Vatican, Dec. 31, 2007 (CWNews.com) – The Vatican will soon issue a new document clarifying the terms of Summum Pontificum, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone has revealed.
Confirming reports that have circulated around Rome in recent weeks, the Vatican Secretary of State told the Italian weekly Famiglia Cristiana that the Ecclesia Dei commission will issue instructions to “clarify the criteria for the application of the motu proprio” in which Pope Benedict XVI broadened access to the traditional Latin Mass.
Cardinal Bertone said that the new document was needed because there have been some “confused reactions” to the motu proprio. In fact some Vatican officials– most notably Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith, the secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship– have energetically criticized bishops who have failed to accept the papal directive.
This news came out earlier this week, but I have been working with my contacts to try to get more information. In a world exclusive I have gotten hold of the new document which is being released in a format that up to now has never been used before by the Vatican. I don’t know how it will be received by some bishops, but I think the new format will be helpful for them.
And here is a sample page.
22 comments
This is hilarious! Is there any way I could get the little BXVI caricature? Thanks! Keep up the good work!
Is it just me, or does the testing to ensure “competency” of priests who want to say the Old Mass seem reminiscent of the literacy testing that was required of blacks in some states before they would be allowed to vote?
Congratulations, Jeff. This is hysterical. I admire your Photoshopping chops.
LOL Brilliant! Could this be the first in a long series of “For Episcopal Dummies” books?
Aw shucks, I wanted to buy a copy for my Archbishop
Bravo! But even this might be too difficult for some of the bishops. You could, perhaps, use a Dick and Jane format. But that is preVatican II and would probably be rejected out of hand. I shall refer a couple of friends to your site. GJB
Excellent, but the implicit assumption behind this is that the problem is simply one of intelligence. It’s not. Stonewalling Bishops are not dumb, they are recalcitrant. The problem is not one of the intellect, it’s one of the will.
That was funny, Jeff. I think the book title should be more inclusive, though. 🙂 It should be addressed to ALL interested dummies, regardless of their religious affiliation.
The sample page and esp. the Pope Benedict caricature are worth the “book”!
Funny! If we can only mail copies to all of our Bishops =^)
Also, I too would like to know if there’s a way to get the B16 caricature =D
hahahaha, absolutely hillarious! :), I love the characture of Benedict XVI :)! I’m going to give it as a present to all of our Bishops.
This made me laugh but I do have to agree with Cornelius – the problem has nothing to do with intelligence. In fact, that the clergy can oppose the spirit of Vatican documents (Humanae Vitae and the Winnepeg Statement comes to mind) while remaining just onside of the disobedience / heresy line suggests great intelligence on the part of these shepherds.
Reminds me of how the chief priests were able to fund the execution of Jesus without becoming ritually unclean for the Sabbath or polluting the treasury.
As a feminist womyn in touch with the womanspirit, your website in general outrages me on all points, but I’m glad you’re realizing that bishops (actually just men in general) are all, in fact, dummies. Perhaps this will help us all realize that these wicked old patriarchal structures (especially the Old Mass!!) are just plots to enslave women!
😉
(love it love it love it!)
looks like The Tablet is good for something after all as it seems this is where the caricature of cardinal Ratzinger comes from
While the problem is really episcopal recalcitrance, a “SP for Dummies” approach lays bare their recalcitrance, particularly for the average Catholic who is less up-to-speed with these sorts of things than those of us in the blogosphere.
-J.
make an emailable graphic version for us to send out to our bishops!!!
“Aw shucks, I wanted to buy a copy for my Archbishop”
You mean we can’t?! Darn…
Now why didn’t we think of that?
Father John Trigilio, Jr
Father Ken Brighenti
authors of:
CATHOLICISM FOR DUMMIES
WOMEN IN THE BIBLE FOR DUMMIES
JOHN PAUL II FOR DUMMIES
Jeff,
I would tell this is hilarious if it weren’t so true.
You are now an international celebrity. Damian Thompson picked this up for Holy Smoke and Pewsitter.com also is running with it.
Congratulations. Clearly you are making a differnce and God Bless you for it.
What we REALLY need is a book titled “MIRROR SMASHING FOR DUMMIES” 🙂
Have a picture of someone worshipping a mirror, and a second person behind the mirror holding up a hammer preparing to smash it 🙂
ohh yea, its realy great!!!
Funny! Funny! Funny!
This is so good, I forwarded to all “Old Latin Mass” fratres. God bless you.
Comments are closed.