JULY 29, 2007

While I was in Rome, several things originated there that have impact on our own parishes of St. John of God and St. Catherine (and I didn't have anything to do with any of them despite the rumors!)

1. The biggest impact is of course the naming of Bishop David Zubik as our new diocesan bishop, effective September 28. This announcement was greeted with great joy here in the 'Burgh. Ironically, for me, history repeated itself: almost 20 years ago, I was on a plane returning from Rome to Pittsburgh at noon Rome time when it was announced that Bishop Donald Wuerl, a Pittsburgh native and known well to me, would be the new Ordinary. I had to wait till I arrived stateside to hear the actual news. The same thing happened this time - I was returning on a flight from Rome at noon when Bishop Zubik, a Pittsburgh native and known well to me, was announced. I had to wait again till I got stateside to hear the actual news. Is there a pattern here? (Apart from some people thinking I spend too much time in Rome.)

2. The Pope issued his long awaited ruling on the use of the Mass of the 1962 Missal (short-hand term: the Tridentine Mass). Most people think it has to do with the Latin language, which is not the case. Mass may be celebrated in any language since the Vatican II reform (including Latin.) This has more to do with the ritual actions, not music or language. I suspect it will have little effect here in Pittsburgh, since we have had an approved celebration of the Tridentine Mass every week at the St. Boniface Church building of Holy Wisdom Parish, North Side. The permission has been given to any priest to celebrate in the former ritual a private Mass, to which people who spontaneously ask can be admitted. (I know, that's an oxymoron: a private Mass to which the public can be admitted.) The diocese has already informed us that we cannot schedule a regular week day Mass to do this, and only St. Boniface can have a Sunday Mass. So, I don't think we will see much change here on the local scene. One of the requirements is that the priest is competent to celebrate the old ritual. Fr. Al and Fr. Rege have already said that they don't feel that they will offer any such Masses. And although I am able to do it, it takes me over an hour to plod my way through the reading of a Low Mass according to the old ritual. Remember, it has been 40 years or more since we priests have had an opportunity to say Mass this way, and none of us are as young as we used to be. However, the possibility is not closed, and I may have to give more thought and prayer as we see how this plays out.

3. A summary in question and answer form was issued by the Vatican on a 10 year old document about what "true church" means in Catholic theological parlance. The particular explanation has to do with the phrase "the Church of Christ subsists in the Catholic Church." The explanation was meant mainly for theologians, but as always the media portrayed it differently. One way to sum it all up is: it is not necessary to belong to the Catholic Church to gain salvation. But all things considered, we feel it is a better thing to be Catholic than not to be. Or another way to say it is: all Christians are on the right road, but we believe Catholics are a little further along that road than others.

4. On a more local note, there is a lot of unrest over the diocese requiring all those in parishes, professional and volunteer, who have any contact with children, to register for the data base for Protecting God's Children. Some may balk about Lectors, or choir members, or festival workers having to do this. It is a burden, but we must put it in a proper prospective. The idea is to take all the information we have on staff and volunteers, which now is in 10 different places, and put them all together in one place. The idea is to provide some measure of security and healing in response to the abuse crisis. An analogy may be what I had to go through in the airports on my recent trip. Taking off my shoes, throwing away my cigarette lighter, having to buy mouthwash and a razor at the other end - all that is a hassle. But it makes people feel more secure (whether that is objectively true or not.) I put up with it because I still want to travel. If even one victim feels better, or is helped in the healing process, by this program, then we as loving Christians should be willing to make the sacrifice of aggravation for that person's sake. Read St. Paul ("to the weak I have become weak") for a scriptural justification. Short version: let's just do it and be done.

5. There is lots more, but both you and I need a break right about now. It is summer, after all, and even the Pope, like Fr. Al, is on vacation. Again.