Traditionalists deserve respect, cardinal says

Vatican, May. 31 (CWNews.com) - Cardinal Dario Castrillion Hoyos, the Vatican official charged with relations with traditionalist Catholics, believes that traditionalist often do not receive enough respect from Church leaders.

The Colombian prelate told he Italian daily Il Giornale that traditionalists should never be treated as second-class citizens in the Church. He admitted that the Church sometime shows more consideration in dealings with Protestant and Orthodox groups than with traditionalist Catholics. At the same time, Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos suggested that some traditionalists should avoid "types of exasperated criticism" of Church leaders.

Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos, the prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy, is also chairman of the Ecclesia Dei commission, set up by Pope John Paul II (bio - news) to supervise the implementation of the papal indult authorizing a "wide and generous" accommodation of Catholics who prefer the traditional Mass. The cardinal also has been delegated by Pope John Paul II to handle negotiations with the schismatic Society of St. Pius X, in an effort to bring that traditionalist group back into full communion with the Holy See.

To satisfy the legitimate concerns of traditionalist Catholics, "a greater understanding is necessary," the cardinal said. He observed that Pope John Paul has "recognized the validity of their liturgical sensibilities." While other Catholics may not share those sensibilities, he insisted that traditionalists "are not second-class Catholics and must not be treated as such." Regarding the status of talks with the Society of St. Pius X, Cardinal Castrillon said that "the Pope and his closest collaborators are doing everything within their power" to persuade the Lefebvrist group that "the time is ripe" for their return. He voice regrets that the "hesitations" of the Society's leaders had slowed that process.

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