ACCORDING to The Tablet of 28 November, 1981, page 1183, Pope John Paul 11 has agreed to the request of the US Bishops that the word "men" should be removed from the formulation of the consecration of the wine in the liturgy of the Mass which should therefore now read: This is the cup of my blood ... It will be shed for you and for all so that sins may be forgiven.
Nevertheless the colourful -official souvenir of the celebration of Mass by Pope John Paul II in Westminster Cathedral scheduled for 28 May which quotes the full text of the papal Mass retains the "exclusive language" term "men" in this context.
On the other hand Pope Paul VI urged the International Committee on English in the Liturgy to produce a uniform vernacular liturgy for the whole of the English-speaking world.
As the words of Pope Paul VI are still relevant the gathering of our Bishops with Pope John Paul II in Westminster Cathedral provides the opportunity to bring our episcopate into line with the US Bishops on this matter.
George Wardell Caversham Reading