Wednesday, January 18, 2006

Catholic group requests church where all Masses are in Latin

Although the plan would allow Diocese of Buffalo to save a church from closing, the issue is not without controversy...(isn't it always)

But check it this comment from Monsignor Anthony F. Sherman, associate director of the Secretariat for the Liturgy at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. I'm certain some people here would have an issue with his comments, if they are, in fact, accurate.
A separate congregation presumably would offer baptisms, first Holy Communion and marriage, among other sacraments. But the highest levels of the Vatican bureaucracy have yet to spell out clearly whether sacraments conducted in the old form are valid.

"That's somewhat of a hazy issue right now," said Sherman. [my emphasis]
So he is stating that it's unclear at the present time whether the sacraments under the Tridentine Rite are valid? This would surely be shocking news to those who attend the Latin Mass and receive the Sacraments.

Perhaps the good Monsignor was a bit confused about the question regarding validity? Might we be so bold as to call him and ask what he meant? The USCCB Phone Number is (202) 541-3000.
There is already precedence for a Latin Mass community. In August, Bishop Robert W. Finn of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph in Missouri, established a home for the traditional Mass congregation inside an historic Kansas City church, with a full-time priest from an order dedicated to celebrating the Tridentine Latin Rites.
And here in St. Louis we have, thanks to Archbishop Burke, the Institute of Christ the King and the Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem

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