Father Paul Wickens, 74; Defied Vatican Over Modernization Policies

Father Paul Wickens, 74, the founder of a church that defied Vatican policy by celebrating Masses in Latin, died Thursday of esophageal cancer in Summit, N.J. Wickens became concerned about priests and nuns resigning from the Roman Catholic Church after policies were modernized in the Second Vatican Council. His first defiance of authority came in 1983, when he denounced the introduction of sex education in Catholic schools. He was reassigned, and then suspended.

In 1994, Wickens began building St. Anthony of Padua Chapel in West Orange, N.J., completing the church two years later. Although the Newark archdiocese refused to authorize the church or allow Wickens to celebrate Mass or hear confessions, he conducted traditional Catholic Masses and other rites.

Despite disapproval from the Catholic hierarchy, his church assembled some 900 members, and each Sunday draws about 500 parishioners to its three Latin Masses.