Letters

Brisbane Archbishop bans weekday Latin Mass (letter)

Tom King

Contents - Aug 2005 - Buy a copy now Editorial: Liturgy: opportunity for bishops to take control - Michael Gilchrsit What the Church can teach the secular world - Archbishp Barry Hickey News: The Church Around the World Campus Life: Cardinal Pell's program for a Catholic culture at Sydney's universities - Stephen Lawrence International poll underlines growing secularist challenge - Michael Gilchrist Media: Our Lord's name: responding to media blasphemy - Andre Van Der Linden Feminist translation: Inclusive language and the Trinity: the latest from Brisbane - Michael Apthorp Benedict XVI's pontificate: the possibilities - Damian Thompson London's Balham parish, 'an icon of liturgical hope' - Joanna Bogle John Paul II: a Jewish appreciation Anglican update: an orthodox fight-back - Fr Christopher Seton Letters: Dissenter's manifesto (letter) - Imelda Aslett Letters: Origins of the Bible (letter) - George Simpson Letters: Lay-led liturgies (letters) - M.T. Kennedy Letters: An Islamic Holland? (letter) - Henk Verhoeven Letters: Sacrifice (letter) - M.A. Ross Letters: Abortion breast cancer link (letter) - Dr Tim Coyle Letters: Real Presence (letter) - John Schmid Letters: Small Catechisms available (letter) - Fr Edward P. Evans Letters: Stem cells (letter) - Brian Harris Letters: Government review of RE in State Schools (letter) - Maureen Federico Letters: Brisbane Archbishop bans weekday Latin Mass (letter) - Tom King Letters: The Mass (letter) Letters: Appreciation from Nepal (letter) Poetry: A Heavenly Surprise Books: More Catholic Than the Pope, by Patrick Madrid and Pete Vere - Fr Glen Tattersal FSSP (reviewer) Books: More Good Reading from AD Books Reflection: How we will overcome the shortage of priests - Fr John O'Neill PP

In your June edition, you published my very favourable observations concerning the Latin Mass fraternity at St Luke's Church, Buranda, Brisbane.

Among my concluding remarks were the words: "We can but pray that some sanity has returned."

Sadly, my optimism has proven to be unfounded. At the last Sunday Mass celebrated in May, the priest celebrant was obliged to advise the packed congregation that the Archbishop of Brisbane had instructed that in future, "No Latin Mass is to be conducted at the church on any week day. Sunday celebrations remain approved."

The Archbishop has not indicated whether any latitude is extended to feast days or holy days of obligation that occur on weekdays.

The most visible signs of distress at the announcement came from dozens of mothers who not only attend Sunday Mass with their children but also flock to the First Friday Mass.

I can but wonder what would motivate an Archbishop to further alienate members of his neglected and diminishing flock.

TOM KING
Elanora, Qld

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 18 No 7 (August 2005), p. 18