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KNEELING OR STANDING ARE NOT ‘MORTAL SINS’ Father Martin Tran Clarifies LA TIMES article
Diocese of Orange County ^ | 06/01/06

Posted on 05/31/2006 10:45:55 PM PDT by gubamyster

KNEELING OR STANDING ARE NOT ‘MORTAL SINS’
Father Martin Tran Clarifies LA TIMES article

The LA TIMES, Sunday, May 28, 2006, story about the liturgical practices at St. Mary’s by the Sea stated that the determination of some parishioners to kneel during the Agnus Dei at Mass was a ‘mortal sin’ because it violated the liturgical norm (to stand) of the province of the USCCB Region XI (CA, Hawaii and Nevada)

The LA TIMES article quoted from Fr. Martin Tran’s weekly bulletin column in which he addressed the issue of respect for the general liturgical norms and practices of the Roman Catholic Church approved by the Vatican, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops and Bishop Tod Brown. His article resulted from ongoing local differences and rejection of various liturgical practices by a small group of parishioners. Here is the quote in question from Fr. Tran’s column:

“As I said before, Liturgy is the ‘public worship of the Church whose authority belongs only to Rome, the national Conference of Catholic Bishops and the local bishop, and not a private worship or business which belongs to any person(s) or group that can take it into their own hands by intentionally setting their own norms, disregarding the permission from the local Bishop or despising the authority of the local Bishop, and the National Conference of one’s country. That is clearly rebellion, grave disobedience and mortal sin, separating oneself from the Church. The reason for this is that all the current liturgical norms of the Diocese and of the U.S. are officially recognized and allowed by Rome.

Fr. Tran regrets any concern or hurt caused by the misuse of the term “mortal sin” in this context. The Diocese concurs with Fr. Tran’s clarification.

The bulletin article by Fr. Tran was never about “kneeling” or “standing” during Mass, it was about respect for the liturgical practices of the Church as approved by the Pope.


TOPICS: Catholic; Religion & Culture
KEYWORDS: catholic; kneeling

1 posted on 05/31/2006 10:45:58 PM PDT by gubamyster
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To: gubamyster
Feeling the heat ?
2 posted on 05/31/2006 10:48:02 PM PDT by gubamyster
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To: Salvation; NYer

ping


3 posted on 05/31/2006 10:48:36 PM PDT by gubamyster
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To: gubamyster

Translation: showing more respect for the Body and Blood of Christ than for the local bishop is a mortal sin - in the eyes of the bishop.


4 posted on 06/01/2006 2:51:57 AM PDT by John Locke
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To: gubamyster
Rend your hears and not your garments, sez me.

The mere fact that my bishop may be a total dweeb does not make my obeying him necessarily wrong or disobedience a virtue.

Actually I think the current Bishop of Richmnd may turn out to be okay, but that's neither here nor there.

If the Church has the authority to put out the G.I.R.M. and as long as it does not require me to do something immoral, seems to me I ought to do what it says.

Mind you, one of the hopes I had about becoming Catholic was that I could get away from this kind of debate. But my thinking is that most of us are wilfull and enamoured of having our own way, and that generally in matters of moral indifference it is preferable to do the silly ass thing others ask of us than to indulge our frowardness.

If I waited for everyone to be as brilliant, tasteful, pious, and just generally as wonderful as I before I did what they said, I'd never obey anyone but Jesus, and He'd have to show some ID.

5 posted on 06/01/2006 3:05:02 AM PDT by Mad Dawg (If you find yourself in a fair fight, you did not prepare properly.)
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To: Mad Dawg; John Locke; gubamyster

I'm always reminded of John of the Cross in these situations. I think his bishop ordered him not to preach publicly and into a monastery and he obeyed. For ten years.

Probably not the best move by the bishop.

I've tried standing after the Agnus Dei, due to a mistake by my pastor. Didn't really care for it. Was happy when the bishop made it clear we were to kneel.

All this monkeying around with the liturgy seems silly to me but if my bishop is actually a successor to the apostles and has the authority to choose one posture or another, I will obey. I might complain a lot, but I'll obey.

Fr. Tran's letters to his parishoners on the linked article show him to be not very diplomatic but at least one shows that someone promised him they would obey and then broke their promise. Bad form.


6 posted on 06/01/2006 5:48:15 AM PDT by siunevada (If we learn nothing from history, what's the point of having one? - Peggy Hill)
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To: Mad Dawg
Mind you, one of the hopes I had about becoming Catholic was that I could get away from this kind of debate. But my thinking is that most of us are wilfull and enamoured of having our own way, and that generally in matters of moral indifference it is preferable to do the silly ass thing others ask of us than to indulge our frowardness.

Hear hear!

-Theo

7 posted on 06/01/2006 6:03:13 AM PDT by Teófilo (Visit Vivificat! - http://www.vivificat.org - A Catholic Blog of News, Commentary and Opinion)
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To: american colleen; Lady In Blue; Salvation; narses; SMEDLEYBUTLER; redhead; Notwithstanding; ...
The LA TIMES, Sunday, May 28, 2006, story about the liturgical practices at St. Mary’s by the Sea stated that the determination of some parishioners to kneel during the Agnus Dei at Mass was a ‘mortal sin’ because it violated the liturgical norm (to stand) of the province of the USCCB Region XI (CA, Hawaii and Nevada)

Link to original article: A Ban on Kneeling? Some Catholics Won't Stand for It

Catholic Ping - Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list


8 posted on 06/01/2006 6:52:42 AM PDT by NYer (Discover the beauty of the Eastern Catholic Churches - freepmail me for more information.)
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To: gubamyster
the quote "Fr. Tran regrets any concern or hurt caused by the misuse of the term “mortal sin” in this context."
There is only one meaning of the term "mortal sin". It really can not be brushed off as a mis interpretation.
9 posted on 06/01/2006 7:04:42 AM PDT by Eternally-Optimistic (anything is possible)
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To: John Locke

No, to his credit, it does seem like he lowered the boom on the priest for an outrageous statement.


10 posted on 06/01/2006 8:31:35 PM PDT by dangus
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