New Initiative for REcourse against a Decree
NEW: Logical Fallacies in Bishop’s Protocol
NEW: On the False Claims that the TLM is Divisive
NEW: (Brief)On the False Claims that the TLM is Divisive
Letters may be emailed or mailed. Registered mail will provide confirmation of receipt and date of receipt.
October 1st, 2025
Feast of St. Therese of Lisieux, the Little Flower
Regarding The Recent Protocol Letter of Bishop Martin announcing
the chapel of the Little Flower
On Friday, September 26th, Bishop Martin issued a Protocol letter to announce the details of the new TLM Chapel in Mooresville. This Protocol letter has raised concerns among the faithful, priests, and canon lawyers. You may read it here. It was read before the homily by the four pastors of the parishes where the TLM has been offered in the Diocese.
The glaring issue, which is the subject of this call to seek Recourse against the Bishop’s Protocol, is the fact that the Chapel was established in a manner that insufficiently provides for the number of adherents of the Traditional Latin Mass in the Diocese, something called for in the Traditionis Custodes document of Pope Francis.
The faithful can reasonably argue that the place established by the Bishop fails to meet the requirements of Traditionis Custodes due to its great distance from the adherents to the Traditional Latin Mass and due to the size of the chapel itself, which is clearly insufficient to handle the size of the groups who are known to adhere to the Traditional Latin Mass.
Traditionis Custodes, in Art. 3, § 2, says, “[The Bishop] is to designate one or more locations where the faithful adherents of these groups may gather for the eucharistic celebration.” However, the Bishop admits in his Protocol Letter, “…the chapel is not meant to be able to accommodate all who are currently attending the TLM in their respective parishes.” Further, he states, “I encourage you to see Little Flower Chapel as you would a shrine chapel that you might visit for Mass on occasion while participating regularly in the life of your registered parish.”
It is clear from the very words of the Bishop that his Protocol does not fulfill the intentions of Traditionis Custodes, for the “faithful adherents of these groups” can hardly “gather for the eucharistic celebration” if they are unable to reach (due to the distance from their homes) or even enter the building (due to its restricted size).
Therefore, the faithful should now send letters to the Bishop asking him to reconsider his plan to remove all adherents of the Traditional Latin Mass from their parishes and isolate them to this small Chapel.
In Your Letters
Please be kind but direct in your letter. Ask him to reconsider his plan and rescind this latest Protocol, leaving in place the Traditional Latin Masses as they had been prior to October 2nd and asking for an extension of the permissions from Rome for the offering of the Traditional Latin Mass in the Diocese.
Here is the official process for Initiating Recourse against an Administrative Decree.
View the full description of this process HERE.
As a reminder, this process is time-sensitive. Letters must be received by the Bishop by Friday, October 10th. Further, after the Bishop receives your letter, he has thirty days to reply. If he does, in the negative, or if thirty days pass without a reply, you must then write to the Dicastery for Divine Worship through the Nuncio within fifteen working days.
Please also remember to pray and fast often for our Diocese, that God may intervene.
New Step and Deadline for Recourse
October 28th, 2025
Feast of Sts. Simon and Jude
UPDATES
Many of those who sent letters to the Bishop, regarding his recent Protocol letter regarding the new TLM chapel in Mooresville, have received a reply. If that is the case, the next step in the Canonical process for recourse begins. Once you receive a negative reply from the Bishop, you have 15 working days to send a letter to the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments asking them to intervene. Here are the details of the next step (italics):
f. If, after legitimate petition, Bishop Martin does not revoke the initial decree,hierarchic recourse may be proposed to the Holy See.
g. This must be done within a peremptory time limit of fifteen (15) working days. This recourse cannot validly be proposed unless one has first written to Bishop Martin to ask him to revoke the decree.
h. This recourse is to be made in writing, along with the reasons for seeking recourse, to the proper Dicastery of the Holy See (i.e., Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments). Letters can most easily be mailed through the Nuncio, as described on the website: https://www.faithfuladvocate.org/write-to-the-vatican .See the full Appeal Process form here: https://www.faithfuladvocate.org/the-rights-of-the-faithful > Take Action.
Here is the official process for Initiating Recourse against an Administrative Decree.
View the full description of this process HERE.
As a reminder, this process is time-sensitive.
In your package to the Nuncio, include (link here, scroll down, for these details): 1) the addressed and sealed envelope to the Prefect of the DDWDS, containing your letter to him, 2) a copy of that letter for the Nuncio, and 3) a cover letter explaining what is in the package as a whole, also requesting that the Nuncio kindly forward it on to Rome.
In your letter to Cardinal Arthur Roche, the Prefect of the DDWDS, ask him to intervene in the matter (that of the poor provisions for access to the Traditional Latin Mass) and to ensure that Bishop Martin adequately supplies for the spiritual needs of the faithful who adhere to the Traditional Latin Mass, as Traditionis Custodes requires. Specific details could include: there is only one small Chapel established for the TLM, this chapel is not in a location that is accessible for all adherents of the TLM, and the chapel is too small to hold everyone who desires to attend the TLM. Mention may also be made that Bishop Martin refused to ask for a renewal of the permissions originally granted to the Diocese, even though he knew there was a strong and enduring tradition of reverence for the Traditional Latin Mass throughout the Diocese upon his arrival.
Addresses:
1. His Eminence, Christophe Cardinal Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio 3339 Massachusetts Ave NW. Washington DC 20008
2. His Eminence, Arthur Cardinal Roche, Prefect, Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, 00120 Vatican City
3. To bring any other concerns about Bishop Martin to Rome’s attention:
His Excellency, Archbishop Filippo Iannone, Prefect, Dicastery for Bishops, 00120 Vatican City
Please also remember to pray and fast often for our Diocese, that God may intervene. Suggested prayers are on the website.
Adjutorium nostrum in Nomine Domini!
Faithful Advocate