As a part Jewish woman who has fond memories of growing up with Jewish family members in England I'm concerned about prayers being prohibited for those whose whom I love.
Some family members were then and are still, either Jewish or Catholic but have no problem 'being family' together without animosity.
I believe God deals with these sorts of matter through the Church founded by his son, Jesus the Christ whose vital task (both worldly and 'other worldly') is entrusted to his representative 'Petrus'.
I'm truly grateful to be a 'minute petal' on the "Flower of the Jewish stem". This life-giving stem includes the traditional liturgy of a Chuch, which "teaches the same today, as She did yesterday and will tomorrow". (John Paul II)
God speed Holy Father, tu es Petrus!
Diane Taylor, Oceania

Diane Joan Taylro, Auckland, New Zealand

What we must all hope is that having two major Roman liturgies (as we have in fact had since 1969 because the Traditional Mass was never cancelled) will not cause further division, but will on the contrary help heal the regrettable rift in the Roman Church.

This is not a 'traditionalist' ('old fogies') versus 'modern' ('neo-protestantising libertarians') rift. Many lovers of the 'Old Mass' fully support the aggiornamento of Vatican II - only criticising the Novus Ordo which in fact went far further in litiurgical innovation permitted by the Council documents.

The Novus Ordo seeks to encourage active participation at Mass through the new wording and setting (priest facing people). Whereas the Traditional Mass is designed to heighten the spiritual participation of those attending - reinforcing in every way possible the cardinal belief in Transubstantiation - the Real Presence.

But spiritual graces offered at communion depend on humility, forgiveness, and contrition.

J Pedler, Sarlat, France

This liberation of the Traditional Roman Mass, the liturgy of the Church of Rome since immemorial days, was indeed due to happen. The thing which makes me laugh and wonder most is that self-described "progressive" Catholic clergymen and laymen who normally stress the importance of diversity, now swing the "unity" argument against the liturgy of the Roman Church. Whoever considers this ancient Rite to be "false" or "pastorally wrong", must make his conclusions and leave the Roman Catholic Church, as this Roman Mass in the edition of 1962 basically can be traced back beyond St. Gregory the Great. In fact the Roman Canon is found in the 4th century already, even in Milan where Pseudoambrose mentions its Quam oblationem and Per ipsum, as well the Hanc igitur. Injustice has been done to many sincerely desiring Catholic laymen who wanted this traditional liturgy, marginalization and demonization. Fortunately, this Times report is more objective.

Alexander Smith, Rome, Italy, European Union

In Los Angeles, California, Cardinal Mahoney goes to great lengths to stifle traditionalists and those priests he views to be Orthodox and loyal to the Magisterium. The stories here of loyal (and Latin speaking) priests exiled to obscure assignments are many. The Motu Propio will bring about a budding in all things good again in this Diocese. The flowering will not occur until he retires (soon).

Jose, Los Angeles, USA

It was an act of insanity to prohibit the Tridentine Rite in the first place. We have now had forty years of seeking permission for that which we are now told permission was never needed. The post Vatican II church has placed great emphasis on justice and peace issues. What rot!

Philip Marshall, Windsor, United Kingdom

Quite frankly the unintended consequence of this will be to undermine the unity of the church.

Robert, robertsville, Missouri USA

In much of southern England, many congregations deeply enjoy the combination of Latin, a thousand years' heritage of sacred music and modern adjustments to the details of the liturgy, and show it with close to packed churches at Latin High Masses. But those congregations also have easy access to masses in their own language if they prefer.

Moving from those glories to the inaudible, congregation-excluding gloom of the Tridentine liturgy - also easy to find in southern England - is dismal. That's why so few attend.

With today's shortage of priests, universal approval pof the Tridentine rite risks in some places the overwhelming majority of Catholics being denied regular Sunday access to a Mass they understand.

The need to avoid this risk is precisely what bishops are there to assess. That's why, however inelegant opt-outs might sound to church politicians, making them possible is a pastoral necessity

Michael Flanagan, Oxfordshire, UK

The "Tridentine Mass" is from the Roman Missal of 1962. If certain prayers are to be omitted, such as the prayers for the Jews on Good Friday, then it would mean the issuance of another Missal, something Traditionalists would animantly object to, and also fail to reconcile the SSPX back to Rome.

Kenneth Leary, Atlantic City, USA/NJ

For this to be signed is the greatest thing I have heard. Our Bishop has allowed the Tridentine Mass and it is offered right now the first Sunday of each month. I go when I can. (not my parish) I wish my own parish would offer it. I am a new Catholic and have loved the Tridentine Mass far above the Orvus Nordo Mass. The opt out clause should not be put in there and hopefully it won't. I will be praying my Rosary that the indult is signed and the the opt out clause is left out.

Hannah Forsyth Roach, Belton, South Carolina

It could be that the opt-out clause is time limited and applied only to certain countries or individual dioceses as a transitional measure. It may have to be applied for.

A generally available opt-out would be entirely counter-productive, only serving to upset traditionalists even more than they have been upset over the last forty years.

"The Pope should just celebrate the Tridentine Mass in St. Peter's on television." Hear, hear! As Cardinal Ratzinger, he celebrated the Latin Mass according to the 1962 Missal.

Chris Gillibrand, Brussels in Exile, "Democratic" Belgium/ Europe

It is interesting that every one of the thirteen commentators above clearly supports the return of the traditional Mass. What support do the German (and the French) bishops have among their flocks for their opposition to the expected Motu Proprio? By the evidence of this blog, none at all.

These episcopal objectors appear to be stuck with the mentality oc the 1960s and out of touch with modern thinking. It is time for Pope Benedict XVI to be bold and and issue the document.

Paul Waddington, Yorkshire, England

I wish the media would stop applying secular political values to the Church. Encouraging Catholic social doctrine is not conservative or traditionalist, it is just plain Catholic, and linking such 'political' stances to personal preferences in the liturgy is ludicrous.

Some prefer organs to guitars, Latin to vernacular, Tridentine to Novus Ordo. In the end the 'old' and 'new' Masses are equally valid, and netiher of them can be forbidden in favour of another. A priest does need permission from his bishop to say or sing the 'old' Mass, but this permission cannot be refused. There is an ancient tradition in the Church that there are many rites celeebrated, the Roman rite, new or old, is just one of many.

A potential motu proprio allowing its celebration is just re-affirming what is already known in order to appease traditionalist fraternities, and bring them back into full communion with the Holy See.

Simon, Norwich, UK

The Pope should just celebrate the Tridentine Mass in St. Peter's on television. His celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass will have more impact than another piece of paper from the Vatican.

Charles Taibi, The Bronx, New York

Like the Arians in their day they thought they had defeated Catholicism from within. So think the modernists/progressives today. Does time change? "The gates of hell shall not prevail..." Sacred Tradition will not be undermined. Long live St. Pope Pius X!!

a, Denver, USA

This is the first I have heard of an "opt-out" clause... I had heard that it would be possible to prohibit "specific priests" from saying the Latin Mass, but I was under the impression that this would be if said Priest were using the Mass to promote an agenda or "anti-Vatican II" position.

Jeffrey Herbert , North Port , FL

Alice Von Hildebrand writes in her biography of her husband that a young man once came up to Dietrich, and asked him if he thought he should convert from Judaism to Catholicism, since the priests he had already asked in his university said he was fine where he was - to which Dietrich replied he would go to the ends of the earth to enable him to become a Catholic - he was a convert himself, and would never have wanted to prevent anyone from receiving the wonderful graces and blessings he himself received from entering the Church. Blessedly the young man listened to Dietrich, and was convinced by his love and reverence for the Church, and so became a Catholic. It's a shame so many priests and Bishops don't want to follow in Von Hildebrand's footsteps, and encourage others - non Catholic Christians, and Jews, and Muslims, into the one True Faith - if that's what they believe the Catholic Church is, if they don't , then why don't they have the courage to get out of it, themselves!!

E Dulston, Market Drayton, England

An “opt-out clause” would completely negate any positive developments the Motu Proprio might otherwise bring.

Brian, PA, USA

An "opt-out" clause in my opinion would be a rope with which liberal bishops would hang themselves. Availing of it would clearly mark them out for exclusion from higher office within the Church and mark which dioceses will see appointments of theologically orthodox and conservative bishops once the incumbents retire.

That said there may not even be an opt-out clause.

Conor, Waterford, Ireland

It's disgraceful that there is still consternation among a small group of Bishops who appear terrified by a sacred Liturgy established over 1000 years ago- the Tridentine Liturgy. On the one hand Roman Catholic Modernists Bishops tell Greek & Russian orthodox to maintain their own liturgies, and sign accords with Lutherans and other Protestant Denominations. But within the circle of their own chuch they seek to snuff out any interest in the Tridentine Liturgy. WHY? They are protesting against something else. It reminds me of the Pharisees who hid behind temple columns snickering at Jesus. These men think they are doing well by the Church but they are inwardly cowards and selfish. May the Blessed Virgin Mary intercede for the Supreme Pontiff and strike down every obstacle which prevents the release of Benedict's Motu Proprio on the Universal Indult for the Tridentine Sacrifice of the Mass.May the "People of God" as fully outlined by the Documents of Vatican II be properly established

R. Chatti, Somers, New York

If the Bishop would like to prohibit it, he'd have to go to the parish to do so since the priest would not have to ask for permission.

Cory , Bourbonnais, IL

An "opt-out" clause brings us right back to square one. Nothing would bring a greater sigh of relief from anxious Novus Ordo bishops worldwide, especially from our neck of the woods.
To exclude prayers for the Jews suggests that any motu proprio might be accompanied by an amended edition of the 1962 missal. But, you know, I would not be surprised by anything this crowd does.

t. hollingsworth, Post Falls, ID

I wonder if Jews will change their morning prayers where men thank God for not making them a gentile, not making them a slave and not making them a woman. Will they change their prayers because others find it offensive? Probably not!

Doorman, smalltown,

It would be most unwise to include an opt-out clause in the Motu Proprio.
An individual bishop would have no justification for banning the Indult in
his diocese. It would only strain relations between the TLM advocates and the Novus Ordo supporters, at a time when the Church has quite enough
problems, as it is.

Geoffrey Smith, Manchester, England

It's difficult to imagine an opt out clause. What would be the point of the indult if Bishops were free to counterman it?

CDL

Carson, Joliet, Ill, USA

It would be ironic and scandalous to exclude prayers for the conversion of the Jews, if the Church truly believes that it is necessary and efficacious in the salvation of mankind, including the Jews, all hurt feelings aside.

Miguel, Albuquerque, NM

Does the opt-out clause not render the document ["Indult" - Motu Proprio] valueless. The Hierarchies are against it.

Michael, Bridgwater, UK

This is truly excellent news - if true. The attitude of the liberal French and German bishops should be more than sufficient to persaude this great Pope that his permission for the wider celebration of the old rite is given: it is primarily their uselessness that has led to a collapse in vocations and in the Catholic life of those two countries. Add the British, American, Dutch, Belgian bishops to the list and you have the main reason why the Church has suffered so much over the last 40 years in Europe and in America: a bureaucratically-inspired liturgy and useless bishops. What we Catholics want is for our liturgy to be BEAUTIFUL again and for our bishops to FEARLESSLY uphold Ctholic teaching.

Benedict Carter, Moscow, Russia

The fact that the Pope is about to allow the Tridentine Rite Mass without the approval of the local Bishops is wonderful news, except that it may contain an op-out clause allowing Bishops to prohibit the Latin Mass at a local level. This would put us right back where we were before. The progressive Bishops of the world will surely ban this Mass. They don't want anything that will promote holiness or sanctity, therefore, they will not allow it to happen. I pray to Our Dear Lord and Our Blessed Mother that this clause is not inserted into the indult signed by the Pope. God Bless Pope Benedict XVI.

Roy Banes, Wichita, KS, USA