A St. James Cathedral pastor’s plight
I’m curious about the resistance to the Very Rev. Michael G. Ryan’s proposal concerning the forthcoming translation of the Roman Missal [“St. James pastor speaks out against changes in Mass,” NWTuesday, Dec. 15].
Let Catholic bishops of the English-speaking world undertake a yearlong pilot program in selected communities with an educational process, then objectively evaluate the results — hardly a revolutionary proposal, and one sought by more than Ryan.
To date, more than 4,300 people have signed on to the proposal from all over our country, and from Singapore, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Italy, Austria, the U.K., Scotland, Belgium, Morocco, Nepal, Japan, Guyana, China, Hong Kong and Malaysia.
Yes, we find the revision process to have violated the spirit of the reforms of Vatican II, but we also wish to pray in an intelligible and, more importantly, beautiful language.
With others, I find what we presently have not all that bad.
— Rev. Roger G. O’Brien, Lynnwood
Unfortunate new translations
As coordinator for a local group of 140 resigned priests, I would like to commend Rev. Michael Ryan for his courage and integrity as a dedicated pastor in proposing a review of the unfortunate new translations for liturgy recently rubber-stamped by the U.S. bishops.
Ryan has been highly regarded by his fellow priests for more than 40 years. From his days as chancellor to his brilliant renovation of St. James Cathedral and the expansion of ministries there. He has created a thriving, dynamic parish for more than 2,000 families who flock there for good liturgy from all over the Seattle metro area.
His forthright article in “America” magazine and related interviews explain that he took action in making this proposal because he felt the new translations themselves would damage our prayer life, and the process that brought them about violated the rights of bishops, priests and laity who would be impacted by them.
My thanks, and for those local Catholics who share a Vatican II vision, go to Father Ryan for his proposal for evaluation of these new texts before widespread implementation.
— Patrick Callahan, Seattle