When a priest disregards the instructions of the bishop

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I would like some feedback on this issue .

A pastoral letter from the bishop was read in our church a few weeks ago .

During this week a parishioner was telling me of a conversation he had had with a Catholic from a neighbouring parish about what the bishop had said about receiving Holy Communion under both kinds .I said that the subject wasn’t mentioned in the letter .

So we looked at the letter online , and the bishop had written on the matter , saying he would like to see Communion under both kinds made available in all churches within the diocese .

This parishioner spoke with our priest on his omission , and he said that our priest just laughed it off .

So we had a pastoral letter about the Eucharist “To be read in all Churches on the weekend of 5th/6th October 2019” , and two paragraphs of the letter were omitted by our priest who happens to dislike Communion under both kinds .

Have you any thoughts on this action of our priest ?
 
If the Bishop just said I would like to see… as you said. I see nothing binding the pastor to do it. Give the pastor the benefit of the doubt. I think the letter should have been read without being edited! For that I think the pastor was in the wrong!
 
If a priest can disregard what is asked of him by his Bishop, why shouldn’t lay people be allowed to disregard what the Church asks?
 
Because just because the priest ignored the bishop doesn’t make it right.

People sin all the time with seemingly no consequences, but they still are sinning.

This priest chose not to relay the bishops message. That is on him.
 
JackFrost said:
So we looked at the letter online , and the bishop had written on the matter , saying he would like to see Communion under both kinds made available in all churches within the diocese .

This parishioner spoke with our priest on his omission , and he said that our priest just laughed it off .
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Did the Bishop really tell the Priests they should do sonething? It sounded more like he was stating what he wishes. Not what Priest have to do.
Ok, maybe.laughing it off isn’t too smart.
I have not read the letter so I only have yout words.
 
jesusmademe said:
Did the Bishop really tell the Priests they should do sonething?
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The bishop instructed the priests to read his pastoral letter about the Eucharist .

The head of the letter said , “To be read in all Churches on the weekend of 5th/6th October 2019”.
 
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You’re welcome to contact the bishop about it, but I would be careful and prayerful about whether or not you might be making a mountain out of a molehill. We can’t say without being in your shoes, but that would be my advice.
 
It’s a shame your pastor does not like Holy Communion under both species, I think it gives a fuller understanding of the sacrament.

That being said it may be a problem of people. We have both species at some of our masses but not all. Our pastor and former pastors were in favor but there simply not enough volunteers to have both kinds. Maybe your fellow parishoners are not they type to step forward and help out. This could be a practical reason for not offering it.

I think the priest was wrong to not read it in the original reading.
 
TARRAT said:
It’s a shame your pastor does not like Holy Communion under both species
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Why would that be?
In EF people don’t drink the Blood but it works fine. In OF many people are also ok without drinking the Blood.
 
In my parish, the bishop´s letter (from when it is sent to the parish about a month before the reading day until about a week after) is printed and put on a table for everyone to take home . The deacon or priest reads it and if they have to shorten it they say that it is shorter than the original and encourage us to read the complete letter. The letter is also posted on the website of the diocese in several languages.
 
“would like to see” is not a command. It is a desire, a goal. Did Father just laugh and say nothing, or did he make some comment? That should be the focus.

BTW, receiving under one species does in no way exclude the other species! It is a fuller sign, but not a fuller Sacrament.

Huge difference.
 
To edit the letter because he doesn’t agree with some of the content is clearly wrong.

When a bishop circulates a letter to be read at Mass that is a direct communication to the flock that should be delivered. It’s not a suggestion, it’s a command.

I would speak to the priest, and call the chancery. It might not change the priest’s mind, but the bishop should know about his direct disobedience.

He could have easily read the full letter and spoke to why he would not be implementing the change in your parish.

Bishops have extremely tough jobs, and don’t need priests disobeying their direct communication to their flock.

Deacon Christopher
 
I hope that’s not how you perform your job. You know should know perfectly well that when your boss says, “I would like to see” he or she means “do it”. It’s a polite way of saying, “do this”.
 
For a priest to disobey their bishop could result in unpleasant consequences for the priest. He could punish him in his assignment, for one thing. If course if the bishop didn’t trust one of his priest, this in itself would be a bad thing.
One thing the bishop might do is to tell the priest to come and talk with him. Then he can ask the priest why he didn’t obey. This could be quite unpleasant for the priest
 
Yes, in my parish (in England) too, there are always copies to take home plus a copy is pinned on the noticeboard, as well as on the parish & diocesan websites.
 
farronwolf said:
If a priest can disregard what is asked of him by his Bishop, why shouldn’t lay people be allowed to disregard what the Church asks?
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He didn’t disregard anything. What the Bishop asked was not an obligation. “like to see” is not a requirement.
 
If he bothers to say it in an letter, I think it is more a request than a wish. But we don’t know for sure 🤨
 
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