Medina Speaks Some More

A full English translation of Cardinal Medina's recent interview with the French magazine Present has been posted on the website of an independent Tridentine church.... Tip to the good Fr Ephraem, OP.

Some snips from Medina:

Present: In an interview you granted to La Nef and then to L'Homme nouveau you brought up the progress that has taken place since the motu proprio Ecclesia Dei. Is there an atmosphere of appeasement or a concrete reality?

Medina: There is a psychological problem - to a certain point. Some think that an attachment to the old rite might go hand in hand with a refusal of the teaching of the Second Vatican council and the affirmation that the new rite is heretical or invalid. But this excess is not the case with all those who are attached to the old rite and not even the majority of them. If we are able to overcome this psychological difficulty, I think that, little by little, we are going to have a peaceful acceptance (of the old rite). And even a joyous one: the solution that Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos came up with for Campos has been an extraordinarily positive example. A community with a particular tradition and a completely recognized hierarchy constitutes a valuable fruit and experience....

Present: There is sometimes the impression of a difficulty of comprehension: sensitivity and discipline, on one side; dogma and theology, on the other. Isn't there a difficulty of getting along on the same level?

Medina: Personally, I believe that there was in catholic theology certain completely orthodox progress which was not assimilated by certain traditional Catholics. For example, the scriptural interpretation produced valid elements - and there are certain positions which are not acceptable. Sometimes, any progress was refused, and one sees heresies everywhere, whereas it is a question of true progress, or simple opinions which do not constitute a threat for unity or catholic orthodoxy. Certain publications suspect all that is said in the catholic Church as heresy, or infidelity to orthodoxy. Even the writings of Cardinal Ratzinger are savagely criticized there; publications where a such an orthodox document like Dominus Jesus was not received; where this jewel of catholic orthodoxy that is the encyclical Ecclesia de Eucharistia was not well received because it lacked (i.e. omitted) the word propitiation there. However it is necessary to rightly understand this word which I know was rightly used by the council of Trent, and which belongs to Catholic doctrine: because, if used in a rigid way, it would be a question of appeasing an enraged God; which leads to a completely anthropomorphic vision of God who is before all else love and mercy. I believe that the deeper sense of "propitiation" would include the notion of "reparation", "the grace of conversion" and even "purification". At the bottom it is the love towards God who gives the deeper sense to the true religious attitude. These type of questions poison the discussions.

Present: Can that be overcome?

Medina: I believe so; but I fear that certain people arrive there only with difficulty...

And there's a lot more where that came from.

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