Hi, Moira --

Thanks for your note:

Well, the Church thinks it's valid, and that's good enough for us. :-) Usually people send us challenges claiming it's not valid, so we help them sort out the fact from fiction in their arguments.

I wouldn't describe all 'traditionalists' as that priest does: various individuals and groups who support the old Mass take differing attitudes toward the new rite and toward Church authority. I suppose his words would apply best to the groups which have broken from Catholic unity.

The Church has approved the establishment of several 'traditionalist' religious communities; for example, the Fraternity of St. Peter.

In my opinion, this would not have happened if the Church thought their motivating impulse was not a legitimate charism from God.

Richard Chonak