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Online Edition - Vol. IX, No. 3: May 2003
About Letters to the Editor
READERS' FORUMReaders' Forum -- the lively "Letters to the Editor" of the Adoremus Bulletin provides a forum for exchange of ideas, comment and information on the sacred liturgy -- but the letters column is not normally published online. (Sample letters below).
If you are reading the Adoremus Bulletin in the "online edition" only, you are missing one of the most popular and useful features of the journal. To become a member of Adoremus -- and receive the "hard-copy" edition, including the "Readers Forum", see Membership page.
We are grateful for your letters. While we read every letter, we get so many that it is impossible to answer or publish all of them. In selecting those to appear in "Readers Forum", preference will be given to subjects of widest interest. Letters should be 250 words or fewer, preferably typed. They may be e-mailed. Please include your name, address, city and state (which may be withheld on request). If a letter refers to a previous issue of AB, please include the date of that issue and name of article. All letters may be edited for publication. Be sure to indicate clearly if your letter is NOT intended for publication.
Reader's Forum May 2003Bishop of New Ulm Comments -- Power of Language -- Musicians Serve -- Selecting Music Online -- EZ Online Liturgy -- Where Can We Go? -- Not Judgmental -- Let's Follow the Pope -- Struggle to Stay Catholic -- Protestantized Pools -- Modernist Music -- Wiccan Influence on Catholic Ritual -- Lucy Carroll's Churchmice
Bishop of New Ulm Comments
I was saddened to see in a copy of your February 2003 edition, which was sent to me by a friend, that you print anonymous letters to the editor which cast aspersions on liturgical activities taking place in various dioceses.Someone from Marshall, Minnesota, suggested that the Bishop of the New Ulm diocese at diocesan meetings of priests celebrate Mass himself and demand that priests take notes and do as he requests.
In point of fact, since my arrival here in August 2001, I have presided at every liturgy when the entire presbyterate is present. In addition to that, I have encouraged the priests of the diocese to exercise their right to concelebate with me at these Eucharistic celebrations. There has been no "clowning around", no ad-libbing where not allowed, no priestly innovations. In addition to this, we have spent a total of six days studying, discussing and preparing for the implementation of the new General Instruction to the Roman Missal. I have been impressed with the seriousness with which the priests have undertaken this endeavor and can assure you that the anonymous writer is quite wrong in his assessment of the present liturgical situation in the Diocese of New Ulm. I hope that you will print this letter so as to undo the harmful impression that was done by previously publishing that anonymous letter.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
The Most Reverend John C. Nienstedt
Bishop of New Ulm
Response
We thank Bishop Nienstedt for writing. (Every diocesan bishop in the United States receives a complimentary copy of every issue of the Adoremus Bulletin.)
This was not a letter, but one of the responses to the Adoremus survey reported in the February issue (page 4, "If I could ask my bishop for one change...")
The comment said:
"I would suggest to the bishop that at the next diocesan meeting of priests he celebrate Mass himself and demand that all the priests take notes and do as he requests. No 'clowning around', no ad-libbing where not allowed, no priestly innovations".
We did not think this was "casting aspersions", but rather expressing a desire for strong episcopal leadership.
Lucy Carroll © 2003
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