There has been mixed reaction in Ireland, as elsewhere, to Pope Benedict XVI's decision relaxing restrictions on celebrations of the Latin Mass from September 14th next.
He also relaxed restrictions on the use of pre-Vatican II Latin rites where sacraments are concerned and on priests' use of the Latin breviary.
It will mean a Latin Mass can be celebrated without a bishop's permission being sought. There has been no comment by Ireland's Catholic bishops on the changes.
Welcoming the decision, Fr Gerard Deighan, who has been celebrating the Latin Mass in Dublin since 1993, emphasised it did not represent "a rowing back" on Vatican II, but was "a recognition by Pope Benedict that what was in the past has value". He also pointed out that, contrary to reports, the permitted 1962 Latin missal did not include the phrase "perfidious Jew".
The decision was "warmly welcomed" by Éamonn Grimes of the Latin Mass Society of Ireland. He felt it would lead to growth where the Latin Mass was concerned in Ireland. To date the society has about 500 core members on the island of Ireland. At the moment the Latin Mass is celebrated daily at just one location in Ireland, St Patrick's Academy, Islandeady, Co Mayo. There is a weekly Latin Mass at St Audeon's in Dublin and monthly Masses in Cork and Limerick, as well as occasionally in Belfast.
However, Dr Gail Crossman Freyne, a writer on theology and ethics, said the pope's announcement was "exceedingly bad".
She felt it went "against the spirit of Vatican II" and revived the Mass as "an exclusive conversation between the priest and God" with the people left out. The language of the Latin Mass was "not inclusive" and the words of its consecration spoke of Christ "coming to save many", whereas in the vernacular Mass he came "to save all".
In Italy Bishop Luca Brandolini, a member of the Italian bishops' conference, said: "It's a day of mourning, not just for me but for the many people who worked for the Second Vatican Council. A reform for which many people worked with great sacrifice and only inspired by the desire to renew the church, has now been cancelled."