So-called “Monsignor” James Byrnes is a conciliar “priest” who was “ordained” with the conciliar ordination rite, in 1986, after being given a conciliar formation at a conciliar seminary. He was “ordained” by Cardinal John O’Connor, who was himself made a (supposed) “bishop” by Pope John Paul II.¹ Byrnes has been working for decades for the conciliar church, during which time it waged war upon Catholic Tradition. Byrnes was given the honorary title “monsignor”, in recognition of his work for our conciliar enemies.

Previously, the Angelus Press featured Byrnes in its October 2014 Conference, quoting him as saying that he stopped saying the new mass because it made him “feel uncomfortable” (minute 4:11).

In his 2012 Remnant article, Byrnes similarly explained his position on the Mass, as a matter of feelings and preference:

Please don’t misunderstand, just as “New Coke”  was Coke just like “Coke Classic,” the Novus Ordo Missae is Mass—it is both valid and legitimate—but also like “New Coke” there is something missing from the traditional formula, and that something cannot be ignored and is desired by many who have now “tasted” the traditional formula.

Byrnes is a perfect fit with the new SSPX, as it prepares for a full, unlimited indult (i.e., full conciliar recognition), because the Vatican gives indults only to compromise groups which are soft on Vatican II and the new mass, and which are attached to the “traditional formula” merely because it makes them “feel” more comfortable.

The SSPX has now placed Byrnes in charge of its school in Ridgefield, Connecticut. Fr. Wegner sets the tone for this SSPX announcement, with a cover picture of a school boy whose desk displays a picture of the conciliar, false “vision” of the “King of Mercy” Id. (The “King of Mercy” picture is contained in both the pdf and paper editions of the article but is cropped out of the html version.) This false “vision” was beloved by Pope John Paul II and is strongly promoted by the conciliar church. But the “vision” was condemned by the Church before Vatican II and also had been condemned by the “old” SSPX.²

In his letter fundraising for Byrnes, Fr. Wegner says he considers Byrnes worthy of running an SSPX school based on pap that even the most inexperienced or untalented administrators would claim to be their plans. Fr. Wegner says Byrnes plans to teach a challenging curriculum using highly qualified educators and attract more students. We would never send our children to that school, with its conciliar-trained administrator. Many years of conciliar training are not overcome with Byrnes’ new comfortable feeling.

Fr. Wegner concludes his letter, with his usual monthly request that each layman give him “a gift of $250—or more—”. This time, Fr. Wegner asks for the money to “show Msgr. Byrnes a warm welcome through your ever-faithful generosity”, specifically “the $100,000 [Byrnes] needs to start the next phase” of his life, now feeling comfortable. Id.