§ 2. It must be clearly understood that such celebrations are temporary solutions and the text used at them must be approved by the competent ecclesiastical authority. (92) The practice of inserting into such celebrations elements proper to the Holy Mass is prohibited. So as to avoid causing error in the minds of the faithful, (93) the use of the eucharistic prayers, even in narrative form, at such celebrations is forbidden. For the same reasons, it should be emphasised for the benefit of those participating, that such celebrations cannot substitute for the eucharistic Sacrifice and that the obligation to attend mass on Sunday and Holy days y obligation is satisfied only by attendance at Holy Mass. (94) In cases where distance or physical conditions are not an obstacle, every effort should be made to encourage and assist the faithful to fulfil this precept.
NEXT ISSUE: PRACTICAL PROVISIONS - Article 8 The Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion
Mary McAleese received communion at Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin, saying it was part of her campaign to promote better relations between Catholics and Protestants. Many Catholics criticized her for flouting the demands of her faith which say that a Catholic cannot receive communion in a non-Catholic church because it implies a unity between religions that does not exist because of schism. However, when asked to comment, spokesmen for the Irish Bishops' Conference and the Archdiocese of Dublin refused to comment on the matter.
Some critics suggest that Ireland's bishops refuse to speak out because she is the only public official who speaks openly about her faith and still opposes abortion, contraception, and divorce. Nevertheless, her critics say, she also opposes other church teachings by promoting homosexual rights and the ordination of women.
Gary Bauer of the Family Research Council cited the case of an Alabama judge ordered by another judge to remove a plaque of the Ten Commandments from his courtroom and another judicial ruling that a school district must end many forms of religious expression. "Congress must act now to assert its rights, as a co-equal branch of government, to protect religious expression in Alabama and across the nation," he said.
The group released a statement that called for federal legislation to protect the authority of state institutions to acknowledge God and the rights of individuals to freely express their faith in public forums, as long as they don't interfere with the legitimate rights of others. Other signers to the statement include Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family, Don Hodel of the Christian Coalition, Chuck Colson of the Prison Fellowship, Gov. Robert Casey of Campaign for the American Family, Keith Fournier of the Catholic Alliance, Dr. William Donohue of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, and others.
"I don't fear for my life, but for the life of those that could be affected by the irrational wave of violence they (the ELN) have promised," said Bishop Quintero during an impromptu press conference held at Tibu, where more than 4,000 people were celebrating his release. Bishop Quintero, released along with two local politicians after the Colombian government agreed to stop all military operations in the area, said that during his captivity he was "fed well and given fair time for rest," but he was forced to walk long distances and was frequently menaced with a "people's trial," thus implying his potential death. "Nevertheless, what I missed most was celebrating the Eucharist," he said.
"As a Christian I hold no hard feelings against them. I forgive them," the bishop said. "But I ask them, in the name of God, to renounce their plans to unleash a wave of killing in the area." Bishop Quintero said Nicolas Rodriguez Bautista, the second-in-command of the rebel movement after the Spanish former priest Manuel Perez -- the founder of ELN -- repeatedly told him a violent campaign would be unleashed before Christmas under the name of "Black December."
