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MOUNTAIN VIEWS: NEW POPE TO TURN BACK THE CLOCK ON REFORMS IN CATHOLIC CHURCH?
Niagara Falls Reporter ^ | July 26, 2005 | John Hanchette

Posted on 07/27/2005 1:05:40 PM PDT by GF.Regis

OLEAN -- Various columnists for this paper already covered the making of a new pope last spring to a fare-thee-well, driving the tormented editor to declare an informal moratorium on writing further copy about the pomp and circumstance surrounding Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger's ascension to Benedict XVI.

We complied. So, in general, did the rest of the American print media, which these days, sadly, are trained by watching too much television to ignore anything that doesn't photograph well, or lend itself to colorful video, or where religion is concerned doesn't contain elements of movement and ceremony.

But in recent weeks, I've noticed a few short items creeping onto inside pages about the Holy Father's vision -- predicted here and elsewhere -- of a venerable Roman Catholic Church that more resembles the one of four decades ago instead of a global organization struggling to accept elements of modernity.

Starting the first week in October, a synod of Catholic bishops from around the world will meet in Rome to plot the future of the church under Ratzinger's leadership. A hefty working text has already been prepared for official consideration, and some sections have sporadically leaked to the Vatican press -- enough to suggest that Benedict XVI has no intention of mellowing from the hardrock conservative positions he held in his previous position as Prefect for the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, a Vatican office tracing its pedigree directly back to the Inquisition.

Bottom line: Pope John XXIII's liberal changes stemming from the Vatican II conclave to take into account this planet's social and cultural and scientific developments not previously sanctioned by Rome are in deep trouble.

There are some key words in the working text that constitute predictable indicators -- some superficial, some profound. The "translations" below are my predictions, not actual descriptions in the Vatican document of suggestions.

Parish priests will be urged to prevent "profane" types of music from being played during Mass. Translation: Lose the guitars, flutes and drums, boys. It's back to Gregorian chants (which are specifically mentioned in the aforesaid text as more appropriate).

The tabernacle, a large container -- usually bejeweled and gold-plated -- which holds the wheat wafer Host that devout Catholics believe is the actual (not representative) body of Christ after consecration, must be given a "prominent" position on the altar instead of the corner or side repository popular after Vatican II. Translation: Altars, with the tabernacle right in the center as unmistakable focal point, will be turned back around to allow the priest to celebrate Mass in relative solitude with his back to the congregation, instead of facing and speaking directly to the faithful as Vatican II decreed.

Lay persons will participate in the Mass only in a "minimal" fashion. Translation: No more reading of Scripture lessons by members of the congregation, or carrying of the wine and water up the aisle to facilitate Holy Communion, or letting the non-ordained help distribute the Eucharist during that sacrament. Priests only, please, just like in the old days.

During "liturgical gatherings," Latin will be relied upon as the universal tongue instead of English and other regional languages. Translation: A return during celebration of Mass to the Latin liturgy, viewed as confusing mumbo-jumbo by many Catholics before Vatican II, cannot be far behind.

Priests should not be "showmen." Translation: All those brave fathers in Central and South America and Africa and elsewhere who have the courage to question corrupt and dictatorial governments, or the temerity to suggest social and cultural reform, will be muzzled.

The working document, by the way, singles out Catholic politicians who support abortion and divorced persons who remarry for particular criticism and specific proscription against receiving the sacrament of Holy Communion without first making a true confession to a priest. This will also affect various areas of the planet where an acute shortage of priests has triggered the practice of taking Communion after making one's peace with God in one's mind because the preparatory sacrament of confession simply isn't available.

Some Catholics, particularly elderly ones, would welcome these changes, whether they actually occur or not. Many of them hate the Vatican II reforms. I was sitting next to my late beloved and curmudgeonly father in the early 1970s when a bearded guitar-wielder first strode to the altar to play some inspirational song of hope. My father actually stood up in the pew to leave before my mother dragged him back down to the kneeling bench.

I also secretly prized during those days the frequent look of repugnance on his face during the newly instituted "kiss of peace," which soon evolved into a hearty-handshake-with-those-nearby section of the Mass. My father was one of the friendliest gentlemen on earth; he just liked to reserve his handshakes for persons he knew, or trusted, or was happy to see.

Casting aside all the paternal nostalgia, I'm wary of Benedict XVI's plans. This is a man whose mind sees cultural development as conspiracy.

He still condemns the use of condoms to fight AIDS in Africa. He's already bounced, without adequate explanation, the respected editor of a liberal Jesuit magazine in this country.

Many Catholics are unaware that Ratzinger even criticized the immensely popular Harry Potter books as harmful to children.

In a letter of praise two years ago to a narrow-minded German critic of author J.K. Rowling, then-Cardinal Ratzinger described her astoundingly successful books as "subtle seductions" for youths and works that "act unnoticed and by this deeply distort Christianity in the soul, before it can grow properly."

Get real. I personally think J.K. Rowling deserves some Nobel-level award for becoming a one-woman assault squad on illiteracy. Do you know how hard it is to pry kids away from the TV or iPod or cell phone and get them to actually read a book? The numbers are there. Rowling actually has children reading again, using their TV-stunted imaginations anew to convert print into thought, to transform type into imagery. Her harmless books are stimulating and superbly written, and most children understand they are merely interesting works of fantasy about magic and good and evil and pretend sorcery -- stuff kids are intrigued by and will find anyway.

If the new pope really wants to do some good in this vein, he should take a gander at the hideously violent and often demonically promotional TV fare that is available to the majority of toddlers and youngsters in this country. Talk then about conditioning senses and warping vulnerable minds.

In his years as a promising priest and bishop, Ratzinger was viewed as somewhat of a liberal and reform-minded theologian. He once wrote a short book that viewed Vatican II with enthusiasm and promise. In his previous post as protector of the faith, however, the native of Germany became more and more conservative until he was known and routinely described as "God's Rottweiler" -- a ferocious defender of venerable Vatican views and practices.

In an excellent article in the July 25 edition of the "New Yorker" magazine, Anthony Grafton describes him in this role as "a snapping guard dog who threatens all dissidents with appropriate punishment." Ratzinger, writes Grafton, "was a censor, and he did his job well."

Since last April, Catholic writers around the world, particularly in Europe and North America, in article after article, have speculated that Ratzinger will realize he is now the spiritual head of the oldest and largest religious organization on the planet and -- as the "New Yorker" writer puts it -- will now "show a milder countenance in his new office." Not very likely. As Grafton writes, Ratzinger has repeatedly denounced "the intellectuals who confused social reform with Christianity" and is at heart himself fearful about intellectual conclusions.

"The intellect," he once told a gathering of about 800 priests, "does not always grant vision, but provides the conditions for intellectual games, and artfully conjures syntheses into existence where there is really nothing but contradiction." Only faith, believes the new pope, will abide.

I agree with author Grafton. A prelate who's fearful that Harry Potter books will block the spiritual growth of young Christians "may find it harder than he thinks to take on modernity in all its sprawling strangeness."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- John Hanchette, a professor of journalism at St. Bonaventure University, is a former editor of the Niagara Gazette and a Pulitzer Prize-winning national correspondent. He was a founding editor of USA Today and was recently named by Gannett as one of the Top 10 reporters of the past 25 years. He can be contacted via e-mail at Hanchette6@aol.com.


TOPICS: Catholic
KEYWORDS: cary
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To: Vicomte13; Aliska; ninenot
what's important is to be nice to people AND to follow orders, rules and forms, both

The first commandment is to love God. The second is to love fellow man. One who comes to the house of God and is focused on fellow man is not focused properly. Hence the issues with Sign of Peace and 'versus populum' posture. In some historical contexts they might have worked (the Sign of Peace is an ancient rite). They do not work in today's self-indulgent "horizontalized" context in the West.

Christ answered the issue of adherence to form directly. In the Guests at the Wedding parable (Matthew 22) there is a figure of an improperly dressed guest. Note that he is not the only "bad" guest, as Christ makes clear. He is the only improperly dressed one. And he is the only one at whom the wrath of the Father is directed.

It is a common misconception that since Christ argued so much against the hypocricy of the Pharisees, He must not have cared for the ritualistic form. The Gospel proves otherwise.

101 posted on 07/27/2005 4:36:08 PM PDT by annalex
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To: NYer
"And after consideration, it will probably be left up to the local ordinaries to implement some watered down version of whatever is accepted for use in each country."

This is my concern also, that whatever reforms of the liturgy Benedict requests, recommends, or even mandates, they will be ignored by our American bishops. Remember how JPII's documents and encyclicals were carried out?(NOT!) I'm afraid that our fondest hopes for restoring the liturgy will be dashed.
102 posted on 07/27/2005 4:36:47 PM PDT by k omalley (Caro Enim Mea, Vere est Cibus, et Sanguis Meus, Vere est Potus)
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To: nickcarraway

I hope this guy is right.






Me too.


103 posted on 07/27/2005 4:39:04 PM PDT by onyx ((Vicksburg, MS)) Pope John Paul II - May 18, 1920 - April 2, 2005 = SANTO SUBITO!)
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To: ninenot
It can also be argued that a Priest - alter Christus - represents both the people to God and God to the people through Christ. Therefore, during the Anaphora the Priest and people should properly be facing East, the cosmic symbol of the resurrected Christ in His offering of Himself to God on our behalf.

During the "Liturgy of the Word" it would not be wrong to argue that the proper position of the Priest is to face the people as one who is teaching them authoritatively from God through Christ.

104 posted on 07/27/2005 4:39:42 PM PDT by TotusTuus
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To: jocon307
If the Catholic Church would return to what it used to be I would consider joining it. As a child I spent my summers with my Catholic cousins. Every Sunday we went to mass. I was absolutely in awe of the majesty of the Latin Mass. The way the mass is now I can't even get my Roman Catholic husband to attend church.

If this Pope does this I will also hang his picture in my home and revere him for all time.

105 posted on 07/27/2005 4:42:05 PM PDT by asp1
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To: frogjerk

[sarc]thanks for the flashback...[/sarc]


106 posted on 07/27/2005 4:43:23 PM PDT by Aristotle721 (The Recovering Choir Director - www.cantemusdomino.net/blog)
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To: Aliska

"I wish I could talk to St. Peter about it and ask his advice, but that's not possible."

Why not?

I am utterly, even deadly serious, because this is actually deadly important.

St. Peter is alive, as are all of the other sainted dead.
If you particularly trust St. Peter, and you have confidence that St. Peter would steer you right, more confidence in St. Peter than anybody else living (or dead), then you can talk to St. Peter.
Do not say "That is impossible" unless you have truly tried to do it.
If you truly try to do it, then you will get what it is you seek from St. Peter.
Don't take my word for it.
Do it.


107 posted on 07/27/2005 4:48:11 PM PDT by Vicomte13 (Et alors?)
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To: Pyro7480

http://www.maryknoll.com/MARYKNOLL/SOCIETY/mm_capodanno.htm

Another good guy.

Frank


108 posted on 07/27/2005 4:55:55 PM PDT by Frank Sheed
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To: Vicomte13

Because in the old days, the priest and the people faced together in the same direction towards God, whereas, now they are turned in towards each other (man centered) and celebrating themselves.

The fact remains, leaving aside all passions and arguments, that Vatican II never decreed that the priest should face the people at Mass.


109 posted on 07/27/2005 5:00:19 PM PDT by jrny (Oremus pro Pontifice nostro Benedicto Decimo Sexto.)
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To: franky

Shifting roles for Vatican offices

Vatican, Jul. 27 (CWNews.com) - While some officials at the Vatican believe that Pope Benedict XVI (bio - news) plans a thorough overhaul of the Roman Curia, some minor changes are already taking place. Effective August 1, the Congregation for the Clergy will have an expanded role, taking over responsibility for some functions previously fulfilled by the Congregation for Divine Worship.

The Congregation for the Clergy will assume responsibilities for cases in which priests or deacons seek a dispensation from the clerical state. Under certain circumstances, a cleric can be released from the vow of celibacy, thus making him free to marry. Handling these cases will bring a substantial increase in the workload of the Congregation for the Clergy.

To date, these cases have been handled by the Congregation for Divine Worship. The dicastery has the authority to rule whether or not, in a particular case, the reasons presented by a petitioner are sufficient to justify dispensation from the vows of ordination. It handles all cases that involving a request for release from clerical obligations-- for both priests and deacons, diocesan or religious, of the Latin or Eastern churches.

The Congregation for the Clergy has, up until now, handled all administrative matters regarding priests and bishops of the Latin rite, with the exception of petitions for dispensation from clerical obligations. As it absorbs this new function, handling such dispensations, the dicastery will also take on oversight for clerics of the Eastern churches. So, in a simplication of Vatican procedures, the Congregation for the Clergy will now handle the full dossier of every priest. The Congregation for the Clergy was created by Pope Paul VI, and has three sections: The Clergy office supervises the spiritual and intellectual formation of priests and deacons; the Catechetical office sets norms for religious instruction; and the Administrative office manages the financial, legal, and medical needs of the clergy. The prefect of the Congregation is Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos (bio - news)-- who has served in that role since 1978. At the age of 76, the Colombian prelate is beyond the usual retirement age, and likely to be replaced soon.

Pope Benedict, who has spoken in the past about the need for greater efficiency in the Roman Curia, has made several modest changes in the operation of Vatican offices. For example, he has given the Congregation for Bishops the oversight for appointment of bishops in Eastern Europe; that function had been held by the Secretariat of State since the time of Pope Pius XII, who saw the need for careful diplomatic scrutiny of episcopal appointments in the Soviet bloc during the years of the Communist regime.

There is considerable speculation in Rome that the Pope will undertake more sweeping changes in the Roman Curia, with several proposals for reorganization already under discussion. The most persistent reports suggest that several pontifical councils might be combined into one office, and perhaps raised to the status of a congregation.


110 posted on 07/27/2005 5:02:07 PM PDT by Frank Sheed
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To: jrny

"Because in the old days, the priest and the people faced together in the same direction..."

I agree.


"...towards God,"

I don't know about that.
Where is God?
They may have been facing East, but God is also West (and South and North, and up and down too).
They were facing the altar, which was at the back of the altar area. I don't know that that's "facing God".
Given that the Host is God, it seems to me that wherever the Host is, even if held aloft between the priest and the people, when the people face the host, and when the priest faces the host, they're both still facing God.
I understand the symbolism you are getting at and don't disagree with it.
But there is also symbolism in what I am speaking about too, which should not simply be brushed aside.

"...whereas, now they are turned in towards each other"

That is certainly true.

"(man centered)"

That's not how I see it. I see it as all focused on the Host.

"...and celebrating themselves."

Well, I certainly am not doing THAT at Mass!

"The fact remains, leaving aside all passions and arguments, that Vatican II never decreed that the priest should face the people at Mass."

I agree. It was an unfortunate oversight on my part to have cut that piece of additional text, because it was not related to the question I wished to ask.


111 posted on 07/27/2005 5:07:55 PM PDT by Vicomte13 (Et alors?)
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To: asp1

"If this Pope does this I will also hang his picture in my home and revere him for all time."

LOL! I hope we get to put our pictures up soon, and for your hubby's sake too.


112 posted on 07/27/2005 5:08:34 PM PDT by jocon307 (Can we close the border NOW?)
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To: jocon307
Me too. I have one cousin who is absolutely devoted to the church. She has more than once expressed regrets over the direction that the mass had taken over the years. I would say that she would put the Pope's picture on her wall if he accomplishes this 'cept it's already there. :o)
113 posted on 07/27/2005 5:21:52 PM PDT by asp1
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To: jrny

I grew up in the Church during Vatican II. All of the liturgical changes, and most of the other ones, are crap.


114 posted on 07/27/2005 5:24:42 PM PDT by steve8714
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To: annalex
They do not work in today's self-indulgent "horizontalized" context in the West.

I mean no disrespect, but please spare me. I'm way too far gone to care one way or the other.

115 posted on 07/27/2005 6:11:48 PM PDT by Aliska
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To: Vicomte13
Do not say "That is impossible" unless you have truly tried to do it

I'll think about it. I took the feminine form of his name for my confirmation name. I don't think he would like me. Ever since I got whiff of some hard truths on the Orthodox newsgroup, I found out how mean some of those ancient men were. St. John Chrystostom said terrible things about Jews.

St. Peter would have loved the Jews, but I think he had more important, manly things on his mind than depressed women and their problems.

Like my ex-husband, the church is better off without me. You can all say "good riddance."

116 posted on 07/27/2005 6:17:12 PM PDT by Aliska
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To: Vicomte13

I think that the form and the function--in ALL regards with the liturgy, should be congruent.

We must include, then, the overall concepts of "sacred time, sacred space, sacred language, sacred music" in the mixture.

All these concepts serve as a "fence" which protect the liturgy, in a manner of speaking, from deformation.


117 posted on 07/27/2005 6:19:38 PM PDT by ninenot (Minister of Membership, Tomas Torquemada Gentlemen's Club)
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To: AnAmericanMother

Well, I think he's part of SOME 'dance team...'


118 posted on 07/27/2005 6:21:44 PM PDT by ninenot (Minister of Membership, Tomas Torquemada Gentlemen's Club)
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To: Aliska
We aren't told explicitly which way Jesus faced, but I doubt he turned his back to the apostles when he gave them the bread of life and the cup.

But "antiquinarianism" is an issue with Pope Pius XII, and John XXIII.

Which way Jesus faced at the Last Supper is irrelevant on that count--as WELL as the fact that the Last Supper was not a Mass.

119 posted on 07/27/2005 6:23:41 PM PDT by ninenot (Minister of Membership, Tomas Torquemada Gentlemen's Club)
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To: TotusTuus

Absolutely correct. The priest both represents God and the people--

simile modo, the choir represents both the Angelic choir and the people.


120 posted on 07/27/2005 6:25:50 PM PDT by ninenot (Minister of Membership, Tomas Torquemada Gentlemen's Club)
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