Denver, Colo., Sep 2, 2020 / 03:50 pm (CNA).-
Both the Archdiocese of Denver and the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter are reviewing the situation of a priest who told Catholics to disobey the orders of Church and civic officials regarding masks at Mass and other religious services.
In a video posted on YouTube Tuesday, Fr. Daniel Nolan told Catholics “do not obey the bishop, do not obey the governor. They cannot tell you to wear a mask. This is a lie. They are lying to all of us.”
“If your bishop tells you, don’t do it. And I encourage everybody not to wear a mask. And I am telling you: disobey your bishop, disobey your governor. That’s what I’m telling you,” Nolan added.
His remarks came at the conclusion of a catechetical session offered at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Littleton, Colorado, which posted the video on YouTube Tuesday, and took it down on Wednesday.
Asked about the importance of obedience, Nolan told parishioners that “we ought to obey God rather than man. And if the bishop tells you to do something that is contrary to your health, contrary to reason, and contrary to common good, disobey it. And it’s contrary to the common good to continue to go along with an attempted communist takeover of the United States, which is what’s happening.”
Asked in the video about obedience to local Church authorities, Nolan added: “Disobey them all. At this point they have zero authority. These are cooperating in evil. Which is the suppression of the American people. Suppression of your rights, suppression of your liberties, suppression of common sense. The emperor has no clothes. If you are healthy you have a .006% chance of dying from COVID. The flu has a greater chance of killing you, if you’re healthy. So big time lies. This is not politics anymore, this is morality.”
Archdiocesan spokesman Mark Haas told CNA Sept. 2 the archdiocese is looking into the matter.
Noting that the YouTube video “was taken down before it could be fully reviewed,” Haas said the archdiocese would “begin the process of determining any appropriate next steps.”
The spokesman added that the archdiocese would begin its review of the situation in conversation with the parish pastor.
Canon law establishes that a person who “provokes subjects to disobey” their ordinary “is to be punished by an interdict or other just penalties.”
Guidelines published by the Archdiocese of Denver June 2 say that Catholics who attend public Masses should wear a mask.
The guidelines do not specify whether they are normative mandates, and they instruct pastors to make “prudent decisions for their parishes after reading through the Archdiocesan guidance and understanding state and local regulations.”
But Haas told CNA that “the Archdiocese of Denver’s guidelines for public Masses instruct all parishioners to wear a mask. All parishes are also expected to follow the varying local and state public health orders.”
The state of Colorado requires until Sept. 14 that masks be worn in “public indoor spaces” by most persons over 10 years old. The state executive order includes exceptions for persons with medical conditions, and for religious officials, including priests, officiating at religious services.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel is a parish administered by the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP).
The FSSP is a society of apostolic life which celebrates the extraordinary form of the Roman rite. It was founded in 1988 by 12 priests of the Society of St. Pius X. The founders left the SSPX to establish the FSSP after the society’s leader, Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, consecrated four bishops without the permission of St. John Paul II.
Philip Condron, a spokesperson for the FSSP, told CNA that the fraternity “will review this matter according to the Code of Canon Law and its own internal policies.”
“The Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter does not endorse comments or support actions to disobey their bishops or governmental authorities. The opinion of Fr. Daniel Nolan was his personal opinion and it does not reflect that of the Fraternity of St. Peter,” Condron clarified by email.
“The Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter superiors have instructed their priests to adhere to public health guidelines as issued by local, state and federal authorities, including the requirements of their local ordinaries (bishops),” he added.
Nolan, 44, was ordained a priest of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter in 2014. Before entering the FSSP, he attended the United States Naval Academy and served in the Marine Corps, retiring as a captain in 2006.
There are nearly 300 priests and 150 seminarians in the fraternity. It has parishes and chapels in North America, Europe, Oceania, Nigeria, and Colombia, including the personal parish of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, at which Nolan has been a parochial vicar since 2018.
Parishioners have told CNA that Nolan has been well regarded at the parish, hosting men’s nights for the Knights of Columbus and being attentive to spiritual formation.
Nolan has not yet responded to questions from CNA.
During the video, in which the priest referred to the coronavirus outbreak as a “scamdemic,” Nolan told parishioners to “brace yourselves for a new third priest,” adding that “my next sermon is gonna get me like transferred so enjoy me while you can.”
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That is one brave priest. A true disciple of Christ. Too bad we don’t have more of them. The rest are more afraid of the government than of God Who will be their judge in the not too distant future.
Courage yes! However the priest risks stiff law suits (from the Gov), possible closure, and the Bishop CAN remove the FSSP from his Diocese. What a gamble he is taking. I consider the unjust mask thing, “a cross”. Hold fast, save your strength, it may get much much worse. At that time, we take a stand and fight.
Because wearing a mask is not “sinful”, and to disobey ones Bishop, well, perhaps that is sinful. Gray area for certain
It is easy to cut down a tree when it is small than when it is large. Just sayin’
Thank God fo Fr Nolan!
I so agree with this priest.. “Do not be afraid”
Where is our separation of church and state
It’s time for all our priest, bishops and archbishops to speak up!!
Why are the bishops so quick to investigate and denigrate priests who have the good of their parish at heart and won’t criticize “Catholic” politicians who pass laws to murder babies . It’s obvious that they don’t have the spiritual or physical welfare of the people as their primary goal, and it’s beginning to look as though the hierarchy of the church doesn’t either!
I think that there are some situations that don’t line up with sensible rules sometimes in these health and medical issues. Most people wear masks inside buildings and businesses but in a restaurant, once one sits down at a table, one can take the mask off to eat. However, when you get up, you put it on to go outdoors. I see many people at the grocery store not covering their noses right so they can breathe. No one says anything,etc. At one time, Wheat Ridge said to wear masks in buildings but Lakewood did not. You wore a mask one place and across the street you didn’t. I think these experiences cause people to doubt the authenticity of these rules when everyone has different levels of when to wear and when not to wear. I think also that it is hard on priests at this time because they have to juggle things around so and many people can’t get to Mass and they want to go but can’t get signed up. Be gentle with people because Americans are not used to lots of rules unless they are in the military where the whole life is different. Emotions are high now and we are being tested and many people are losing their ability to hold up well. Many are losing jobs and giving up on things. My personal opinion is that people without symptoms should still be able to work and go out but wear a mask in buildings when required. I would let the head pastor work with his assistants and help them deal with the issue. Other people outside the situation should not judge and should go on following the rules the best they can. Getting huffy can only hurt things and will not improve the situation.
God’s word is true yesterday, today and forever.
The revealed science proves Fr. Nolan to be right and the pro vaxx clergy who follow P. Francis, have been proven wrong.
Fr. Nolan is one courageous priest who is willing to die for the truth – a good example for all of us in these days of deception over COVID – vaxx passports, digital id, WEF.
https://www.bitchute.com/video/OnY7BjJDb7gw/
The Vatican needs to stop consulting with globalists.