Everything I have read about this so far has shown that the Syro-Malabar priests have no intention of backing down, and that obviously appears to be what is happening. Did the Vatican really think they weren't going to get called on their bluff? Or maybe they aren't bluffing and really intend to excommunicate 90% of the priests involved?
Everything I have read about this so far has shown that the Syro-Malabar priests have no intention of backing down, and that obviously appears to be what is happening. Did the Vatican really think they weren't going to get called on their bluff? Or maybe they aren't bluffing and really intend to excommunicate 90% of the priests involved?
It's entirely possible the Vatican thought they weren't going to be called on it. The previous ultimatum they issued, which was for the priests to celebrate the new uniform compromise liturgy on a particular day, the priests complied with. If they're not getting an accurate read in Italy regarding what people are thinking in India, via the two or three people going between both, they could come to virtually any conclusion.
I wonder if they could have gotten away with requiring every priest to offer at least one uniform compromise liturgy every Sunday, and the rest either entirely ad orientum or entirely ad populum or official compromise. Probably would have defeated the purpose though...
I commented in this months ago saying that they will not excommunicate all of the priests, and I still don't think they will do it. They would essentially be cutting loose an entire diocese over a liturgical quibble.
I actually think that Rome needs to follow through if they want to maintain their authority in the future, but I suspect they won't have the willpower to go through with their threat. If they blink here it sends a message to other parts of the world that if you complain and defy enough, you'll get your way. I just don't think Pope Francis wants the stain of a significant schism on his record and he will do whatever it takes to avoid it, even if it means giving in eventually. I have no investment in this dispute but if I were on the side of the protesters I would stand my ground.
The recent news that the TLM may be banned entirely gives this story even more intrigue. How Rome handles this may send a message for that eventuality.
I searched the web and found Rorate Caeli has a blog post with what they (with honesty) describe as "a rumor" from what they describe as credible sources, but the substance of the blog post is that people should offer prayer, sacrifice, and penance (I have no objection to prayer, sacrifice and penance, which I believe to be powerful and useful, but I would add that the enemy, which is the devil and not any human being, always desires us to be anxious about the future and always desires to destroy our peace and our trust in God and is frequently able to do this through rumors and contagious emotions. So I would add in particular, a peaceful resignation in advance to God's will whatever it may be *without* imagining in any way what the possibilities are; just a blank check made out to God.)
Yeah it was the Rorate Caeli post as Bridget said. They seem to be taking this as a real threat. They haven't been 100% accurate in the past about all of the TLM restrictions but they were posting pretty accurately about TC before it actually happened, so they clearly have some sources in Rome. It's still a rumor at this point but I find it believable, mainly because of Pope Francis' health being a big question lately and I can see those interested in stamping out the TLM trying to move quickly to get it done.
Rorate updated this morning on X that he was reporting on a document that was in draft by a person or persons who then intended to get the HF to sign it. That's pretty far from a sure thing.
Everything I have read about this so far has shown that the Syro-Malabar priests have no intention of backing down, and that obviously appears to be what is happening. Did the Vatican really think they weren't going to get called on their bluff? Or maybe they aren't bluffing and really intend to excommunicate 90% of the priests involved?
It's entirely possible the Vatican thought they weren't going to be called on it. The previous ultimatum they issued, which was for the priests to celebrate the new uniform compromise liturgy on a particular day, the priests complied with. If they're not getting an accurate read in Italy regarding what people are thinking in India, via the two or three people going between both, they could come to virtually any conclusion.
I wonder if they could have gotten away with requiring every priest to offer at least one uniform compromise liturgy every Sunday, and the rest either entirely ad orientum or entirely ad populum or official compromise. Probably would have defeated the purpose though...
I commented in this months ago saying that they will not excommunicate all of the priests, and I still don't think they will do it. They would essentially be cutting loose an entire diocese over a liturgical quibble.
I actually think that Rome needs to follow through if they want to maintain their authority in the future, but I suspect they won't have the willpower to go through with their threat. If they blink here it sends a message to other parts of the world that if you complain and defy enough, you'll get your way. I just don't think Pope Francis wants the stain of a significant schism on his record and he will do whatever it takes to avoid it, even if it means giving in eventually. I have no investment in this dispute but if I were on the side of the protesters I would stand my ground.
The recent news that the TLM may be banned entirely gives this story even more intrigue. How Rome handles this may send a message for that eventuality.
"The recent news that the TLM may be banned entirely"
Oh no, what now?
I searched the web and found Rorate Caeli has a blog post with what they (with honesty) describe as "a rumor" from what they describe as credible sources, but the substance of the blog post is that people should offer prayer, sacrifice, and penance (I have no objection to prayer, sacrifice and penance, which I believe to be powerful and useful, but I would add that the enemy, which is the devil and not any human being, always desires us to be anxious about the future and always desires to destroy our peace and our trust in God and is frequently able to do this through rumors and contagious emotions. So I would add in particular, a peaceful resignation in advance to God's will whatever it may be *without* imagining in any way what the possibilities are; just a blank check made out to God.)
Yeah it was the Rorate Caeli post as Bridget said. They seem to be taking this as a real threat. They haven't been 100% accurate in the past about all of the TLM restrictions but they were posting pretty accurately about TC before it actually happened, so they clearly have some sources in Rome. It's still a rumor at this point but I find it believable, mainly because of Pope Francis' health being a big question lately and I can see those interested in stamping out the TLM trying to move quickly to get it done.
Rorate updated this morning on X that he was reporting on a document that was in draft by a person or persons who then intended to get the HF to sign it. That's pretty far from a sure thing.