ONLY the Judean People's Front hated Rome more.Or was that the People's Front of Judea?
For nearly a decade, the monks of the tiny Orkney island of Papa Stronsay united against the modernisers of the Vatican.
But when Pope Benedict recently offered to let the order back into the Church, that caused a split in the group every bit as bitter as anything portrayed in the Monty Python classic Life Of Brian.
The Transalpine Redemptorists of Papa Stronsay broke away from the Holy See two decades ago in a falling out over their right to celebrate Mass in Latin.
But this year the order – which moved to the 180-acre island in 1999 – was finally offered the chance to return to the Roman Catholic fold. Three Transalpine priests and 15 monks accepted. One priest and two monks did not.
Leaders on either side of the dividing line insist they can still get along. But those for reconciliation with the Pope have stayed in the order's Golgotha Monastery on Papa Stronsay.
Those against have left, moving across the narrow stretch of water to Stronsay proper and, locals revealed yesterday, a life preaching from inside an old garage.
The two faction leaders, Father Michael Mary of the pro-Roman faction and Father Nicholas Mary of the antis (all priests in the order have the name Mary), have admitted the split has caused tension.
Fr Nicholas said: "Whilst all the Catholics on Stronsay are sad to see a parting of the ways, there is general understanding and respect of the different positions all have taken in conscience, and the spirit of friendship continues as before."
The Transalpine Redemptorists are followers of Marcel Lefebvre, a French bishop excommunicated by Pope Jean Paul II in 1988 for his opposition to the modernising agenda set out in the Second Vatican Council and specifically the end to the older form of mass, the Tridentine Rite, which is also performed in Latin.
The old order spent £250,000 to buy Papa Stronsay and even more to build its monastery, which remains firmly in the hands of Fr Michael's faction.
He has agreed to change the name of the rump group there to the "Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer". Fr Michael and two other priests were formally welcomed back into the Roman Catholic Church in June and last month were given permission to celebrate Mass at their monastery and a chapel on Stronsay. They have been to Rome to have their 'censures' lifted, explained Catholic sources. Fr Nicholas has had no such dispensation.
Fr Michael said: "We have begun to trust the hierarchy of the Catholic Church again. It is a step that we have taken and we look on it in a very positive light. It has taken a little time to get everything straightened out; there is still more to come."
The Bishop of Aberdeen, Peter Moran, has been negotiating with the Transalpines ever since Pope Benedict last year signalled that he was willing to end the 20-year rift with the order and other conservative breakaway groups.
Bishop Moran, whose diocese covers Orkney, said he still hoped all the members of the Stronsay and Papa Stronsay community could be reunited at the Roman Catholic Church.
He said: "It is a source of joy to me to have priests, hitherto at odds with ourselves, welcomed back into the fold. Any laymen or laywomen who wish to follow them will be equally welcome.
"I appreciate that they may find the path unfamiliar at first. I hope everyone in the Diocese of Aberdeen will show them patience, understanding and a genuinely Christian welcome."
Monks live in modest cells and rise at 4am every day for prayers and work on their farm. Papa Stronsay, which no longer has native residents, is connected to Stronsay by a private ferry run by the monks.
Unwordly, hard working and kindly, they have won the respect – if not always the understanding – of their neighbours on Stronsay. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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(Source: SM)