Catholics in the Diocese of Charlotte (North Carolina, USA) have called for a public Rosary prayer as an act of reparation in response to the measures of Bishop Michael T. Martin, which include the prohibition of communion rails and kneelers for receiving Holy Communion at Novus Ordo Masses.
Read also: A US bishop imposes standing Communion and orders the removal of kneelers in parishes
The event took place yesterday, Thursday, January 15, at 12:00 (local time), at the diocesan Pastoral Center (1123 S Church St, Charlotte, NC 28203). The call urged the faithful to join “to pray the Rosary in reparation” for guidelines that, in their view, dismantle traditional practices that have borne fruit in diocesan life.
The prohibition takes effect today: January 16, 2026
LifeSiteNews recalls that, in mid-December, Bishop Martin officially ordered that communion rails and kneelers cease to be used for receiving Communion at Masses of the ordinary rite starting today, January 16, 2026. Additionally, he would have required the removal of any “temporary or movable element” intended for kneeling during Communion.
Prior restrictions on the Traditional Mass
The call comes amid sustained liturgical tension. Since his arrival at the see in 2024, Martin has promoted changes “away from tradition” and in 2025 reduced the four celebrations of the diocesan Traditional Latin Mass to just one, moved to a small chapel located about 40 kilometers from downtown Charlotte.
Nevertheless —according to LifeSiteNews— the faithful continue to fill that chapel every Sunday, with commutes of up to two hours, and attendance figures in October that would range between 600 and 625 people including the Low Mass and the High Mass.
Priests’ Dubia to the Vatican
According to the same source, 31 priests —approximately a quarter of the diocesan clergy— would have submitted dubia to the Vatican requesting clarifications on the bishop’s authority to impose these restrictions on traditional practices linked to the reception of the Eucharist.