Catholics Outraged as Diocese of Charlotte Moves to Suppress TLM and Silence Dissent
A leaked internal memo has rocked the Diocese of Charlotte, exposing a chilling strategy to dismantle the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) and systematically sideline both the faithful and aspiring priests who support it. The document, titled “Traditionis Custodes Implementation in the Diocese of Charlotte 2025: Responses to Concerns,” paints a stark picture of calculated suppression masked in the language of “unity.”
TLM Elimination Plan: Four Parishes Slashed Down to One
According to the memo—first made public by Catholic scholar Dr. Peter Kwasniewski—Bishop Michael T. Martin announced that all four parish-based TLMs in the diocese will be shuttered and relocated to a single, former Protestant church in Mooresville, NC, beginning July 8, 2025. The bishop claims the move is in line with Pope Francis’ 2021 directive, Traditionis Custodes, which seeks to regulate the pre-Vatican II liturgy.
But behind the scenes, the memo shows a more aggressive agenda: one aimed at controlling narratives, dismissing opposition, and marginalizing those who remain devoted to the Church’s most ancient liturgical form.
Gaslighting the Faithful: “Listening Isn’t Agreeing”
The memo acknowledges that the suppression of the Latin Mass will be “painful,” yet justifies it by stating that Pope Francis “knew the pain it would cause” and chose to proceed anyway. It bluntly tells priests to downplay parishioners’ concerns, cautioning against offering “false hope” through appeals or compromise.
“Listening and agreeing aren’t the same thing,” the memo coldly states, further instructing clergy to resist requests for extensions and to frame TLM loyalty as a form of dissent.
The tone is clear: traditional Catholics are to be placated, not heard.
Targeting Vocations: Traditionalist Priests Need Not Apply
In a move many are calling a spiritual purge, the memo openly blacklists young men with a strong devotion to the TLM from being considered for ordination. The document states plainly:
“Any young man who is only or primarily interested in the celebration of the TLM is not nor has ever been a viable candidate for ordination.”
This policy effectively discriminates against traditional vocations, regardless of a candidate’s orthodoxy, discipline, or pastoral gifts.
Catholic Leaders Sound the Alarm
The leak comes amid rising concern among clergy worldwide. Cardinal William Goh of Singapore recently warned that bishops must not “discriminate” against Catholics who prefer the TLM. The document from Charlotte appears to do exactly that—treating liturgical preference as disloyalty.
While the Diocese has neither confirmed nor denied the memo’s authenticity, LifeSiteNews has verified it through trusted sources.
Conclusion: A Diocesan Agenda That Ignores the Faithful
This leaked memo confirms what many traditional Catholics have long suspected: that some dioceses are actively working to marginalize their communities, restrict their worship, and eradicate the future of traditional priesthood.
In a Church that professes “unity in diversity,” the faithful deserve better than bureaucratic crackdowns and spiritual exile. The Latin Mass has endured persecution before—and its defenders are once again being called to stand firm in faith, tradition, and truth.
The question now is not whether the document is real—but how many other dioceses are drafting similar plans in secret.
