Catholic Identity Conference 2017

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Speakers: Catholic Identity Conference 2017
October 27-29, 2017 in Weirton, WV (near Steubenville)
Promo video: Catholics Rising: A Major Event Coming Soon [3:23 long]

Is anybody from CAF going to this? I am, a bit reluctantly (it’s a long story). I am not a traditionalist, though I’d say I have some traditionalist leanings. Several of my closest Catholic friends are traditionalists and I am open to a good number of their points (though the hyperbole drives me nuts at times). I am most interested in hearing Bishop Athanasius Schneider speak (and preside over Mass). Anyway, it would be neat to meet any CAFers who go.
 
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Historically this conference has not had the blessing or endorsement of the local bishop or that diocese. I realize a bishop will be appearing, but he is not the bishop ordinary designated for that diocese. I do go to Catholic conferences where the local diocese is not represented, but only when I believe they have the approval of the local diocese.

Does anyone know if this conference is approved by the local diocese in 2017?
 
commenter said:
Historically this conference has not had the blessing or endorsement of the local bishop or that diocese. I realize a bishop will be appearing, but he is not the bishop ordinary designated for that diocese.
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Could a Bishop celebrate Mass without the permission of the local ordinary? I am certain that a priest needs at least the nominal go ahead. I’d think there would be something similar with bishops.
 
Bartholo said:
Could a Bishop celebrate Mass without the permission of the local ordinary? I am certain that a priest needs at least the nominal go ahead. I’d think there would be something similar with bishops.
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The issue is not with the Mass, but with the conference. The permission of a diocese for someone outside the diocese to say Mass is separate from endorsement of the conference itself. Most major conferences I have been to have the local bishop ordinary, or his rep, briefly greeting the people, or there is a word “Welcome to our diocese, have a blessed conference” in the program, or the diocesan media at least acknowledge the conference in some way, as affiliated with the Catholic Church.

Many Catholic speakers, priest or lay, choose not to give a talk in a city without consent of the bishop ordinary, and many laity don’t attend conferences that are unable to get endorsed by the local diocese. Does this conference now have endorsement of the bishop ordinary?

Re: one of the speakers, in 2012 Christopher Ferrara, along with a suspended priest, petitioned the mostly atheistic EU government to pressure Pope Benedict to take a certain action regarding a private revelation.
 
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These are interesting questions. I have no idea what the answers are. The following is total speculation on my part, as I have never attended a Catholic conference before, though I do have some behind-the-scenes knowledge of the planning of some Catholic events in my diocese (not conferences, but events where sometimes controversial speakers fly in to speak).

Given the nature of the conference, I would be surprised if they sought the local bishop’s permission, either because he might say No, or because they don’t want to put him in the position of having to say No. On the other hand, they’ve held it in the same location numerous times, so it shouldn’t be flying under the radar of the local bishop and perhaps that means he at least tolerates it.

Also, I would imagine that Bishop Schneider would not come all the way from Kazakhstan to speak and say Mass there without talking to the local bishop to ensure that he would at least would tolerate, if not endorse, it.

Again, I am merely speculating. I have zero inside information on this event other than what’s been posted publicly.
 
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The prior conferences, with some of the same speakers, have been summarized online. The promotion for this conference (and earlier conferences too) emphasizes the need for a very proactive position by attendees (let’s take our Church back).

If anyone attends the 2017 conference, or for that matter, the earlier conferences which were also promoted in CAF posts, feel free to comment; what kinds of actions by laity are facilitated by the information presented? What kinds of things might attendees do differently as a result of the conference? Since the promotion emphasizes the need for action, that seems a fair standard to meet.
 
commenter said:
The issue is not with the Mass, but with the conference. The permission of a diocese for someone outside the diocese to say Mass is separate from endorsement of the conference itself. Most major conferences I have been to have the local bishop ordinary, or his rep, briefly greeting the people, or there is a word “Welcome to our diocese, have a blessed conference” in the program, or the diocesan media at least acknowledge the conference in some way, as affiliated with the Catholic Church.

Many Catholic speakers, priest or lay, choose not to give a talk in a city without consent of the bishop ordinary, and many laity don’t attend conferences that are unable to get endorsed by the local diocese. Does this conference now have endorsement of the bishop ordinary?
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All I was saying was that if the priests and Bishop Schneider need permission from the local ordinary, and he granted it to them, then he must be ok with the event, otherwise he would not have given the permission. (or maybe such permission is automatic? what is the point of it then?)
Re: one of the speakers, in 2012 Christopher Ferrara, along with a suspended priest, petitioned the mostly atheistic EU government to pressure Pope Benedict to take a certain action regarding a private revelation.
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That on the other hand does seem to not be kosher.

@(name removed by moderator) I’m not sure if it follows. If not everything has to be under the direct control of the local ordinary, as Pope Pius XI states, it does not follow that he can’t say no to things.
 
I don’t deny anyone can go to a conference not endorsed by the bishop ordinary. I am just saying some orthodox conferences are held in the US each year that are endorsed by the host diocese. For some people, that is useful information.

If anyone from CAF does go, enjoy the conference. If you are so inclined, write a post about something the conference presented that you can act on.
 
@(name removed by moderator) Yes, looking back at it, I see that you are right:
Where did you get the idea that such a thing is a prerequisite?
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My bad.
 
commenter said:
If anyone from CAF does go, enjoy the conference. If you are so inclined, write a post about something the conference presented that you can act on.
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The reason I wrote this is that I did attend a one day conference in the last few weeks, which I would describe as “Traditional”. It was sponsored by a diocesan Latin Mass community, and I was hoping for some broader spiritual or practical benefit. To summarize their points:
  • The Novus Ordo is valid, but far inferior to the TLM.
  • Significant mistakes were made (by the bishops) in recent decades. Here are ways to reform (various actions are described, all of which could be implemented only by bishops, or very influential priests). No bishops, and one only assistant pastor, were the clergy in attendance besides the presenters.
  • Hardly anything was presented that the average conference attendees, themselves, could implement in their daily life, parish or diocese.
  • They quoted extensively from the revelations at Fatima, but almost exclusively from the “secrets”, especially the last secret, and hardly at all on the call to personal conversion. In fact, they talked almost exclusively on the global, or national level, regarding the subject of “The Family”, and not on the level of what the attendees could do, in their own family, or in their neighborhood, or their own job.
  • They did not mention the current pope or any bishop-ordinary. But the indirect message conveyed was to be suspicious of anything coming out of the Vatican, and probably anything coming out of current Catholic authority at all.
This is kind of the same tone I got from reading the summaries online from the prior years’ Catholic Identity Conferences (which I did not attend). That is why I bolded the words in my prior post, and encourage readers to consider. If anyone gets practical suggestions from this, or another conference, post on CAF.
 
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Just posting so this doesn’t close due to inactivity, since I have said I’d post after the conference.
 
I’m not particularly worried about approval of diocese of where it’s being held. There are so many diocese that are so liberal that they would never endorse anything traditional no matter what. LA and SF dioceses come to mind.
 
I’d love to hear your thoughts about this. I’ve been wanting to go to this event for years, and it looks like they’ve got a great lineup this year. One of the speakers and organizers is a priest friend of mine. Looking forward to your report!
 
While both Archdiocese you mention are probably quite liberal, but I would think you could have traditional pockets there, because of the Archbishops. Archbishop Cordielone is a good man. He has backed Fr. Illo, who is pastor of Star of the Sea parish. They offer weekly extraordinary form.
 
Wampa,
I have attended Traditional conferences, and read summaries of prior Identity conferences. Here is a suggestion for your summary (what to look for). Try not to repeat all the usual cliches: “Here are the problems created by the Vatican and bishops, and the dire situation we have now. Here are actions that need to be taken now (all of which would be pope and bishop actions).”

In your summary (you will be duly compensated in spiritual bitcoins) focus on actions the **
laity** can do. If there is a question and answer section, consider asking.
I say this because I attended a one day Traditional conference, and the whole thing was describing in detail problems created by bishops and popes, and why the hierarchy’s ignoring private revelations led us to where we are now. By implication, the only people who could benefit from attending such a conference would have been bishops. But none were there, and only 2 priests, hardly anything to benefit actions of lay attenders.
 
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I appreciate all of the thoughtful comments presented in this thread! Alas, I now will not be attending the conference (another long story), so I won’t be able to report on it.

I do want to attend Catholic conferences on a regular basis in the future and the annual Catholic Answers Conference, as well as the annual Catholic Answers Cruise are likely to be at the top of the list for consideration.
 
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