Foederatio Internationalis Una Voce:Statement on the Report of the French Bishops’
Conference (CEF) on the Implementation of Summorum Pontificum
The FIUV has become aware of a document, in the public domain, containing a summary of the responses made by French bishops to the questionnaire sent to them by the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, on the subject of the implementation of the Apostolic Letter Summorum Pontificum. Although this document does not appear to have been intended for publication, its authenticity has not been denied, and a reaction to it seems necessary.
We note first that the document adopts a consistently hostile tone towards the ancient Latin liturgical tradition, to the priests who celebrate it, and to the faithful who attend it. This has understandably caused considerable hurt among French Catholics attached to this tradition. The document does not speak, on behalf of the bishops of France, about these sons and daughters of the Church with the words of a shepherd and father. In the words of Una Voce France, we do not find
… the slightest trace of empathy, cordiality, or ‘heart’ in them as they
say in one place. Instead, we find contempt, at best indifference, towards
those narrow-minded beings, without theology, without charity, that are the
faithful to the ancient Latin Mass. A Mass that so many generations followed,
and from which they nourished their faith ... which is ours today.[1]