Editorial

Positive developments in liturgy

Michael Gilchrist

Contents - Oct 2002 - Buy a copy now Editorial: Positive developments in liturgy - Michael Gilchrist Power without responsibility: the vendetta against Dr Pell - Peter Westmore News: The Church Around the World - AD2000 Commission for Australian Catholic Women justifies its existence - Michael Gilchrist Liturgy: Vatican control over ICEL tightens - Dr William Oddie Bishop Power: Church teachings need to be 're-examined' - AD2000 REPORT US billionaire promotes orthodox teaching - Zenit News Service Catholic liturgy in the 21st century: major challenges facing the Church - Fr Peter Williams John Henry Newman's critique of liberalism - Michael Davies Letters: Archbishop Pell (letter) - Eamonn & Patricia Keane Letters: "The Pell Show" (letter) - Stephen Hitchings Letters: Justice? (letter) - Godwin Brown Letters: Shepherds (letter) - Br Con Moloney CFC Letters: Church "renovation" (letter) - B. Tooley Letters: Church re-design (letter) - Michael Barry Letters: Soul and body (letter) - Dr Nicholas Tonti-Filippini Letters: Zero tolerance (letter) - Alan A. Hoysted Letters: Letters to the Bishops (letter) - Mavis Power Letters: Catholic education (letter) - Dr Garrick Small Letters: US theologians (letter) - Fr G.H. Duggan SM Letters: Celibate priesthood (letter) - Cyril Drew Letters: Good response (letter) - C.G. Jarrells Letters: Novus Ordo (letter) - Maurice Collins Letters: New Zealand (letter) - Kevin E. Fennessy Poetry: The Great Deliverance - Marion Craig Books: The Courage to be Catholic, by George Weigel - Michael Novak (reviewer) Books: Completed Jew, by Andrew Sholl - Michael Casanova (reviewer) Books: Godfaring: On Reason, Faith and Sacred Being, by Francis Clark - Br Christian Moe FSC (reviewer) Books: New Titles from AD Books Reflection: Devotion to God through the Angelus and Rosary - Fr Fabian Duggan OSB

The Vox Clara Committee was set up by Pope John Paul II on 20 April 2002, with Archbishop George Pell as its chairman, in order that an approved English translation of the new Roman Missal, according to the guidelines of Liturgiam Authenticam, be completed "as soon as possible."

The two-year delay in achieving this goal had been due to the International Commission for English in the Liturgy (ICEL), which until now has been reluctant to accept the principles embodied in Liturgiam Authenticam, particularly on inclusive language, inculturation of the liturgy and free (non-literal) translations of biblical and liturgical texts. The Vox Clara Committee was seen as the means of achieving a unity of purpose on the important question of liturgical language - including the selection of suitable personnel for a reformed ICEL.

As the report by Dr William Oddie (page 7) makes clear, this goal has been achieved with the replacement in August of Bishop Maurice Taylor as ICEL's chairman by Bishop Arthur Roche, and the replacement of Dr John Page as executive secretary by Fr Bruce Harbert. The two appointees can be expected to work more closely with Rome, aligning ICEL's policies with Liturgiam Authenticam.

Fr Bruce Harbert, in particular, had earlier expressed his ideas on the reform of liturgical language in an article in London's Catholic Herald, making it clear that he strongly endorsed the direction sought by Rome (see page 7).

It is also encouraging that Fr Peter Williams, director of the Liturgy Commission of the Parramatta Diocese and executive secretary of the National Liturgical Commission, has indicated that he supports the directives contained in Liturgiam Authenticam.

His views on these, and on the need for reforms in Church music and architecture, were set out in a recent address given to the Australian Confraternity of Catholic Clergy and also to the National Council of Priests. The text of this address is included in the present issue of AD2000 (pages 10-11).

Michael Gilchrist - Editor (E-mail: mtg@netconnect.com.au)

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 15 No 9 (October 2002), p. 2