[NYer]

This article recently appeared on the front page of The Wanderer. Given its importance to those who reside in the Rochester Diocese, as well as for those who may be encountering a similar situation in another diocese, I am posting it to this forum. This is not a new story; it has been ongoing for 25+ years. In 2003, Paul Likoudis wrote the following article for The Wanderer

 ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The abusive practice of laymen — usually nuns or ex-nuns — preaching during Mass, a nearly quarter-century-long practice in several Catholic parishes in the Diocese of Rochester, N.Y., received the imprimatur of Bishop Matthew Clark on April 24, when he issued new norms for lay preaching to take effect immediately.
Lay Preaching To Spread In Rochester Diocese

Liturgical abuse is rampant in many parts of the US and the world. Canon law ensures your rights as a Catholic to a valid liturgy. With regard to lay preaching,

5.6 Homily given by a Lay Person or Nun

When a homily is given, it may never be preached by a lay man, lay woman, or non-ordained religious, such as a nun. Only ordained men may given the homily.

The Code of Canon Law states:

Canon 767 ß1 The most important form of preaching is the homily, which is part of the liturgy, and is reserved to a priest or deacon. In the course of the liturgical year, the mysteries of faith and the rules of Christian living are to be expounded in the homily from the sacred text.

From the latest 2003 General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM):

66. The Homily should ordinarily be given by the priest celebrant himself. He may entrust it to a concelebrating priest or occasionally, according to circumstances, to the deacon, but never to a lay person.[65] In particular cases and for a just cause, the homily may even be given by a Bishop or a priest who is present at the celebration but cannot concelebrate.

[Reference 65.] Cf. Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 767 ' 1; Pontifical Commission for the Authentic Interpretation of the Code of Canon Law, response to dubium regarding can. 767 ß 1: AAS 79 (1987), p. 1249; Interdicasterial Instruction on certain questions regarding the collaboration of the non-ordained faithful in the sacred ministry of priests, Ecclesiae de mysterio, 15 August 1997 , art. 3: AAS 89 (1997), p. 864.

Know your rights and, like Mr. Brennan, take action. To learn more ...

Is Your Mass Valid? Liturgical Abuse

Here is the letter written by Bishop Clark ...

FULL TEXT

Please remember the Catholics in DOR in your prayers. Like their Catholic neighbors in the Diocese of Albany, they have been exposed to this nonsense for 25+ years, and their respective bishops still have another 7 years before mandatory retirement.

[RKBA Democrat]

IMNHO there really isn't much good news for our Roman Catholic bretheren living in diocese that operate such as this one.

Yeah, orthodox parishioners can band together and meet with the Bishop. And yes, they can petition the Holy See. But in the final analysis, I think they're fighting something of a pyrhic battle. Ultimately, the Bishop controls the assets and runs the Diocese. And to a certain extent you have to ask yourself: what good are you achieving by continually engaging someone who's spiritual beliefs are almost diametrically opposed to your own?

That isn't to say that there are no alternatives. I see several:

1. Move.
2. Go to an eastern Catholic church. Virtually every good-sized metropolitan area has at least one.
3. If you're close to another Diocese, attend Mass there.
4. Seek out the independent religious orders (i.e. monasteries) within the Diocese.
5. Find an orthodox priest and/or orthodox congregation within the Diocese. There are always dissidents. A good place to look is within the hospital ministries.

[Deo volente]

"St. Bernard’s liturgy professor, Fr. Robert Kennedy, who exulted: “We have had for more than 25 years a wonderful, rich experience of lay preaching in this diocese. It is a rich blessing..."


TRANSLATION: "We have had for more than 25 years a wonderful, rich experience of disobedience to rightful Church authority and contempt for the Holy See. It is an absolute disgrace..."

[AlaninSA]

This diocese is OUT TO LUNCH!

There are only two types of person who can deliver a homily (preach) at Mass: a deacon and a priest!

Ooohhh...this really gets my blood up. This is the exact same kind of liturgical abuse that was underway at the parish I used to attend here in San Antonio.

The only thing worse that I've seen is an extraordinary minister (female) of communion saying the consecrating prayers along with the priest. This was in Corpus Christi about a month ago - and the diocese there responded quickly and properly.

I can't say as much for my archdiocese here in San Antonio.

[Salvation]

**“WHO MAY PREACH?**

The priest and the deacon. Period!

[CPT Tom]

I received the exact form letter from the Bishop. We have the lay preaching continuing in the form of "dialog." It is so contrived as to be even more obnoxious than the lay preaching alone.