Driving young Catholics away?

THE Association of Catholic Priests describes itself on its website as “an association for Catholic Priests who wish to have a forum ...”

It does not claim to be nor is it a “representative body of ordinary members of the clergy” (Feb 4).

Neither the body of your report nor the report on the ACP’s website supports your opening statement, “Thousands of Catholics could be driven away from attending Mass ...” You report Fr Gerry Alwill as expressing the fear that the new translation “would turn many people, especially young Catholics, away from attending Mass”.

Vatican II’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy No 14 states: “In the restoration and promotion of the sacred liturgy, this full and active participation by all the people is the aim to be considered before all else.” There is much less “full and active participation” in the Mass in Ireland now than there was 40 years ago because hundreds of “thousands of Catholics”, especially the young, have already left. Is it just possible that the current English translation, “a new and improved version” of which the ACP would welcome according to their website, is one of the reasons they have done so?

Fr Seán Coyle

Bacolod City

Philippines