Email from ‘What if we just said Wait’
We received the following email from Fr. Michael Ryan. Note that he is encouraging us to sign up to the ‘What if we just said Wait’ petition on the internet.
Congratulations on your recent statement regarding the new Roman Missal. I think it’s excellent and find it very encouraging that such a large group of priests was willing to speak out.
I’m the author of the What If We Just Said Wait article/initiative in America magazine that you referenced in your statement. Along with a few colleagues, I am currently working on some new initiatives regarding the missal. The statement from the Irish priests will certainly help.
Another thing that would help at this point would be if you would encourage your 400 members to sign on to the What If initiative. The number of signers from Ireland has been rather small – most probably because of the major eruptions over the sexual abuse scandal that took place at about the same time the article appeared.
Would you be willing to contact your members and encourage them to sign on at www.whatifwejustsaidwait.org? It could make a difference and encourage further interest at a critical time.
Thanks very much. And thanks again for your great statement. I find it very hopeful that priests are beginning to find their/our voice.
Mike Ryan
(Fr. Michael G. Ryan, St. James Cathedral, Seattle)
While waiting something could be done. Verbum Domini tells a lot about “verba” – Verbum – not merely a word it implies action.
I suggest an approach be made to our bishops encouraging
1. A prayerful reflection on Galatians especially Ch 2
2. Discuss the issue at their next meeting in the light of Gal 2
3. Appoint 3 to represent their case to Rome: Paul- Spirit-led, Barnabas – “a Vaticanologist”. Titus(a) – female with feeling for language
4. They be aware of those who “wormed their way .. to spy on freedom.
..” one such group blatently exposed!
5. Request a delay of 2 – 5 years until wounds of the church heal.
God will not judge us based on the language we use in our worship if it is respectful. He will judge us on the way we treat the needy in our midst. The millions of dollars spent to buy new missals could have been used to alleviate hunger. God must surely look on us as He did on the scribes and Pharisees, as whitewashed tombs.