Rorate Caeli

Motu Proprio notes: A warm reception?...


Agence France-Presse (Le Forum Catholique - also at La Croix) reports from the grand opening of the new central building of the French Episcopal Conference (the "Maison de la CEF"), in Paris.

Excerpts:
The Papal decree liberalizing the Latin Mass published on Saturday

PARIS, July 4 2007 (AFP) - The papal decree (motu proprio) liberalizing the Traditional Latin Mass will be published on Saturday, Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard, Archbishop of Bordeaux and President of the Conference of the Bishops of France (CEF), announced Wednesday in Paris.
...

The text, accompanied by an explanatory letter of Pope Benedict XVI, should be sent "these days" to the Bishops who, in their turn, will inform the priests of their diocese about it. In his letter, Cardinal Ricard specified, the Pope details the motives for his decision, asking, on one hand, Catholics who have followed the evolutions begun by the Second Vatican Council, to "understand" the faithfulness to the Traditional rite, and, on the other hand, Traditionalists, to recognize the evolution of the Church, ecumenism, or interreligious dialogue. Cardinal Ricard presided on Wednesday over the official opening of the new building of the CEF ... .
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To celebrate the Mass in the Tridentine rite, an authorization of the Bishop was needed. With the motu proprio, it will be up to parishes to authorize the Tridentine Mass. Nevertheless, several Bishops present at the opening of the CEF building said Wednesday that they themselves would remain in charge of this matter.
Tip: Le Forum Catholique [Picture of the Chapel of Saint Francis de Sales in the new CEF building in Paris.]