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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"

Image of the framed Papal Bull erecting the Diocese of East Anglia. Close up of signature block on right.

Image of the framed Papal Bull erecting the Diocese of East Anglia. Whole frame image.

Image of the framed Papal Bull erecting the Diocese of East Anglia. Close up of papal seal.

Image of the framed Papal Bull erecting the Diocese of East Anglia. Close up of Latin text.

Image of the framed Papal Bull erecting the Diocese of East Anglia. Close up of signature block on left.

Fr Baker has decided to challenge the current arrangements. He has opened a Tridentine mass centre in Bethel Street in Norwic, not far from the Cathedral. Appends an extract of the digest created by the Archbishop of Birmingham of the pope's speech regarding Archbishop Lefebvre and those who support him. The position needs to be made crystal clear. The priests are to read out the instruction - Fr Baker is deliberately flouting the authority of the Church, the Holy Father and his bishops; such people are putting themselves out of communion with the same; the pope draws his authority from Christ and hence requires obedience; no priest is to celebrate the Tridentine rite with a congregation, and, no one can join him without express permission.

Expectation that priests and laity obey and respect the Pope and Bishops and celebrate Mass and Sacraments in the Church's way. Warning against attending an unofficial Latin Mass. Establishes that Archbishop Lefebvre and supporters are opposed to Vatican II and are operating outside the orders of the Pope and Bishops. To attend their Mass is to risk parting company with the Pope and the Catholic Church.

Invited to offer the traditional Mass at Newcastle on 8 August. Telling the Bishop through courtesy following his admonition in the Catholic Press. Questions whether his reasoning can be found by the Bishop to be at fault. Offers Fr Wathen's "The Great Sacrilege" as an non-refutable authority. Fr Baker is trying to do God's Will - not defiant to authority but does not agree with the requirement for blind and unquestioning obedience.

The proposed Mass has no ecclesiastical authority - Fr Baker has not sought leave to offer Mass. Despite Fr Baker's defence of following his conscience he has overlooked the duty to educate his conscience - cites a few examples. Bishop says the Fr Baker is neglecting the guidance of Vatican II, the Pope, Bishop Grant and Bishop Clark. Even if you cannot accept these, consider deeply before leaving Downham Market to share your personal difficulties in other dioceses.

Asks Fr Baker not to make another public trip to Newcastle. Fr Baker has broken Church laws. If Fr Baker has trouble with the Novus Ordo Mass then he can say it in the former rite "sine populo" [without the people] - do this and no more. Better to stay in Downham Market