Editor’s Note: There is nothing that can be said to condone in any way the grave sacrilege committed by those who participated in this act, nor of the act of schism with the Catholic Church by those who permitted it. But it remains to be seen whether this man who was never validly consecrated a Bishop holds the Catholic Faith or con-celebrated with a validly ordained priest, since more than 30 men collaborated with him in the act. The grave scandal, however, remains in any case, since no announcement was made beforehand. The group represented the traditionalist Anglo-Catholic society in the Anglican Church, which ostensibly holds the doctrine of transubstantiation.

UPDATE: The Vicar of the Canons of this Papal Basilica has expressed his dismay and consternation in a letter which has been publicly shared:

ENGLISH TRANSLATION BY FROMROME.INFO

The Chapter of the Lateran Basilica, in the person of His Excellency Mons. Di Tora, Vicar of the Cathedral Chapter, expresses his profound regret for what transpired last Tuesday, April 18, inside the Basilica of Saint John, at Rome. In fact, a group of about 50 priests, accompanied by their Bishop, all belonging to the Anglican Communion, celebrated on the high altar, in contravention of canonical norms. Mons. Di Tora has also explained that the unfortunate episode was caused by a clack of communication.

COMMENTARY

I would appear that the Vicar of the Chapter is calling the Vatican II altar placed in the Choir of the Basilica, the High Altar. This is not what most call the high altar in that basilica, which is the altar under the cupola at the center of the cruciform Church.  This church is the Cathedral of the Diocese of Rome and is called the Mother and Head of all the Churches of Christendom. To allow fake clergy and/or heretics to celebrate inside is a most profound sacrilege. But evidently, the Vicar is taking the responsibility for this canonical crime. — I find it highly credible that the Vicar mistook these traditionalist Anglicans for Catholics, because in many ways they appear more catholic than most clergy who pilgrimage to the Basilica. — Those websites which blamed Pope Francis for this scandal, now, need to apologize.