Mass at the Border Raises Liturgical and Canonical Issues

In the Light of the Law ^ | 4/4/14 | Dr. Ed Peters

[marshmallow]

I’ve been thinking about the bishops’ recent celebration of Mass at the US-Mexican border.

My concern is not political (both sides of the immigration debate make good points and reasonable minds may differ about those), nor is my concern religious per se (we have participated in faith-based events at the border and we made sure our kids experienced them too). Rather, my concern is liturgical and canonical, specifically, treating the venue of holy Mass as an opportunity to make political statements and regarding canon law on liturgy as little more than suggestions.

Canon 932 § 1 (one among the 1,752 canons that Roman Catholic bishops must observe and enforce per c. 392) states that “The eucharistic celebration is to be carried out in a sacred place unless in a particular case necessity requires otherwise; in such a case the celebration must be done in a decent place” (my emphasis). Obviously, no one suggests that the border is a “sacred place” in the canonical meaning of that term, so the question becomes whether necessity required holy Mass to be celebrated at the border.

I think not.

The intentions for which this Mass was offered (immigration reform and in memory of those who died crossing the border, both legitimate intentions of course) could have been amply asserted at a Mass celebrated in a sacred place as envisioned by c. 932, and there is no evidence that those attending Mass at the border were otherwise deprived of Mass in their own locales (indeed, many attending the border Mass had to make special arrangements to get there). Thus, the kinds of factors commonly invoked to justify Mass outside of a sacred space do not support this Mass at the border.

[Jeff Chandler]

The Mass (and the Eucharist) were used as a political weapon, a practice which is wrong when done in opposition to the slaughter of innocent children, but right when done in support of subverting the sovereignty of the most generous, welcoming nation on earth.

[BlatherNaut]

Obviously they care as little about canon law as they do about U.S. immigration law.

[Regulator]

Gosh I remember when jack Kennedy was running for president and we were all told not to worry, the Roman church didn’t want to run the country.

Just another Liberal Lie, now exposed.

[BlatherNaut]

Cardinal O’Malley and his pro-amnesty compadres are promoting their PERSONAL views, abusing their authority and violating canon law in the process. It’s an unfortunate fact that their personal opinions are frequently misunderstood as being authoritative Church teachings. In actuality, the Church teaches that nations have the right to secure their borders and that immigrants must respect the law. There are Papal Encyclicals condemning communism, and clearly those who violate our laws and exploit our welfare system are stealing from Americans who are also struggling to survive. The feckless prelates who ignore these realities and promote socialist economic policy and amnesty are far from representative of all Catholics.