Swiss Bishops take action against liturgical abuse

Do not turn the liturgy into an experimental field for personal plans

On 5 January, the parish priests of the Dioceses of Basel, Chur and St Gallen received a letter signed by all three bishops.

First of all, Bishop Gmür, Bishop Bonnemain and Bishop Büchel wish everyone much joy in their pastoral work and God's rich blessing. However, in the very next sentence it becomes clear that this is not simply a routine New Year's letter: "From the old year we take with us many joys and also a concern that we want to share with you."

Shared witness needs common forms and rules, the bishops emphasise. "In respecting this, we are in some places far behind our possibilities. We bishops therefore repeatedly receive concerned enquiries and feedback, especially about worship celebrations." The faithful have a right to worship services that follow the rules and forms of the Church. The liturgy, which is uniform in its basic forms, is a treasure of our Church that gives us a home. "We therefore emphatically recall that the liturgical forms and rules also apply in our country in accordance with the provisions of the bishops."

In the remainder of the letter, the bishops remind us that only a priest can validly preside at the Eucharist, administer sacramental reconciliation and anoint the sick. Following this rule is not "about blind obedience and certainly not about promoting a patriarchal clericalism, but about the conviction that priests in the service and performance of the sacraments make visible that Jesus Christ himself works in and through the sacraments."

Nor are the liturgical texts arbitrary, "for they are not our texts, but those of the whole community of faith."

The bishops indicate that they have taken note of concerns for the participation of women in the liturgy or for appropriate liturgical language. "Nevertheless, we urge you not to turn the sign of unity, the liturgy, into an experimental field for personal agendas. It is in the worldwide celebration of the same liturgy that we are catholic and in solidarity with one another." They call on pastors to make use of the diversity of liturgical forms of celebration. Reflection, sermon, meditation, intercessions, hymns, music or silence would be suitable for personal engagement in the liturgy. Finally, they recommend that all those who would like to engage more deeply with the liturgy read Pope Francis' letter "Desiderio desideravi".

The fact that the letter was written by all three bishops of German-speaking Switzerland together is a courageous and clear sign. It was overdue. The liturgical abuses that have crept into everyday church practice in recent years are too obvious.  The deliberately provoked scandal on the occasion of the farewell of the Effretikon parish leader, Monika Schmid was only the famous straw that broke the camel's back. With their letter, the bishops are not only showing pastoral workers that there are limits but also that they take seriously the distress and pain of those faithful who suffer from liturgical aberrations. The question arises, however, whether this letter will really have consequences. Is it intended by the bishops as a "stop sign" to be taken seriously or merely an attempt to signal to the faithful a willingness to act, the implementation of which remains in limbo?

The future will show what effect this letter will have. Let us remain optimistic and rejoice that the bishops are committed to a dignified liturgy that does justice to the Church's self-understanding. Should certain pastors continue to stage a "home-made" liturgy, we faithful now have a letter in our hands with which we can turn to our responsible bishop.

The letter of the bishops in full length

5 January 2023

Letter of the Bishops of Chur, St. Gallen and Basel for the New Year

Dear Sisters and Brothers in the Pastoral Care of our Dioceses

For the New Year we wish you much joy in your pastoral work and God's rich blessing. From the old year we take with us many joys and also a concern which we want to share with you. 

Our thanks go to you for all that you do every day for the good of the people in the service of the Church. Whether in catechesis, in special pastoral care, as a parish worker, as a priest, as a pastoral worker, you are disciples of Jesus in this day and age. To fathom and proclaim the liberating message of Jesus Christ again and again is a great gift and privilege for us. 

We know very well that your work often requires a double balancing act. There is the balancing act between what you are burning for, your very personal faith, and the confrontation with everything where the Church falls so painfully short of the Gospel. In addition, there is sometimes also the balancing act between what gives you a home in your faith and society, which increasingly looks at you with raised eyebrows when you reveal yourself as a person active and committed in the church.

Like you, we also move in these areas of tension and do our best to endure them and live in an attitude of hope. We are very grateful for the synodal process, which shows us once again that we are on the way together and that only together can we be credible witnesses of Jesus Christ.

Common witness needs common forms and rules. In some places we fall far short of our possibilities when it comes to respect for this. For this reason, we bishops repeatedly receive concerned enquiries and feedback, especially about worship celebrations. The faithful have a right to worship services that follow the rules and forms of the Church. The inculturated, but in its basic forms uniform liturgy is a treasure of our church, which gives home to the faithful, especially also to migrants, worldwide. We therefore emphatically recall that the liturgical forms and rules also apply in our country according to the regulations of the bishops.

They concern in particular those who preside at the celebrations. You all know that only the priest validly presides at the Eucharist, administers sacramental reconciliation and anoints the sick. This is precisely what he is ordained to do. This Roman Catholic rule of faith must also be fully respected in our dioceses. This is not about blind obedience and certainly not about the promotion of a patriarchal clericalism, but about the conviction that priests in the service and performance of the sacraments make visible that Jesus Christ himself works in and through the sacraments. They keep open, as it were, the empty space for God's activity in the liturgy. For this reason, the Church has maintained since early Christianity - and this in ecumenical consensus with almost all other Christian churches - that a sacramental commissioning, i.e. ordination, is required to preside at the celebration of the Eucharist and to say the High Prayer as a concelebrating priest. The liturgical texts are not arbitrary either, because they are not our texts, but those of the whole community of faith. The Church knows a variety of texts, also in ecumenism, but they all follow a basic structure which is to be respected. 

We hear the questions of many to be able to participate differently in the liturgy, for example as a woman. We hear the concern for appropriate language and appreciate your concern for good language in the liturgy. Nevertheless, we urge you not to turn the sign of unity, the liturgy, into an experimental field for personal projects. It is in the worldwide celebration of the same liturgy that we are Catholic and in solidarity with one another. Use the variety of liturgical forms of celebration that the Church offers. And use places in the liturgy such as reflection, sermon, meditation, intercessions, hymns, music, silence to be able to enter into it personally. To all those who would like to deal with this in more depth, we recommend reading Pope Francis' letter, "Desiderio desideravi." 

We sincerely thank you all for your faith commitment and loyalty and greet you with the best blessings for the still young year. 

+ Joseph Maria Bonnemain, Bishop of Chur 

+ Markus Büchel, Bishop of St. Gallen 

+ Bishop Felix Gmür, Bishop of Basel

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