ROME (AP) – A second Catholic cardinal has questioned the legitimacy of a recent Vatican decree to restrict the celebration of the ancient Latin Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica and ban private masses in its side chapels.
The March 12 circular was written at the head of the Vatican secretariat of state and bore the initials of its number 2, Archbishop Edgar Pena Parra.
He immediately raised questions, given the fact that it was an effort to limit the celebration of the Latin Mass favored by traditionalist Catholics who have expressed hostility to Pope Francis.
Francis, for his part, has spoken contemptuously of these “restorationist” Catholics and has made it clear that he prefers the modern liturgy celebrated in vernacular language and with priests facing the congregation.
The decree restricts the celebration of the Latin Mass to a chapel in the grottoes under the basilica, between 7 and 9 in the morning every day.
It also “suppresses” the private masses of the basilica. It had been customary for each priest to celebrate Mass with only a handful of faithful present at any of the many altars and side chapels of the basilica. The decree says that these masses must now be celebrated together at specific times.
The circular gives no basis for the decisions, which take effect on Monday, apart from saying that they will ensure that the services “will be held in an atmosphere of gathering and liturgical decorum.”
The Vatican press office has not answered questions about the decree or the motivations behind it.
Cardinal Gerhard Mueller, a retired head of doctrine from the Holy See, said the Secretary of State had neither the legal nor the theological right to decide these liturgical matters at St. Peter’s. He described the decree as “very strange” and said “no one is obliged to obey it”.
Mueller, a conservative German theologian, expressed disbelief at the logic and terminology used and said both are intellectually lacking.
“Are Masses Suppressed? It doesn’t sound very Catholic, “he told US Catholic broadcaster EWTN on Thursday.
He noted that the availability of side altars has always been useful for Rome-based priests who have to celebrate Mass every day and for priests and faithful visitors who may have difficulty finding Mass in their mother tongue.
His criticism came after Cardinal Raymond Burke, a former Vatican Supreme Court justice and another conservative, also questioned the legitimacy of the decree and called for its withdrawal.
“Rightly, one wonders with what authority the Secretary of State has issued directives that are contrary to the discipline of the universal Church,” Burke said in a March 13 blog post.
Francis dismissed Mueller and Burke at the beginning of their papacy and both hold liturgical and ideological positions different from their own.
The decree came during a time of limbo for liturgical and St. Peter’s issues in the Vatican.
Francis recently appointed a new archpriest for the basilica after the retirement of Cardinal Angelo Comastri. The decree was issued between delivery.
In addition, Francis also recently accepted the resignation of the Vatican’s head of liturgy, Cardinal Robert Sarah, another conservative prelate who had clashed with Francis. Francis recently ordered an investigation into Sarah’s office before appointing her successor.