German Bishops resist Latin Mass

Cathcon translation of a depressing article from the magnificent kreuz.net – Zelebrationsfunktionäre -Celebration functionaries

In Germany, the Church is dying. The priests are aged, the Churches are empty and vocations rare. There are traditional believers. But in this kind of resurrection, the authorities are not interested. The old Mass attracts people back into the church. How the bishops of the German dioceses, Görlitz and Hildesheim undermined the Motu proprio.

This is shown in an article in the December issue of the monthly "IK Nachrichten," which is close to the associations of the Faithful, Initiative Groups and Pro Ecclesia Sancta.

Not celebration funktionaries

The Bishop of Goerlitz, Mons. Konrad Zdarsa, granted an interview to applicants from his Diocese, who had asked for an old Mass.

Then he fed them with generalities. They may be against liturgical abuses, but they must have patience and endure suffering. There is a priest shortage.

The offer of priests from the Ecclesia Dei communities, the bishop refused categorically. He wanted - his exact formulation - no "celebration functionaries".

Lies or negligence?

A large group of traditionalists suffered the same fate in Brunswick. The city is located sixty miles east of Hanover and belongs to the Diocese of Hildesheim.

The Hildesheim Vicar General, Werner Schreer (seen here with a group of teachers) said to the traditionalists that there were currently no suitable priests. (Cathcon comment- well he can learn himself!)

One such should meet the conditions of the Motu proprio and its implementing provisions: "This standard is currently not met in the Diocese of Hildesheim " - claimed the Vicar General.

On the other hand, the 'IK Nachrichten' knows of priests in the region who have agreed to celebrate the old Mass.

The 'IK Nachrichten' gives no names in order to protect them from reprisals in their dioceses.

Disobedience to the Pope

A second group of applicants in the Diocese of Hildesheim were met with an ice-cold attitude.

In Duderstadt in the district of Goettingen eighty believers asked their Provost for a Sunday Mass in the Old Rite. First of all, no response came.

The requests of the Faithful were met with prevarication.

A written request of eighty faithful to Bishop Norbert Trelle was then turned down by the Vicar General Schreer.

The reason he gave according to 'IK-Nachrichten' was generally related to the implementation of provisions of the German Bishops Conference of the Motu proprio.

Those who seek the Mass have in the meantime asked the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei for help.