The initial approval was suppose to be from 2001. When there were other changes, were they just rubber stamped w/o another review of the final draft? It's not like a representative from the Congregation for the Eastern Churches came in person to the Metropolia's Chancery to approve the last draft before going to print (like a Rebbi inspector at a Kosher meat processing plant).
The Ruthenian Metropolia's laity has every right to question the RDL and the process in which it was promulgated and to send letters of protest to the Vatican.
Christos po sredi nas!
Ungcsertezs
I have a letter from Father David from the files here where I asked that question. Father David has said, for the record, that no text has been changed since the approval in 2001.
We have no right to press that issue until there would be hard evidence to the contrary. That is part of the problem with protestors who shoot from the hip. They most often miss the mark.
What is much more solid ground is the fact that there are multiple and substantial arguments against portions of the texts of the RDL, and also against the entire project.
The Vatican is no more perfect than Pittsburgh in that the Vatican is also run by men who are imperfect. It might come as s shock to some but not all those priests, bishops and cardinals think alike over there, so what might come glaring to you or me, won't phase others at all.
Does that mean we are wrong because we are only parish priests and laity? I don't think so. It simply means that we care at a very immediate level about a liturgy that, at the moment, offers some very ugly and weak theology, for starters.
Do you suppose that anyone in the Vatican would raise and eyebrow at the use of "...holy Anaphora" in the text? No. Most would not.
Do you think they might raise an eyebrow at the clear catechesis that we've been offered. I think some would. I am certain that Pope Benedict would raise an eyebrow. He might even be inspired to write a correction. And that is not the only place that the weak theology displays itself.
The only way to bring these things to light and to focus attention on them is to write letters. Document the concerns.
And then wait. Not necessarily silently. But wait nonetheless.
The same kind of hesitancy that is displayed in this thread exists from our bishops down to the most silent layman or woman.
In all of history the greatest spiritual battle that mandkind faces is his own inertia. Add to that a tablespoon of fear of those who exercise power over us and it is a wonder God's presence in our lives has any effect at all.
Blessings....Mary
