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"Eucharistic bi-ritualism in the Latin Catholic Church contradicts what the Eucharist signifies."

French clerics oppose restoration of Latin Mass

Oct. 24 (CWNews.com) - French clerics are leading the opposition to release of a papal document that would allow wider use of the traditional Latin Mass.

A group of 35 French bishops and priests have issued a statement urging Pope Benedict XVI (bio - news) not to issue the motu proprio that has been widely discussed in recent weeks. The clerics predict that by allowing broader use of the Tridentine rite, the papal document would "plunge us back into the liturgical life of another age."

Infocatholo, the news agency sponsored by the French bishops' conference, reports that the papal document has been edited and is ready for release. But the bishops' news agency says that there is strong opposition to the proposed move within the Roman Curia.

The opposition is particularly evident among French bishops, many of whom have given clear public indications of their hostility toward the papal initiative. Bishop Robert Le Gall of Toulouse told the daily La Croix that permission to use the Latin Mass would "create grave difficulties, especially for those who have remained loyal to Vatican II." Sounding the same theme, Bishop Andre Lacrampe of Besan�on said that "one cannot erase Vatican II with a stroke of the pen."

Opponents of the Latin Mass have based their arguments on the premise that the Pope's proposal would be designed to encourage members of the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) to return to communion with the Holy See. Bishop Claude Dagens of Angouleme told the weekly La Vie that a change in liturgical discipline would not achieve that result. He explained, "You can't pretend that Archbishop Lefebvre's break with the Church was caused only by the liturgy."

But other French bishops objected to use of the old liturgical rite by priests who have left the SSPX, to set up the new Institute of the Good Shepherd. Archbishop Andre Vingt-Trois of Paris complained that the new Institute, with Vatican approval, has already begun work in the Paris archdiocese. And Bishop Michel Pansard of Chartres said that he was "astonished" to learn that the traditionalist group was opening a seminary without first consulting him.

Infocatho, the bishops' new agency, gave a clear indication of its own perspective in the news report on the French clerics' complaints. The adoption of a policy allowing free use of either the Tridentine liturgy or the post-conciliar Novus Ordo, Infocatho said, would divide the Church, because "Eucharistic bi-ritualism in the Latin Catholic Church contradicts what the Eucharist signifies."

Originally posted by Serge Keleher:
A close friend who will here be nameless also headed for the Byzantine East in the later ninetee-fifties. For a variety of reasons, he was much more bitter than I was, and did not darken the door of a Roman Catholic Church unless he absolutely had to, which was not often.

But then a priest we had both known died in 1969, and my friend felt that he really should go to the Mass. He left the church after the Mass in a state of complete shock and telephoned me at once to ask "What is that thing they're doing?" Time has not healed the horror so far as he's concerned (we're still in touch).

Fr. Serge

Originally posted by Jakub.:
Deacon Robert,

You and I have a common ground...

"In my case, I'm 55 yrs. old. I was raised in the Roman Church, and educated in a Catholic grammar school up thru 1965. Religious education was very orthodox" ditto I say...but I'm staying around to "finish the good race", of course God willing and will continue my unofficial Eastern associations...which I have learned to treasure.

james

FRENCH BISHOPS PRESS THEIR CASE WITH POPE

Oct. 26 (CWNews.com) - The president of the French bishops' conference is in Rome this week, meeting with Vatican officials to discuss relations with traditionalist Catholics and the prospects for a new document allowing broader use of the Latin Mass.

Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard of Bordeaux met with Pope Benedict XVI (bio - news) in a private audience on October 26. Earlier in the month he had said, in an editorial published in his archdiocesan newspaper, that he planned to travel to Rome to ask for "completementary information" about the Vatican's approval of a new traditionalist religious group, the Institute of the Good Shepherd.

The French hierarchy has reacted nervously to the reports that Pope Benedict will soon release a motu proprio giving permission for all priests to use the Tridentine liturgy. Several French bishops have indicated that they would see that initiative as an effort to appeal to members of the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X (SSPX), which is particularly active in France. The recognition of the Institue of the Good Shepherd-- a group composed of priests who have left the SSPX-- has evidently fueled the French bishops' worries.

After his meeting with the Pontiff, Cardinal Ricard told the I Media news agency that he spoke about "the French situation." Informed sources reported that the French prelate had also spoken with officials of several Vatican dicateries.

Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger, the retired Archbishop of Paris, also met with Pope Benedict XVI, in a private audience on October 23. Archbishop Andre Vingt-Trois, the current head of the Paris archdiocese, has also been in Rome this week. Archbishop Vingt-Trois also reportedly met with the Pope, although that private meeting-- unlike the sessions with Cardinals Lustiger and Ricard-- did not appear on the Pope's official schedule.