The blog of a group of Filipino Catholics and their frank commentary on anything that affects their lives as a citizen of the Philippines and as a Roman Catholics.
"In his long letter to Cardinal Amato, Kasper, according to unconfirmed reports, cites the heroic virtues of Bugnini at length, particularly:
- His devotion and enthusiasm for the cause of aggiornamento, as displayed by his heroic perseverance in reforming the liturgy in the face of fierce resistance from Curial reactionaries such as Cardinals Ottaviani and Bacci, the two-thirds of the bishops who voted against his “Missa Normativa,” right-wing prelates such as Abp. Lefebvre, rebellious priests such as Fr. Gommar DePauw of the American traditionalist movement and the Abbe de Nantes, and even secular figures such as Tito Casini.
- His prophetic ecumenical vision, which led him to invite six Protestants, four Aztec dancers, and an aborigine with a straw hat, to serve as informal advisers during the development of the new Mass, and to consult Protestant liturgical books and the Talmud
- His clarity of thought, which formed the foundation of the new countersyllabus of universalism, religious freedom, collegiality, community, futile dialogue and free love.
- His kindly refusal to investigate repeated allegations of sexual misconduct among certain members of his Consilium, while invoking St. John the Baptist and the power of ancestral waters to protect them.
- The steadfast courage of his radical Christian discipleship, as he stripped the old Mass of Catholic theology and anything else which might offend Protestants, describing the result as “a major conquest of the Catholic Church.”
- His pivotal role in the collapse of the ghetto of Catholic tradition and the “razing of the bastions” called for by Hans Urs von Balthasar, by his embrace of all world religions, from Animism to Zoroastrianism to “I’m OK, You’re OK.”
- His profound humility and personal holiness, exemplified by his silent acceptance of being twice dismissed under suspicion of Freemasonry, by Popes John XXIII and Paul VI, as well as his prudential refusal to explain his apparent kissing of the Masonic “Book of the Royal Arch.
- The widespread impact he had during his travels, especially during his final journey to Iran, where, exiled by Paul VI, he celebrated many inculturated Masses and sprinkled many a receptacle of water, flour and hummus on the sacred sands of the former Persian Empire."
The sacking followed a Vatican investigation of the bishop, the diocese and its seminaries, said the statement, which gave no details.
And the bishop does this.
Livieres was named bishop of Ciudad del Este in 2004 and immediately disturbed other more progressive bishops in Paraguay by opening his own seminary, following a more orthodox line than the main seminary in the capital, Asuncion. Paraguay's bishops are known for their progressive bent in a poor country where liberation theology found fertile ground.
Relations between Livieres and the rest of Paraguay's bishops worsened when he got into a public spat with the then-archbishop of Asuncion, whom he accused of being gay.
....
There was no reference in the Vatican statement that Livieres' removal had anything to do with Urrutigoity. [A priest accused of sex abuse but the bishop accepted in his diocese.] Rather, the Vatican spoke of the need to maintain unity among Paraguay's bishops, suggesting that political and ideological issues were of far greater concern to Rome and that Urrutigoity's past was a secondary factor.
As a result, the removal underscored the deep ideological shift in the Catholic Church with Francis in charge. Vatican watchers say it is highly unlikely that Pope Benedict XVI would have removed either Livieres or the "bling bishop," since both had strong supporters among the more conservative prelates in Rome who appreciated their firm orthodoxy in the face of opposition from more progressive parts of the church.
Urrutigoity had been a member of the schismatic, traditionalist Society of St. Pius X. After leaving the society, he joined the Scranton diocese, where he founded a priestly society where the pre-Vatican II old Latin Mass was celebrated. In 2004, Scranton Bishop Joseph Martino suppressed the society, citing financial instability and allegations of sexual misconduct against Urrutigoity.
...will mean that the words for the whole Eucharist will be the same across a number of significant English-speaking denominations.
Pope Francis, ever taking people by surprise, in only the second year of his papacy, pointedly, on the feast day of a woman saint, St Theodora (April 1), is formally signing the declaration that he has the agreement of significant English-speaking churches and ecclesial communities to work towards a new Ecumenical English Missal.
Fr. Lombardi also had underlined that “the interview is not part of Pope Francis' Magisterium” although he attested to its overall “trustworthiness”. Scalfari said he had shown the text to Francis for his approval, but the Vatican said at the time that it was not clear how closely the Pope had read it.
The Pope was therefore said to have “regretted” its publication in L’Osservatore Romano in its Oct. 2 edition and that it was included among the Holy Father’s speeches on the Vatican's website. Socci said the Pope complained of it to the director of L’Osservatore Romano, Gian Maria Vian, in Assisi on Oct. 4.
In view of the widespread concerns over parts of the interview, many will be relieved it’s no longer on the Vatican site.
The Holy Father, who was reluctant to give interviews prior to his election, has not given any new ones since the mix up.
THE VATICAN pledged 3 million euros ($4 million), adding to $150,000 given by the Pope and 100,000 euros ($134,000) by Catholic charity Caritas.
346. As regards the colour of sacred vestments, traditional usage should be observed,
namely:
e) The colour black may be used, where it is the practice, in Masses for the Dead.It has always been the practice, until some ill informed priest or liturgist forced us to use only white or purple.
