California bishop responds to lay group (re Tridentine Mass)

Renew America ^ | September 14, 2006 | Matt C. Abbott

[NYer]

In the ongoing saga in the Diocese of Orange, Calif., Bishop Tod Brown has formally responded to the Catholic lay group Restore the Sacred. The text of the bishop's letter (dated September 6, 2006), which was sent to a member of Restore the Sacred, is as follows:

Dear [Name Withheld],



I have been reflecting on the meeting I had with you and others from St. Mary's by the Sea Parish on the 10th of July. I was impressed by the love for our Catholic faith and the dedication to St. Mary's by the Sea parish that all of you manifested. You helped me to understand your concerns more fully and I appreciated the clear and respectful way that you answered my questions.



As I told you I would, I directed Father Martin Tran to present in your parish bulletin a fuller, and I trust, acceptable apology and clarification of his views on obedience, mortal sin, and kneeling. He has done this and has assured me that he is hoping to be able to work with you and all those who attend the parish in a respectful and productive manner.



One of the things that came out clearly in your description of the "traditions of St. Mary's" was that I and my predecessors did you no service when we allowed Fr. Johnson to deviate from the liturgical norms set out by church authority. You feel now a sense of betrayal and your request for a restoration of what you consider nine fundamental past traditions reflects your desire to hold on to an experience that has, in some important ways, nourished your faith over a long period of time. I apologize for the hurt and misunderstanding this has caused.



That having been said, let me address the particular requests you made in your document and in your presentation:



• The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has determined that in the United States, Holy Communion is received standing and that the appropriate sign of respect is a bow of the head before the Sacrament. The Diocese of Orange is obliged to observe this norm. It is helpful to reflect on why the Church in the United States has mandated this posture: standing is appropriate for those who are risen with Christ and who seek the things that are above. As people united in faith, we are also united in our common posture which serves to foster the intention and spiritual attitude of being one in Christ.
  
  

• In this diocese I have determined that the faithful will stand from the Great Amen until after receiving Holy Communion. This posture reflects our humble gratitude for the great things God has done in creating and redeeming us. We also recognize the eschatological significance of standing as we look forward to the day when Christ will come again and pray that Christ may find us worthy to stand before Him. After the reception of communion, each participant is free to kneel or sit, however they choose.
  
  

• The Sign of Peace is exchanged as a token of Christian communion, as a sign of our fellowship and unity before we partake in the ultimate sign of our unity, the Body and Blood of Christ. The custom of our culture would commonly be shaking hands, though the manner of the exchange is left up to the individual. It is important, however, that the priest celebrant express with the faithful gathered their ecclesial communion and mutual charity before partaking in Holy Communion.
  
  

• The participation of women as altar servers, cantors, and lectors, is a sign of the basic equality of every baptized member of Christ: we are all called to service in light of our God given gifts. It has also been determined in 1971 by the Bishop's Committee on the Liturgy in consultation with the Vatican, that this is a legitimate liturgical practice. To remove women from the sanctuary would denigrate the fundamental dignity of women ad their complementary role in God's created world.
  
  

• It is the purview of the local administrator whether or not the celebrants at Masses should have the assistance of extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist and the placement and furnishings of the sanctuary. He is also responsible for overseeing the selection of all music to be used at parish liturgies; I refer you to him about these matters.
  
  

• In view of the context of so much negative publicity, public protests and controversy associated with the liturgy at St. Mary's by the Sea, I judge that the restoration of the Tridentine Mass at your parish at this time would only cause greater disunity and confusion. Although you may not be aware of it, there are a considerable number of parishioners who are grateful for the changes that brought their parish in conformity with other parishes in our Diocese. They and the people of the Diocese generally would likely view permission for the Tridentine Mass so close upon the protests as nothing less than a capitulation to a special interest group. This is not to say that, sometime in the future, there may be an appropriate time when the question can be raised again.
  
  

My decision on these requests is based upon my ecclesiology. What unifies us most is the Blessed Sacrament that we share at Mass and, most significantly, in the reception of communion. This is where there should be some uniformity in our life as Catholics. Although there is room for variety in music, preaching and the way these rights are celebrated, these all must adhere to the backbone of liturgical legislation set down by the church. Outside the Mass, there is great room for other rites and prayer forms (Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, 40 Hours devotions, the Liturgy of the Hours, novenas, etc.) which can be done in the "traditional" manner and with the sacred music that is so dear to you. There are even adaptations approved for the Liturgy of the Eucharist (Eucharistic processions, which I think you have had in the past, is one example) which you may wish to consider with Fr. Martin.



I recognize that this letter is likely a disappointment to you. You were hoping for so much more. Be assured that my decisions mean you no disrespect. On the contrary, I hope my clarity makes it possible for us, should you choose, to work together to preserve what you love about the Catholic Church in ways that match our liturgical norms.



In Christ Our Savior,



Most Reverend Tod D. Brown
Bishop of the Diocese of Orange

[Kolokotronis]

"It is also because it takes place with other changes that would communicate a lessened belief in the Real Presence: Communion in the hand, illegal use of extraordinary ministers of Communion, removal of altar rails and the distinction between the sanctuary and the nave, removal of the tabernacle from the sanctuary (and even from the body of the church itself), etc."

Communion in the hands, eucharistic ministers and removing the distinction between the nave and the altar are things I can't understand, though I am aware that in the very early Church people reserved the Holy Sacrament themselves and "self-communed" at home during the week. I can't imagine the purpose of the other changes.

[vincentjay]

"Since you are so happy in your generic Christian faith, why don't you go be happy and leave Catholic matters to Catholics to hash out?"

Perhaps you're not aware of the nature of the Free Republic: This is a board for open, public discussion, open to all. If you want this to be a private discussion, do it on a private board.

[Petrosius]

We cannot look only to the practices of the early church. Gestures take on meaning within cultural and historical contexts. E.g., while in the West men remove their hats in church as a sign of respect, in traditional Chinese culture this was a sign of great disrespect. Thus in the Chinese rites the priest was given permission to wear his biretta throughout the Mass. Similarly, while standing for Communion was a sign of respect in the early church, after the Reformation it took on a new meaning. As for the purpose of the other changes, there is a consistent pattern that clearly indicates the intention of the liturgical reformers, even if they should deny it and claim other reasons.

[FJ290]

Perhaps you're not aware of the nature of the Free Republic: This is a board for open, public discussion, open to all. If you want this to be a private discussion, do it on a private board.

I'm aware of it and my comments still stand.

[Deo volente]

I find it strange that Fr. Tran even used the term "mortal sin" to condemn those who wished to kneel. I wonder how often he has used this term during his priesthood, because it's almost unheard of today.

In my opinion, he did this to intimidate those traditional Catholics at St. Mary's who would know its meaning.

[vincentjay]

"First, the Roman Catholic Church is not a 'denomination.'"

Even your teaching "authorities" acknowledge that there are non-catholic Christians, thus roman catholicism does not encompass the entire church. As a subset of the church (a very large subset) it is a denomination (a very large denomination). The church as a whole body of believers encompasses more than roman catholicism.

[vincentjay]

"It's amusing that you think that 'hair splitting' only goes on in the Catholic Church."

You're using what's known as a straw-man arguement. You're rebutting something which I never wrote.

Yes, many non-romans split hairs, but only the roman catholic denominaton claims to be "one" despite the evidence that they are not "one." Pointing out the hairsplitting highlights the weakness of the rcd claim to being unified.

[dsc]

I urge everyone who deplores this letter to write to this bishop and blast him, not eschewing terms like "heresy" and "smoke of Satan."

I urge everyone who agrees with this letter to shut the hell up, you heretic morons.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

I find it strange that Fr. Tran even used the term "mortal sin" to condemn those who wished to kneel. I wonder how often he has used this term during his priesthood, because it's almost unheard of today. In my opinion, he did this to intimidate those traditional Catholics at St. Mary's who would know its meaning. 45 posted on 09/15/2006 1:51:08 PM EDT by Deo volente

That someone that confused in moral theology is wandering around as a priest admonishing people about kneeling, while not surprising, is problematic.

[trisham]

Reading all of these hair-splitting replies amuses me and makes me glad that I escaped the roman catholic denomination many years ago. I find it's much more satisfying to be a generic Christian with only Jesus as my master.

***************

Welcome to Free Republic. Our purpose is to entertain you. I'm sure I am not to only one here who feels a sense of satisfaction in a job well done.

[trisham]

Knelling for Communion in the West developed as a result of greater devotion to the Eucharistic presence of our Lord. During the Reformation the Protestants returned to receiving while standing to show there rejection of the Catholic teaching on transubstantiation and to deny a distinction between the ordained clergy and the laity. It is within this historical context that Catholics react against standing for Communion.

************

I'd not heard this before. Interesting.

[BlackElk]

May the Diocese of Orange get an actually Catholic bishop next time and ASAP!

[wideawake]

I find it's much more satisfying to be a generic Christian with only Jesus as my master.

Your master is actually your own whim, which you have now trained yourself to believe is Jesus.

Jesus said that He founded a Church, He never said He founded a generic nickname for unserious people.

[BlackElk]

I suspect that you are not as familiar with Bishop Tod Brown as many Catholics have regrettably become familiar with him.

Only five years and two months until he must turn in his resignation at 75! But it IS five years and two months! Yeah, but with any luck it could be sooner!!!!

[BlackElk]

As you have previously posted, you are no longer Catholic. Why on earth are the worship practices of those who are Catholic any of your non-Catholic business?????

[trisham]

Jesus said that He founded a Church, He never said He founded a generic nickname for unserious people.

*************

LOL! Agreed.

[BlackElk]

There is much to admire in the pointed and lean nature of your eloquent post.

[cosine]

How do you know what he wants you to do?

Catholics do a lot of hairsplitting because individuals tend to rationalize,and a pure reliance on scripture (in whatever translation one chooses) leaves a lot of room in which to do it.

[Convert from ECUSA]

Amen, ain't that the truth!

[nickcarraway]

When I go to the Byzantine Ruthenian Catholic Church in my town, I stand, because that's the appropriate posture. But not not at the Latin rite parishes.