Recently the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church released a statement criticizing Pope Francis' comments to Russian Catholic youth on August 25, 2023. In his comments the Pope stated the following: 

"You are the heirs of the great Russia. The great Russia of saints. Of kings. The great Russia of Peter the Great, of Catherine the second, of that great enlightened Russian empire. Of great culture and great humanity. Never give up this legacy. You are the heirs of the great mother Russia. Go forward with it."

In this situation we agree with the Pope (and no the Pope IS NOT praising "Russian despotism")! It is perplexing that the Ukrainian Archbishop condemns "extreme nationalism" when it is extreme nationalists and neo-Nazis in Ukraine that are one of the primary groups that caused the tensions that led to this war. Also, he condemns what he calls 'the ideology of the "Russian world" and the entire criminal way of "being Russian."' What is that supposed to mean?! He doesn't clarify this in his statement. On its face it could easily be interpreted as condemning all Russians as such and/or the whole country of Russia and its entire culture regardless of the Archbishop's intentions. Is this the proper attitude of Catholics? Doesn't our Faith embrace all peoples and all nations as the word Catholic (or universal) means? In these times no nation or people should be condemned or hated on account of their ethnic or national background. This includes Russia and Russians! God bless them! [1]

[1] Perhaps Pope Francis should follow the example of his predecessor of happy memory Pope Gregory XVI (1831-46) who agreed to assist the Russian government in quelling a revolt by Poles against the Russians who at that time occupied a large part of Poland. It appears that today, perhaps, some of the Ukrainian clergy also need their own Papal slap down. 

Below is a list of Traditional Latin Masses (TLMs) in southern California for the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on August 15, 2023. DISCLAIMER.

​








Key: 

Diocese: TLMs administered by priests that operate under the control and approval of the local diocese or bishop. 

FSSP: TLMs administered by priests of the Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP).

Independent: TLMs administered by priests that do not operate under the control or approval of the local diocese or bishop. 

SSPX: TLMs administered by priests of the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX).




Archdiocese of Los Angeles  

Our Lady of the Angels Church (SSPX)                              
1100 West Duarte Road
Arcadia, CA 91007
(626) 447-1752
Time: 7:15 a.m. & 7:00 p.m.

Saint Mary Magdalen Chapel (Diocese)
2532 Ventura Blvd.
Camarillo, CA 93010
(805) 484-0532
Time: 7:00 p.m.

Holy Innocents Catholic Church (Diocese)
425 East 20th Street
Long Beach, CA 90806
(562) 591-6924
Time: 5:00 p.m.

Saint Vitus Catholic Church (FSSP)
607 4th Street
San Fernando, CA 91340
(323) 454-1002
Time: 6:15 a.m., 12:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.

Maria Stella Maris Mission (SSPX)
3600 S. Gaffey Street
San Pedro, CA 90731
(310) 548-4706
Time: 6:30 p.m.

St. Thomas Aquinas College Chapel (Diocese)
10000 N. Ojai Road
Santa Paula, CA 93060
(805) 525-4417
Time: 7:15 a.m.

Saint Joan of Arc Mission (Independent)
Ventura, CA (Information regarding the exact address is unavailable to the public. In order to attend and obtain the address an individual must contact the priest here.)

Diocese of Orange

Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church (Diocese)
1015 Baker Street 
Costa Mesa, CA 92626  
(714) 540-2214  
Time: 12:00 p.m.

Our Lady Help of Christians (SSPX)
9621 Bixby Avenue
Garden Grove, CA 92841
(714) 635-0510
Time: 7:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m. & 7:00 p.m.

Saint Mary's by the Sea (Diocese)
321 10th Street
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
(714) 536-6913
Time: 7:00 p.m.

Father Cedrik Starbuck's Chapel (Independent)
Santa Ana, CA (Information regarding the exact address is unavailable tot he public. In order to attend and obtain the address an individual must email the priest here: fr_starbuck@yahoo.com.)

John Paul II Polish Center (Diocese)
3999 Rose Drive
Yorba Linda, CA 92886
(714) 996-8161
Time: 5:30 p.m.

Diocese of San Bernardino 

St. Joseph's & Immaculate Heart of Mary Church (SSPX)
1090 West Laurel Street
Colton, CA 92324
(909) 824-0323
Tim: 9:00 a.m. & 7:00 p.m.

San Secondo d'Asti (Diocese)
250 North Turner Avenue
Guasti/Ontario, CA 91761
(909) 390-0011
Time: 7:00 p.m.

Saint Joan of Arc Mission (Independent)
County of Riverside (City Unknown), CA (Information regarding the exact address is unavailable to the public. In order to attend and obtain the address an individual must contact the priest here.)

Diocese of San Diego

San Juan Diego Center (Diocese)
3015 Pala Mission Road
Pala, CA 92059
Time: 6:30 p.m.

Saint Anne Catholic Church (FSSP)
2337 Irving Avenue
San Diego, CA. 92113
(619) 239-8253
Time: 7:15 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., & 7:00 p.m. ​

Below is a list of Traditional Latin Masses (TLMs) in southern California for Holy Week 2023. DISCLAIMER. Also, please note that this list may be updated as new information about other Mass times and locations become available.

















Key: 


Diocese: TLMs administered by priests of the local diocese. 

FSSP: TLMs administered by priests of the Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP).

Independent: TLMs administered by priests that do not operate under the control or approval of the local diocese or bishop. 

SSPX: TLMs administered by priests of the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX).


Archdiocese of Los Angeles  

St. Therese Church (Diocese)
1100 East Alhambra Road
Alhambra, CA 91801
(626) 282-2744
Easter Sunday: 1:00 p.m.

Our Lady of the Angels Church (SSPX)
1100 West Duarte Road
Arcadia, CA 91007
(626) 447-1752
Holy Thursday: 7:00 p.m.
Good Friday: 2:00 p.m. (Mass of the Presanctified)
Holy Saturday: 10:00 p.m. (Easter Vigil)
Easter Sunday: 12:00 a.m., 7:30 a.m. & 9:00 a.m.

St. Mary Magdalen Chapel (Diocese)
2532 Ventura Boulevard 
Camarillo, California 93010 
(805) 484-0532
Easter Sunday: 1:00 p.m.
​
St. Anthony Roman Catholic Church (Diocese)
720 East Grand Avenue
El Segundo, CA 90245
(310) 322-4392
Easter Sunday: 1:30 p.m.

Holy Innocents Catholic Church (Diocese) 
425 E. 20th Street
Long Beach, CA 90806
(562) 591-6924
Holy Thursday: 5:00 p.m.
Good Friday liturgy: 3:30 p.m.
Holy Saturday: 8:00 p.m.
Easter Sunday: 9:00 a.m.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Church (Diocese)
4018 E. Hammel Street
Los Angeles, CA 90063
(323) 261-8051
Easter Sunday: 10:30 a.m. 

St. Vitus Catholic Church (FSSP)
​607 4th Street
San Fernando, CA 91340
(323) 454-1002
Holy Thursday: 7:00 p.m.
Good Friday liturgy: 3:00 p.m.
Holy Saturday Easter vigil: 8:00 p.m.
Easter Sunday: 7:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m., & 11:00 a.m.

Maria Stella Maris Mission (SSPX)
3600 S. Gaffey Street
(on Leavenworth Drive inside Angels Gate Park
& Ft. MacArthur)
San Pedro, CA 90731
(310) 548-4706
Holy Thursday: 6:30 p.m.
Good Friday: 3:00 p.m.
Easter Sunday: 10:00 a.m.

St. Thomas Aquinas College Chapel (Diocese)
10000 N. Ojai Road
Santa Paula, CA 93060
(805) 525-4417
Easter Sunday: 7:15 a.m.

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church (Diocese)
515 West Opp Street
Wilmington, CA 90744
(310) 834-5215
Easter Sunday: 9:15 a.m. 
​
Diocese of Orange

Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church (Diocese)
1015 Baker Street  
Costa Mesa, CA 92626   
(714) 540-2214   
Holy Thursday: 12:30 p.m.
Easter Sunday: 12:30 p.m.

Our Lady Help of Christians (SSPX)
9621 Bixby Avenue
Garden Grove, CA 92841
(714) 635-0510
Holy Thursday: 7:00 p.m.
Good Friday: 2:00 p.m. 
Holy Saturday: 10:30 p.m. (Easter Vigil)
Easter Sunday: 7:30 a.m. & 10:00 p.m.

Saint Mary's by the Sea (Diocese)
321 10th Street
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
(714) 536-6913
Easter Sunday: 12:00 p.m.

John Paul II Polish Center (Diocese)
3999 Rose Drive
Yorba Linda, CA 92886
(714) 996-8161
Easter Sunday: 12:00 p.m.

Diocese of San Bernardino 

St. Joseph's & Immaculate Heart of Mary Church (SSPX)
1090 West Laurel Street
Colton, CA 92324
(909) 824-0323
Holy Thursday: 7:00 p.m.
Good Friday: 12:00 p.m. (Stations of the Cross followed by Good Friday Liturgy)
Holy Saturday: 10:00 p.m.
Easter Sunday: 9:00 a.m.

San Secondo d'Asti (Diocese)
250 North Turner Avenue
Guasti/Ontario, CA 91761
(909) 390-0011
Holy Thursday: 4:00 p.m.
Good Friday: 7:00 p.m. (Veneration of the Cross)
Holy Saturday: 4:00 p.m.
Easter Sunday: 10:30 a.m. & 2:30 p.m.
  
Sacred Heart Church (Diocese)
43775 Deep Canyon Road
Palm Desert, CA 92260
(760) 346-6502
Easter Sunday: 2:30 p.m.

Saint Joan of Arc Mission (Independent)
County of Riverside (City Unknown), CA (Information regarding the exact address is unavailable to the public. In order to attend and obtain the address an individual must contact the priest here.)
Holy Thursday: 7:00 p.m.
Good Friday: 1:00 p.m.
Holy Saturday: 8:00 a.m.
Easter Sunday: 10:00 a.m.

Diocese of San Diego

San Juan Diego Center (Diocese)
3015 Pala Mission Road
Pala, CA 92059
Easter Sunday: 8:00 a.m.

Saint John Bosco Mission (SSPX)
4805 Mercury Street, Suite J
San Diego, CA 92111
Easter Sunday: 12:30 p.m.

Saint Anne Catholic Church (FSSP)
2337 Irving Avenue
San Diego, CA. 92113
(619) 239-8253
Holy Thursday: 7:00 p.m.
Good Friday: 3:00 p.m. (Solemn Liturgy), 
Holy Saturday: 8:00 p.m. 
Easter Sunday: 7:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., & 6:00 p.m.​

​Below is a list of Traditional Latin Masses (TLMs) in southern California for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8, 2022. DISCLAIMER.


​













​
Key

Diocese: TLMs administered by priests that operate under the control or approval of the local diocese or bishop. 

FSSP: TLMs administered by priests of the Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP).

Independent: TLMs administered by priests that do not operate under the control or approval of the local diocese or bishop. 

SSPX: TLMs administered by priests of the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX).



Archdiocese of Los Angeles  

Our Lady of the Angels Church (SSPX)
1100 West Duarte Road
Arcadia, CA 91007
(626) 447-1752
Time: 8:00 a.m. & 7:00 p.m.

Saint Mary Magdalen Chapel (Diocese)
2532 Ventura Blvd.
Camarillo, CA 93010
(805) 484-0532 
Time: 7:00 p.m.

Saint Vitus Catholic Church (FSSP)
607 4th Street
San Fernando, CA 91340
(323) 454-1002
Time: 6:15 a.m., 12:00 p.m., & 7:00 p.m.

Maria Stella Maris Mission (SSPX)
3600 S. Gaffey Street
San Pedro, CA 90731
(310) 548-4706
Time: 6:00 p.m.

St. Thomas Aquinas College Chapel (Diocese)
10000 N. Ojai Road
Santa Paula, CA 93060
(805) 525-4417
Time: 7:15 a.m. & 11:30 a.m.

Diocese of Orange

Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church (Diocese)
1015 Baker Street  
Costa Mesa, CA 92626   
(714) 540-2214   
Time: 12:00 p.m.

Our Lady Help of Christians (SSPX)
9621 Bixby Avenue
Garden Grove, CA 92841
(714) 635-0510
Time: 7:00 a.m. & 7:00 p.m.

Saint Mary's by the Sea (Diocese)
321 10th Street
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
(714) 536-6913
Time: 7:00 p.m.

Diocese of San Bernardino 

St. Joseph's & Immaculate Heart of Mary Church (SSPX)
1090 West Laurel Street
Colton, CA 92324
(909) 824-0323
Time: 9:00 a.m. & 7:00 p.m.

San Secondo d'Asti (Diocese)
250 North Turner Avenue
Guasti/Ontario, CA 91761
(909) 390-0011
Time: 7:00 p.m.

Saint Joan of Arc Mission (Independent)
County of Riverside, CA (Information regarding the exact address is unavailable to the public. In order to attend and obtain the address an individual must contact the priest here.)
Time: Contact the priest here. 

Diocese of San Diego

Saint Anne Catholic Church (FSSP)
2337 Irving Avenue
San Diego, CA. 92113
(619) 239-8253
Time: 7:15 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.

​On June 28, 1949 the Vatican issued a decree that laid down an excommunication of anyone who professed atheist and materialist communism and condemned supporting the Communist Party. [1] Ten years later, on March 25, 1959 an extension was added to the decree which condemned anyone who votes for the Communist Party or for any party supporting it. [2] We at Christ the King Law Center (CKLC) believe that just as Catholics should not vote for the Communist Party, they, too, should not vote for any political candidate of the Democratic Party today. We believe this because, amongst the two viable political parties in the United States today, the Democratic Party is at least the greater evil.

The Democratic Party platform [3] supports and tolerates abortion, as opposed to the Republican Party which wants to restrict most, if not all, abortions. The Democratic Party's platform states that Democrats "believe unequivocally[...] that every woman should be able to access high-quality reproductive health care services, including safe and legal abortion." It states that Democrats "will repeal the Title X domestic gag rule and restore federal funding for Planned Parenthood". [4] They also "oppose and will fight to overturn federal and state laws that create barriers to reproductive health and rights. We will repeal the Hyde Amendment and protect and codify the right to reproductive freedom." Repealing the Hyde Amendment could have a devastating effect on the lives of many other unborn children as the Hyde Amendment has been credited with saving the lives of more than two million unborn children. [5] The Democratic Party's platform also states that Democrats will "protect the rights of all people to make personal health care decisions and will reject the Trump Administration’s use of broad exemptions to allow medical providers, employers, and others to discriminate." In other words, doctors and pharmacists who want to follow their conscience and refuse to participate in, or provide medications for abortions, could "discriminate" and such "discrimination" can be prohibited according to what Democrats argue.

In contrast, the Republican Party platform [6] affirms "that the unborn child has a fundamental right to life which cannot be infringed." Thus, the Republican Party aligns itself with the Church on the issue of the right to life. The Republican Party platform also calls for a constitutional amendment protecting the unborn and "legislation to make clear that the Fourteenth Amendment's protections apply to children before birth." Section 1 of the Fourteenth Amendment states that "[n]o State shall... deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." Since science, reason, and divine revelation clearly shows that unborn children are persons, then the protections of the Fourteenth Amendment to provide equal protection and due process applies to the unborn, and prohibits the state from permitting their lives to be taken by abortion while the lives of those that are born are protected by the laws and institutions of states. Section 5 of the Fourteenth Amendment states that "Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article." The Republican Party goes further by calling for defunding Planned Parenthood.  In contrast with the Democratic Party's understanding of judges, the Republican Party platform calls for appointment of judges who "respect traditional family values and the sanctity of innocent human life." Such a statement is admirable, to say the least, since it distinguishes between “innocent human life” and “human life” and thereby permits the death penalty, which Church doctrine clearly permits as well. [8] Other parts of the Republican platform call for the banning of the sale of fetal body parts and tissue, opposing the funding of healthcare with abortion coverage, supporting adoption, funding for ultrasounds, supporting other regulations on abortion such as informed consent, parental consent, waiting periods, clinic regulation, and other regulations. Finally, the Republican Party platform goes beyond abortion and states that they oppose euthanasia, assisted suicide, embryonic stem cell research, and human cloning. All these things are opposed by the Church and are violations of the 5th Commandment which states "thou shalt not kill."

Therefore, the Democratic Party platform supports and tolerates abortion, while the Republican Party wants to restrict most, if not all, abortions; therefore, today, no Catholic should vote for a Democrat for any political office. Some may object to our judgment and say that the Republican Party is no good either, however, Christ the King Law Center (CKLC) has already stated its dissatisfaction with Republicans here and here. Nevertheless, on those issues where we have expressed dissatisfaction with the Republican Party, the Democratic Party is ether no different or, furthermore, even worse. The Democratic Party has no more interest in supporting the Social Reign of Christ the King than does the Republican Party. At least with the Republican Party we can get a government that respects the laws of God with regards to marriage being only between a man and a woman, protection for the lives of the unborn, and greater freedom for the Church. Therefore, in the name of our most High King Jesus Christ we urge Catholics not to vote for the Democratic Party! 

[1] R. Amerio, Iota Unum: A Study of Changes in the Catholic Church in the XXth Century 255 (1996).

[2] Ibid.

[3] The Democratic Party platform can be found here. 

[4] The so-called "Title X domestic gag rule" is a term that pro-abortion organizations use to describe the federal regulation adopted by the Trump administration in 2019 regarding the federal program called Title X. The federal Title X program gives about $300 million annually in taxpayer funds for "family planning services". However, in 2019 the Trump administration released a rule that prohibited Title X funds from being provided to a program where abortion is a considered a method of family planning. Furthermore, the Trump administration rule removed a requirement that Title X recipients had to provide referrals for abortions and even went further by prohibiting such recipients from referring women for abortions!

[5] See here: https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/the-hyde-amendment-saved-two-million-babies-from-death.

[6] The Republican Party platform can be found here. Also, note that this is the platform the Republican National Committee (RNC) adopted in 2016. In 2020 the the RNC refused to adopt a new platform or amend the 2016 platform due to the circumstances surrounding COVID-19 pandemic. 

[7] See here: http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/for-first-time-republican-party-platform-proposes-defunding-planned-parenth.
 
[8] See here: http://cklc.weebly.com/blog/can-the-church-ban-capital-punishment.

Below is a list of Traditional Latin Masses (TLMs) in southern California for the Feast of All Saints on November 1, 2022. DISCLAIMER. Also, please note that this list may be updated as new information about other Mass times and locations becomes available.



Key: 

Diocese: TLMs administered by priests that operate under the control or approval of the local diocese or bishop (not including FSSP). 

FSSP: TLMs administered by priests of the Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP).

Independent: TLMs administered by priests that do not operate under the control or approval of the local diocese or bishop (not including SSPX). 

SSPX: TLMs administered by priests of the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX).


Archdiocese of Los Angeles  

Our Lady of the Angels Church (SSPX)
1100 West Duarte Road
Arcadia, CA 91007
(626) 447-1752
Time: 8:00 a.m. & 7:00 P.m.

Saint Mary Magdalen (Diocese/FSSP)
2532 Ventura Boulevard
Camarillo, California 93010
(805) 484-0532
Time: 7:00 p.m.

Holy Innocents Catholic Church (Diocese) 
425 E. 20th Street
Long Beach, CA 90806
(562) 591-6924
Time: 7:00 p.m.

​Saint Vitus Catholic Church  (FSSP)
607 4th Street
San Fernando, CA 91340
(323) 454-1002
Time: 12:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.

Maria Stella Maris Mission (SSPX)
3600 S. Gaffey Street
San Pedro, CA 90731
(310) 548-4706
Time: 6:00 p.m.

St. Thomas Aquinas College Chapel (Diocese)
10000 N. Ojai Road
Santa Paula, CA 93060
(805) 525-4417
Time: 7:15 a.m.

​Diocese of Orange

Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church (Diocese)
1015 Baker Street 
Costa Mesa, CA 92626  
(714) 540-2214  
Time: 12:00 p.m.

Our Lady Help of Christians (SSPX)
9621 Bixby Avenue
Garden Grove, CA 92841
(714) 635-0510
Time: 7:00 a.m. & 7:00 p.m.

Saint Mary's by the Sea (Diocese)
1015 Baker Street  
Costa Mesa, CA 92626   
(714) 540-2214   
Time: 7:00 p.m.

Diocese of San Bernardino 

St. Joseph's & Immaculate Heart of Mary Church (SSPX)
1090 West Laurel Street
Colton, CA 92324
(909) 824-0323
Time: 9:00 a.m. & 7:00 p.m.

San Secondo d'Asti (Diocese)
250 North Turner Avenue
Guasti/Ontario, CA 91761
(909) 390-0011
Time: 7:00 p.m.

Diocese of San Diego

Saint Anne Catholic Church (FSSP)
2337 Irving Avenue
San Diego, CA. 92113
(619) 239-8253
Time: 7:15 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., & 7:00 p.m.

By: Christ the King Law Center (CKLC)

Christ the King Law Center (CKLC) rejoices in the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade! This decision has been a stain on the moral integrity of this country for nearly fifty years. It was wrongly decided from its beginning. As Justice Alito stated in the opinion of the court: "Roe was egregiously wrong from the start. Its reasoning was exceptionally weak, and the decision has had damaging consequences." The joy we feel at the overturning of this one of the worst, if not the worst, decision in the history of the Court is difficult to describe and certainly a dream come true. And yet while we rejoice in that glorious day we recognize that challenges still exist in order to build a just legal order in this country that recognizes the sovereignty of Our Lord Jesus Christ and the supremacy of His law. 

First, while the Court ruled that there was no constitutional right to an abortion which the states cannot prohibit it nevertheless did not rule that unborn persons have a right to life that must be protected by law. As the Court's opinion states:

'In some States, voters may believe that the abortion right should be even more extensive than the right that Roe [v. Wade] and Casey recognized. Voters in other States may wish to impose tight restrictions based on their belief that abortion destroys an "unborn human being." Miss. Code Ann.§41-41-191(4)(b). Our Nation's historical understanding of ordered liberty does not prevent the people's elected representatives from deciding how abortion should be regulated.' 

And further on:

"The Constitution does not prohibit the citizens of each State from regulating or prohibiting abortion. Roe [v. Wade] and Casey arrogated that authority. We now overrule those decisions and return that authority to the people and their elected representatives."

Thus according to the Court each state can decide for itself whether to permit or prohibit abortion. Nowhere in the Court's opinion did it determine whether the 5th and 14th Amendment's provisions which prohibits the federal and state governments from denying any person life without due process of law applies to the unborn. Nor was there any determination in the opinion as to whether these Amendment's provisions-which prohibit the government from denying any person the equal protection of the law-applies to the unborn. In fact the Court expressly refused to base its decision on such an issue: Our opinion is not based on any view about if and when prenatal life is entitled to any of the rights enjoyed after birth. The unborn are undoubtedly persons as evidenced by science, reason, and divine revelation and therefore they are entitled to the constitutional protections offered by the 5th and 14th amendments. [1]

Second, the Court expressly stated that it only ruled on whether there was a right to abortion in the U.S. Constitution and ruled out the possibility that this decision applies or can be applied to overruling other egregious decisions of that Court against the natural law which claimed there was a constitutional right to contraception, sodomy, and "gay marriage". As the Court stated: 

'the Solicitor General suggests that overruling those decision [i.e. Roe v. Wade and Casey] would "threaten the Court's precedents holding that the Due Process Clause protects other rights." Brief for United States 26 (citing Obergefell, 576 U.S. 644; Lawrence, 539 U.S. 558; Griswold, 381 U.S. 479). That is not correct for reasons we have already discussed. As even the Casey plurality recognized, "[a]bortion is a unique act" because it terminates "life or potential life." 505 U.S. at 852; see also Roe, 410 U.S., at 159 (abortion is "inherently different from martial intimacy," "marriage," or "procreation"). And to ensure that our decision is not misunderstood or mischaracterized, we emphasize that our decision concerns the constitutional right to abortion and no other right [such as the right to contraception, sodomy, and "gay marriage"]. Nothing in this opinion should be understood to cast doubt on precedents that do not concern abortion.' 

The Court is correct to assert that abortion is "a unique act" but it is incorrect for it to assert that it is "inherently different from marital intimacy," "marriage," or "procreation" at least as a matter of law. This is because abortion was considered a "privacy right" by the Court prior to the Dobbs decision just like "marriage", "marital intimacy", and "procreation". So now that the Court has effectively and rightly removed abortion from consideration as a "privacy right" under constitutional law it would make sense to then leave open for consideration revisiting the Court's other "privacy right" decisions. 

Third, the Court did not mention God's law(s) as the reason or even a reason as to why Roe v. Wade should be overturned. The only set of laws that the Court indicated was determinative in whether abortion is a fundamental right in the United States is the United States constitution. However, this constitution, important and influential as it is, is still only a mere construct of men, unlike the ten commandments which were written by almighty God Himself or the Scriptures which were written under the inspiration of God and has Him as their author. [2] So the U.S. constitution, just like any other set of laws created by men, is subject to the laws of God. It is not exempt. 

All of man's laws are subject to God's laws. [3]

Therefore, the day that the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade is undoubtedly a great day where the Court made a big step in the right direction in protecting countless unborn children but also in establishing a just legal order. However, we should not let our emotions blind us to the reality that while this decision is the best outcome we can get with the current makeup of the Supreme Court we nevertheless know that there are still difficulties present in building a legal system that should rightly recognize the social reign of Christ the King.

[1] And not to mention the 5th Commandment of God which prohibits the taking of innocent human life. 

[2] Dei Filius 7. 

[3] See Brian M. McCall, "The Architecture of the Law: Building Law on a Solid Foundation: The Eternal and Natural Law," Vera Lex 10 (2009): 47; Brian M. McCall, "Consulting the Architect when Problems Arise: The Divine Law," Georgetown Journal of Law and Public Policy 9 (2011): 103.

By: Marcus Veritas

Editor’s Note: The following article was published on the website of The Catholic Esquire. It has been rep-published with permission from the author who goes by the pen name Marcus Veritas. 

The Supreme Court’s majority opinion in the Dobbs vs. Jackson’s Women’s Health abortion case penned by Justice Samuel Alito has been leaked to the press. This is still not the official or final decision but has been confirmed to be authentic. The leak was completely unprecedented and places the safety, in my opinion, of several justices in grave danger.

What I want to do here is simply give you a summary of Justice Alito’s opinion. I have significant legal experience as a practicing attorney and as a constitutional law college level instructor studying abortion and other constitutional law issues. I come to this from a traditional Catholic point of view, but I want to provide an objective summary for the reader, although I will provide my own thoughts on the decision at the end. This is THE most important human and civil rights issue in this nation (if not the world) so it is important to have some background in order to speak intelligently.

This story is developing and the demonic spirit engulfing the nation right now is at an all-time high. Continue to pray for an end to abortion and safety of the justices on the Court who had the moral courage to do the right thing.

The Mississippi Law

The Mississippi law in question provided that “except in cases of medical emergency, or in the case of a severe fetal abnormality” a person shall not knowingly induce an abortion when the gestational age of the “unborn human being” is greater than fifteen (15) weeks. While the 15-week line is a few weeks short of the traditional “viability” line, which is important under the Roe and Casey precedent, it still provides for medical exceptions even if the problem is a severe fetal abnormality (and not necessarily a problem with the mother).

Roe and Casey Background

First, a quick history of the Roe v. Wade (1973) and Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pa. v. Casey (1992) landmark abortion decisions. In Roe, the Court found a fundamental right to end a pregnancy (i.e. abort the baby) in the United States Constitution, particularly under the Fourteenth Amendment. Acknowledging individual states may have some interest in protecting viable unborn babies and the health of the mother, the Court essentially concocted a scheme by which future courts would evaluate abortion regulations based on the trimester the woman wanted to have an abortion.
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The key legal line was the end of the second trimester because that is when the Court thought unborn babies achieved “viability.” The Roe court held that states could not impose any legal restrictions on abortions prior to a baby being “viable” unless the health of the mother was at risk (second trimester only). The practical effect of Roe was to strike down almost all laws in any state that imposed some level of restriction on abortion at the time.

In Casey, the Court ultimately upheld Roe but called the underlying reasoning into question. Relying on the principle of stare decisis, the judicial doctrine that the Court should adhere to its prior precedent when rendering a decision, it upheld the core principle in Roe that women have a constitutional right to kill their unborn babies. However, it did away with the trimester framework and held that states were not allowed to impose an “undue burden” on that right to abortion. The Court never really gave specifics as to what constitutes an “undue burden.”

Alito’s Key Quotes in Dobbs

In the Dobbs case before the Court now, the issue is whether Mississippi’s law prohibiting abortions before the fifteenth week of gestation violates the Constitution. The fifteenth week being a point in time prior to “viability” according to current medical opinion.  The State of Mississippi asked the Court to overturn the rulings in Roe and Casey. And Justice Alito, writing for the Court’s majority opinion, did exactly that. 

The money in the bank paragraph is the following:

“We hold that Roe and Casey must be overruled. The Constitution makes no reference to abortion and no such right is implicitly protected by a constitutional provision, including the one on which the defenders of Roe and Casey now chiefly rely—the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. That provision has been held to guarantee some rights that are not mentioned in the Constitution, but any such right must be “deeply rooted in this nation’s history and tradition” and “implicit in the concept of ordered liberty.” Washington v. Glucksberg, 521 U.S. 702, 721 (1997)…The right to abortion does not fall within this category.”

The second money quote provides:

“Roe was egregiously wrong from the start. Its reasoning was exceptionally weak, and the decision had damaging consequences. And far from bringing about national settlement of the abortion issue, Roe and Casey have enflamed debate and deepened division.”

The rest of the opinion dives into the reasoning behind these conclusions. I will just mention some of the highlights that were extremely relevant to the opinion.

Highlights of the Dobbs Majority (Draft) Opinion

• Justice Alito addressed the meaning of “liberty” as understood in the context of the Fourteenth Amendment. Until the late twentieth century, a “right” to abortion was entirely unknown in American law. No state law or constitutional provision ever contemplated such a thing. In fact, most states outlawed abortion completely. At the time the Fourteenth Amendment was ratified in 1868, three-fourths all of the states made abortion a crime at all stages of pregnancy. Justice Alito even traced English common law back to the 13th century to show abortion was always considered a crime. This is relevant because under current Court precedent, any implicit right in the Constitution not expressly stated must be grounded in some longstanding legal tradition.  

 

• Alito addressed the famous statement in Casey, well known to Christians because it rejected the idea of objective Truth and morality: “At the heart of liberty is the right to define one’s own concept of existence, of meaning, of the universe, and of the mystery of human life.” Alito says an individual may be free to think and speak according to their beliefs, but they are not free to necessarily act on those beliefs. He draws the distinction between license and liberty here but does not directly counter the fundamental flaw in the statement itself which is that YOU DO NOT have the right to define your own Truth, even in your own mind. Truth is truth and objective reality is not subject to personal whims.

 

• Alito addressed the case precedent relied upon in Casey, such as the cases that found a constitutional right to purchase contraception (Griswold and Eisenstadt). Rather than attack these cases for their fundamental legal and moral flaws, Alito says those cases are different and not relevant to abortion because those cases deal with “potential” life rather than “life of an unborn human being.” None of those cases, Alito says, deal with the critical question imposed by abortion.

 

• Alito acknowledged there may be sound public policy reasons for allowing or prohibiting abortions but concludes that is an issue for elected representatives to deal with and not the role of the Court to make public policy.

 

• Alito acknowledged the role of stare decisis, case precedent, when deciding cases but agreed with Justice Story from 1816 when he said that when it comes to the Constitution, the “great charter of our liberties,” it is more important to have an issue settled “right” than just being settled. Alito notes some of the most important Supreme Court cases have overruled prior precedent, such as Brown v. Board of Education (overruling separate but equal in the classroom), so stare decisis certainly is not a rule set in stone.

 

• Alito spends much time dissecting the underlying reasoning and flaws in the Roe decision, which is interesting but not necessary to recap every point here. The gist of it is that the Roe decision was poorly reasoned, relied on incorrect historical information, provided no workable legal framework, and did nothing but inflame the political debate, which should more appropriately be handled by elected officials and not the judicial system. All of these reasons justify deviating from the case precedent set in Roe and Casey.

 

• Alito attacked the “viability” argument presented in Roe. The Roe court never explained why viability should be the point of no return when it comes to abortion regulations. If the state has a compelling reason to protect life after viability, why doesn’t it have the same compelling interest to protect life before viability? The Court essentially created an arbitrary line that has little support among philosophers and ethicists. The other obvious problem is that this arbitrary line has nothing to do with characteristics of the unborn baby. Other factors play a role in viability, such as the quality of neo-natal care that have nothing to do with the age of a fetus.

 

• The problem with Casey, according to Alito, is that the Court never addressed these fundamental problems with Roe and only made the legal framework more confusing and difficult to apply. Casey just added to the confusion by imposing new ambiguous and vague lines by requiring courts to determine the effect of abortion regulations on women (i.e. whether there was an undue burden), which is always going to differ depending on the factual circumstances of the individual woman. In other words, Alito is saying that Casey made the law difficult, if not impossibly, unworkable on a practical level.

 

• Alito rejected the claims that overturning Roe and Casey would affect the holdings in other cases involving marriage, homosexuality, contraception, etc. Alito reiterated that abortion is entirely a different issue and restated that overturning Roe will not affect these other decisions.

 

• Going forward, state abortion regulations will be subject to rational basis review because there is no fundamental constitutional right to have an abortion. Individual states may regulate abortion for legitimate reasons. As such, any law regulating abortion is entitled to “a strong presumption of validity.”

 

• Mississippi’s law was rationally based and therefore fell within the purview of that state’s legitimate interest to regulate abortion procedures and was upheld.

Some Initial Observations

Alito provides a very well-reasoned, articulate opinion with ample legal and historical support to support his conclusions. I appreciate the boldness and clear dissection of both Roe and Casey—exposing the logical and legal weakness of each of these prior decisions that have been used to force states into allowing the killing of unborn babies. From a standard American law school academic point of view, this opinion contained everything necessary to destroy Roe and Casey and did so by hitting on all the key errors, leaving little wiggle room for the pro-abortion advocates when it comes to future constitutional arguments that may try to resurrect some form of Roe and Casey.

Bottom line in this decision is that there is no fundamental right under the U.S. Constitution to kill your unborn child. Period. End of story. Any state law dealing with abortion is going to be subject to the same constitutional rules as any other law would be that does not deal with fundamental rights.
I did not detect any hidden gems or novel ideas in this opinion. This decision is exactly how I think most legal scholars would expect a decision overturning Roe to look like.

For my part, I was hoping for a bit more, which I know was highly unlikely. As a practicing Catholic, I believe that every human being from the moment of conception has a right for an opportunity to live and consequently every society owes a duty of protection to those babies, even from their own mothers if necessary. I was hoping the opinion would give us a little bit more than just “Okay states, do whatever you want—not our issue anymore.”

Specifically, I would have liked the Court to address the fundamental rights of the unborn babies.  As noted in a prior post, Colorado recently passed a law specifically denying the rights of unborn babies to live—so we already know the pro-aborts have no problem whatsoever with explicitly denying any rights to unborn babies. Even under this decision as written, those types of laws could be upheld.

My other problem with the decision is that Alito seemed to shut the door on any opportunity for attack on other erroneous “privacy” based decisions such as Obergefell (right to homosexual marriages) and Griswold (right to contraception). Alito went out of his way to make sure nothing in this opinion should be construed as chipping away at these other constitutional fundamental “rights,” which also have no basis whatsoever in the Fourteenth Amendment.  

I understand marriage and contraception were not before the Court here and there is no need for Alito to go off on tangents that would distract from the outcome of this case. But he didn’t need to be so bold in his assessment that the reasoning in those cases have nothing to do with Roe. Because, in fact, they do.

The original marriage and contraception cases prior to Roe supplied the legal reasoning the Court used in Roe. Alito’s insistence that those cases are not relevant to abortion simply makes future efforts to overturn those egregious cases more difficult.
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Overall, I do believe that this decision will ultimately result in protecting millions of babies from slaughter. Not all of them for sure. Nor will the abortion debate, in any way shape or form, end. In fact, the debate is only likely to heat up and become more intense, so steel your armor for the demons to come out. But it is a solid move in the right direction.

​Marcus Veritas is the pen name of a licensed attorney with a Juris Doctor and BA in economics. He teaches constitutional law, criminal justice, and business law for community colleges. He is a member of the New Saint Thomas Institute, and enjoys studying Church history, Christian apologetics, theology and philosophy.

Below is a list of Traditional Latin Masses (TLMs) in southern California for Holy Week 2022. DISCLAIMER. Also, please note that this list may be updated as new information about other Mass times and locations become available.

















Key: 


Diocese: TLMs administered by priests of the local diocese. 

FSSP: TLMs administered by priests of the Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP).

Independent: TLMs administered by priests that do not operate under the control or approval of the local diocese or bishop. 

SSPX: TLMs administered by priests of the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX).


Archdiocese of Los Angeles  

St. Therese Church (Diocese)
1100 East Alhambra Road
Alhambra, CA 91801
(626) 282-2744
Easter Sunday: 1:00 p.m. (Sung High Mass)

Our Lady of the Angels Church (SSPX)
1100 West Duarte Road
Arcadia, CA 91007
(626) 447-1752
Holy Thursday: 7:00 p.m.
Good Friday: 2:30 p.m. (Liturgy of the Passion)
Holy Saturday: 10:00 p.m. (Easter Vigil)
Easter Sunday: 12:00 a.m., 7:00 a.m. & 9:00 a.m.

St. Mary Magdalen Chapel (Diocese)
2532 Ventura Boulevard 
Camarillo, California 93010 
(805) 484-0532
Easter Sunday: 1:00 p.m.

St. Anthony Roman Catholic Church (Diocese)
720 East Grand Avenue
El Segundo, CA 90245
(310) 322-4392
Easter Sunday: 1:30 p.m.

Holy Innocents Catholic Church (Diocese) 
425 E. 20th Street
Long Beach, CA 90806
(562) 591-6924
Holy Thursday: 7:00 p.m.
Good Friday liturgy: 3:30 p.m.
Holy Saturday: 9:00 p.m.
Easter Sunday: 9:00 a.m.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Church (Diocese)
4018 E. Hammel Street
Los Angeles, CA 90063
(323) 261-8051
Easter Sunday: 10:30 a.m. 

St. Vitus Catholic Church (FSSP)
​607 4th Street
San Fernando, CA 91340
(323) 454-1002
Holy Thursday: 7:00 p.m.
Good Friday liturgy: 3:00 p.m.
Holy Saturday Easter vigil: 8:00 p.m.-Preference will be given for converts and their families.
Easter Sunday: 7:0 a.m., 9:00 a.m., & 11:00 a.m.

Maria Stella Maris Mission (SSPX)
3600 S. Gaffey Street
(on Leavenworth Drive inside Angels Gate Park
& Ft. MacArthur)
San Pedro, CA 90731
(310) 548-4706
Holy Thursday: 6:30 p.m.
Easter Sunday: 11:00 a.m.

St. Thomas Aquinas College Chapel (Diocese)
10000 N. Ojai Road
Santa Paula, CA 93060
(805) 525-4417
Easter Sunday: 7:15 a.m.

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church (Diocese)
515 West Opp Street
Wilmington, CA 90744
(310) 834-5215
Easter Sunday: 9:30 a.m. 
​
Diocese of Orange

Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church (Diocese)
1015 Baker Street  
Costa Mesa, CA 92626   
(714) 540-2214   
Holy Thursday: 1:00 p.m.
Easter Sunday: 12:30 p.m.

Our Lady Help of Christians [1] (Independent)
9621 Bixby Avenue
Garden Grove, CA 92841
(714) 635-0510
Holy Thursday: 7:00 p.m.
Good Friday: 1:00 p.m. (Passion/Veneration of the Cross/Mass of the Presanctified)
Holy Saturday: 10:00 p.m. (Easter Vigil)
Easter Sunday: 12:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m. & 12:30 p.m.

Saint Mary's by the Sea (Diocese)
321 10th Street
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
(714) 536-6913
Easter Sunday: 12:00 p.m.

John Paul II Polish Center (Diocese)
3999 Rose Drive
Yorba Linda, CA 92886
(714) 996-8161
Easter Sunday: 12:00 p.m.

Diocese of San Bernardino 

St. Joseph's & Immaculate Heart of Mary Church (SSPX)
1090 West Laurel Street
Colton, CA 92324
(909) 824-0323
Holy Thursday: 7:00 p.m.
Good Friday: 12:00 p.m. (Stations of the Cross followed by Good Friday Liturgy)
Holy Saturday: 10:00 p.m.
Easter Sunday: 12:00 a.m. & 9:00 a.m.

San Secondo d'Asti (Diocese)
250 North Turner Avenue
Guasti/Ontario, CA 91761
(909) 390-0011
Holy Thursday: 4:00 p.m.
Good Friday: 7:00 p.m. (Veneration of the Cross)
Holy Saturday: 4:00 p.m.
Easter Sunday: 10:30 a.m. 
  
Sacred Heart Church (Diocese)
43775 Deep Canyon Road
Palm Desert, CA 92260
(760) 346-6502
Easter Sunday: 2:30 p.m.

Diocese of San Diego

San Juan Diego Center (Diocese)
3015 Pala Mission Road
Pala, CA 92059
Easter Sunday: 8:30 a.m.

Saint John Bosco Mission (SSPX)
Four Points Sheraton Hotel
8110 Aero Drive
San Diego, CA 92123
Easter Sunday: 12:30 p.m.

Saint Anne Catholic Church (FSSP)
2337 Irving Avenue
San Diego, CA. 92113
(619) 239-8253
Holy Thursday: 7:00 p.m.
Good Friday: 3:00 p.m. (Solemn Liturgy), 
Holy Saturday: 8:00 p.m. 
Easter Sunday: 6:00 a.m., 7:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. (High Mass), 12:30 p.m., 6:00 p.m.

[1] At Our Lady Help of Christians church the pre-1955 Missal will be used for the holy week celebrations. 

Below is a list of Traditional 
Latin Masses (TLMs) in southern
California for Christmas on 
December 25, 2021. 
DISCLAIMER. 






​

Key: 

Diocese: TLMs administered by priests that operate under the control or approval of the local diocese or bishop (not including FSSP).
​
FSSP: TLMs administered by priests of the Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP).
​
Independent: TLMs administered by priests that do not operate under the control or approval of the local diocese or bishop (not including SSPX). 

SSPX: TLMs administered by priests of the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX).


Archdiocese of Los Angeles  

St. Therese Church (Diocese)
1100 East Alhambra Road
Alhambra, CA 91801
(626) 282-2744
Time: 1:00 p.m. (Sung High Mass)

Our Lady of the Angels Church (SSPX)
1100 West Duarte Road
Arcadia, CA 91007
(626) 447-1752
Time: 12:00 a.m., 7:00 a.m., & 9:00 a.m.

Saint Mary Magdalen Chapel (Diocese)
2532 Ventura Boulevard
Camarillo, California 93010
(805) 484-0532
Time: 10:00 a.m.

Holy Innocents Catholic Church (Diocese) 
425 E. 20th Street
Long Beach, CA 90806
(562) 591-6924
Time: 9:00 a.m.

St. Vitus Catholic Church (FSSP)
607 4th Street 
San Fernando, CA 91340
(323) 454-1002
Time: 12:00 a.m., 7:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.

Maria Stella Maris Mission (SSPX)
3600 S. Gaffey Street
San Pedro, CA 90731
(310) 548-4706
Time: 12:00 a.m.

​St. Thomas Aquinas College Chapel (Diocese)
10000 N. Ojai Road
Santa Paula, CA 93060
(805) 525-4417
Time: 7:15 a.m.

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church (Diocese)
515 West Opp Street
Wilmington, CA 90744 
(310) 834-5215
Time: 9:30 a.m.

Diocese of Orange

Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church (Diocese)
1015 Baker Street  
Costa Mesa, CA 92626   
(714) 540-2214   
Time: 12:30 p.m.

Our Lady Help of Christians (Independent)
9621 Bixby Avenue
Garden Grove, CA 92841
(714) 635-0510
Time: 12:00 a.m., 7:30 a.m. & 10:00 a.m.

Saint Mary's by the Sea (Diocese)
321 10th Street  
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
(714) 536-6913
Time: 12:00 p.m.

John Paul II Polish Center (Diocese)
3999 Rose Drive
Yorba Linda, CA 92886
(714) 996-8161
Time: 7:15 a.m.

Diocese of San Bernardino 

St. Joseph's & Immaculate Heart of Mary Church (SSPX)
1090 West Laurel Street
Colton, CA 92324
(909) 824-0323
Time: 12:00 a.m., 7:30 a.m. & 10:00 a.m.

San Secondo d'Asti (Diocese)
250 North Turner Avenue
Guasti/Ontario, CA 91761
(909) 390-0011
Time: 10:30 a.m. & 2:30 p.m.

Sacred Heart Church (Diocese)
43775 Deep Canyon Road
Palm Desert, CA 92260
(760) 346-6502
Time: 2:30 p.m.

Diocese of San Diego

Saint Anne Catholic Church (FSSP)
2337 Irving Avenue
San Diego, CA. 92113
(619) 239-8253
Time: 12:00 a.m., 7:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 12:30 p.m. & 6:00 p.m.