An Interview...

Many Catholics who have been frustrated at the state of the Church, especially the Liturgy, for the last few decades have honed in (with great hope) on Pope Benedict XVI's address to the Roman Curia on December 22nd. (We posted an excerpt here).

John Meehan in "Two Towers-the de-Chritianization of America and a Plan for Renewal" (Requiem Press, 2005) makes a very similar case, that is that the true interpretation of the Council is not one of a break with tradition, but reform in light and in continuity with tradition-and that for the most part in America, the true implementation of the Counceil had not yet taken place.

This morning we link to an article by Brian Mershon in which two American bishops also make the same type of case. The article is here. Here is a brief excerpt:

Q. Your Excellencies, Pope Benedict XVI's pre-Christmas Roman Curia address had a theme of the competing claims, and subsequent struggle, for the true Second Vatican Council. Do you have any comments?

Bishop Corrada: The Holy Father has been following this theme, and he picked it up from Pope John Paul II, but has emphasized it more. I think that Pope Benedict XVI has a very deep insight because of his philosophical and theological formation that the authentic teachings of the Church have to be followed, and that the Church has to come back to certain disciplines that some bishops and many of the faithful and priests have gotten away from.

And that discipline is the discipline of the sacraments, the discipline of the liturgy, and even the discipline of the Latin language. I think that is what he is making reference to, and I think it is wonderful that he is making that emphasis.

I think, of course, that John Paul II [intended that as well]. But this is something that will take a long time. I think this is the battle for the legitimate and genuine Second Vatican Council teachings to be known by bishops and priests and to put it into action. ..