News report from the latest Bishop's conference:
Cardinal Francis George of Chicago noted that a long-standing division between bishops who prefer standard American English and those who want a literal rending of Latin has become more complex. Some bishops on both sides have realized that the current English text is more familiar and meaningful to many Catholics than the centuries-old Latin text once was, he said."There are those who have been quite critical of the present translation, but who are now saying that we don't want to disturb the people, especially in the situation of weakened episcopal authority we have now," he said, referring to distrust of bishops who failed to remove child molesters from the priesthood.
Two points:
It's amazing that Cardinal George believes some Bishops don't want to upset the apple cart because, gee - the people think we are jackasses for how we handled priests guilty of sexual misconduct. We'll need a generation to pass before we can act decisively on moral and disciplinary issues.
Can you actually weaken authority that has been given by God? Only if you presume to weaken it yourself.
Second issue: I'm all in favor or reviewing the banal English translations we've been given for something that is more meaningful, even if that takes some time to stick.
More later when I have time...
The weakness they have now comes from having not exercised their authority when they had a duty to do so. Inaction -- leaving bad situations in place -- is therefore not the route to restoring respect for the Church's pastors.
I'm surprised the Cardinal didn't recognize this logical mistake.
Does it really say "literal rending"? What a Freudian slip!!
Hehehe - literal rending - that explains that horrid smell coming from the Bishops' Conference these past many years...
I totally agree with the cardinal, that it has taken this long and for Bishops, who are supposed to lay their lives down for their sheep, would rather worship incorrectly and conveniently rather than upset a few people, or for that matter make their lives harder
They sure did not mind upsetting the laity, who If I recall some 35 years ago never ever asked for a change in mass from Traditional to this retranslated over and over Protestant/Catholic Mass that we have today as it was out with the old (And BANNED on top of that!) and in with the new over one weekend
The destruction to our parish back then with the ripping out of marble altar rails and moving of the "altar" to make the priest feel part of the laity was heartbreaking to so many-they have never returned
All we are talking about here are a few corrections in translations and you still cant get agreement on this-it should have been 100% unanimous if they were really Shepherds of their flock-but they are obviously not concerned as much as we are about worshipping correctly in a manner pleasing to God
Ever recall Abel and Cain??????????????
If you recall Cardinal George took over Bernadin's boys' club- The Archdiocese had made tremendous strides and so has Cardinal George. BUT-- he is somewhat too pastoral in the sense that he isn't as straightforward as he should be.
I seriously doubt that he himself believes what he said.. And actually welcomes the translation. He just doesnt have the kahunas to say it.. YET..