Does One Have to Obey the Disobedient Bishops?

"On the practical level it is often the case that the appeal of Papal instructions are not used by the pastor locally."

Should You Obey the Pope More than the Bishops?

(kreuz.net) "How should pastors acquit themselves, when -- as it is mostly -- universal Church and particular-legal regulations contradict one another?"

Fr. Hendrick Jolie (46) asked this question in an interview for the most recent edition of the Catholic monthly 'Kirchliche Umschau'.

Father Jolie is a pastor in the Diocese of Mainz.

The clergyman is remainded then, that is at least in theory the particular law is subordinate to the universal: "On the practical level it is often the case that the appeal of Papal instructions are seldom used by the Pastor locally."

And what did the Cardinal say?

An example of this for Father Jolie is the incorrect translation of the words of consecration in the Novus Ordo Eucharistic Celebration.

The corrections that were ordered by the Pope four years ago have been thoroughly ignored by the old Liberal Bishops.

For this reason, the German 'Network of Catholic Priests' -- in whose executive committee Father Jolie sits -- had written to the Roman Congregation for Divine Worship.

They asked the Prefect of the Congregation, Antonio Cardinal Cañizares Llovera, to answer the question, "how we should conduct ourselves in this inner conflict".

Tactical Chess Move

'Kirchliche Umschau'  suggests that Bishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller of Regensburg recently pled for an implementation of the Papal wish.

Father Jolie held the push of the Bishop for a compromise, which the German Bishops and the Pope would consider a loss of face:

"Without wanting to step on Bishop Müller, the question is in any case allowed, why is it that it's been four years since this proposal has come to the table."

And:  "Why then these wordy explanations, when in any case, the new edition of the German Missal has already been tendered by Rome?"

For Father Jolie this progress is not understandable:  "There the 26 Diocesan Shepherds to complete a newly revised Missal  -- in which the they have a hearing where  "for the many" [as the Pope asked] is not, rather it remains "for all" still --  and finally one of these Bishops publishes an explanation in which he pleads for another translation of the words of consecration."

Fr. Jolie comments: "Here it appears -- if I may put it politely -- that there is not only a communications problem within the German Bishops Conference."

Link to the original German, at kreuz.net....