Once again the innovations introduced at Vatican II are under attack. We are now told by Pope Paul that "The taste for .. , the traditional, where it merits being honoured, must predominate in outward manifestations of religious services, seeking to sustain the affection of the people". (Catholic Herald, August 31).
!low far we have strayed from the Catholic tradition was underlined for me by attending Mass at Notre-Dame in Paris. The interior of the building — an outstanding example of medieval faith and craftmanship — has been destroyed spacially by the erection of an altar under the crossing: seats were arranged so as to make it impossible to kneel; seemingly there was no Latin Mass, so foreigners were forced to tax their schoolboy French instead; at Communion it was only with some embarrassment that I was able to avoid having the Host placed unceremoniously in my hands.
That similar ''reforms" to these have led to disquiet and disaffection among many Catholics is amply testified by the numerous articles and letters appearing in the Catholic press during recent years. These objections have met with little response up to now; in this parish we have one Mass in Latin a month — a poor substitute for the traditional Latin Mass. In comparison with other parts of the country it seems we are lucky to have this.
Would it be too much to hope that the Pope's sentiments might at least find expression in the removal of the worst excesses of the Vatican II zealots and the provision of weekly traditional Latin Masses?
Peter Burridge St. Kilda, 145 Westbourne Avenue, Hull, Yorkshire.