Latin Rite

As well as the statue defacement, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the office of the Latin rite Roman Catholic Archbishop of Jerusalem, said there had been at least four other reported incidents of vandalism or violent harassment.

Benedict also permitted Catholics to celebrate Mass with the Latin Rite that Vatican II had nixed.

Friday’s local decree, written by Cardinal Wilton Gregory, who oversees the archdiocese of Washington, allows only three non-parish churches in the region to perform the Latin Rite.

He has recently cracked down on the use of the old Latin rite in celebrating Mass favored by traditionalists.

Many missed the Latin rite’s sense of mystery and awe and the centuries-old sacred music that went with it.