Mother Miriam: Our hearts rejoice at what you have just said. And yet, if bishops cancel priests or suppress the Latin Mass, do the faithful have any recourse?
Bishop Schneider: Unfortunately, when bishops suppress the traditional Latin Mass, they are often following established norms. It is difficult to appeal, especially when Rome essentially tells bishops that they may limit the Mass or must act in a certain way. Nonetheless, priests can first appeal to Rome. If there is no resolution, these priests can still celebrate the Holy Mass, but always in the spirit of the Church (sentire cum Ecclesia). This means they must name the Pope in the Mass, Pope Francis is the valid Pope, whether one likes it or not, and also pray for the local bishop.
It is very important that these priests act without anger, always in a supernatural spirit of love for the Church, the Pope, and the bishops. They must maintain a good moral example and avoid becoming the focus of a personality cult. Priests must remain humble and modest, giving themselves entirely to the service of souls, offering the nourishment of the Mass, the sacraments, and true Catholic doctrine.
These so-called “canceled” priests must also have a superior. They cannot act as their own Pope or bishop, which would be spiritually dangerous. While having a confessor or spiritual director (the internal forum) is essential, it is not sufficient for guiding external activities. Ideally, they should have an older or more mature priest, or discreetly a retired, good Catholic bishop, to whom they can account for their actions.
This is only a temporary measure until Rome once again has strong leadership that clearly and unambiguously defends the Catholic faith, which will undoubtedly come. These are emergency situations, but priests can also seek a religious community with a superior who preserves the traditional Latin Mass and authentic Catholic faith. The key point is that priests must always submit with humility to an external authority, rather than acting independently.