Thread by @ctrlamb

Archbishop Arthur Roche, in an interview with @The_Tablet, says the Vatican's divine worship office is preparing a document on liturgical formation in seminaries.

He says the reasoning behind Vatican II's reforms needs to be better understood.

thetablet.co.uk/features/2/215…

Roche says standing against the Pope is an "astonishing act", "full of hubris"

The belief “that things will change under a new pontificate is not only misplaced but reveals an enormous ignorance about the mandate given to the entire Church by the Second Vatican Council.” /2

Bishops, he says, have expressed “relief” at the restrictions Pope Francis issued on the pre-Vatican II liturgy.

Archbishop Roche says the Old Rite is allowed as a “pastoral concession.”

And he gives the theological reasons why. /3

Archbishop Roche explains that while his office has dialogued with traditionalists, personal preferences have limits.

“The Church gives us the liturgy. We pray as a Church community and never simply as individuals, nor as a mat- ter of personal preference.” \4

He points out the liturgical reforms of Vatican II did not come out of a vacuum. And he says it is “ridiculous” to claim that a commission later pushed through changes against the council’s wishes. He explains how Paul VI was closely involved. \5

The liturgy prefect comes across as a diplomatic, yet decisive, leader. He says the future of liturgical reforms will be less about translations and more about adaptations \6

The 71-year-old archbishop, the highest ranking English priest in the Roman Curia since Cardinal Merry del Val (who was Secretary of State from 1903-14), also talks in the interview about his journey from #Yorkshire to #Rome. \ENDS thetablet.co.uk/features/2/215…