Free Republic

You might say—many commentators have said—that with the quick Vatican smackdown of Cardinal Sarah's proposal for ad orientem worship, Rome has spoken and the case is closed. I disagree. On the contrary, Cardinal Sarah has reopened a much-needed discussion about how to increase reverence in the liturgy. His address to a conference in London caused what that city's Catholic Herald is describing in this week's cover headline as A liturgical earthquake. Ten days ago no one was talking about celebrating Mass ad orientem. Now that option is being widely discussed, even in secular media outlets. Cardinal Sarah was not issuing...

Fr. Michal Ryan, pastor of a cathedral church, launched an online signature drive to encourage laity and clergy alike to oppose the liturgical texts approved by Holy Mother Church...

From his friends in Milano Don Capisco hears that in August 2005 a document was prepared in the Roman Curia aimed at preventing a more widespread use of the "old" Roman Missal. The text is said to have been prepared last August by the Congregation for Divine Worship, and to bear the signatures of the Cardinal Prefect Francis Arinze and his right hand man, Archbishop Domenico Sorrentino, according to a report published at the end of October in the respected Milanese newspaper "Il Giornale," which belongs to the Berlusconi group and seldom hesitates at reporting Catholic topics. The report stresses...