The Orthodox Roman Catholic Movement (ORCM) is a Traditionalist Catholic group of priests founded by Robert McKenna and Francis E. Fenton,[1] acting on the suggestions of Joaquín Sáenz y Arriaga and was the U.S. organization parallel to the Mexican organization Unión Católica Trento, founded by Sáenz along with Moisés Carmona and Adolfo Zamora. Fenton was a founding member of the conservative John Birch Society, and was on its American Opinion Speakers Bureau. The Orthodox Roman Catholic Movement established twenty-seven chapels in North America in which the Tridentine Mass is offered.[2][3]

Origins

By fall 1975, the ORCM had gained Paul Marceau, Charles P. Donohue, Leo M. Carley and Daniel E. Jones ("Dan Jones"), the English Benedictine Placid White, Joseph Gorecki and some other priests, totaling eleven, and services were being held in California, Colorado, Florida, New Jersey and New York. A growth period followed, and by 1979 a circuit system set up among the eleven priests offered the Tridentine Mass in sixteen states.[2][4]

Current situation

Among present or former ORCM members, besides McKenna (in 1986), it seems that Paul Marceau too had been consecrated a bishop, for he is credited with having performed the consecration of the Church of Our Lady of Fatima at Spring Hills, Florida.[5]

McKenna died on December 16, 2015. The future of the movement is uncertain, with at least some parishes having been given to the Society of Saint Pius X.[6]

References

  1. ^ Dugan, George (6 January 1974). "Latin Mass of Old Is Luring Catholics". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  2. ^ a b Fichter, Joseph Henry; Bainbridge, William Sims (1983). Alternatives to American Mainline Churches. Unification Theological Seminary. ISBN 978-0-932894-14-4. At the peak of its growth, in 1979, the Orthodox Roman Catholic Movement counted twelve priest members who worked out of twenty-seven chapels.
  3. ^ Coomaraswamy, Rama P. (1981). The Destruction of the Christian Tradition. Perennial Books. p. 257. ISBN 978-0-900588-20-4. The Orthodox Roman Catholic Movement (O.R.C.M.) and many individual priests that have no connection with this Society, exist for the same purpose.
  4. ^ Fenton, STL, Francis E., ed. (7 September 1975). "ORCM Priest-Members". ORCM News. Orthodox Roman Catholic Movement. 1 (15): 1. ORCM PRIEST-MEMBERS: Monsignor Paul F. Marceau - Florida; Father Robert F. McKenna, O.P. - Connecticut; Father Francis E. Fenton - Connecticut; Father Charles P. Donahue - California; Father Leo M. Carley Connecticut; Father Daniel E. Jones - Colorado.
  5. ^ Brief History of Our Lady of Fatima Spring HillOur Lady of Fatima Catholic Church Archived 2007-10-04 at archive.today
  6. ^ "Immaculate Conception Mission Virginia Beach (Norfolk), VA: Chapel History". SSPX. 2013. Retrieved 18 April 2021.

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