A short time ago there were some news stories circulating that Bishop Morlino in the US had started celebrating Mass ad orientem. After Cardinal Sarah straightened the path a bit, apparently Bishop Dominique Rey of the Diocese of Frejus-Toulon in France announced that he would follow Bishop James Conley of the Diocese of Lincoln, who is already is offering Mass facing the altar.

I suggested to some friends that it was in gestures like this that could be read signs that there is at least some opposition to the Francis juggernaut.

Today we have another indication:

New bishop of Albenga-Imperia orders all priests to celebrate versus populum – calls altars versus Deum"fake altars" https://t.co/KKTSjH2aKa

— Rorate Caeli (@RorateCaeli) October 22, 2016

This is the diocese of Albenga-Imperia that was recently the subject of a Francidian purge. The TLM-friendly, ad orientem-celebrating bishop was drummed out. Among his offences was reportedly having given refuge to some of the former Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate who had fled the order when it was purged in its turn.

I would venture that this is an indication that my assessment of the political signalling from bishops like Morlino is correct.

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