Bad news from India

Cardinal Oswald Gracias

A serious development for the Tridentine Mass is occurring in India. According to an article by Dr Aubyne Savio Fernandes, in the Archdiocese of Mumbai, Tridentine Masses are offered in 3 churches: Victoria Church (Mahim), St. Peter’s Church (Bandra) and St. Anthony's Church (Malwani, Malad). In order for these to take place, permission was obtained - after tough negotiations - from Cardinal Oswald Gracias, who first wanted proof that a stable group desired the Mass. When a list was provided, Cardinal Gracias said that he did not have Latin conversant priests. 

The current situation is as follows:

• two priests are more than 80 years old. 
• other priests would like to say the Tridentine Mass, but are afraid of being transferred to remote places, as apparently has already been the case.
• Bishop Bosco Penha is very much against the Traditional Latin Mass and allegedly is responsible for vitiating the careers of many priests.
• the same bishop defines any priest who says the Tridentine Mass as "Lunatic Priests".  
• the SSPX is banned from offering the Tridentine Mass in the Diocesan Churches, and is forced to provide its services from residential flats.

This situation is alarming in particular because Cardinal Oswald Gracias is among the eight cardinals from around the world who were appointed by Pope Francis in an advisory council to look into ways of reforming the Vatican bureaucracy. This council will help the Pope revise the Apostolic Constitution on the Roman Curia Pastor Bonus. Cardinal Gracias was appointed Archbishop of Mumbai by Pope Benedict XVI in 2006. He was raised to the cardinalate in 2007.