Something's Missing

It took some concentrated web sleuthing by two people over several days last week to figure out what the whole story was with Holy Martyrs Murrieta. But it brings me back to the same question I had at the start: this was the official first mass at a new facility, a first for the OCSP. Bp Lopes shoiuld have been there, especially since there were confirmations -- first confirmations for the new group at the new facility.

Not only was Bp Lopes not there, there was no serious publicity -- a couple of random posts on two Facebook groups. No explanation of why this was significant. Here's what we should have seen, someplace in the Catholic press:

• News of Bp Lopes's visit to open the new facility at the Pentecost mass
• Photos of Bp Lopes in procession, however unfinished or temporary the arrangements -- makes it more significant to the story
• Photos of Bp Lopes confirming the confirmands -- essential
• Photos of the crowd
• Quotes from Bp Lopes on why this is a joyful occasion, which in theory it must certainly be
• Quotes from Mr Truax II on his journey from TEC to Catholicism and his hopes to share the Anglican patrimony in the Temecula Valley
• Another iteration of the purpose of the OCSP
• Quotes from other new OCSP members
• Quotes from Fr Bartus on his wishes for the new enterprise.

And so forth. This is something any journeyman PR writer could come up with. In fact, Houston has previously engaged Mr Jesserer Smith of the Register for exactly this sort of thing. Why this wasn't done is a puzzle. I can think of two possible explanations.

The first is simple incompetence. Nobody in Houston has the basic good sense to do this, and Houston lacks the resources routinely available to territorial dioceses. I can't completely rule this out.

The second is that Bp Lopes may feel he needs to keep a low profile. Publicizing the start of the Holy Martyrs group, including calling attention to Mr Truax II's role (assuming Mr Truax is OK with this), could have offended Bp Barnes and quite possibly others in the USCCB. Bp Lopes's physical presence in Barnes's diocese, and calling attention to it in the Catholic press, could also have been impolitic.

This suggests to me that, irrespective of whether the CDF can shove some things down diocesan bishops' throats, not all are comfortable with the whole idea of a separate, overlapping, and competing jurisdiction, especially with half-baked communities calling themselves "Catholic churches" in their territories. I can't disagree.

I notice from the Holy Martyrs website that Theology on Tap is coming to the Temecula Valley! Nothing like a mug of draft beer to go with your catechism, huh? Can beer breakfasts and whiskey-and-cigar barbecues be far behind? Er, how many of these things does Fr Bartus have on his weekly schedule?

Know what? I'm gonna ask our pastor why we can't have beer with our Bible study!