Compliments slip: Bishop Secretary: "Tony Sketch will arrange to deliver the enclosed - less the carbon - to all Downham Market parishioners when he distributes his invitations to the real Mass."
Page 1: letter to the congregation at Downham Market - explaining, now that the legal procedure is over, the sorrow he feels in acting against Fr Baker. Obedience to the Holy Father means accepting the changes away from the Tridentine Mass. Expects support for Fr Sketch. Notes of explanation included.
Page 2-3: Notes headed: "1. Your present position"; "2. The Missal of Pope Paul VI"; "3. The Bishop's dealings with Fr Baker"
Authority
4 Archive Record results for Authority
Covering letter for Decree; Fr Baker has the right to appeal to Rome.
Grant, Charles Alexander Rev LCL BA (1906-1989)"... aims of the Society were not only excellent but much to be striven for. "
Good if Fr David Paul did approach Bishop Smith, who would give good advice about na approach to the Conference of Bishops. Some degree of separation between the Roman Province and the remainder of the Society may offer a chance of doing something with the Holy See.
Fr Roger Reader (Provincial Secretary) Important to begin a process to achieve formal approval of their Statutes in line with Canon Law 298-326 for the Roman Province of their Society. Good to have a formal relationship with the Hierarchy especially in the light of Dr Oddie's recent unfortunate book. Suggest that Fr David Paul (pp at S. Laurence in Cambridge), our Master, might approach Bishop Peter Smith. Need to promote priestly fraternity.
Society of the Holy Cross