Catholic World News

Southern African bishops seek Vatican OK to use new English translation of Mass prayers

March 06, 2009

The Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference, which has introduced a new English translation of the Mass that has not yet received official Vatican approval, has now asked for authorization to continue using the new texts. In February the Congregation for Divine Worship asked the African bishops to discontinue use of the new translation, which has not yet been completed and approved. While acknowledging their error, the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference asked for permission to introduce the new translations ahead of the other English-speaking countries.

The new English translations, following more closely in line with the official Latin text of the prayers of Mass, have prompted considerable debate. South Africa's Catholic newspaper, the Southern Cross, reported that the revised prayers have generated a large number of responses. "Almost all of them are angry," the newspaper said in an editorial. Cardinal Wilfrid Napier of Durban remarked that the new translation "is quite clearly seeking to restore the reality of the spiritual to our thinking and practice."

 


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  • Posted by: impossible - Oct. 18, 2013 7:22 PM ET USA

    Perhaps our US bishops should consider issuing such a letter about the corruption that is big government which they have helped to create. Our constitutional republic is being destroyed by big government and the bribery it engenders. Bribes are a two-way street - bribes-for-votes and votes-for-bribes. That condition adversely affects all, even those who feel entitled to other people’s money. Our young black people are victimized most - by terrible schools and the job-killing minimum wage.