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corsair
Guest
What are your thoughts on the “flap” in Canada about a Diocese banning communion on the tongue because of H1N1? Has the Bishop exceeded his authority? What should the FSSP priest do next?
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CDNowak
Guest
The facts, such as they are, are here.
The bishop exceeded his authority twice, first in the restrictions on communion, secon in restricting the EF.
Contacting Rome is the only available response (CDWDS re: the original restricitons, Ecclesia Dei via CDF re: the suspension of the Mass).
The bishop exceeded his authority twice, first in the restrictions on communion, secon in restricting the EF.
Contacting Rome is the only available response (CDWDS re: the original restricitons, Ecclesia Dei via CDF re: the suspension of the Mass).
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preV2tradcath
Guest
I agree with CDNowak. We can also all pray for Bishop Henry, the FSSP, and the members of their congregation.
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truevaticanii
Guest
“Reminded that the Vatican’s Congregation for Divine Worship has said that all Catholics have the right to receive Communion on the tongue, Bishop Henry replied: ‘I am well aware of what the congregation has decided but quite frankly, it is not their call. It is mine.’ He said that the FSSP would be allowed to resume celebrating Mass in the extraordinary form when medical officials say that the swine-flu threat has receded.”
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marlo
Guest
A bishop has full authority to temporarily ban communion on the tongue within in his own diocese.
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CDNowak
Guest
Redemptionis Sacramentum [92.] Although each of the faithful always has the right to receive Holy Communion on the tongue…
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John_Larocque
Guest
I scanned this on the comments page of Rorate Coeli
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Brendan
Guest
Could you cite the Canon that you base this claim on? Because Canon 135 seems to disagree with you
Redemptionis Sacramentum was issued under a mandate from Pope John Paul II and under the auspices of the CDWDS. Both are higher authorities.
Where exactly is the bishop given the authority that you speak of?
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ProVobis
Guest
Defiance of the Vatican is an option opened to no Catholic.
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truevaticanii
Guest
“Reminded that the Vatican’s Congregation for Divine Worship has said that all Catholics have the right to receive Communion on the tongue, Bishop Henry replied: ‘I am well aware of what the congregation has decided but quite frankly, it is not their call. It is mine.’ He said that the FSSP would be allowed to resume celebrating Mass in the extraordinary form when medical officials say that the swine-flu threat has receded.”
- The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments said that every Catholic has the right to receive Holy Communion on the tongue.
- This bishop thinks he can stop the FSSP from saying Mass in the extraordinary form, Pope Benedict XVI’s Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum specified that any priest can freely say the EF without permission from the bishop…
- Even if the bishop wanted to stop the FSSP from saying the EF, he has only as much authority as the bishop of Chicago has over the priests in the Archdiocese of New York… the FSSP is a Society of Apostolic Life of Pontifical Right… they answer to the Holy Father, not Bishop Henry…
- receiving on the hand seems to spread H1N1 germs just as easily if not more easily than receiving on the tongue… receiving on the tongue–the priest does not have to come into contact with your tongue or you hands really (it wouldn’t be that hard for them to avoid touching the tongue) and they hand of the priest doesn’t have to come in contact with a hand that had been touching who knows what before Communion…
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Traditional_Ang
Guest
Brothers & Sisters:
A simple question before this blows up & before I try to eat my dinner…
Has anyone tried to talk to Bishop Henry about this? I mean Personally? Or by Telephone/Email/Snailmail?
Bishop Henry Fabbro REALLY stuck his neck out for the Lord on a major issue in June/July, 2005:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=64068
His email and other contact information are all in that thread. Please, please, be respectful and reverent. Bishop Henry Fabbro has taken unpopular stands for our Lord and has taken real flak for it. Anything you say to Bishop Fabbro will not only reflect on yourself and your own walk with Christ, it will reflect on Catholic Answers Forums.
It’s very important that we communicate with those in authority not only when we believe they are making mistakes, but when they are doing things that are right, or making stands that are difficulty or praiseworthy. Part of what CAF is here for is to teach us how to do this, so that we can serve our Shepherds better.
I’ll have to write my email and post it later…
Your Brother & Servant in Christ, Michael
A simple question before this blows up & before I try to eat my dinner…
Has anyone tried to talk to Bishop Henry about this? I mean Personally? Or by Telephone/Email/Snailmail?
Bishop Henry Fabbro REALLY stuck his neck out for the Lord on a major issue in June/July, 2005:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=64068
His email and other contact information are all in that thread. Please, please, be respectful and reverent. Bishop Henry Fabbro has taken unpopular stands for our Lord and has taken real flak for it. Anything you say to Bishop Fabbro will not only reflect on yourself and your own walk with Christ, it will reflect on Catholic Answers Forums.
It’s very important that we communicate with those in authority not only when we believe they are making mistakes, but when they are doing things that are right, or making stands that are difficulty or praiseworthy. Part of what CAF is here for is to teach us how to do this, so that we can serve our Shepherds better.
I’ll have to write my email and post it later…
Your Brother & Servant in Christ, Michael
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ProVobis
Guest
Rebels they’re not. In fact, their order was formed when they broke ranks with the SSPX back in 1988 so as to still be united with the Pope (then JPII).
I see this type of action by the bishop to be consoling to those pundits in the SSPX camp saying “we told you so.” And that’s not good.
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ibkc
Guest
Brothers & Sisters:
A simple question before this blows up & before I try to eat my dinner…
Too late - it blew up yesterday and it’s all over the Catholic news sites and blogs.
Yes; the whole exchange can be read at rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2009/12/please-read-letter-that-i-wrote.html
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Frosty
Guest
Uhm, I think you have conflated two bishops into one. The OP you linked to was originally talking about Bishop Ronald Fabbro of the Diocese of London, Ontario. Bishop Fred Henry of the Diocese of Calgary, Alberta is the bishop being referenced to in this thread. As an aside, Bishop Fred Henry was once an Auxilliary Bishop of the Diocese of London.
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Spirithound
Guest
As Frosty noted, the bishop in question now is Bishop Fred Henry, not Bishop Ronald Fabbro. However, Bishop Henry has indeed also been vocal in promoting Catholic doctrine.
lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/jan/08011010.html
theglobeandmail.com/news/catholic-hierarchy-pushing-political-buttons-in-washington/article1375001/
militesveritatis.blogspot.com/2009/08/bishop-frederick-henrys-message-on-bill.html
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JaMc
Guest
As I posted on the Catholic News thread on the topic - in 1918, during the Spanish Flu, which was much worse than the current Swine Flu, the “EF”, with communion on the tongue, was the only option available in the Latin Church. Was the Mass suspended then?
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Traditional_Ang
Guest
Frosty:
I figured that out - RIGHT AFTER I LEFT FOR DINNER! I dealt with the other Bishop Henry 4 years ago, and remembered the exchange. I was really hoping this was the same man, and that he would remember the friendly emailler who helped to organize that email campaign.
Well, we all know that saying about, “The best laid plans of mice and men…” :doh2:
I wasn’t asking if a single person, or even a couple of people had carried on a correspondence with Bishop Henry, but if the people who were writing here had written him. I was asking if anyone had said why some of what he had been told by the “Medical Officer of Health” on this subject was simply bad advice and had made some alternative suggestions which he could use to safeguard the health of his people during this “crises”.
We’ve made none of the modifications suggested by the “Medical Officer of Health” at my parish (or in my Diocese or in the ACA or the TAC) and we are well-stocked with Physicians and Physicians Assistants (One of the members of my parish is a Past President of the American Association of Physicians Assistants). In the TAC, We receive under BOTH SPECIES (the ACA is a part of the TAC). So, If any responsible Medical Authority saw any problem with something such as H1N1, the 1st thing they’d do is keep us from receiving our Lord under the Species of Wine…
They haven’t, and I haven’t heard of anyone discussing the possibility of such a prohibition. They know that we all have been taught to absent ourselves from the “Common Cup” and receive in the Hand if we feel we are getting sick, or if we have recently gotten sick with something such as the Flu, esp. when there are Flu and other Epidemics. They know we will watch out for each other in that respect.
I can’t see why a something similar couldn’t be suggested to Bishop Henry. And, I can’t see why someone can’t remind him that his primary allegiance is to the Body of Christ, not to the State or to some “Medical Officer of Health”.
All I ask is those who write Bishop Henry be respectful. Remember that he’s a Bishop of the Church of God and a Shepherd of Souls. And, Remember, “A kind word turns away wrath.”
Your Brother & Servant in Christ, Michael
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