Responding positively

From the diocesan communications officer of the Diocese of Portsmouth SIR – I need to set the record straight following your report on the traditional liturgy (September 21). Your information was, as you reported, based on material “leaked” on a traditionalist blog. It is not the policy of the diocese.
In Portsmouth there are regular celebrations of the traditional Mass. Indeed, more than in many dioceses of similar size. Provided there are priests available to celebrate, we will respond positively to any realistic request. The number of Tridentine Masses in the diocese has increased in recent years.
You state in your leading article that “the guide is to be published in the diocesan newsletter next month”. This is not the case. We have not yet decided how guidance on the motu proprio is to be disseminated. We are awaiting the official English translation of the motu proprio. Your report and leading article was based on a leaked draft consultation paper, nothing more.
You also say that the article – which does not in fact exist – “raises the question of whether priests coming into the diocese to celebrate traditional Masses have been vetted by the child protection authorities”. Let me be clear about this: Portsmouth, like every other diocese, is fully committed to the child protection policy of the Church. In accordance with this policy, any priest from outside the diocese who celebrates Mass in the diocese has to have the usual CRB clearance if he is based in the United Kingdom, or the appropriate Testimonial from his bishop or religious superior if coming from abroad. This policy is applied to any priest visiting the diocese to celebrate Mass.
It is true that in one instance a parish priest who regularly hosts a Tridentine celebration had to refuse permission to a priest from abroad who was unable to provide a Testimonial. The parish priest was quite correct in doing this. Had he not done so, he would have been failing in his duty.
Yours faithfully, BARRY HUDD Portsmouth, Hants