Priests: New liturgy will turn away Mass-goers

THOUSANDS of Catholics could be driven away from attending Mass on a regular basis if Irish bishops press ahead with the introduction of a new English translation of the liturgy, priests have warned.

The representative body of ordinary members of the clergy — the Association of Catholic Priests (ACP)— yesterday called for a deferral of the new translation of the Missal which is planned to be used for the first time on November 27.

The ACP described the new translation as “archaic, elitist and obscure”.