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Joe's avatar

I have attended a number of Syro-Malabar Qurbanas in the States (I am a practicing member of the Ruthenian Catholic Church) and discussed liturgy renewal with many young adults. There does seem to be a different culture in the Oriental churches, although the general rule I find in most Eastern or Oriental Catholic churches is "tradition is what my grandparents did".

What I find strange is the obvious mixed messages about liturgy from the Vatican, which in some cases allows local variations and in others does not. Certainly an authoritarian approach as appears in this case is not new historically. I do find it ironic that ad orientem is prohibited in some Roman Catholic dioceses and required in this eparchy. It would be nice if the Vatican could figure out which liturgical practices are "catholic" and which are not, which local variations are okay and which are not.

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Lee's avatar

I can’t help but wonder what subtexts motivate the extremes of this dispute. Even the most feverish 80s era liturgy wars in the West wouldn’t have resulted in this. Do the rebel priests really care about versus populum that much (and if so why hasn’t Cardinal Roche joined their protests, LOL)? But really, are they trying to grab land/money/control and this is a vehicle to destabilize leadership that blocks them? Is there some simmering ethnic animosity among groups? Is it motivated by a cultural ambition to be “more like” modern, western Catholics? Is it just emotions getting out of control?

I’m also inclined towards disappointed that Vasil’ threw down an authoritative hammer within a couple weeks of arrival. But he probably knows many more facts than us internet crusaders.

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