Orthodox Roman Catholic Movement
Encyclopedia
The Orthodox Roman Catholic Movement or ORCM is a group of priests founded by Fr. Francis E. Fenton acting on the suggestions of Fr. Joaquin Sáenz y Arriaga
, S.J., and was the U.S. organization parallel to the Mexican
organization Unión Catolica Trento, founded by Fr. Saenz along with Frs. Moises Carmona and Adolfo Zamora. Fenton was a member of the conservative John Birch Society
, and was on its American Opinion Speakers Bureau.
Originally a diocesan
priest, Fenton became disaffected with the Vatican II reforms of the liturgy
being implemented in the U.S. in March, 1970 and quit to form the ORCM.
Fr. Fenton began celebrating the Tridentine Mass
in a private home in Sandy Hook, Connecticut. In March, 1972 the group acquired a chapel
in Brewster, New York
. Later they purchased a chapel in Monroe, Connecticut
, where in January, 1973 they installed as pastor the Dominican priest, Fr. Robert McKenna
, who had recently joined the ORCM.
By fall 1975, the ORCM had gained Frs. Paul Marceau, Charles P. Donohue, Leo M. Carley and Daniel E. Jones ("Dan Jones"), the English Benedictine Placid White, Joseph Gorecki and some other priests, totaling eleven, and services were being held in California
, Colorado
, Florida
, New Jersey
and New York
. A growth period followed, and by 1979 a circuit system set up among the eleven priests offered the Tridentine Mass in sixteen states.
The ORCM was an active movement, and from its presses came several books and numerous pamphlets on the Mass, modest dress
, freemasonry
, obedience to the Pope
, and modern trends in the Catholic Church. The movement stood firm on Pope Pius V
's legislation Quo Primum Tempore
and the belief that the Mass of Paul VI
's was doctrinally unsound, that it is influenced in the Protestant direction, and was thus faithfully following Martin Luther
's and Cranmer's gradual reforms of the liturgy.
Controversy plagued the ORCM from the beginning. Fr. Fenton's membership in and vocal support for the John Birch Society led to continual criticism from potential supporters. While many respected the "conservative" stance of the Society and its strong opposition to Communism, they disapproved of Fenton's support of a non-Catholic organization, believing that this distracted followers from the more central concerns of the Traditionalist Catholic movement.
In the late 1970s internal disputes that had grown within the movement became public. Fr. Fenton and Fr. McKenna O.P., never friendly, came into conflict over the latter's addition to the ORCM's board. A two-year battle for control of the ORCM led to a split with Fr. McKenna coming out in control (1981). It is alleged that one of the ORCM's wealthy patrons instigated and funded the McKenna faction's takeover of the ORCM. It is not known whether Fenton was ejected or if he resigned when he lost control over it.
After this, Fenton retreated to Colorado Springs, along with Fr. Placid White, where fellow-Birchites William
and Rita Quinn harbored them, and where he founded the Traditional Catholics of America and began to publish The Athanasian, named after St. Athanasius, Patriarch of Alexandria, Egypt, who had been forced into exile by the Arian heretics
.
A small group continued to follow him into the 1990s, including John Kenneth Weiskittel. For a time, Fenton was associated with the Society of St. Pius V
. Current information on the Fenton group is not available, and it is believed that Fenton died sometime after 1993, when the Athanasian last mentioned him.
Among present or former ORCM members, besides McKenna (in 1986), it seems that Fr. Paul Marceau too had been consecrated a bishop, for he is credited with having performed the consecration of the Church of Our Lady of Fatima at Spring Hills, Florida (That church is presently presided over by independent Terence Fulham, a bishop derived from the Carlos Duarte Costa succession.)
The remnants of the movement exists nominally and no longer has the vibrant life that it had before the displacement of Fenton. Under Fenton, the movement was not merely organized to provide Masses, but also had an active intellectual component, which died out with his displacement.
McKenna now heads the movement from his headquarters in Monroe, Connecticut, and reports several chapels and missions with regularly scheduled masses. Since McKenna himself has become Sedeprivationist from the time of his episcopal consecration, the present ORCM as led by him is also Sedeprivationist and no longer a Sedevacantist Theory body.
Joaquin Saenz Arriaga
Joaquín Sáenz y Arriaga was a Mexican Catholic priest and theologian. Jesuit from 1916 to 1952 he was later a harsh critic of the Second Vatican Council decisions and of the post-conciliar popes. He was declared excommunicated in 1972 by the Roman Catholic bishops' conference of Mexico...
, S.J., and was the U.S. organization parallel to the Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
organization Unión Catolica Trento, founded by Fr. Saenz along with Frs. Moises Carmona and Adolfo Zamora. Fenton was a member of the conservative John Birch Society
John Birch Society
The John Birch Society is an American political advocacy group that supports anti-communism, limited government, a Constitutional Republic and personal freedom. It has been described as radical right-wing....
, and was on its American Opinion Speakers Bureau.
Originally a diocesan
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
priest, Fenton became disaffected with the Vatican II reforms of the liturgy
Liturgy
Liturgy is either the customary public worship done by a specific religious group, according to its particular traditions or a more precise term that distinguishes between those religious groups who believe their ritual requires the "people" to do the "work" of responding to the priest, and those...
being implemented in the U.S. in March, 1970 and quit to form the ORCM.
Fr. Fenton began celebrating the Tridentine Mass
Tridentine Mass
The Tridentine Mass is the form of the Roman Rite Mass contained in the typical editions of the Roman Missal that were published from 1570 to 1962. It was the most widely celebrated Mass liturgy in the world until the introduction of the Mass of Paul VI in December 1969...
in a private home in Sandy Hook, Connecticut. In March, 1972 the group acquired a chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
in Brewster, New York
Brewster, New York
Brewster is a village within the town of Southeast in Putnam County, New York, United States. Its population was 2,162 at the 2000 census. The village is the most densely populated portion of the town...
. Later they purchased a chapel in Monroe, Connecticut
Monroe, Connecticut
Monroe is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 19,479 at the 2010 census. The current first selectman is Steve Vavrek....
, where in January, 1973 they installed as pastor the Dominican priest, Fr. Robert McKenna
Robert McKenna
Robert Fidelis McKenna, O.P. is a Dominican bishop residing at Our Lady of the Rosary Chapel in Monroe, Connecticut since 1973. He is known for his traditionalist Catholic positions and is an advocate of sedeprivationism...
, who had recently joined the ORCM.
By fall 1975, the ORCM had gained Frs. Paul Marceau, Charles P. Donohue, Leo M. Carley and Daniel E. Jones ("Dan Jones"), the English Benedictine Placid White, Joseph Gorecki and some other priests, totaling eleven, and services were being held in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. A growth period followed, and by 1979 a circuit system set up among the eleven priests offered the Tridentine Mass in sixteen states.
The ORCM was an active movement, and from its presses came several books and numerous pamphlets on the Mass, modest dress
Modesty
Standards of modesty are aspects of the culture of a country or people, at a given point in time, and is a measure against which an individual in society may be judged....
, freemasonry
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
, obedience to the Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
, and modern trends in the Catholic Church. The movement stood firm on Pope Pius V
Pope Pius V
Pope Saint Pius V , born Antonio Ghislieri , was Pope from 1566 to 1572 and is a saint of the Catholic Church. He is chiefly notable for his role in the Council of Trent, the Counter-Reformation, and the standardization of the Roman liturgy within the Latin Church...
's legislation Quo Primum Tempore
Quo Primum
Quo Primum is the name of an Apostolic constitution in the form of a Papal bull issued by Pope St. Pius V on 14 July 1570...
and the belief that the Mass of Paul VI
Mass of Paul VI
The Mass of Pope Paul VI is the liturgy of the Catholic Mass of the Roman Rite promulgated by Paul VI in 1969, after the Second Vatican Council...
's was doctrinally unsound, that it is influenced in the Protestant direction, and was thus faithfully following Martin Luther
Martin Luther
Martin Luther was a German priest, professor of theology and iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517...
's and Cranmer's gradual reforms of the liturgy.
Controversy plagued the ORCM from the beginning. Fr. Fenton's membership in and vocal support for the John Birch Society led to continual criticism from potential supporters. While many respected the "conservative" stance of the Society and its strong opposition to Communism, they disapproved of Fenton's support of a non-Catholic organization, believing that this distracted followers from the more central concerns of the Traditionalist Catholic movement.
In the late 1970s internal disputes that had grown within the movement became public. Fr. Fenton and Fr. McKenna O.P., never friendly, came into conflict over the latter's addition to the ORCM's board. A two-year battle for control of the ORCM led to a split with Fr. McKenna coming out in control (1981). It is alleged that one of the ORCM's wealthy patrons instigated and funded the McKenna faction's takeover of the ORCM. It is not known whether Fenton was ejected or if he resigned when he lost control over it.
After this, Fenton retreated to Colorado Springs, along with Fr. Placid White, where fellow-Birchites William
William Quinn
William Quinn may refer to:* William Quinn , Canadian actor* Liam Quinn , aka William Quinn, member of the Provisional IRA and member of the Balcombe Street Gang* William F. Quinn , former governor of Hawaii...
and Rita Quinn harbored them, and where he founded the Traditional Catholics of America and began to publish The Athanasian, named after St. Athanasius, Patriarch of Alexandria, Egypt, who had been forced into exile by the Arian heretics
Arianism
Arianism is the theological teaching attributed to Arius , a Christian presbyter from Alexandria, Egypt, concerning the relationship of the entities of the Trinity and the precise nature of the Son of God as being a subordinate entity to God the Father...
.
A small group continued to follow him into the 1990s, including John Kenneth Weiskittel. For a time, Fenton was associated with the Society of St. Pius V
Society of St. Pius V
The Society of St. Pius V , abreviated SSPV, is a Traditionalist Catholic society of ordained priests formed in 1983 and based in Oyster Bay Cove, New York. The priests of SSPV broke away from the Society of St...
. Current information on the Fenton group is not available, and it is believed that Fenton died sometime after 1993, when the Athanasian last mentioned him.
Among present or former ORCM members, besides McKenna (in 1986), it seems that Fr. Paul Marceau too had been consecrated a bishop, for he is credited with having performed the consecration of the Church of Our Lady of Fatima at Spring Hills, Florida (That church is presently presided over by independent Terence Fulham, a bishop derived from the Carlos Duarte Costa succession.)
The remnants of the movement exists nominally and no longer has the vibrant life that it had before the displacement of Fenton. Under Fenton, the movement was not merely organized to provide Masses, but also had an active intellectual component, which died out with his displacement.
McKenna now heads the movement from his headquarters in Monroe, Connecticut, and reports several chapels and missions with regularly scheduled masses. Since McKenna himself has become Sedeprivationist from the time of his episcopal consecration, the present ORCM as led by him is also Sedeprivationist and no longer a Sedevacantist Theory body.