The Vicar of Priests for the Diocese of Tulsa, a Chancery official, Fr. Bryan Brooks (LINK), recently publicly objected (LINK, LINK) to the Life Site News (LSN) article (LINK) reporting the effective suppression of the Latin Mass at Sts. Peter and Paul parish in Tulsa, which is set to happen in a week, after 6/29. The effective suppression has also applied to the Holy Cross Latin Mass community in Wagoner no longer having a weekly Latin Mass, but now only once a month (LINK), per the pastor due to a Vatican directive.
I emailed Fr. Brooks appealing the decision, asking questions, and addressing his comments, awaiting his response.
Vicar of Priests
Diocese of Tulsa
LSN was principally referencing my report below (LINK), but also an article about this by Laramie Hirsch over at Non Veni Pacem (LINK), announcements and discussion about this at the Sts. Peter and Paul Traditional Latin Mass Facebook page (LINK), and an official response by the diocese communications director.
Yet, Fr. Brooks wrote (please forgive the formatting issue, blogger has glitches):
This was the response to Fr. Bryan, still no reply to the points or questions:
Fr. Bryan also wrote:
This was the response to Fr. Bryan, still no reply to the points or questions:
My Comments: first, in my defense, and in the defense of Life Site News, a very popular, reputable Catholic news outlet, extraordinarily dedicated to the Catholic Faith, there was nothing at all objectively misleading in the title or content of either their article or mine. We cited public sources, reported verifiable facts, and asked critical questions. On my part I never said nor implied the bishop or diocese had a “nefarious plot” to rid the diocese of the Latin Mass. I objected in a very general way to: a) the TLM community coming to an end, b) the lack of transparency about the decision, c) a lack of preparation long term to prevent this (if it is simply a logistical issue), and d) the pattern across the Church of diocesan TLM’s being closed because of Traditionis Custodes, by order of Pope Francis (RIP).
If I myself had done otherwise, it would be upon Fr. Brooks to clearly point that out in fraternal correction which he didn’t, and isn’t. Because there is nothing to point out. As his comments stand in context, I ask they be either edited or removed to not give even the appearance of defamation, and in particular because I also reported how this change will cause suffering for me and my wife, to no longer be able to attend the Mass of the Ages at Sts. Peter and Paul. Those on the receiving end of harsh changes like this have every right and responsibility to speak out their concerns and grievances, without being then falsely accused by clergy in question.
If anyone in the diocese or chancery is reading this in a position of influence, I request you please read or re-read my report and analysis of the situation before you pass judgment, just as I slowly and carefully did my own inquiry into all the facts prior to posting the article.
Please, for the love of God, in full transparency and accountability, either explain publicly WHY this was done, including WHY there is a logistical problem about priest assignments, considering the new pastor knows how to offer the Latin Mass, in light of the many logistical options I discussed, OR, rather please, in the next week, reverse this decision.
If it is ultimately because of the Vatican, following Pope Francis’ orders, please petition them to pause this until Pope Leo has time to examine this question himself. That is my purpose in making this appeal since April. Because I believe the future of the Church depends on preserving sacred, traditional liturgy, the Latin Mass, and access to it everywhere, not just in remote, out of the way locations. For the love of God, please do not do this. Please preserve the Mass of the Ages as a universal practice, as Pope Benedict called for in Summorum Pontificum (LINK).
It is difficult for me most days to leave my home because I am still recovering from severe ongoing illness, praying and working towards recovery. I do this here because I love the Catholic Church, and therefore my local Catholic Church. So much has been lost in the Church in terms of teaching, orthodoxy, reverence, governance, and especially in the liturgy. Those sacred external elements that mark the Roman rite have been almost entirely stripped away. The churches turned into ugly monstrosities. Bishop Slattery (RIP) himself worked tirelessly until the very day of his retirement, towards restoration of what was lost. As Pope Paul VI said after the Council, “the smoke of Satan has entered the Church.” The Church is presently in a grave crisis akin to the Arian crisis. We have to respond accordingly. We can help restore all things to Christ one day at a time, starting with the way we worship God in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.