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,
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 ...
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.
They have my prayers. I can see no reason for a lay person to have to give a homily. The priest should be prepared and if not a deacon can serve. I think the root of this problem is pride and vanity.
Maybe someone should right a book " When Bad Bishops Happen To Good Catholics"