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1. It's all about control you see, the hierarchy can't have innovation even from a senior priest.
   Dear Lord, that might lead to a greater understanding!
   I wonder what happened to individualism, to interpretation and the notion of improvisation (a personal approach if you like) when delivering the liturgy?
   Aren't priest allowed to speak from their hearts, to give life and meaning to the text anymore?
   Will the Homily be centrally controlled soon? A document that priests will simply read each Sunday?
   I sometimes get the impression that the institutional Church liked it better when we were not well uneducated - easier to control us that way.

   Posted By: Jeff Kevin

2. There but for the grace of God go I - same age too. I'd expect to have many companions! So silly...
   

   Posted By: Vince Carroll MSC

3. God help us! Orthdoxy and control have overcome the need to have a good priest minister to his people.
   Were the people distressed by Fr Rowes's improvisations? Did they call for his sacking? Does the punishment fit the crime?
   What was it that Jesus said about whitened sepulchres?

   Posted By: Garry

4. Let’s not be too ready to condemn decisions made by a Bishop.
   We don’t really know what ‘improvisations’ Father Bill actually made to the mass prayers. One must remember that the words used in parts of the mass are indeed very important – for example the words of the consecration.
   Let’s not jump up and down and blow the ‘control’ trumpet.
   We don’t know the details, and we must appreciate that there has to be some sort of control on something as sacred as the Holy Mass.

   Posted By: Peter Shafton

5. Here is a man trying to do the right thing by his parishoners and in come the Pharisees.
   God protect us from those blind to the stupidity of the new Order of Mass and the convoluted language it uses.
   Disgusted and disillusioned don't come near how I feel.
   The more I read of the campaign of oppression being waged on what remains of the more enlightened clergy, the more I am gradually being pushed away from Catholicism.
   

   Posted By: Noel Mc Laughlin

6. I don't know where people get the idea that 'individualism' is part of the liturgy. Leitergon = public works.
   It is not a form of creative self-expression or pop psychotherapy but the work of the body of Christ which comes from Christ as the head.
   We don't form it: it should form us. And for an individual priest to claim to know better than the entire church is clericalism of the highest order. We've seen where 'write your own commandments' has got too many of them.

   Posted By: Peter

7. Peter Shafton: I agree with you, and would only add that there are plenty of proper opportunities for a celebrant to encourage a congregation to prayerfully consider of all sorts of issues that might be exercising his mind.
   He could do it right at the beginning of Mass, after the Gospel even if there is not a full homily at that time, and again at the end of the Mass.
   That is all well appreciated and does not interfere with the formal liturgy that we expect to be consistent and engaging of our participation without confusing individual ornamentation.

   Posted By: Denis Goodwin

8. It seems some church leaders, such as Bishop Edward Braxton, see the celebration of the Eucharist as having a magical formula of words.
   I respecetfully ask these church bishops to refer back to the scriptures and the early christians and their simple but appropriate way of celebrating of the Eucharist.

   Posted By: Patrick Kempton

9. By googling 'Fr Bill Rowe' you can find a video of the man himself explaining his position.
   This has nothing to do with the new English translation and the bishop and he discussed the matter as long as five years ago.
   I recall a controversy when Leonard Bernstein conducted Beethoven's Ninth in Berlin, after the fall of the Wall, on Christmas Day 1989. Schiller's word for 'Joy' in the Ode for Joy', was changed to 'Freedom'. Whatever side people took on the matter, they showed respect for Schiller's text.
   There was a controversy, too, about making old black-and-white movies into coloured ones through modern technology.
   Woody Allen and others objected because they said the movies had been conceived and directed as black-and-white projects/art. Again, there was respect for the original product.
   Many priests and bishops seem to forget that all the prayers of the Mass are spoken to God the Father, not to the congregation.
   The homily is directed at the congregation.

   Posted By: Fr Sean Coyle

10. Fr Sean: You are correct and he penalty imposed on Fr Rowe would indicate that he refuses to change and obey.
    I am not being unkind but I suggest every one read Inaestmobile Donum.(excuse spelling).

    Posted By: Bob Burke

11. This incredibly strong action - suspending a priest for modest variation of wording in the context of the readings etc - limits the Mass to a formulaic set of words which must recited with absolute precision.
    It is clear to me that the essence of the Gospel of Jesus has much more to do with worship in spirit and in truth, rather than unswerving compliance to a specified wording.
    For God's sake, let's focus on what is important.
    The credibility of the Church, which has been buffeted, depends on its leaders taking a defensible approach.

    Posted By: Peter

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