Even though many bishops believed they had this authority, Canon 87 adds that a bishop cannot invoke this authority when dispensations are reserved to the Holy See. On Tuesday, Feb. 21, the Vatican issued a clarification to Traditionis custodes to halt this approach. Cardinal Arthur Roche issued a rescript, a form of official clarification in response to a question or request, on behalf of the Vatican, which states that any dispensation to use or erect a parish church for the celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass is “reserved in a special way to the Apostolic See,” which means bishops alone cannot dispense these parishes.
Roche ordered bishops who issued dispensations without Vatican approval “to inform the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, which will evaluate the individual cases.”
CNA reached out to several dioceses whose bishops did not consult the Vatican before offering dispensations to parishes that celebrate the Latin Mass. Only the Archdiocese of Denver responded by the time of publication, stating, “the Archdiocese of Denver will comply with what is asked.”
Monsignor Charles Pope, who serves as coordinator for the celebration of the Latin Mass in the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., told CNA that there were “two points of view” within the Church: Some believed that bishops could invoke Canon 87, while others believed Vatican approval was needed.
Pope said the rescript clarified that those who believed “the bishop could simply invoke Canon 87 … were wrong [and] shouldn’t have done that.” He said they are “expected now to directly ask the Holy See for this dispensation to be granted.”
Bishops who have not received Vatican approval “might have to now revisit this with the Holy See,” Pope said. He added that he hopes the Vatican will “be gracious in granting the dispensations even if [the bishops requested them] later than the Holy See wanted.” He said he is not aware of the Vatican denying any requests for dispensation, but noted the dispensations were “only for a period of time,” rather than permanent.
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