Pope is behaving like a dictator in his drive to modernise Church, say rebel priests
THE head of the Catholic Church is “thuggish” in his insistence on modernisation of the institution and is behaving like a “dictator-Pope”, rebel priests have warned.
Brothers Father John Brucciani, 54, and Father Robert Brucciani, 48, are part of the Fraternity of Society of Saint Pius X (FSSPX), an international society of Catholic priests that stand at odds with the liberal stance of Pope Francis.
They issued their criticism of the Pope amid a widening schism within the Catholic Church between traditionalists and reformers, as Francis tightens restrictions on conservative groups and traditional Latin Mass services.
It also comes as the FSSPX prepares to build its first church on UK soil and has begun ordaining clergy to keep up with “growing demand” for tradition.
The faction of conservative priests is preparing for an “influx” of worshippers over concern that the Catholic Church is struggling to remain relevant and attract new believers. The Brucciani brothers said they felt compelled to speak out because they are concerned about the future of the Church, which they fear is going “rapidly downhill”.
They said outlawing traditional services would leave the Catholic Church as relevant as the Church of England, which they said was “in its death throes” with declining numbers of congregants.
“The choice to stick with tradition is paying off,” Father Robert said. “We [FSSPX] can’t cope with such growth, whereas Pope Francis and the Roman Catholic church can’t cope with collapse.” Father Robert described the 85-year-old leader of the Catholic Church as a “dictator-Pope” and said that while he has a “soft spot in his heart” for migrants, the poor and people on the fringes of society, when it comes to enforcing religious doctrine, “he’s been accused of being thuggish”.
“The reason why tradition is great, and the Catholic tradition is strong, is because it’s giving people coherence,” he added. “It’s rooted in, in the 20thcentury tradition. It’s beautiful in itself, and it also gives a sense of identity.”
Father John added: “With all of the Catholic Church’s current agendas, like climate change and global politics, the Pope is more often exercising authority in favour of new worldly ends, rather than to support and promulgate Catholic teaching.”
Latin Mass was established by Pope Pius V in 1570 but after the Second Vatican Council (Vatican II) of 1962-65 has been increasingly marginalised. In July last year Francis further tightened restrictions on celebrations of Latin Mass after he issued an apostolic letter banning confirmations and ordinations according to pre-Vatican II reforms.
A spokesman for the Pope was contacted for comment.