Apparently England’s weekly The Tablet, which nearly succeeds in making the NCR look moderate, has in its crosshairs Fr. Tim Finigan.
Damian Thompson of Holy Smoke has sounded the claxon.
As you know, Fr. Finigan, His Hermeneuticalness, is just about the most well-balance priest around. He teaches at Wonersh Seminary, is a parish priest, writer, blogger and all around gentleman. He offers his flock both the Novus Ordo and the TLM in harmony. I would work as this man’s assistant any time.
For an example of what Fr. Finigan does for his parish, look at his report for their "Day with Mary". Edifying.
I have been getting reports from various sources that more than one writer for The Tablet is flecked with spittle about Pope Benedict and his vision for the Church, especially over what he has been doing regarding liturgy.
My antenae extended a few centimenters when I saw Damian’s piece.
Let’s have a look, with my emphases and comments.
Is the Tablet planning a hatchet job on Fr Tim Finigan?
Posted By: Damian Thompson at Feb 15, 2009 at 13:49:33Fr Tim Finigan, author of the Hermeneutic of Continuity blog, is one of the finest parish priests in the country: a scholar, evangelist and pastor who is as happy spreading the Gospel over a pint in the pub as he is from the pulpit. But now there are rumours that the Tablet is planning a hatchet job on him, for the grave crime of… saying the Latin Mass. [Well… let’s rather say Mass in Latin and move on…]
Fr Tim, PP of Our Lady of the Rosary, Blackfen, Kent, says three new rite Masses on a Sunday and one in the Extraordinary Form. [3:1] In other words, he is inspired by Pope Benedict’s vision of the older and newer liturgies existing side by side, enriching each other.
As in most parishes, however, there is a small group of Tabletistas who, in true "liberal" fashion, are not satisfied that most Masses in Blackfen use the Missal of Paul VI; they want to deprive other parishioners of the rights granted to them by Summorum Pontificum. So who do they go running to?
Step forward Ms Elena Curti, deputy editor of the Bitter Pill, whom I last saw ashen-faced with rage while Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos was explaining the fine print of the Motu Proprio. She is a zealot even by the standards of that dreary rag. I think we can look forward to an article in this week’s issue stirring up trouble in Blackfen. [I think we Catholic bloggers should take it very ill were The Tablet to target Fr. Finigan.]
As it happens, dozens of priests in Fr Finigan’s diocese of Southwark routinely ignore the Vatican’s guidelines on the celebration of Mass, filling the sanctuary with unnecessary "Eucharistic ministers" and disfiguring ancient prayers with unauthorised improvisations. Indeed, this happens all over the country. But these abuses don’t get reported to the Tablet.
Why don’t we change that? If Ms Curti is so interested in "divisive" liturgies, then perhaps orthodox Catholics should give her a ring on ____ or email her [ECurti@thetablet.co.uk]. I’m sure she’d be thrilled to hear from you!
Again… I think we Catholic bloggers would take it very ill were The Tablet to attack Fr. Finigan or hurt his parishioners.
