Rockford Bishop Doubles Down Against Tradition
JAN 19
Posted by Brian Williams -Liturgy Guy
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Bishop David J. Malloy has doubled down against our Catholic liturgical tradition under the false banner of unity. As noted today by Fr. Z at his site:

In this letter, a follow up to their diocesan “Presbytery Day” (where he spoke to them about “challenges”), the bishop writes:

“Following that talk, I write now to ask for your cooperation on several matters that have since been referred to me in connection with my comments last September:

First, as I noted at that time, we are all aware of the on-going discussion surrounding the celebration of the Mass “ad orientem”. However, for the reasons I discussed at that time, and in order to underscore our unity in prayer and to avoid differences between and even within parishes on this point, I ask that no Masses be celebrated “ad orientem” without my permission.”

Of course this move, which runs contrary to the liturgical tradition of the Roman Rite, contrary to the recent recommendations of Cardinal Sarah (prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship), and contrary to the GIRM itself, is the heavy handed modernist tactics of the Seventies and Eighties revisited.

Additionally, the bishop has forbidden…yes FORBIDDEN…his priests from offering Mass in the Extraordinary Form without his permission, specifically citing Articles 5 & 2 of Summorum Pontificuм. As Fr. Z correctly notes:

The Bishop of Rockford wrote “with due regard to Art. 2” and then he completely ignored it and wrote something that precisely contradicted it. According to Art. 2, priests of that diocese – or any other diocese in the world for that matter – do not need his permission.

So now, for the faithful of Rockford, they are being returned to a time in the Church when self-loathing Catholicism ruled the day. Back to the days when one need look no further than the chancery to find anti-Catholicism; for that’s what any attack against our liturgical heritage is. Against our past. Against tradition. It’s anti-Catholicism.

But wait; there’s more.

In his letter Bishop Malloy has also advised his priests that “any modifications being carried out in the sacred space of parish churches” requires diocesan approval. Specifically cited are the moving of altars, tabernacles, or “questions involving altar rails.”

In the Diocese of Rockford, Illinois it would seem that the groovy Seventies have indeed retuned; at least liturgically.

Those who oppose our Catholic tradition, who oppose the Latin Mass, and who (apparently) believe that mercy and accompaniment do not apply to traditionalists, are feeling quite emboldened these days.

It’s going to get worse before it gets better. Trust me.

And pray for Rockford.


https://liturgyguy.com/2017/01/19/rockford-bishop-doubles-down-against-tradition/?utm_content=buffer60071

Bishop David J. Malloy has doubled down against our Catholic liturgical tradition under the false banner of unity.

[quote="Fr." Zuhlsdorf (19 January 2017) via Williams]In this letter, a follow up to their diocesan "Presbytery Day" (where he spoke to them about “challenges”), the bishop writes: [....] However, for the reasons I discussed at that time, and in order to underscore our unity in prayer and to avoid differences between and even within parishes on this point [....]

Additionally, the bishop has forbidden… yes FORBIDDEN… his priests from offering Mass in the Extraordinary Form [....]  Those who oppose our Catholic tradition, who oppose the Latin Mass, and who (apparently) believe that mercy and [ accompaniment  accomodation?] do not apply to traditionalists, are feeling quite emboldened these days.
[/quote]
Fascinating!  But it's possible that there's a silver lining to this dark cloud of "unity".  What's more damaging to "unity" for a Catholic native of Illinois attending Mass in this diocese while away from home?
· Encountering  an unexpected communion rail (how quaint!); or
· discovering that he|she can't understand a single word of the Mass or its  sermon  homily, because all of it's in some  foreign nonsacred language, e.g., Korean, Kreyol (i.e.: Haitian Creole), Polish, Spanish, or Vietnamese?

So I look forward to reading that Malloy has issued a decree that really will promote the interest of diocesan unity, that being to FORBID his priests from offering any Roman-Rite Mass, presenting any biblical readings, or preaching any homily, in any nonsacred language other than English.

What's that?   Malloy wouldn't want that much unity?   Oh, yeah.  Silly me!   He wouldn't want to lose any sheepishoners from his Sunday diocesan  shearings  collections.