously full of priests, with pastors and associate pastors at many parishes in the city area (upwards of 20), plus all the chaplain priests (!). With that number, one would reasonably have the impression that at least some of them (or even just one out of all of them!), would have some time in their weekend schedule to float over and help poor Fr. Garcia ease his extremely heavy load. That is to say just ONE Mass (like the 7 am, or 6 pm), to free up Fr. G to continue the TLM at SSPP, so the 13 year old SSPP TLM community doesn't cease to exist, the families scattered to Wagoner for the TLM, the FSSP, etc.
And so that in the mainstream of the City of Tulsa, not just far removed off in the wilderness, local Catholics have more access to the TLM. It seems implausible, or extremely difficult to believe, my point being it is very questionable.
5. Note this IS a dissolution of the SSPP TLM community, not a transfer of it specifically to Holy Cross itself.
6. Note that the TLM Community of Holy Cross only had 1-2 TLM's every Sunday! 1-2! A reason given is there were not the necessary PERMISSIONS, which implies not a lack of permission from the bishop himself, but from the VATICAN. The obvious conclusion is that the VATICAN is directing this plan of TLM restriction. Per TC.
7. Priest shortages, and a shortage of Traditional Priests, offering the true ancient Roman rite, is not merely because of recently 4 priests taking leave from the diocese (sabbaticals, etc).
It is primarily because of a grave watering down of the Faith, the Liturgy, and the Traditional Priesthood in the Church, Tulsa being no exception (very few ordinations for years).
8. Young men today who are attracted to the Priesthood heavily lean conservative and and traditional, and pro-TLM, compared to priests the last 60 years. That is why unless the local hierarchy and diocese is overtly conservative AND traditional, that is ORTHODOX (pro TLM, and reform of the reform at least), and therefore overtly welcoming of them, these manly young men get turned off and don't enter or finish the seminary. I can testify to that, in detail if asked.
Or they leave early into their priesthood. The young men WANT the TLM. I listened to a diocesan seminarian several years ago tell a group that most seminarians now (including for Tulsa), WANT the TLM, and to see eventually the Novus Ordo be replaced. This is the primary reason the Tulsa diocese has such a priest shortage crisis, even more so than those burning out (which is understandable).
9. Also, the shortage of local TLM-offering priests has a lot to do with the diocese not requiring priests to learn the TLM, only asking IF they WANT to learn it. The middle aged priests and older are less traditional so you would largely expect they would not be interested. If asked to add it to their skill set, they'd likely say "Ah, no thanks bishop, I'm good." But not the young ones. The FOUR TLM-offering priests all are on the young side, three ordained just in the last few years. In a a couple decades, maybe less, these young priests around the world will be the hierarchy, and then Restoration kicks into fifth gear. That would be glorious to be around to see.
If the TLM faithful have a stable group in a diocesan parish, per Summorum Pontificum, pre-2021, then per SP and accompanying documents, the diocese was to train and provide TLM offering priests. The Vatican/Pope Benedict even clarified the bishops must actively train priests to know this, not just after being approached by a group of laity. At least that was the expectation until 2021.
Yet, not enough have been ordered or directed to learn the TLM these last many years since SP was in effect (2007-2021). Let alone after 2021. EVERY priest should know and offer the true ancient Mass, and be able to say it where needed. This is therefore a systemic problem in this diocese and most dioceses even since SP (which most bishops resisted). I'm not trying to be nice about this. I'm being factual, truthful, and setting the record straight.
10. Note this is a short one page letter, read for a minute or two, from the pulpit, the very month before the SHUT DOWN. And that was it. Very, very, very little explanation about the WHY, just a one page heads up. Kaboom. A 13 year old TLM parish community of Sts. Peter and Paul effectively dissolved, removed from existence, and vaporized. At this moment it exists.
After the final TLM this Sunday, it will be dead. 6 feet under the ground. Poof. Gone. NOT some of those who would migrate over to Holy Cross (many on the public FB list committed only to "occasionally" attending) who would simply be joining a pre-existing parochial parish with a TLM. Three parishes with the TLM (one being FSSP). Now two. 3 minus - 1 = 2.
Now only a mere TWO parishes to worship God through the Traditional Latin Mass, in a diocese that is one half of the state of Oklahoma (or so). That isn't a minor change. That is a signal to plan for the possibility of there being only ONE such parish to attend. This is not a cause to despair in God on the supernatural level, but it is cause to face the reality that the situation looks grim. Unless our new pope comes to our rescue, which I am praying he will do ASAP.
11. Note the prayer that the people will remain charitable and patient going forward, which means they are being instructed not to be impatient. The obvious implication is the real possibility some will be impatient. You are suddenly told after 13 years in a short letter lacking transparency and clarity, to be patient. Imagine what that really means? Put yourself in their shoes (including me and my wife), and all who have attended the TLM at SSPP, a kind of quiet refuge of Traditional Catholicism in the City. Another option for a multitude of reasons.
12. The majority of the group does not live close or closer to Holy Cross, Wagoner. For most this is a heavy burden. And what about all the Hispanics of the SSPP TLM community, parishioners, who have gravitated to the TLM there, who love the TLM deeply?? This would force them to make the long commute out to Wagoner where there is NO Spanish Mass, or official Hispanic community. Adios TLM.
This Letter is the smoking gun of why this suppression is taking place. For everyone to read, including the Holy Father and the Vatican. We need the Pope to come to the rescue of the diocesan Latin Masses, the Mass of the Saints, the ancient and venerable rite of the Church of Rome, which can never be suppressed.