Bishop Tod Brown is at it again. He's still telling parishionersat St. Mary's by the Sea in Huntington Beach, California--through the pastor to whom he's giving full support-- that kneeling during the Mass is a mortal sin. The diocese and the pastor have decreed that the faithful must stand during the Eucharistic Canon, yet the Roman Missal says we are to kneel during those parts. One of the adaptations approved use in the US says:
43.3 - People should kneel beginning after the singing or recitation of the Sanctus until after the Amen of the Eucharistic Prayer. The faithful kneel at the Ecce Agnus Dei unless the Diocesan Bishop determines otherwise.
It doesn't say that the faithful kneel during the Eucharistic Prayer unless the bishop says otherwise. The option is only given for the Agnus Dei. So why are they persecuting these people?
Kneeling as liturgical abuse
Update: It's a bit of a stretch to say that Bishop Brown called kneeling a mortal sin. Those were the words of Fr. Tran, while Brown has said he gives his full backing to Tran. I'd say it's an implicit endorsement of Tran's comments, but it's not explicit.
Meanwhile, what's up with the following from the LA Times article? See what I mean after the jump.
I wonder if Cdl. Arinze could be persuaded to discuss this on his audio blog.
I am flabbergasted that the bishop would choose to make a fight over this! Of all the matters and subjects: I’m sure both “trads” and “progs” could think if five things dear to their hearts they’d rather have a bishop go to battle over, if battle he must.
Fr. Philip: He did not say it explicitly so I’ve amended the post accordingly.
John: Thanks for the link, but that’s the story link I already put in my post. Your link is redundant.
I am mistaken in thinking that his Excellency, Bishop Brown, is the only bishop in the U.S. to take this approach?
At our cathedral, in my archdiocese, programs advise people to remain standing. They don’t. No one has been treated this way. I think my archbishop realizes that this is not the fight to have.