Another "Tale Of Two Cardinals": Cardinal Nichols Undermines Cardinal Sarah's Call For Reforms At Mass

When I wrote last Wednesday of Cardinal Sarah's call for "reform of the reform", I mentioned that there would most likely be push-back from more liberal prelates.  I didn't realize how quickly that would occur.

First, please read the text of Cardinal Sarah's talk given at the "Sacra Liturgia UK Conference 2016", given in London on July 5.  Almost immediately after that talk was given, Cardinal Nichols, Bishop of Westminster, acted in defiance of the Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments and instructed his priests to continue facing the congregation during Mass.  This isn't the first time that Cardinal Nichols threw fellow clergy under the bus.  He scolded 500 of his priests when the latter expressed concerns over last autumn's sin-nod.  He also has condoned "gay civil unions".  Therefore, for him to harp about "exercising personal preference or taste" is a tad disingenuous.  The Remnant has a video of some "liturgy guidelines" that the Cardinal seems to find acceptable.

Now what will Nichols do about kneeling for the Consecration?  About 25-30 years ago, I made several trips to England and attended Mass there.  At that time they did NOT kneel for the Consecration.  In fact, many churches lacked kneelers.  He did not mention that in his screed but I suspect there will be little kneeling during the Consecration.

I don't think my own diocese will fare any better.  But if Cardinal Sarah's words are implemented elsewhere, that will be at least some improvement.

500 Faithful Priests In England Beg For Faithful Synod - Will Their Request Be Granted?

From Zenit we read the Holy Father's general audience as he made mention of the Ordinary Synod to occur next October.  In one of the lines he is quoted as saying, "All -- Pope, Cardinals, Bishops, priests, men and women religious, lay faithful – we are all called to pray for the Synod. There is need of this, not of gossip!"  No doubt serious prayer to God is needed for this meeting, but what is meant by "gossip"??

I'm not going to pull punches!  I've reason to believe that by "gossip" he is referring to the watchful eye that many of us bloggers have had, and by the light of scrutiny that we shone on the proceedings there.  No doubt we were of assistance to stalwarts such as Cardinal Burke, Muller, Pell and others as they tried to stem the onslaught of rank modernism and yes, heresy, that otherwise would have gushed forth from the sin-nod last October.  I'm certain that Kasper, Marx, Baldaserri and others chafed and squinted at the light we were shining in their eyes.  Gentlemen, it is precisely because we are praying that we will continue to broadcast whatever comes forth next October.

Speaking of prayer, I understand that approximately 500 Catholic priests of England and Wales have petitioned the synod to stand firm for the perennial teaching on marriage.  While I applaud these priests and am grateful for their efforts, I am a bit saddened, too.  Why?  Very simple!  Why, in the name of heaven, would these priests believe that they need to ask bishops and cardinals to adhere to Catholic teaching?  Shouldn't it be understood that it's second nature to prelates to do so?  Yes, it should be understood, but that is not the case and these poor priests realize that.  Case in point - they were rebuked for standing for Church teaching by a local prelate, Cardinal Vincent Nichols.  Please read Damian Thompson's analysis of this action.

I just noticed something on Facebook.  Apparently Cardinal Nichols is sympathetic to sodomite relationships.  While he upheld marriage per se, he did not denounce the mortal sin of sodomy.  Might this have had something to do with his snit against the faithful priests?

So once again we have a prelate chastising faithful Catholics under his charge for speaking and acting like - faithful Catholics!  The number of these incidents, including the one I mentioned in Tuesday's post, is reaching epidemic proportions!  I don't think the end is in sight!  Again, we bloggers will shine the spotlight on these misdeeds of the clerics.