Bishop Mutsaerts Defends Traditional Catholics Against Cardinal Roche’s Threats

Bishop Rob Mutsaerts defended Catholics who use the traditional Roman liturgy following recent comments by Cardinal Arthur Roche regarding liturgical reform.

In an interview with AdVaticanum published October 13, 2026, Cardinal Roche stated that some traditionalist groups use the older liturgy to resist the reforms of the Second Vatican Council. The Cardinal said this attitude can harm ecclesial unity and warned that those who reject the Council distance themselves from the center of the Catholic Church. He also expressed the view that Catholics should not attend the old Mass exclusively.

Bishop Mutsaerts responded by questioning why ancient liturgical traditions, such as the Byzantine, Maronite, Armenian, or Chaldean traditions, are viewed as treasures while the ancient Roman liturgy is treated as a potential problem for unity. He argued that the Church does not need to forbid its past to secure its future.