This priest must have really hated the new translation.
A priest who attempted to resign last year when the new translation was being instituted but later rescinded his resignation, has now been barred from the pulpit for refusing to stick to the prayers in the missal.
I’d imagine that this priest’s Masses must have been pretty wild to incur this penalty.
St. Louis Today reports:
An Illinois priest forced out of his parish by Belleville’s Catholic bishop for improvising prayers during Mass will no longer be able to preach in public as of today.
The Rev. William Rowe said Monday that Bishop Edward Braxton has suspended him and removed his “faculties,” or license to practice ministry under church law. The move has been associated in recent years with the punishment of clergy accused of sexually abusing minors.
Rowe, the pastor of St. Mary Catholic Church in Mount Carmel, Ill., has not been accused of abuse, but he has clashed with Braxton over altering the liturgical prayers of the Roman Missal — the book of prayers, chants and responses used during Mass.
Last month, St. Mary’s parishioners learned that Braxton had officially removed Rowe, their pastor of 18 years. But a separate letter from Braxton recently informed Rowe, 72, that not only would he have to leave the church, but that he could not preach in public anywhere.
Rowe said he could no longer celebrate public Masses or preside at weddings, funerals or baptisms. The only exception, Rowe said, involves a dying person; he can still hear a confession, baptize or anoint that person.
This is sad that it got to this but I suspect it’s possibly necessary in many situations.(Hint: I could point to at least one parish.)
Of course, some folks in the parish are protesting and are even putting up a billboard. And Rowe has appealed Braxton’s decision directly to the Vatican.
According to the report, Rowe has been a priest for 47 years. Hmmm. That would mean he became a priest in about…1965. Yeah, that kinda’ makes sense.
He plans to volunteer at another parish and play guitar for the school.
