On Saturday, October 14, 2023, Bishop Bernard Tissier de Mallerais of the Society of Saint Pius X celebrated Confirmations in the Traditional Rite at All Souls Catholic Church, a parish church in the Diocese of Orlando, Florida with full permission of the local ordinary.

Due to the sheer number of confirmandi, the local Sanford priory sought, and received, permission to use the larger diocesan church, permission which was granted by Bishop Noonan under paragraph 137 of the Vatican’s “Directory for the Application of Principles and Norms on Ecumenism” (1993). The significance of this magnanimous gesture by the local ordinary should not be overlooked.

We should all offer prayers of thanksgiving for Bishop John Noonan of the Orlando diocese, as well as Father Jeremiah Payne (pastor of All Souls), for the charity and unity shown toward the faithful of St. Thomas Moore priory.

EDIT: That a diocesan bishop had the authority to grant permission is obviously not the point. By all indications Bishop Noonan was motivated by nothing more than charity and the heart of a true shepherd. However, this does serve as an example of a local ordinary simply “doing the right thing” for members of his flock, despite the political waves that it may cause, and hopefully inspires other bishops to follow in their interactions with the Society of Saint Pius X.