Sunday, September 5, 2010

Amendment to figures re last posting

It has been pointed out to me that the figures I quoted (and which were quoted in Catholic Herald) were not quite accurate. I am grateful for the correct figures which I am happy to quote: The poll was conducted by Harris Interactive France for 'Paix Liturgique Association' the client. The survey was conducted on-line from 21st-28th June 2010. It was addressed to a sample 6153 UK inhabitants among which 800 considered themselves as Catholics. The respondants were randomly selected among the Online Access Panel. The first question was: Do you consider yourself a Catholic? The response was Yes - 800 - 13% No - 5249 - 85.3% Refuse to answer - 104 - 1.7% Second question: Do you attend Mass: The response was Weekly - 194 - 24.3% Monthly - 62 - 7.8% Holydays - 81 - 10.1% Occasionally (Weddings etc) 365 - 45.6% Never - 98 - 12.3% Were you aware of 'Summorum Pontificum'? (I have shortened the question) The response was Yes - 315 - 39.4% No - 485 - 60.6% Third question: Would you consider it normal or abnormal for both liturgical forms to be regularly celebrated in YOUR parish? The response was Normal - 359 - 44.9% Abnormal - 168 - 21% No opinion - 273 - 34.1% Fourth question: If Mass were celebrated with Latin & Gregorian Chant in it's Extraordinary Form in YOUR parish, without taking the place of the Ordinary Form in English, would you attend it? The response was Weekly - 125 - 15.6% Monthly - 86 - 10.8% On Holydays - 89 - 11.1% Occasionally (Weddings etc) - 369 - 46.1% Never - 131 - 16.4% The next question applied to those who said they were weekly or monthly practioners only (regular churchgoers) In July 2007, Pope Benedict XVI restated that the Mass could be celebrated in it's modern, "Ordinary" or "Paul VI" form - (in English) with the priest facing the faithful, communion received standing - or in its traditional, "Extraordinary" or "John XXIII" form - (in Latin & Gregorian chant, with the priest turned towards the altar, communion received kneeling). Were you aware of this? The response was Yes - 161 - 62.8% No - 95 - 37.2% Would you consider it normal or abnormal for both liturgical forms to be regularly celebrated in YOUR parish? The response was Normal - 141 - 55.1% Abnormal - 78 - 30.5% No opinion - 37 - 14.4% If Mass were celebrated with Latin & Gregorian chant in its Extraordinary Form in YOUR parish, without taking the place of the Ordinary Form in English, would you attend it? The response was Weekly - 110 - 43% Monthly - 60 - 23.4% Holydays - 20 - 7.8% Occasionally - 45 - 17.6% Never - 21 - 8.2% THE WEEKLY AND MONTHLY TOTAL IS 170 OR 66.4% OF TOTAL It isn't really strange that so few have heard of (or understood) the Pope's Motu Proprio when you consider that few bishops or priests took the trouble to explain it to their congregations. Only with FULL knowledge can people make a considered decision. We realise that there will always be a stubborn minority who - for whatever reason - will not accept the Extraordinary Form & I have heard some use the excuse "It is my choice." Thankfully it is (or should be) OUR choice but we are still, largely, denied that choice. Our own diocesan bishop recently told us all not to hearken back to the past. My question is, why not go back to the past when it is so much better than the present? One of my favourite sayings is "If it ain't broken, don't fix it!" Is that not exactly what happened with VAT II? We broke something (the Church) by trying to fix it when it wasn't broken!!

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