Sir, - Michael Cox describes himself as a "Tridentine" bishop. By this, he seems to mean that because he celebrates the Tridentine Mass, he must be a Tridentine Bishop.
There is no Tridentine Church as such. Catholic laity may attend the Tridentine Mass, if allowed under the terms of the 1984 instruction (indult) of Pope John Paul II. I can supply information in respect of indult Masses in Ireland and I can assure readers that none of Bishop Cox's Masses qualify. The Bishop has made no approach to the Ecclesia Dei Commission in Rome, which has the brief of reconciling disaffected traditionalists with the "institutional" Church.
Archbishop Lefebvre's Society of St Pius X has totally repudiated Bishop Cox. Put simply, the Bishop appears to be operating on his own initiative, and seems to believe the adjective "Tridentine" can be employed as an excuse for his completely irregular ministry. Should he read the documents of the Council of Trent (from which the word "Tridentine" is derived) he will find grave penalties prescribed for such activities.
Elsewhere Bishop Cox describes himself as a traditionalist. If one reads the agenda proffered by himself and Bishop Pat Buckley, one sees a programme impossible to accommodate with Catholic tradition. By the way, the two bishops presumably recognise John Paul II as Supreme Pontiff - or are they sedevacantists (people who think there is at present no validly-elected Pope)? - Yours, etc., Peader Laighleis, Chairman,
Ecclesia Dei Ireland, Old Court, Dublin 24.