Posted on 06/04/2004 12:00:16 PM PDT by AskStPhilomena
In his explanation for the decision, Maida cited the growing influence of schismatic groups within his archdiocese.
"We have much activity by schismatic churches in the Archdiocese. We have children in our Archdiocese attending schismatic schools and being drawn away from the Church. Some of our faithful are crossing the border to go into Windsor or other dioceses for the celebration of this Mass," the cardinal is quoted as stating.
Maida did not mention at the meeting that in addition to laity joining schismatic groups, he is also faced with a major emigration of seminarians from the archdiocese, and the crisis shows no signs of abating. In the year 2007 there is only one man scheduled to be ordained for the Archdiocese of Detroit, a native-born Filipino.
During the meeting Auxiliary Bishop Walter Hurley said the Tridentine Mass may be allowed in two parishes before the fall, but neither the parishes nor the frequency of the Masses has been decided.
Hurley is quoted as stating, "We are not looking to catechize new generations into the Tridentine Rite, but we are seeking to respond to those people who have identified this as a pastoral need In moving in this direction, there are certain things that must take place as we proceed. The first is that Vatican II, its authenticity, and its liturgical reforms have to be accepted as a legitimate work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church. We do not want to set up something that would be divisive. We are not seeking to undermine or unravel the reforms of the Council."
The celebration of the Tridentine Mass will be coordinated under the auspices of the Archdiocesan Worship Office. "We do not want to see this as a work of a specific group of people, but rather an extension of Cardinal Maida's ministry as chief shepherd of the Archdiocese," Hurley is quoted as saying. "… All of our regional auxiliary bishops have indicated their willingness to celebrate this liturgy. The framework here is pastoral. We will not identify this as a "specific niche" of a parish; rather, this is simply something that would be offered at a parish."
The decision has been met with guarded optimism by those who have worked for the Tridentine Rite in the archdiocese, mainly because the rite – until now -- has been bitterly opposed by Maida and his chancery since Maida arrived as archbishop in Detroit in 1990. Additionally, the auxiliary bishop and chancery staff who are implementing his new decision are long-time chancery veterans who have no track record whatsoever of embracing traditional initiatives.
Many suspect the Tridentine Mass may be sparingly offered at small parishes in inconvenient locations, perhaps even in parishes hostile to traditional aspirations.
For at least the last 15 years there have been hundreds, if not thousands of requests to Maida to grant permission for the Tridentine Mass. A group of Catholics in the early 1990s filed a canonical lawsuit in the Signatura, the Vatican Court, to force Cardinal Maida to abide by Eccleiasia Dei, in which Pope John Paul II pleaded with the world’s bishops to allow a "generous application" of the indult for the Tridentine Mass. The St. Joseph Foundation assisted in that effort.
Maida opposed the lawsuit vigorously, and the legal effort ended when the Vatican ruled that with the death in 1994 of Thomas Marshall, the main signer of the complaint, the rest of signers of the petition to Rome had no standing to pursue the case.
It is noteworthy that the primary opponent of the Tridentine Mass at that time was Fr. Gerald Shirilla, professor at Sacred Heart Major Seminary and director of the Worship Department. Fr.Shirilla told a reporter for the Michigan Catholic that, regarding those who want the Tridentine Mass, "We have to fight them tooth and nail."
Fr. Shirilla was relieved of his post in 1993 when he was identified as a serial child molester, who favored young altar boys, going back more than 20 years. He never quite lost favor with Cardinal Maida, however, and was secretly re-assigned seven years later as pastor of a parish in the Diocese of Gaylord, Michigan.
Meanwhile, as the cardinal and his priests argue about the merits of the Tridentine Mass, the Detroit chapter of gay organization Dignity continues to hold its weekly Masses at Marygrove College every Sunday, and openly advertises that priests of the archdiocese celebrate its Masses. Priests of the archdiocese have never been forbidden to celebrate those gay Masses.
Cardinal Maida has always had different standards for different groups throughout his tenure in Detroit.
(Excerpt) Read more at cruxnews.com ...
That's the take home message. Vehement opposition to the traditional Latin Mass is often a sign of a serious underlying disorder. It makes me wonder about the disorientation of some anti-traditionalists on this website.
Isn't it strange how bishops (and cardinals) who hate the traditional Latin Mass will relent - only because they hate the SSPX more?
This would support your argument that without the continued growth of the SSPX, there would be no "indult" in the vast majority of dioceses.
Let's pray that the SSPX will continue to grow from strength to strength - forcing traditionalist-hating sodomite-sympathizers like Maida to make a more "wide and generous application of the Roman Missal of 1962".
It does make one think. Sodomites hate the Truth. They are turned over completely to their sin at some point. Very scary.
What does vehement opposition to the Novus Ordo signify?
Let me guess: blessed enlightenment.
LOL!!
Case in point John, about what you say, check this article by E. Michael Jones about the disgraced Abp Weakland (long---17 pages or so, but VERY much worth the read):
http://www.culturewars.com/2002/Weakland.html
But...but...I thought the SSPX had *nothing at all* to do with the survival of the Tridentine Mass.
Oh, look: a unicorn.
=== Let's pray that the SSPX will continue to grow from strength to strength - forcing traditionalist-hating sodomite-sympathizers like Maida to make a more "wide and generous application of the Roman Missal of 1962".
Amen.
I don't think it's fair to say Novus Ordo Catholics here oppose the Tridentine Mass. I know I don't. I freely admit that Traditionalists have been shabbily treated and believe that the awe and mystery surrounding a Latin Mass would undoubtedly have a positive effect on many people who have drifted away from the Church because of the normalcy and ordinariness of a Mass in the vernacular.
Even sinkspur, who's about as modern a Catholic as you're going to find on FR, is not opposed to the establishment of a Tridentine Rite.
You're exactly right.
Yet, the more radical among the traditionalists want nothing less than the total eradication of the Novus Ordo.
A Tridentine Rite would be the best thing to happen, all around.
Maida still doesn't get it. Offering a Traditional Mass sporadically is not going to draw the laity back from the "schismatic" chapels where people can experience a full parish life with traditional sacraments while *gasp* catechizing their children in traditional Catholicism.
Cardinal Maida should be doing this in good faith implementation of Ecclesia Dei, not simply to compete with schismatics.
If all the errors in the novus ordo could be rectified, I'm sure most traditionalists wouldn't be opposed to it's continued use. Of course, if all the errors were improved, you'd probably be left with the traditional Latin Mass - or something very similar. It's not uncharitable to prevent fellow Catholics from falling into error - even if some of them are quite happy to remain in blissful ignorance of the Truth. On the subject of error, it may surprise you to learn that the very words of consecration used by Our Lord have been corrupted in the English version of the novus ordo.
"Pro multis" doesn't mean "for all".
Even the protestant children's bible has the correct translation.
Now, you can get blast the messenger - or oppose the problem.
But the apostolic administration that SSPX was allegedly offered would have had the same practical effect.
I hope I'm not being uncharitable when I wonder why Cdl. Maida waited until he is within a year of retirement age before granting the indult.
I suppose it could be that there is an increased interest in the Traditional Latin Mass these days.
This is what I mean, Phillie.
The SSPXers have the truth, and the rest of us hoi-polloi are wallowing in ignorance.
You can argue "pro multis" or ad orientem, or whatever.
The fact is, the Novus Ordo has been approved by the Church. You don't like it, and you want to destroy it.
I want you to have your Tridentine Rite so you'll leave the rest of us the hell alone!
Actually, more often than not, Rome lets Cardinals stay on untill they are 80.
The SSPX doesn't want an apostolic administration. That would be an admission of defeat.
The SSPX is never returning to the Latin Rite, by its own choice. You just watch.
Missale Romanum 1965 (in English)
This is the first missal in the vernacular, as far as I know. It is very similar to the 1962 missal, and translated pro multis properly.
You may be right, but I will pray for their return, just the same.
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