Bengaluru: Archdiocese finally finds permanent solution for long-standing language issue

Bengaluru: Promulgation of Particular Legislation based on the latest Directives issued by The Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, Vatican, which will be the Language Policy for the Liturgy in the Archdiocese of Bangalore.

The long-standing language issue in the Archdiocese of Bangalore has been a cause of great concern for us for over 40 long years. This issue has been discussed many times at various levels in the Archdiocese.

To help find a permanent solution to this long-standing language issue, the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, Vatican, had appointed 3 Bishops’ Commission on 7th March, 2012. And this Commission was asked to submit a Report after meeting with the clergy, religious and lay faithful in the Archdiocese. This said Commission had sent its findings and recommendations to the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

We all know the language issue is the main cause of our misunderstanding, disunity and animosity in the Archdiocese. Hence, last year, we chose the theme ‘Reconciliation’ to very earnestly pray for understanding, unity and reconciliation among the clergy, religious and lay faithful in our Archdiocese. As a result of our storming heavens, I am happy to inform you that the Priests’ Council (Senate) of the Archdiocese took up the long-standing language issue for discussion. To study this issue in detail and to propose pastoral-oriented recommendations, a ten-member Senate Committee was set up. The Committee members were given the following Five-point Criteria for their study:

1. Liturgical guidelines given by the Church in its Documents;
2. Cosmopolitan and multi-cultural scenarios of the Archdiocese;
3. Language profile of our faithful in the Archdiocese;
4. Pastoral responsibilities of the priests towards the faithful; and
5. Promotion of language, culture, tradition to deepen people’s faith and to give impetus to evangelization and pastoral care in the Archdiocese.

The Committee had met several times and discussed the prevalent issue based on the above terms of reference. It also proposed a few viable and practical recommendations to solve the language issue in the Archdiocese. Further, the recommendations of the Committee were also discussed in detail at the Meeting of the Priests’ Council held on 17th July, 2014, and the suggestions arrived at were unanimously accepted by the Priests’ Council. These recommendations were later
circulated among all the Priests of the Archdiocese.

On 27th August, 2014, the Members of the College of Consultors (except one member) approved in toto the Recommendations made previously by the Priests’ Council and signed the Document.

It was later sent through the Apostolic Nuncio to India to the Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, Vatican, on 24th September, 2014, to study, to consider and to issue Directives.

I am happy to inform you that The Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, taking into account the 3 Bishops’ Commission Report, and the Archdiocesan Priests’ Council and College of Consultors’ Recommendations, has now issued the Enclosed Directives. The Official Letter dated 8th January, 2015 was sent to me through the Apostolic Nuncio.

The Letter of Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio – Apostolic Nuncio, and the latest Directives of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples are published in this Circular.

Please take the time to read each of these Documents carefully and prayerfully.

The Letter of Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio,
The Apostolic Nuncio to India.

THE LATEST DIRECTIVES ISSUED BY THE CONGREGATION FOR THE EVANGELIZATION OF PEOPLES, VATICAN,
ON 8TH JANUARY, 2015 FOR A PERMANENT SOLUTION TO THE LONG-STANDING LANGUAGE ISSUE IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF BANGALORE

1. “The principal language of the Archdiocese is Kannada, as stated in the Pastoral Handbook of the Archdiocese (2009). In all parishes of the Archdiocese, therefore, the principal language is to be encouraged in Masses and liturgical services and gradually introduced wherever it is
not existing. While scheduling Masses, Kannada Mass could be given the prime time.

2. The Archdiocesan common liturgical celebrations (celebrations that are not to be duplicated – Jubilee, Chrism Mass, Ordination etc), which the Archbishop presides will be held in Kannada, while making provisions for reading, singing and commentary in different languages that are
prevalent in the Archdiocese.

3. However, provision has to be made in our parishes for Masses and other liturgical services to be conducted in other languages, depending on the need of the congregation. This is simply because the language of the Liturgy should be in the language of the vast majority of people
present at worship for their better understanding, participation and assimilation, “while keeping the schedule of Masses and the languages used in the existing parishes untouched”.

4. Bangalore is a cosmopolitan City. There are large numbers of faithful who are migrants from other parts of State and Country and even abroad.

Majority of our children are studying in English Medium Schools. English, being the universal language, should be used for Liturgy in all our parishes, especially in the city and semi-urban parishes.

5. Therefore, it is the duty of the Parish Pastoral Council under the leadership of the Parish Priest to study and make a profile of the parish community and make proposals to the Archbishop who, taking into consideration the recommendations made by the Dean and also in consultation with the College of Consultors, will decide the schedule of the Masses and the languages to be used in every parish. The proposals should include policy for First Holy Communion, First Friday, Confirmation, Parish Feast Day Masses etc. The same policy should be followed not only in parishes, but also in institutions and mission units of the Archdiocese.

6. When a new parish is erected and/or an existing parish is bifurcated, the Archdiocesan Boundary Committee will propose the parish limits and also the profile of the new parish.

7. Directives issued by the Archbishop must be accepted and followed by all.

8. Marriage, Funeral, Anniversary and other similar Celebrations should be in the language of choice of the parties concerned, and these celebrations are to be placed outside the fixed services of the parish. If the Parish Priest is unable to celebrate such a Mass, the parties, with his permission, could bring their own priest.

9. The language of the priest’s Funeral Mass should be in English unless otherwise circumstances demand it.

10. All issues should be solved in a cordial atmosphere with mutual respect, openness, dialogue and in consultation.”

Dear Rev. Fathers, Brothers, Sisters and Lay Faithful,

Based on these latest Directives from the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and the Letter of the Apostolic Nuncio (Prot. No. 7143/15), I, Bernard Moras, as the Archbishop of Bangalore, by virtue of Canon 391, exercise the power of legislation by enacting these above mentioned Directives in toto into Particular Laws for the pastoral welfare of the whole of the Archdiocese of Bangalore.

These Laws come into effect immediately. Any doubts of interpretation and/or implementation of these Laws will be done by the Archbishop alone, based on the Original Text.

Now that the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples has issued its latest Directives to solve the language issue in the Liturgy in the Archdiocese, and the laws have been promulgated, the previous laws promulgated through the Circulars No. 3/83 and No. 2/88, and other laws and regulations related to the language issue are hereby abrogated.

Please bear in mind that we neither question the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples nor discuss these Directives anymore, but we will only find ways and means “through its wise implementation, with paternal and pastoral solicitude, the present atmosphere of contraposition and intolerance within the (same) diocese be overcome once for all” as exhorted by the Apostolic Nuncio in his letter.

My earnest appeal to all the Archdiocesan Clergy, Religious Priests, Brothers and Sisters, and the People of God is that let us make concerted and relentless efforts to implement these Laws with the spirit of goodwill and undivided obedience to our higher ecclesiastical authorities, and also strive to put an end to this long-standing language controversy in our Archdiocese.

If all of us have the genuine pastoral care and Christian fellowship, we can certainly promote harmony, peace and unity in the Archdiocese. More than ever, this is an opportune time for us to come together with God’s help to do our best to revitalise our pastoral ministries for everyone’s welfare in the Archdiocese. If all of us have ‘the true Christian spirit’, and
‘live and let live attitude’, and ‘give and take policy’, we are sure to make the Church in Bangalore flourish and grow. I am confident of your fullest support and cooperation in realizing long cherished dreams of ours for unity, peace and solidarity in the Archdiocese.

May Mary, our dearest Mother, and St. Francis Xavier, our Archdiocesan Patron, help us in this our common and focused mission.

This particular legislation is promulgated on Sunday, 12th April 2015, on the Feast of Divine Mercy.

I request all the Parish Priests, Priests in charge of the Mission Stations to read the entire Decree to the faithful in all the Masses on Saturdays (Vigil Masses) and Sundays of April – 2015.

With best wishes and God’s blessings,
Yours sincerely,
@ Bernard Moras
Archbishop of Bangalore
Circular No. 131/2015 12th April 2015