Illinois Priest Loses Job After Refusing to Use New Catholic Prayers

St. Louis Today ^ | 2/3/12 | Tim Townsend

[marshmallow]

For 18 years, the Rev. William Rowe has done a little improvising while celebrating Mass on Sunday mornings at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Mount Carmel, Ill.

Now those deviations have led to his resignation in an incident that may be tied to global changes to the Catholic liturgy.

Last Sunday, instead of saying "Lord our God that we may honor you with all our mind and love everyone in truth of heart," during the opening prayer, he altered the phrasing to better reflect the day's Gospel message, in which Jesus heals a man with a troubled spirit.

"We thank you, God, for giving us Jesus who helped us to be healed in mind and heart and proclaim his love to others," the 72-year-old priest prayed instead.

Three days later, Rowe received a letter from Bishop Edward Braxton accepting his resignation.

"The problem is that when I pray at Mass, I tend to change the words that are written in the book to match what I was talking about, or what a song is about," Rowe said in an interview.

The book in question is the Roman Missal, a book of prayers, chants and responses used during the Mass. Rowe has been saying some of those prayers in his own words for years.

But in December the Vatican-mandated adoption of a new English-language translation of the Missal may have given bishops an opportunity to rein in freewheeling priests who have been praying in their own words for decades.

"Since December when the new translation came out, no one has said what would happen to you if you changed stuff," said the Rev. John Foley, director of the Center for Liturgy at St. Louis University. "But I find it hard to believe a priest in Illinois would be forced to resign...........

[marshmallow]

For 18 years, the Rev. William Rowe has done a little improvising while celebrating Mass on Sunday mornings......

And no doubt had become quite accustomed to monkeying with the Mass.

No Father, the Mass isn't yours to alter.

[narses]

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[Mercat]

Father Dennis used to make stuff up as he said the Mass including the consecration and the credo. Drove me nuts. Hope he gets fired. I haven’t seen him around lately. He used to sub for other priests.

[nickcarraway]

I’m a little surprised. Many priests have done worse liturgically and nothing was done. I hope more bishops try to maintain standards.

[Hilda]

He’s not supposed to change the wording, but I doubt this particular one would cause them to demand his resignation. If brought to someone’s attention, it MIGHT just get a “don’t do that again.” There must have been other stuff.

[IbJensen]

A dog’s dinner has been made of the liturgy in the past 50 years and all popes since Pius XII have had to answer for their modernism. Wonder where they all ended up?

[Kirkwood]

I for one enjoy hearing an inspired prayer that comes from the heart instead of the same words read off a page day after day and week after week. Keeps you focused instead of having your mind wander off.

[Venturer]

If he had molested an altar boy they would have just moved him to another Church, at the least he would have gotten an hearing.

[ConorMacNessa]

They're not "New Catholic Prayers." They're a return to a more accurate translation of the Latin text that has been in use for hundreds of years.



Etiam non princeps sed usque ad genua, Principis Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[verga]

I for one enjoy hearing an inspired prayer that comes from the heart instead of the same words read off a page day after day and week after week. Keeps you focused instead of having your mind wander off.

Take a look in the phone book, lot of Prot churches that will do that for you, but NONE have the real presence or the promise to be guided in ALL things by the Holy Spirit.

I used to think like you. but I came back to the pillar and foundation of truth.

[Joe 6-pack]

"...I find it hard to believe a priest in Illinois would be forced to resign..."

Last I heard, Michael Pfleger was still saying mass in Illinois, and he makes up pretty much everything as he goes along :-(

[Walrus]

I doubt that using the word “consubstantial” will make any difference whatsoever on where I’m ultimately headed.

[jtal]

I doubt that using the word “consubstantial” will make any difference whatsoever on where I’m ultimately headed.

maybe, maybe not. If you move from a church that doesn't believe in consubstantiality of the Son with the Father to one which does, it could make a difference. (grin)

But regardless, Catholics will have more clarity as to their doctrine by the usage of that word.

[Hilda]

The Collects change every week - they aren’t the same. And they are geared to the readings. Basically, every Sunday’s Mass has a theme that comes from the Gospel reading.

[vladimir998]

You wrote:

“If he had molested an altar boy they would have just moved him to another Church, at the least he would have gotten an hearing.”

Actually, if he had molested a child, he would have been immediately suspended from public ministry, investigated and removed permanently from the active priesthood. He would be done as a priest ANYWHERE.

[Jeff Chandler]

"Since December when the new translation came out, no one has said what would happen to you if you changed stuff," said the Rev. John Foley, director of the Center for Liturgy at St. Louis University.

"Stuff"?

[Mobties]

“If he had molested an altar boy they would have just moved him to another Church, at the least he would have gotten an hearing.”

Au contraire.

You must be thinking of a public school teacher, a university professor or perhaps a unionized government employee, a congressman or senator.

[Salvation]

**including the consecration **

Then it wasn’t a valid Eucharist or Mass.

[Salvation]

Oh I think the word, consubstantial is very important and makes a great difference.

con = with
substantial = substance

“begotten not made, consubstantial with the Father”

Of the same substance (Godly) as the Father.

[COBOL2Java]

There must have been other stuff.

Check post #8 here for some "other stuff".

[Venturer]

I won’t argue the point with you,but history says you are wrong.

[bjcoop]

I don’t appreciate your attack on Catholicism.

[Venturer]

I didn’t consider it an attack. More like the hypocrisy of forcing the 72 year old man out because he changed a prayer
while they have historically hidden priests who did far worse.

It isn’t by any means an attack on the Catholic Church, just an attack on hypocrisy.

I am sorry you are upset.

[A.A. Cunningham]

Has this specific Bishop hidden any Priests?

[vladimir998]

Not since 2002. Maybe you need to catch up to modern history.

[SuziQ]

"The ways Father changed the Mass ritual with his words have only made it more meaningful to us as opposed to distancing us from the church," Worth said. "Everything he does is based on our faith, it's not just a whim. There's a reason for every word he prays."

The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is not the priest's own personal celebration. There is a reason for the prayers that are used, and there is no reason to add anything else to make the priest seem eloquent, relevant, or 'hip'. If the priest wants to do some praying in his own words, he can do so in the greeting, before the Mass begins, or after the Final Blessing. If the people love it so much, they surely won't mind him taking up another minute or so of their time.

The article states that the Bishop warned the priest about this several years ago, and the priest ignored him.

[RnMomof7]

This from the religion that gave us democracy and the constitution :)

[Gamecock]

But if a priest molests children he just gets moved to another house of worship.

[wmfights]

LOL

We do live in strange times.