BIG NEWS: Transalpine Redemptorists ‘repudiate the Synodal Church’ as ‘distinct’ from the Catholic Church

'The faith of all times and of the saints,' they said, 'is incompatible with the new, modern Church.... They simply cannot coexist.'

Oct 16, 2025

Image source (fair use). As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases through our Amazon links. See also The WM Review Reading List.

‘The faith of all times and of the saints,’ the Redemptorists’ Open Letter said, ‘is incompatible with the new, modern Church.... They simply cannot coexist.’

(WM Reports) – A second email today, but certainly worth it.

Correction: this article originally said that the Sons reconciled with Benedict XVI in 2012. In fact, this was in 2008; 2012 marked their canonically recognition as a clerical institute of diocesan right by the local bishop.

The Transalpine Redemptorists – officially known as the Congregation of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer – has published a forceful open letter denouncing the post-conciliar “Synodal Church,” and declaring that they were wrong to have “believed it was possible to live as faithful children of the Tradition within the structures of the modern Church.”

The Transalpine Redemptorists were founded in 1987 with the blessing of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. The founder, Fr Michael Mary, derives his holy orders from Lefebvre. The community operated on good terms with the SSPX for many years, until the majority of the community reconciled with the Vatican in 2008.

A community of nearly 30 members, “The Sons” have had operations in Scotland, USA and New Zealand. In recent years, they have experienced acrimonious relations with the bishop of Christchurch Diocese, NZ, who evicted them from the diocese in 2024.

This reconciliation took place as part of the idealistic projects of Ecclesia Dei and Summorum Pontificum, which promised traditionalists a place in what Bishop Fellay called the “zoo”:

“Their [the Vatican officials] perspective is pluralism. Their thinking goes something like this: “Oh, look, if we have progressive people who do silly things as members of the Church, then we should also have a place for those who like tradition—a place in the middle of this circus, of this zoo, a place for dinosaurs and the prehistoric animals”—that’s our place (!).
“‘But just stay in your zoo cage,’ they will train us, ‘You can get your food—the Old Mass; that’s for the dinosaurs, but only for the dinosaurs. Don’t give that food to the other zoo animals; they would be killed!’”1

Indeed, only a few months ago, Diana Montagna revealed explosive documents that confirmed what the “free dinosaurs” had been saying for decades: that the permissions for the traditional liturgy were intended as a means of pacifying, neutralising, and absorbing resistance to the new Vatican II religion.

This is why Lefebvre said in 1989:

“To stay inside the Church, or to put oneself inside the Church – what does that mean? Firstly, what Church are we talking about? If you mean the Conciliar Church, then we who have struggled against the Council for twenty years because we want the Catholic Church, we would have to re-enter this Conciliar Church in order, supposedly, to make it Catholic. That is a complete illusion. It is not the subjects that make the superiors, but the superiors who make the subjects.”

The Redemptorists’ open letter strikes a signifcant blow against this illusion – and it is heartening to see “the Sons” recognising it as such.

Their letter, which is based not just on liturgical concerns but at least equally on faith and doctrine, will encourage many Catholics who have been trying to keep the faith in the post-conciliar epoch. Some of the more striking moments include the following:

“Just like you, we too have cherished great hope for many years. We believed it was possible to live as faithful children of the Tradition within the structures of the modern Church. We believed that the old and beautiful traditions of our Faith, in particular the Latin Mass of all times, would be rightfully returned to us. This gave us hope, especially during the time of Benedict XVI. We confidently expected that we would be able to freely practise the Faith of our Fathers in the Church. We didn’t know how wrong we were!”
“Through years of trials and experience we have come to the unfortunate conclusion that the Traditional Catholic Faith, the Faith of all times and of the saints, is incompatible with the new, modern Church, the fruit of the Second Vatican Council. They simply cannot coexist in one body.”
“This letter appeals to all who sense that something is tremendously wrong in the Church or who think that the new Church and the unchanging Faith can peacefully coexist. Alas! Allow us to state the sad truth that our experience clearly shows this to be impossible. Surely this new Church would shock all the holy Popes who declared time and again that Religious Indifferentism is a very great evil, absolutely incompatible with the Catholic Faith.”
“We repudiate the Synodal Church as distinct from the Divinely constituted Catholic Church.”
“We repudiate those who attack or undermine the Church in her dogma, morals, sacraments, or discipline with a new cult of man.”

The satement also openly states that “when a superior departs from his own obedience to Christ the King, his command is no longer the arm of Christ but the gesture of a man (S.T., IIa IIæ, q. 104, a. 5).” This suggestion of an absence of legitimate authority also appears in the introduction to the letter, by the words:

“[T]he hierarchy has broken with the chain of command, which renders it human, and spiritually null.”

Going forward, Fr Michael Mary and his community will now face significant obstacles, slanders and persecution – and the path ahead for them is not clear.

Let us keep them in our prayers, thank them and the Good Lord for this strong statement, and offer them support and welcome out here in the cold – with Christ and his Church.

“Now, my co-mates and brothers in exile,
Hath not old custom made this life more sweet
Than that of painted pomp? Are not these woods
More free from peril than the envious court?
Here feel we but the penalty of Adam,
The seasons’ difference, as the icy fang
And churlish chiding of the winter’s wind,
Which, when it bites and blows upon my body,
Even till I shrink with cold, I smile and say
‘This is no flattery: these are counsellors
That feelingly persuade me what I am.’
Sweet are the uses of adversity,
Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous,
Wears yet a precious jewel in his head;
And this our life exempt from public haunt
Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks,
Sermons in stones and good in every thing.
I would not change it.”
As You Like It, Act 2 Scene 1.

Their Website

An Open Letter to the Catholic Bishops, Priests, Religious and Faithful

Dear Catholic Soul,

We have just concluded our General Chapter where we considered our Congregation and its vocation in the Church and in the Diocese of Christchurch, New Zealand where the Bishop had decreed its expulsion.

The attached letter expresses the convictions of our Congregation.

This is not a task we embrace lightly. We have considered the array of possible punishments that the hierarchy may use against us – all mentally terrifying really, yet buttressed in the knowledge that the hierarchy has broken with the chain of command, which renders it human, and spiritually null. But when Our Lord’s honour is at stake, silence becomes a form of betrayal. We therefore take up this work with trembling hearts but with firm conviction, desiring only to defend the Holy Name of Jesus Christ and the purity of His Spouse, the Church.

“Every one therefore that shall confess Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father Who is in Heaven. But he that shall deny Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father Who is in Heaven.” (Matt. 10:32)

CONGREGATION OF THE SONS OF THE MOST HOLY REDEEMER
TRANSALPINE REDEMPTORISTS

Open Letter to the Catholic Bishops, Priests, Religious and Faithful
from the General Chapter of the

Congregation of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer

Being held in Papa Stronsay, Scotland
St Therese of the Child Jesus, 3rd October – St Gerard Majella 16th October, 2025

Dear Faithful,
Live Jesus our love and Mary our hope!

It is with a heavy heart and great sadness that we write to you. What unites us is our great love for our Holy Mother, the Catholic Church and Bride of Jesus Christ, for whom the martyrs shed their blood and the saints gave their lives. It is this love that forces us to express a truth that is difficult, however essential. (Lk. 12: 4-9)

Just like you, we too have cherished great hope for many years. We believed it was possible to live as faithful children of the Tradition within the structures of the modern Church. We believed that the old and beautiful traditions of our Faith, in particular the Latin Mass of all times, would be rightfully returned to us. This gave us hope, especially during the time of Benedict XVI. We confidently expected that we would be able to freely practise the Faith of our Fathers in the Church. We didn’t know how wrong we were!

Through years of trials and experience we have come to the unfortunate conclusion that the Traditional Catholic Faith, the Faith of all times and of the saints, is incompatible with the new, modern Church, the fruit of the Second Vatican Council. They simply cannot coexist in one body.

Since we deeply cherish and honour the Traditional Latin Mass and cannot give up the Holy Mass of the centuries and of the saints, this new Church does not want us. Because of our fidelity, we have been considered stubborn, difficult and rebellious; stitched up and lied about in never-ending acrimony.

This letter appeals to all who sense that something is tremendously wrong in the Church or who think that the new Church and the unchanging Faith can peacefully coexist. Alas! Allow us to state the sad truth that our experience clearly shows this to be impossible. Surely this new Church would shock all the holy Popes who declared time and again that Religious Indifferentism is a very great evil, absolutely incompatible with the Catholic Faith.

We tell you, we will not be complicit by silence in this ongoing destruction of the Church. We must speak up at some time and what better time than now? After 17 years as a community within the structures of the Church, we have been continually isolated and harassed. More especially these last years the Bishop of Christchurch has made us to be as the offscouring or scum of the earth. By his numerous Decrees and recourse to Rome he has sought to expel our monks from the diocese. He wants to have fifteen local vocations perpetually exiled from their families and homeland. We tell you now, higher duty forbids it. So long as there is but one soul that asks us for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the Sacraments or spiritual help, with God’s grace we will not desert it. The Good Shepherd urges us to lay down our lives for His sheep and keep the hungry wolf at bay. It is our duty in charity, in theology and by Canon Law.

Why? Because the chain of command has been broken. Authority in the Church is ministerial (serving Our Lord), not absolute (doing whatever it likes): it binds us because it is itself bound to Christ, to the deposit of the Faith, to the constant Magisterium. When a superior departs from his own obedience to Christ the King, his command is no longer the arm of Christ but the gesture of a man. (S.T., IIa IIæ, q. 104, a. 5) These churchmen disobey God. And then, having shattered the chain of God’s command they attempt to invoke religious obedience for matters that deplete the Church, and take away the Holy Mass. Tolle Missam, Tolle Ecclesiam – Take away the Mass, you destroy the Church (Luther). No! We must obey God before Man.

And therefore, cleaving with might and main to our deep communion with our Holy Mother the Church, our duty before our Lord Jesus Christ and towards souls demands that:

We repudiate Amoris Laetitia permitting Holy Communion to couples living in sin.
We repudiate Traditionis Custodes’ persecution of the Mass and Catholics.
We repudiate Fiducia Supplicans permitting the blessing of same-sex couples.
We repudiate “The Document on Human Fraternity” stating that God wills all religions.
We repudiate the false theology of “sister churches” and “partial communion”.
We repudiate the false shepherds who triumphantly processed the Pachamama idol in St Peter’s.
We repudiate Francis apologising for the heroic Catholic who threw that idol into the Tiber.
We repudiate the scourge of religious indifference in New Zealand and throughout the Church.
We repudiate the New Zealand Bishops’ acts of closing churches, and denying the sacraments in cowardly submission to the Covid-19 oppression.
We repudiate the Bishop of Christchurch receiving his ashes on Ash Wednesday from the Anglican bishop of Christchurch.
We repudiate the corruption of children, and scandal given to the innocent through evil catechetical programs.
We repudiate Francis teaching that all religions are as different languages, and asking “Is my God more important than yours?”
We repudiate the silence of those bishops who failed to speak out against that betrayal of the Faith.
We repudiate the Synodal Church as distinct from the Divinely constituted Catholic Church.
We repudiate the ongoing destruction and humiliation of our Holy Mother the Church.
We repudiate those who attack or undermine the Church in her dogma, morals, sacraments, or discipline with a new cult of man.

To all who read this: How long will all this nonsense go on?
Whatever may be the cost to us, with the Apostle we must say: Anathema!

“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach a gospel to you besides that which we have preached to you, let him be anathema. As we said before, so now I say again: If any one preach to you a gospel, besides that which you have received, let him be anathema.” (Gal. 1:8-9)

Do not remain silent! Defend the Faith of our Fathers!

“Although all nations obey King Antiochus, so as to depart every man from the law of his father and consent to his commandments: I and my sons and my brethren will obey the law of our fathers.” (1 Maccabees 2:19-20)

“On the contrary, it is written (Acts 5:29): We ought to obey God rather than men. Now sometimes the things commanded by a superior are against God. Therefore, superiors are not to be obeyed in all things.” — St. Thomas Aquinas (S.T., IIa IIæ, q. 104, a. 5)

Expecta Dominum, Viriliter Age et Confortetur cor tuum.
Expect the Lord, Do Manfully, and let thy Heart Take Courage. (Ps 26:14)

Gaude, Maria Virgo… Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; thou alone hast crushed all heresies in the whole world.

Fr Michael Mary. F.SS.R.
Fr Anthony Mary, F.SS.R.
Br Nicodemus Mary, F.SS.R.
Br Paul Mary, F.SS.R.
Br Dominic Mary, F.SS.R.
Fr Magdala Maria, F.SS.R.
Fr Martin Mary, F.SS.R.
Br Xavier Maria, F.SS.R.
Br Alfonso Maria, F.SS.R.
Fr Seelos Maria, F.SS.R.
Fr Celestine Maria, F.SS.R.
Br Raphael Maria, F.SS.R.
Br Maksymilian Maria, F.SS.R.
Br Charles-Marie, F.SS.R.
Br Damasus Maria, F.SS.R.
Br Bogumił Maria, F.SS.R.
Br Francisco Maria, F.SS.R.
Br Ernest Maria, F.SS.R.
Br Hyacinth Maria, F.SS.R.
Br Gabriel Maria, F.SS.R.
Br Dysmas
Br George Marie
Br Ignatius Maria
Br Aloysius Maria
Br Zacchaeus Maria
Br Gerardo
Br William

HELP KEEP THE WM REVIEW ONLINE WITH WM+!

As we expand The WM Review we would like to keep providing free articles for everyone.
Our work takes a lot of time and effort to produce. If you have benefitted from it please do consider supporting us financially.
A subscription gets you access to our exclusive WM+ material, and helps ensure that we can keep writing and sharing free material for all.
You can see what readers are saying over at our Testimonials page.
And you can visit The WM Review Shop for our ‘Lovely Mugs’ and more.
(We make our WM+ material freely available to clergy, priests and seminarians upon request. Please subscribe and reply to the email if this applies to you.)
Subscribe to WM+ now to make sure you always receive our material. Thank you!