MIKE LEWIS AT “WHERE PETER IS” AKA, “WHERE POPE FRANCIS WAS” IS REALLY, REALLY CONFUSED AS IS MASSIMO FAGGIOLI WHOM HE QUOTES

😂😢

 You can read Mike Lewis’ hilarious full commentary HERE. The following is just but one joke:

The alternate magisterium

This is the problem we founded Where Peter Is to address. As I wrote in 2022, our original concern was not primarily the Latin Mass or the SSPX. It was the transformation of mainstream conservative Catholicism following the release of Amoris Laetitia. The dubia, the attacks on Francis’s teaching on the death penalty, the resistance to Fiducia Supplicans, and the constant denunciations of synodality gradually created an alternate magisterium and effectively rendered the primacy of the successor of Peter as worthless. Catholics who had once defined orthodoxy as fidelity to John Paul II and Benedict XVI learned to treat open resistance to Francis as normal.

Mike Lewis has a very long, long, and very wrong, wrong commentary on traditional Catholics where he denigrates the synodal process of listening, especially to Cardinals Mueller and Burke and others who have a right to speak and with authority even if it questions some aspects of certain papacies. 

We saw that in plain daylight during the Vatican synodal meetings that not only were certain popes criticized but even the Deposit of Faith and Morals. 

The paragraph above shows Mike Lewis is quite wet behind the ears and with extreme naive youthfulness—he’s really a know nothing, to say the least.

Prior to Pope Francis, and beginning in 1968 with St. Pope Paul VI’s Humanae Vitae, cardinals, other bishops, clergy and religious have questioned not only that but most other defined teachings of the Church to include obedience to the pope. The mantra was if you disagree with the pope follow your conscience and be an individual. 

Disobedience to the Pope was put on steroids with the election of St. Pope John Paul II and later Pope Benedict. There was real hatred for them both from the heterodox left. Most will remember the Sister of Mercy and many other religous at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington when John Paul II visited there standing throughout his talk in protest of his magisterium and refusal to ordain women to Holy Orders.

Today, the greatest disobedience isn’t from those who question so many confusing and polarizing teachings of Pope Francis, like in Fiducia Supplicans and Amoris Laetitia, but those who reject outright Humanae Vitae, the Ordinary Magisterium of the Church that is clear that women can’t be ordained to Holy Orders, marriage can’t be redefined according the the LGBTQ+++ ideolgies in the Church and that any and all kinds of sexual relationships can be lived in God’s grace without repentance.

The Mike Lewis commentary would be a laughing stock if not so sad. 

Sadly, Mike Lewis doesn’t know how to use AI technology on the internet to fill in the gaps of his complete ignorance on post-Vatican II questioning of popes, especially St. Pope Paul VI.

So I provide an AI summary for Mike Lewis:

When Pope Paul VI issued Humanae Vitae in 1968, it prompted unprecedented and open dissent from several cardinals and bishops. Rather than an outright rejection of the pope, many of the hierarchy protested by expressing extreme discomfort, urging tolerance for dissenters, or issuing statements that allowed Catholics to follow their consciences. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

The most notable figures and episcopal bodies involved in the protest included:

Cardinal Leo Jozef Suenens (Belgium): One of the most vocal critics among the hierarchy. He publicly questioned the encyclical and urged the pope to reconsider his position. [1, 2, 3, 4]
The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops: In September 1968, the Canadian bishops issued the famous Winnipeg Statement. While acknowledging the teaching, the bishops included a paragraph asserting that couples who sincerely tried but failed to follow the papal directives could still receive the sacraments in good conscience. [1, 2]
The Austrian Bishops' Conference: The Austrian bishops issued a declaration emphasizing the primacy of individual conscience, noting that Catholics could disagree with the document because it was not an infallible teaching. [, 2]
The Dutch Hierarchy (Netherlands): The Dutch bishops were among the most liberal in their response, openly criticizing the encyclical and defending the right of Catholics to follow their own formed consciences on the matter of birth control. [1, 2]
The French and Scandinavian Bishops: Several national conferences released pastoral letters that were seen as "minimalist," heavily softening the blow of the encyclical by focusing on the rights of conscience and pastoral leniency rather than enforcing the ban on contraception. [1, 2, 3]
Cardinal Patrick O'Boyle (Washington, D.C.): Interestingly, he was on the opposite end, acting as a strict enforcer of the encyclical. When 19 priests in his archdiocese publicly dissented from Humanae Vitae, Cardinal O'Boyle suspended them—a decision that was later contested by the Vatican. [1]
And this challenge from Sister Kane to JPII in 1979:
Sister Theresa Kane, a Sister of Mercy, famously challenged Pope John Paul II in 1979 during his visit to the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., advocating for the inclusion of women in all church ministries.
Sister Theresa Kane's Challenge to the Pope
Sister Theresa Kane's bold address marked a significant moment in church history.
• Historical Context — On October 7, 1979, Sister Kane welcomed Pope John Paul II and urged him to allow women to serve in all church roles.
• Public Reaction — Her remarks received both praise and criticism, with some viewing her challenge as impertinent.
• Legacy — Kane's advocacy for women's ordination has inspired many within the Catholic community to continue pushing for gender equality.
• Role in the Church — As a prominent member of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, she represented a progressive voice within the Catholic Church.

OH THE NOSTALGIA!

 When I was in major seminary from 1976-1980, we didn’t have any outdoor Masses like this, I don’t recall, but we certainly had many indoor Masses just like this, except the priest below is wearing a stole! Kudos!

When I was in major seminary, only 6 years after the Bugnini Mass had been promulgated in 1970, the new and improved Mass was celebrated with great creativity and planning. 

Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, Mass was for the entire seminary community in our beautiful chapel (which has been spared renovations and wreckovations to this very day! God is merciful).

On Tuesdays and Thursdays we had small group Masses in the priest-faculty apartments in the seminary. These were casual affairs, as appears in the photo above, but inside. No vestments. Mass on the Floor! Everyone sitting “American Indian” style, made-up Eucharistic prayers. These were so meaningful and relevant! NOT!

One priest wore his clerical shirt but with the collar open, the plastic tab to the side and the stole laying near the floor on which the Mass was celebrated. There’s something sacred about floors, no? 

One priest-faculty member would pass the bread to us as we sat in a circle on the floor as he said the words of consecration, the same with the one chalice. I think I got the flu from that, a foretaste of the Covid 19 pandemic. 

More than likely that Mass was not valid in any way at all.

In fact, I wonder if any Masses in the time I was in the seminary, to include my deacon ordination Mass there, were valid.

Maybe you can help me.

We made our own homemade bread for the Eucharist as we called the Mass way back then.

That bread had whole wheat, brown sugar, leaven and honey in it. It was quite chewy. Seminarians called it “chewy Jesus”. But I don’t think so because the ingredients made it invalid, but I’m not sure—what do you think?

Oh, the nostalgia of it all, the glories of the 1970’s Church, the relevancy and meaningfulness and the glories of creativity. It was the very beginning of the new springtime for the Church, which synodality will now take over and create the best church in history. 

REGULAR COMMENTER, RCG’S PARISH IN DAYTON, OHIO…

 RCG SAYS: Also, I confirmed with our priest that we have had about 28 infant baptisms this calendar year. We average about one a week all year long, not counting adults and transfers.  We have three seminarians from our parish, too. 

Vivat Jesus!

Richard C. Goad 

rcg

NICE! PRESS TITLE:

Church of the Holy Family in Dayton, Ohio with Mural by Gerhard J. Lamers

by John Paul Sonnenon July 17, 2026

IS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IN THE CHURCH PEOPLE JOINING THE SSPX? NO, BUT THE SSPX ORDAINING BISHOPS WHEN THE POPE SAYS NOT TO DO SO IS BIG, BIG DISOBEDIENCE AND SCHISMATIC ON THE BISHOPS’ PART

 People continue to mix apples and oranges when it comes to the SSPX—as far as I can tell, the excommunication of the SSPX isn’t based completely on their non-acceptance of some novel aspects of Vatican II, although serious. The issue of excommunication comes from their direct disobedience to the pope and what His Holiness asked them not to do and that is to ordain new bishops without his imprimatur. 

But yes, the bigger schism in the Catholic Church are all those who have joined other schismatic and heretical groups, be they other Christian sects, non Christian religions or leaving religion altogether. 

The clergy and laity of the SSPX embrace most of the Catholic Faith as the current magisterium teaches. But not all—but they aren’t like Protestants in the traditional sense, maybe more like Eastern Orthodoxy.

Lots of Catholics have joined Eastern Orthodoxy which is far superior to joining the Episcopal Church or any on the new family businesses under the guise of the non-denominational movement in Protestantism. 

Yes, it is better to be an SSPX or Eastern Orthodoxy than to be a “none”. 

Nonetheless, here is a funny question and answer thing I saw at the Remnant Newspaper, known for its cynical and mortally sinfully sins against charity. You can read the article HERE. 
Just keep in mind the last part which is commentary goes off the rails but other than that, this is food for thought:

A diocesan priest—not a SSPX priest—just published what may be the funniest and most devastating critique yet of Rome's SSPX excommunications.

Instead of writing another theological rebuttal, he created a "Schismatic Self-Assessment Test."

Do you prefer Gregorian Chant?

Do you pray the Rosary?

Do you use the Catechism of Trent?

Uh-oh! SSPX or not, you might have some "schismatic tendencies" according to the Tucho's and Cupich's and Martin's of the Church.

The SSAT (Schismatic Self-Assessment Test):

How often do you attend an SSPX liturgy?

0 -What’s SSPX? What’s liturgy?

0 -I don’t go to Mass anymore

3 -Christmas and Easter only

4 -Occasionally, for sake of family

5 -Every Sunday and every Holy day

Were you married in an SSPX chapel?

0 -No. We chose cohabitation

0 -No. They don’t do same sex

0 -Cannot remember. Was drunk

4 -My fiancé made me go to SSPX

5 -Happily married in SSPX chapel

Have you ever confessed to an SSPX priest?

0 -No. Jesus is my only Lord and Savior

0 -1st confession was my last confession

0 -Never. Not even on my death bed

4 -For mortal sins and Easter duty

5 -Frequently or on a regular basis

Which of these catechisms do you use?

0 -Heal Me with Your Mouth (Fernandez)

0 -Hope: The Autobiography (Francis)

0 -Origin of the Species (Darwin)

5 -Catechism of Trent or Pope Pius X

5 -The Baltimore Catechism

What are your music preferences for Mass?

0 -The Saint Louis Jesuits

0 -Abba and The Beatles

0 -Piano and Guitar

5 -Organ and Scola

5 -Gregorian Chant

Which of these do you honor or venerate?

0 -Saint John XXIII

0 -Saint Paul VI

5 -Saint Pius V

5 -Saint Pius X

5 -Archbishop Lefebvre

What do you do at the end of Mass?

0 -Make a beeline for the parking lot

0 -Remain in pew and chat with friends

0 -Participate in small synod groups

5 -Leonine prayers and Thanksgiving

5 -Pray the Rosary or go to Confession

TEST COMPLETE.  Now add up your total schism points and record your SSAT score here _____ [Tell us your score in the comments!]

If you scored 0, you are schism free and no further action is required. If you scored up to 10, you may have schismatic behaviors which should be curtailed. If you scored above 10, you are an adherent to schism and you must contact your local bishop for additional assessment and remedial action. You will be required to renounce Catholicism, profess faith in the conciliar church and burn incense to synodality.

Folks, this canonical action of Rome against the Society of Saint Pius X is an absolute farce and fiasco. Rome has overplayed its hand, not knowing one hand from the other, and exposed its own incompetence.

Father's Last Word: Hey Rome, we support SSPX and adhere to their profession of faith and assessment of Vatican II errors! Please send us an official decree of our excommunication, care of Remnant Newspaper.

A CHANGE AT SAINT PETER’S BASILICA?

 His Eminence

Rolandas Cardinal Makrickas

Because of social media and the internet we poor lowly Catholics know more about the inside gossip at the Vatican more so than ever, especially when we had to wait a month or so for Catholic news to come to us through newspapers before these were placed on the internet.

The gossip for the last few years has been how horrible Archbishop Gambetti is in his role as the head of St. Peter’s. In his reign there have been three desecrations of the altar with men jumping onto the papal altar, knocking off candlesticks and crucifix and damaging these. One man urinating on the papal altar. 

And those plastic chairs! Gambetti replaced the other chairs with ones made out of clear plexiglass in Saint Peter’s Basilica. The basilica becomes a frame for plexiglass chairs!!!!

There are three who are rumored to take over Gambetti’s position as he is demoted to a small diocese in Italy.

They are Cardinal Parolin, which I really, really doubt will be the one.

The other is Archbishop Ravalli, the current papal MC—and that would be possible.

The third and my vote goes to His Eminence, is His Eminence Rolandas Cardinal Makrickas the current head of St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome. I find him impressive. He allows the TLM and he has kept the altar with the traditional set-up. He is quite impressive, that’s why I’m voting for His Eminence. 

MORE AND MORE CARDINALS, OTHER BISHOPS, OTHER PRIESTS, RELIGIOUS AND LAITY AGREE WITH POPE LEO XIV—GENEROSITY TOWARDS THE TRADITIONAL LATIN MASS “MUST APPLY TO ALL BISHOPS!” —AND I SAY, “DUH!”

Some very high profile cardinals and bishops agree with Pope Leo and his generosity towards those clergy and laity who desire to be able to celebrate the Ancient Form of the Latin Mass and not to be harassed by bishops who are “doctors of the law” as Pope Francis would ridicule them. 

Pope Leo’s liberality and progressiveness in allowing the TLM is greatly appreciated but His Holiness knows that he has to write a Motu Proprio killing off Tradtionis Custodis especially since it sins against not telling the truth and against charity, against flexibility and against progressivenessness. 

Everyone with one ounce of common sense thanks Pope Leo for starting processes to end Traditionis Custodis. Certainly this is the work of the Holy Spirit, no?

From Diane Montagna with video interview:

 Cardinal Sarah: Pope Leo’s Generosity towards the Traditional Latin Mass ‘Must Apply to All Bishops’

In a new video-interview five years after Traditionis Custodes, the Cardinal weighs in on the future of the vetus ordo — and warns that “Synodality” and…

JUL 16 • DIANE MONTAGNA

I LIKE IT; I LIKE IT; I LIKE IT! IT WILL BE SPECTACULAR!

 Although in the round, which I don’t dislike automatically, this new cathedral, not finished, has a spectacular reredos, a beautiful free standing altar that allows Mass to be celebrated ad orientem or toward the nave, a very nice placement of the ambo, the bishop’s throne and an altar railing! The sanctuary follows the pre-Vatican II plan—very nice. I like it! I like it! I like it!

St. Nicholas of Tolentine Cathedral (under construction)📍 Cabanatuan City 🇵🇭

FROM AN ALTAR RAILING, TO NO ALTAR RAILING, TO A RESTORED ALTAR RAILING—A HISTORY IN PICTURES

The first photo is a TLM Nuptial Mass prior to the restoration of the altar railing at St. Joseph Church in Macon, Georgia. In 2004, when I became pastor, Bishop Kevin Boland gave permission for the renovation of the sanctuary and the removal of the altar railing. 

In 2015, after a donor gave $100,000 for the restoration of the altar railing, Bishop (now Archbishop) Gregory Hartmayer gave us permission to restore the altar railing.

Subsequent photos show the extension of the first step to accommodate the restoration of the railing and the last photo is the complete restoration.

We had stored the original removed railing in the basement of one of our buildings on campus. However, in the 1970’s the double gates to the main entrance of the sanctuary and one gate at a side entrance had been lost. We only had the other side gate. 

New pieces needed for the altar railing were fabricated, looking identical to the older ones and new gates were fabricated to match the one we had—and there was no telling of the difference between the new and the original. Amazing!