We have three things to say this week.
Firstly, this blog is really about the importance of getting the Eucharist to China, which we have to approach by getting our bishops to accept extended ordination as Pope Francis has asked them to do , as this will be the only way in which the Eucharist can be provided as quickly as possible for China’s millions.
But we can’t get peace to get on with it because of the nightmare scenes and distortion of reality at the end of the Tridentine priesthood in Scotland. This week, it’s a priest “stalking” to quote a local newspaper a young man of 29, asking him to come for a meal, etc. Now that’s obviously bad anywhere. You won’t believe this next bit. This fruit of the clerical training system in Scotland actually said he thought the young man reminded him of an altar boy he had known. You wouldn’t get away with that as part of an anti-religious skit in an atheist pantomime. But we have to live with it. At the minute.
Secondly, a bit about China at last. The ‘Tablet’ international Catholic magazine had an interview with Archbishop Hon Tai-Fai Chinese secretary of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples. Now here’s a lad who would fit beautifully into things here. ‘At certain times and places the Pope has had to allow local rulers to nominate bishops. But that was all in the past ‘ he says. True enough, Hon. The time span , however, is more worthy of note than you feel like giving it. Most people would agree that from the Concordat of Worms in 1120 up to 1917, and I quote ’Many kings and other secular authorities continued largely to exercise a right of appointment or at least of veto until the second half of the nineteenth century. ‘ In 1829, in the past right enough, the Pope could only appoint 24. (see Eamon Duffy, ‘Faith of Our Fathers’ ‘ Papal Authority’ chapter, page 73. ) In other words, any European Emperor or King, or tinpot Margrave or Duke, could appoint bishops until 98 years ago, but not now the mightiest country in the world ? With a name like his, the Archbishop should know the meaning of ‘face’. He certainly knows the meaning of ‘brass neck’.
There’s more. ‘The vast majority of Chinese Catholics now want communion with the Holy Father and to have him choose their bishops.’ Notice how ‘communion with the Holy Father ‘ and having him’ choose their bishops ‘ are equated , and ridiculously given equal weight. (He may not know much Church history, but he’s obviously done media studies at some point). The number of Chinese Catholics is estimated at 14 million, ‘most dynamic in local underground communities ‘. But our man says ‘the vast majority’ would rather see Canon 329 of Canon Law , Papal approval of bishops, implemented You can just imagine them dancing about with paper lanterns and dummy dragons , saying ‘We want Canon 329 implemented’, in a variety of dialects. In other words , according to him, they would rather have that than the full spiritual life they would have with their own validly ordained bishops, and above all with the Eucharist, as Christ asked. We particularly like the airy ’the vast majority’. Did he conduct a poll of all 40 million , in their underground communities? If he did, he’ll get a job in customer research any time. Otherwise, why should he say it ? What is there about the appointment to episcopal level which makes the rest of us seem uninformed or simply daft?
Will this interview with the ’Tablet’ be a pivotal moment for future church historians in discussing the complete uselessness of the Curia in the world of 2015 ? Who knows? Even we can only speculate.
Oh, and our third point. Many Scottish dioceses are embarking on a drive for vocations to the Tridentine priesthood , instead of acting on the Pope’s comments on extending ordination. And don’t forget our first point.
Wherever you are , think of us here.