Monday, March 29, 2004

Coming soon: Long-awaited Vatican document on liturgical abuse

From Catholic News Service:
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- A long-awaited Vatican document on liturgical abuse has been signed by Pope John Paul II and is expected to be published after Easter.

The latest reports indictated that this was to be released on Holy Thursday...Now we might now see this until after Easter.
Almost as much as the content, the tone of the draft document alarmed some liturgists in Rome, including several who work with the Vatican on papal liturgies.

Servite Father Silvano Maggiani, president of the Association of Professors of Liturgy, read a message expressing the liturgists' fear that the liturgical reform movement opened by Vatican II was being closed down.

He also wrote that it would go against Vatican II to try and return to a "schism ... between lay faithful and ordained ministers."
There was a schism between the laity and the priests prior to Vatican II? Who is this guy and where does he come up with this? Maybe it's a translation problem?
Whatever the final form, the document takes aim at liturgical abuse, and it was written at the specific request of the pope. When he asked for its preparation almost a year ago, the pope said he wanted it to include "prescriptions of a juridical nature" regarding church rules for the celebration of Mass and adoration of the Eucharist.
Perhaps the delay is that the "prescriptions of a juridical nature" have to be removed so as not to offend the sensibilities of those who prefer the "do it yourself" Mass?

No comments: