Amid violence, Central African Republic bishops denounce 'lack of patriotisms'
- Jan 19, 2021
In preparation for the Sunday of the Word of God Jan. 24, the Vatican issued recommendations for the day as well as reminders on respecting the sacred Scriptures.
The Vatican decreed that priests can celebrate as many as four Masses on several important feast days, including Christmas, to accommodate the participation of the faithful.
Cardinal Robert Sarah wrote that although the Catholic Church should cooperate with civil authorities and adopt protocols to protect the safety of the faithful, “liturgical norms are not matters on which civil authorities can legislate, but only the competent ecclesiastical authorities.”
On Saturday the Vatican announced that the Virgin Mary would receive three new titles to be added to the Catholic Church’s traditional “Litany of Mary,” including one dealing specifically with migrants.
It’s worth pondering whether ordinary human dynamics actually are the best lens through which to view a crossfire between two prominent conservative Catholic prelates over a coronavirus petition.
A petition signed by some conservative Catholics claiming the coronavirus is an overhyped “pretext” to deprive the faithful of Mass and impose a new world order has run into a bit of a hitch.