US priest asked to resign over changing words in Mass

Fr Bill Rowe

A 72-year old American parish priest who had been pastor at the same church for 17 years, has been asked to resign because he made minor changes in the Eucharistic prayer of the Mass.

Fr William Rowe of St Mary's parish in Mount Carmel, in the Diocese of Belleville, Illinois was sacked by Bishop Edward Braxton.

Father Rowe admitted making minor modifications to the words of the Eucharistic prayer in order to tie it in to the daily Gospel reading and his homily. When the bishop talked to him about this last October following complaints by a minority of parishioners, Fr Rowe, who does not draw a salary from the parish but subsists on Social Security and a small pension from his years in the Air Force Reserve, indicated that he did not plan on making any changes.

He subsequently sent a letter to Bishop Braxton stating that "from our most recent discussion, I realize that you can no longer allow me to celebrate the Eucharist as has been my custom" and he offered to resign. He heard nothing...until this month.

On 29 January, instead of reading the collect from the Roman Missal ('Lord our God that we may honor you with all our mind and love everyone in truth of heart'), Fr Rowe substituted a prayer which tied the rite with the Gospel reading on Jesus healing the man with the unclean spirit: "We thank you, God, for giving us Jesus who helped us to be healed in mind and heart and proclaim his love to others." Three days later, he received a letter from the bishop accepting his resignation, which will take effect in June.

Father Rowe said that he has had discussions with his bishop about this issue for the last five years and that Bishop Braxton made it clear to his priests that "no priest may deviate from any wording in the official Missal." Things came to a head in October, immediately prior to the introduction of the new translation of the Roman Missal, when the bishop informed Fr Rowe that he could no longer allow him to improvise.

Most members of the parish are upset by the forced resignation. Alice Worth, the principal at St Mary's School, said they are "devastated" and described Fr Rowe as "the backbone of our parish." "The ways Father changed the Mass ritual with his words have only made it more meaningful to us as opposed to distancing us from the church," she said. "Everything he does is based on our faith, it's not just a whim. There's a reason for every word he prays." Parishioners are exploring various ways to get their beloved pastor back, including a petition to the bishop.

Fr Rowe says he has no desire to resign or retire from active ministry. He has said that if he can't continue to work as a priest, he might set up a soup kitchen.

Fr John Foley, director of the Centre for Liturgy at St Louis University, said: "Since December when the new translation came out, no one has said what would happen to you if you changed stuff. I find it hard to believe a priest in Illinois would be forced to resign because he wasn't using the exact words from the translation. It's not a strong enough offense for that."

Fr Bill explains what led to his resignation in this film clip: http://videos.bnd.com/vmix_hosted_apps/p/media?id=131242621&item_index

Source: Iglesia Descalza

See also: ICN 12 February: Dean resigns in solidarity with priest sacked for altering words in liturgy

www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=19822

NOTE Those interested in supporting Father Bill Rowe may send letters to the following: Most Reverend Bishop Edward Braxton 222 S 3rd Belleville, Illinois; Cardinal Francis George Office of the Chancellor, PO Box 1979, Chicago, Illinois 60690; and Most Reverend Thomas Joh Paprocki, US Conference of Catholic Bishops, 3211 4th Street NE, Washington, DC 20017-1194.

You may also sign an online petition and/or write a message at: www.thepetitionsite.com/2/keep-father-bill-as-priest-of-st-marys-church/