A shot at Pope Benedict

[Oik]

[quote]MOUNTAIN VIEWS: NEW POPE TO TURN BACK THE CLOCK ON REFORMS IN CATHOLIC CHURCH?

By John Hanchette
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.
Niagara Falls Reporter www.niagarafallsreporter.com July 26 2005[/quote]




I got a good idea, let's write this guy and let him know how much me support Pope Benedict's proper practice of the liturgy.

It's particularly sad to see that a Professor at a Catholic University (and Pulitzer Prize winner) can be so mis-informed.

[cmotherofpirl]

I moved it to the Apologetic board so someone can respond.

[Cure of Ars]

The author is under the delusion that modern culture is such a great thing that the pope and Church has to bow down to it. Give me a break. God forbid that there is one institution left that has enough sense to be skeptical of modernism.



The Church should not strive to be modern or traditional. The Church should strive to be eternal. Like C.S. Lewis said, "All that is not eternal is eternally out of date."

Edited July 29, 2005 by Cure of Ars

[MilesChristi]

[quote]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[/quote]

No surprise there, Mr. Hanchette. The teachings of the Church have been handed down from the apostles and are unchangeable. It's not a matter of conservative or liberal; however, you are right about one thing - they're hardrock, set in stone.

[quote]a Vatican office tracing its pedigree directly back to the Inquisition.[/quote]

Every secular article that mentions the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith must have at least one token mention of the Inquisition. This article is obviously no exception.

[quote]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.[/quote]

Okay, Mr. Hanchette spells out his thesis - the Holy Father is going to undo Vatican II.

My thesis is that the Holy Father is going to call for a proper implementation of Vatican II, according to the intent of the Council fathers.

[quote]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.[/quote]

So, all that follows is going to be based on Hanchette's interpretation of a few "key words" without even the benefit of the context. The "translations" are his personal guesses with the aid of little or no evidence. In other words, this is going to be a baseless rant.

[quote]Lose the guitars, flutes and drums, boys. It's back to Gregorian chants (which are specifically mentioned in the aforesaid text as more appropriate).[/quote]

Interesting...Gregorian chant is mentioned as having pride of place above all other sorts of music in the documents of Vatican II, which I [i]sincerely[/i] doubt Mr. Hanchette has ever read.

"The Church acknowledges Gregorian chant as specially suited to the Roman liturgy: therefore, other things being equal, it should be given pride of place in liturgical services. But other kinds of sacred music, especially polyphony, are by no means excluded from liturgical celebrations, so long as they accord with the spirit of the liturgical action, as laid down in Art. 30." ([i]Sacrosanctum Concilium[/i], n.116)

As for musical instruments, which Mr. Hanchette mentioned, Vatican II says this:

" In the Latin Church the pipe organ is to be held in high esteem, for it is the traditional musical instrument which adds a wonderful splendor to the Church's ceremonies and powerfully lifts up man's mind to God and to higher things.

But other instruments also may be admitted for use in divine worship, with the knowledge and consent of the competent territorial authority, as laid down in Art. 22, 52, 37, and 40. This may be done, however, only on condition that the instruments are suitable, or can be made suitable, for sacred use, accord with the dignity of the temple, and truly contribute to the edification of the faithful." ([i]Sacrosanctum Concilium[/i], n.120)

[quote]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.[/quote]

Whoa...only "devout" Catholics believe that the Host is the actual Body of Christ? I don't think a person could call themselves Catholic at all if they deny the Real Presence.

Vatican II never mandated that tabernacles be moved off the altar. The Code of Canon Law, revised after Vatican II, (1983) says this about tabernacle placement:

"Can. 938 ß1 The blessed Eucharist is to be reserved habitually in only one tabernacle of a church or oratory.

ß2 The tabernacle in which the blessed Eucharist is reserved should be sited in a [b]distinguished place[/b] in the church or oratory, a place which is [b]conspicuous[/b], suitably adorned and conducive to prayer.

ß3 The tabernacle in which the blessed Eucharist is habitually reserved is to be immovable, made of solid and non‚transparent material, and so locked as to give the greatest security against any danger of profanation."

Unfortunately, many tabernacles have been moved aside into what often seem like inconspicuous closets. Upon entering a church I've never been in before, I sometimes find myself saying with St. Mary Magdalene, "They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him."

Concerning the altar itself, Vatican II didn't call for it to be removed from the reredos. In fact, [i]ad orientem[/i] worship, with the priest and the faithful all facing East together is still to be the norm. The [i]versus populum[/i] style found in most Latin Rite churches at the moment is an indult.

Mr. Hanchette deeply misunderstands the theology of [i]ad orientem[/i] worship. The priest is not in "relative solitude" at all. He and the faithful, together, are facing the same direction (East) where we believe we will see our resurrected Lord returning in glory to judge the earth. The priest, through his sharing in the one priesthood of Christ, stands between God and the faithful as a mediator. The directives for the priest found within the Roman Missal still assume the priest is celebrating [i]ad orientem[/i]. Additionally, regardless of which way the priest is facing, during most of the Liturgy of the Eucharist he is not speaking directly to the faithful. He is speaking directly to [b]God[/b]. We are not meant to kneel there and just passively listen. We must unite ourselves fervently in prayer.


This is tiring. I really respect all of you who are dedicated apologists.

I recently decided that I need to spend more time learning how to defend the faith and evangelize. Aside from studying and praying, I need to practice...so I guess I'll try to finish with this article sometime soon.

God bless!!

Let's say a prayer for Mr. Hanchette, that he may grow in love for the Church...

[kateri05]

CATHOLIC university? which one?? HA!!

[phatcatholic]

is that document available that he is referring to?

[Didacus]

I didn't bother reading the whole article... this guy is way off and out of line.

Benedict XVI said many times that Vatican II is valid and that the church cannot move backwards but must live the present nad look to the future. This is all just a load of carp.

[EcceNovaFacioOmni]

I'm amazed at journalists who can write stories when they're clueless.

[Fides_et_Ratio]

lol, Miles said everything I would've...

that dumb journalist is WAAAAY behind. Most of Pope Benedict's "reforms" were in writing LOOOOONG before his election, they just haven't been enforced as strictly as most conservatives would've hoped. (this is not the fault of Popes, but of lazy priests)

[phatcatholic]

here's the document that ol' buddy was reporting on:

[b]--[url="http://www.ewtn.com/library/CURIA/instlabeuch.HTM"]General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops - The Eucharist: Source and Summit of the Life and Mission of the Church - Instrumentum Laboris[/url][/b]