How can I be sure that a Church I plan to visit fulfills my obligation?

[MadeAFace]

I am going to be traveling on the feast day of the Immaculate Conception. I was planning on visiting Sacred Heart Traditional Catholic Church in Orlando, FL.

orlando-sacred-heart.org/default.sht#top_of_content

I am just trying to figure out if they are in union with the Holy See. They have on their page that they recognize Pope Francis but they are outside of the diocese. How can I figure out if this church is safe to attend? From what I can see, its not Sedevacantist or “Old Catholic.” Many people have given me a list or directory of valid Latin Masses but I feel that it is very dated because the one that I attend weekly is not on the list either. Any comments or thoughts are appreciated.

 

[Jacobj715]

No, I do not believe that this church is in full communion with Rome and would not fill your Sunday obligation. The fact that the pastor of this church is a bishop and it saying that it is outside the Diocese of Orlando tells me that it is not in communion with the Holy See. I would imagine that this church is SSPX-Like in the fact that they recognize the pope while not being in full communion.

God Bless, Jacob

 

[thistle]

I am going to be traveling on the feast day of the Immaculate Conception. I was planning on visiting Sacred Heart Traditional Catholic Church in Orlando, FL.

orlando-sacred-heart.org/default.sht#top_of_content

I am just trying to figure out if they are in union with the Holy See. They have on their page that they recognize Pope Francis but they are outside of the diocese. How can I figure out if this church is safe to attend? From what I can see, its not Sedevacantist or “Old Catholic.” Many people have given me a list or directory of valid Latin Masses but I feel that it is very dated because the one that I attend weekly is not on the list either. Any comments or thoughts are appreciated.

Contact the Diocese and ask.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

The Diocese of Orlando has a list of their parishes here: orlandodiocese.org/main-menu-parishes with lists of both legitimate parishes and those it labels schismatic. Unfortunately, Sacred Heart Traditional Catholic Church is on the schismatic list (here).

Find another parish to attend.

 

[ProVobis]

I am going to be traveling on the feast day of the Immaculate Conception. I was planning on visiting Sacred Heart Traditional Catholic Church in Orlando, FL.

orlando-sacred-heart.org/default.sht#top_of_content

I am just trying to figure out if they are in union with the Holy See. They have on their page that they recognize Pope Francis but they are outside of the diocese. How can I figure out if this church is safe to attend? From what I can see, its not Sedevacantist or “Old Catholic.” Many people have given me a list or directory of valid Latin Masses but I feel that it is very dated because the one that I attend weekly is not on the list either. Any comments or thoughts are appreciated.

I could give you the link to the diocesan Latin Masses but you’re going to have to call for the Holy Day schedule. This is true even if you were to go to an OF Mass.

ecclesiadei.org/masses.cfm#Florida

 

[commenter]

Keep in mind Eastern Rite Catholic churches are separate from the local (Latin Rite) diocese, yet fully in union with the Catholic Church. If you call the local diocese, they will certainly identify those churches, even though they are not part of the diocese, per se.
You can certainly attend those (in fact, I strongly encourage it).

You mention that the church you considered attending is not sedevacantist. According to their website, they recognize the “sovereignty” of Pope Francis. That’s the kind of ambiguous language these groups often use. The reality is they reject Pope Francis’ local bishop and diocese, they reject the Mass the pope regards as valid, they often reject much of what this pope, and other recent ones, teach. “Sovereignty” can mean almost nothing.

The problem is not just that you want to avoid missing Mass, but you also want to avoid causing scandal. Even if you attended this Mass, as well as one at another church that was licit, you would be reinforcing to the other people at the illicit Mass that this is appropriate. Suppose one of the priests at this church is a validly ordained priest, but considering reuniting with the Catholic Church. Leaving your seat empty at that illicit Mass is a kind of positive witness to him that he may need.