Wednesday, October 11, 2006

How is this for a headline?

From the Times Online:
Pope set to bring back Latin Mass that divided the Church

The "Latin Mass" divided the Church?

I was actually alive during the Second Vatican Council and I don't seem to recall that the Tridentine Mass was, in any way, the cause for the subsequent turmoil and division in the Church. But why let the facts get in the way of journalism?

The Pope is taking steps to revive the ancient tradition of the Latin Tridentine Mass in Catholic churches worldwide, according to sources in Rome.

Pope Benedict XVI is understood to have signed a universal indult — or permission — for priests to celebrate again the Mass used throughout the Church for nearly 1,500 years. The indult could be published in the next few weeks, sources told The Times.

We've heard these rumors before...I'm a bit skeptical since it would appear to me, at least, that a reputable Catholic news organization would have some corroboration of this "rumor".

By bringing back Mass in Latin, Pope Benedict is signalling that his sympathies lie with conservatives in the Catholic Church.

Reading Catholic "news reports" from the secular press is both sad and funny - these folk seem completely unable to understand what they say...Injecting political terms likes "conservative" and "liberal" into the Curch serves no purpose except to foster division. One is either a faithful Catholic or one is not.

The new indult would permit any priest to introduce the Tridentine Mass to his church, anywhere in the world, unless his bishop has explicitly forbidden it in writing.

Then how is this different from the current indult, except in procedure or policy - explicitly forbidding as opposed to explicitly granting?

Hopefully, this universal permission will come to pass.

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