Writing to Bishop about Liturgical Abuse

[NoPlaceLikeRome]

Would this be a good format?

[Addresses]

Dear _____:
I am a student at the University of ___, a Catholic university in your diocese. We are blessed to have daily Mass here. However, the chaplain changes numerous words of the Mass [insert examples–by the way these are significant but non-invalidating] and says Mass wearing his habit and stole.* [Mention that any student can vouch for this.]

[Then something about the importance of the liturgy and Catholic schools.]

Sincerely

---

Is that good? Do you have any advice?

*Readers: At least I’m pretty darn sure that is not licit for the principal celebrant. Right?

 

[Aramis]

Address notes:

The Right Reverend ____, Bishop of ___
(address)

Your Excellency,

…

I’d drop the comments on the importance of liturgy in catholic schools. Instead point out the importance of liturgy to you as a student. THis is becuase he already knows the importance of the liturgy.

also list an local remedy you’ve tried.

You have comeplained to the priest, yes?

 

[Aramis]

Correction: Most Reverend, not Right Reverend. (brain cramp in action)

 

[puzzleannie]

please take a look at the Catholics United for the Faith website cuf.org and the lay witness protocols, which detail how legitimate complaints about liturgy should be made, when to whom. bear in mind that if what you have is observed is not a liturgical abuse (does not make the Mass illicit or the sacraments invalid) the bishop is probably not interested and will probably not respond. also bear in mind that unsigned letters will probably go into a circular file.

 

[John_Lilburne]

Not wearing the proper vestments is clearly an abuse, clearly illicit. From the 2004 Instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum:

“[126.] The abuse is reprobated whereby the sacred ministers celebrate Holy Mass or other rites without sacred vestments or with only a stole over the monastic cowl or the common habit of religious or ordinary clothes, contrary to the prescriptions of the liturgical books, even when there is only one minister participating.”

I find Puzzleannie’s definition confusing: “liturgical abuse (does not make the Mass illicit or the sacraments invalid)”. I understand “illicit” to mean “unlawful, forbidden, unlicensed”. It is forbidden to not wear the proper vestments at Mass. So does wearing the wrong vestments make the Mass illicit? I suppose so.

Anyway, clearly the Vatican uses the term “abuse” to include things like not wearing the proper vestments.

 

[awalt]

IMHO you should speak to the priest first, then the pastor, with an open mind and in a loving way. Hear what they say. Ask questions.

Only then should you go to the bishop, and then copy the pastor with the letter, and state what has transpired.

I feel it’s a pretty safe bet the bishop will ignore it is you just send a letter to him without doing the courteous and up-front thing first. He has way to many fish to fry to chase every complain that comes in without dealing with the locals first.

 

[ltbpoe43]

Agree with others here.

Ask the priest first. Explain that your understanding is not what your are seeing and could he help clarify the issues. Note the day and time of the discussion.

If you do decide to escalate the issue to the bishop, include the date and time and results of your meeting with the priest.

Also, is there a deacon or another person in the church you could discuss these questions with? Perhaps they have some insight that would be useful.

 

[Aramis]

Liturgical abuse itself doesn’t make the mass itself illicit, but is an illicit act on the part of the abuser.

The mass itself is still valid in cases like this because the mass isn’t off limits, nor is its efficacy waived, but the celebrant is committing a sin in HOW he’s vesting (unless, as some priests have gotten for specific cases, there is an indult in place from the bishop), but the sinfulness of the priest, barring excommunication or suspension, doesn’t make his masses illicit nor inefective.

(Every SSPX mass not celebrated by one of the 4 excommunicated bishops is in this category. those celebrated by the four excommunicated bishops would be clearly illicit.)