Baltimore and the TLM - UPDATE!

NB: A kind poster on WDTPRS pointed out that I had "shortchanged" the Archbishop "one" seminary; he was actually Rector of two seminaries. My comment below should have reflected that.

Fr. John Zuhlsdorf deals with an email he received from someone in the Western part of Maryland concerning the TLM in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. The email reports in part (bold and red were added by Fr. Z. for emphasis):

[...]

I live in western Maryland (Hagerstown) and we have been trying to get a TLM in this area since the MP was released. At my own church, we presented the pastor with a 40 signature petition, but without success. I have written the Archdiocese of Baltimore twice and never received a response. Because my pastor really had little interest, I joined a larger group in the next county. It is well organized with almost 100 people. They found two priests and church willing to offer the TLM to us but they refused to do so without the OK of the Archdiocese. [Ehem… they don’t NEED it!!] (This is not surprising because the Archdiocese’s antipathy towards the TLM is well known. I had an associate pastor who learned the TLM on his own initiative, asked permission, was denied and not long after shipped off to South Carolina against this wishes). A letter was written to the Archbishop and follow up phone calls were made. No one would returned the calls or respond to the letter but we did learn that that Archbishop O’Brien was setting up a committee to decide how to handle requests and we should hear something by Lent (they have received 5 of 6 other requests from other groups, I have heard.)

I found this email to be "jumping the gun" so I weighed in within the comments section:

I am a bit stunned by this comment! Cardinal Keeler was among the first Archbishops to allow the “indult” Mass at Saint Alphonsus Church in Baltimore not 300 yards from the National Shrine of the Basilica of the Assumption! The TLM is still offered there each Sunday at 11:30 AM and on all holydays and special feasts.

I think it is necessary to point out that Archbishop Edwin O’Brien as the former Rector of a seminary himself, was asked to lead the review of seminaries which took place some time back. As Archbishop of Baltimore, he has two seminaries in his jurisdiction: Saint Mary’s Seminary in Roland Park near the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen and Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD on the campus of Mount Saint Mary’s and near the National Shrine Grotto of Lourdes. Clearly, it seems almost certain that he is awaiting the answer to the dubia submitted by the Bishops as matters such as the “allowance for seminarians to receive training in the TLM” will affect his Archdiocese in a great way.

[...]

Please go here to get the full story.

I sincerely believe the Archbishop is awaiting the response to the dubia from the PCED which should arrive any day because a great many wheels can then be set into motion. That is my opinion in any case. He has much on his plate to deal with, that is for sure.

Finally, I am very much opposed to posting "hearsay comments or accusations" against an Archbishop or member of the clergy on an open forum. We don't even know our own motives! How can one ascribe motives to someone else--especially someone with a pastoral role for over a half million souls!?