ByzanTN hit upon what I believe is a wonderful compromise solution for those priests and parishes which have trouble with the newly promulgated English Creed which drops the word anthropos. If it poses a great burden on your conscience to say the Creed without it, you can recite the Creed in Slavonic instead. It is in keeping with the history and customs of the church, it is in keeping with the requests and expectations of the hierarchs, and it doesn't violate your conscience. I thought it deserved a thread of its own to highlight ByzanTN's wonderful idea.

(Yes, I realize this doesn't "fix" the translation. It provides a doable and moral way of adhering to the promulgation without violating one's conscience. While one did so, one would also be free to disagree with and work to change the English translation. I feel, for those who feel so strongly about this issue that it is a violation of their consciences to recite the promulgated English Creed, that this is a wonderful way of dealing with the interim.)

Actually,that doesn't solve the problem because an english translation must be provided so non Slavonic speakers know what they're saying. Translation, not language, is the issue and can't be skirted.

It is neither "doable", nor feasable for the same Church to profess two Creeds which contradict each other. They New "Creed" changes the meaning and intent of the Creed and is clearly heretical. The cult being promulgated by the revisionists is a heresy, no different or more worthy of consideration than Arianism or Marcianism. Woe be unto the shepherd that leads the flock appointed to him into perdition.

Alexandr

Just curious, what is the status of the Creed in the vernacular liturgical languages in Europe, i.e. Slovak, Polish, possibly even German? Are their linguistic controversies there?

I just did recite the creed in Slavonic, did you hear me?

I heard you!

I think there are many good people who do not wish to leave the church over this, who do not wish to disobey the bishops, and who do not wish to say the promulgated English version of the Creed. I think this is an obvious solution for the short-term to carry them through this dilemma, allowing them time to address the first two issues properly.

I do not believe it is an ideal situation or a long-term solution, but I do believe it is a way that such people could continue without violating their consciences or their directions from their hierarchs.

I wonder how many parishioners would have been scandalized if the word "men" were left in the Creed?

I doubt not many, if any, but that would be something to take up with the bishops. I was trying to highlight a stopgap measure for the mean-time.

What's wrong with just saying "for us men" despite the book? I've known parishes which cross out "substance" and pen in "essence" from their books. Unless such an action is specifically forbidden by the eparchy, I don't see anything wrong with it, especially since it is not a change to any heretical or personalist doctrine, and is actually a correction to the translation.

For that matter, what's one to do if there are typos in the books?

Markos
[who admittedly is no canon lawyer, and does not even play one on TV news programs]


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Oh Lord although I desired to blot out
With my tears the handwriting of my many sins
And for the rest of my life to please thee through sincere repentance;
Yet doth the enemy lead me astray as he wareth
Against my soul with his cunning.
Oh Lord before I utterly perish do thou save me!

Unite Byzantine Catholics! Break out your marker pens! Let us add "anthropos" back into the Creed!