The Pimpernel's 'Universae Ecclesiae' Award Goes to:

His Excellency, Archbishop Nichols of Westminster, London, for his response when asked about Universae Ecclesiae 21 which talks about seminarians being trained in the old rite.

“Personally I don’t think it needs to be added to an already crowded seminary programme because it’s a skill that can be learned later in a priest’s life.” 

Thank you for your personal opinion Your Excellency. It shares with us something of your own journey, and where you personally are at at this time. It helps us to understand this challenging moment in your ongoing ministry, and how difficult it can be to adjust to changes in the continuing development of the Church’s worship life. It must be hard just being you in this pontificate.

Seminarians in England might have a different personal opinion. The Pimpernel wonders whether the diversity and inclusivity, which His Excellency has so often promoted, will apply to differences of personal opinion on this matter in the seminary of the Archdiocese of Westminster? Or will this be yet another demonstration of the illiberal tyranny perpetrated by self-styled liberal clergy?

The Explanation of the Instruction on the Motu Proprio



Friday is a big day for Cardinal Levada

 Today's announcmement of the Instruction Universae Ecclesiae includes one very interesting sentence: "Con il testo dell’Istruzione verrà fornita anche una Nota redazionale."

So there is to be an Explanation of the Instruction which is itself being issued to clarify the Motu Proprio.

The Pimpernel wonders just what will need explaining? Will the explanation try to water the Instruction down? Perhaps those who tried, and failed, to get a restrictive text past the Pope are making one last attempt? Or perhaps the Explanation will reinforce it.

Friday will reveal all. Unless, of course, a certain priest's honourable "unless" comes to pass ("I will honor the embargo, unless someone else breaks it.") Then we may know sooner.

The real issue in Toowoomba: General Absolution

The deposed Bishop of Toowoomba, William Morris, is a liberal martyr. Anyone who has read anything he has said or written about his removal can see that. If you need another dose, there is a nice video interview with the bishop here.

But he is not a martyr for his advocacy of the ordination of women or the validity of non-Catholic Christian ordinations. Nor is he the victim of a tyrant-Pope. At least not according to another (ageing) liberal Bishop, Geoffrey Robinson, who retired early as an Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney at the age of 66 in 2004. According to Bishop Robinson in an interview given here it was because Bishop Morris would not desist with his support for the ordinary use of General Absolution in his diocese that he was removed.

The Pimpernel wishes Bishop Morris a happy retirement.

The joke is on...?

...er, them.

No Council, not even Trent or Vatican I, and much less Vatican II, is above Tradition.

In Italy there is one hell of a row errupting over the "hermeneutic of continutiy" and Vatican II. Professor Roberto de Mattei's latest contribution includes the statement, "No Council, not even Trent or Vatican I, and much less Vatican II, is above Tradition."

Some people, including Archbishop Agostino Marchetto, are calling him a right-wing extremist in places like L'Osservatore Romano. 

His article "A council can also make mistakes" doesn't get to the liturgical implications of his argument, but that's just one step away. It's well worth a read.

A rare ceremony

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