In an interview published by the Argentinian periodical Panorama Católico Internacional (the Argentinian edition of the German monthly Kirchliche Umschau), a translation of which is given below. The interview was first published by El Catolicismo, the official newspaper of the Archdiocese of Bogotá, Colombia.
By Victor Ricardo Moreno Holguín, Pbro. [Presbyter]
Rome Correspondent
...
What is the current challenge in "Ecclesia Dei"?
We take care of those who did not wish to follow Archbishop Lefebvre -- which is not exactly a schism [sic]. With our jurisdiction in the name of the Pope, we have established institutes in France and Germany and we have incardinated the returning clergy. We must follow the life of this clergy and of these communities, the fraternities of Saint Peter [sic].
What about those who remain with Lefebvre?
The Saint Pius X associations are in a process of reinsertion [original text is unclear: "Están las asociaciones San Pío X, para su proceso de reinserción"]: with permanent visits and a correspondence which asks for the ancient rite. They are 500 priests and 600 thousand faithful, a growing number, with monasteries and seminaries, some of them full. [sic]
The rite of the Mass today gathers the faithful around the altar, inculturating itself in their reality and language. Will the rite of Saint Pius X, with the priest with his back to the faithful and prayed in Latin, return?
The great love of Christ is the Eucharist, it is not fair that it divide us. The Mass of Saint Pius V was celebrated for more than a thousand years. It was never forbidden. [sic] Even if I do not understand the words, it is not as if I understand much more when I say "This is my Body" and see a piece of bread: only the Faith makes me believe in the present Christ. The Holy Father will extend the permission for this celebration, which is not in opposition to the one of today.
Is it not a step backwards?
I celebrate it nowadays, and, in the first part, in which I make the homily, I am looking at the faithful, who are my brethren, whom I must teach; afterwards, I represent the faithful: let us now [turn] towards God, there is our goal, to give praise to God, and we are all together. It is not a step backwards, it is preserving an asset without opposing it to another.
To make the Mass attractive and joyful to the youth of this culture of the image, there have been initiatives such as the "Disco Mass", and dances of erotic origin were seen in Africa. Is [the Traditional Mass] a solution [original text: "remedio"] to stop these abuses?
It is an element, not "the solution". The new liturgy has not been "the solution". Were our churches fuller or emptier before? They have been emptied! It is true that not only due to this, but the Mass becomes one among several other rites of the world, and to strike what is sacred is a grave matter. The meaning of "Sacrifice" was forgotten. The Eucharist carries [us] to the Resurrection, but through Passion and Death. It is a feast of the spirit, for our redemption. The most important for Jesus was not eating with Him, but eating Him.
...
Share with us...one hope...
... Hope? To keep working to welcome with an embrace these 500 priests of Lefebvre, in the unity of Faith and love which Jesus Christ gave us.
The complete interview was not translated due to copyright reasons. All answers related to the Traditional Latin Mass and with the Traditionalist priests and faithful were duly translated.
