ICEL official tells Canadian bishops inclusive language debate lives

Published: 2004-10-26

CORNWALL, Ontario (CNS) -- Many believe the debate over inclusive language in the church's liturgy is subsiding in North America, but it may just be "less strident," said Msgr. Bruce Harbert, executive director of the International Commission on English in the Liturgy. "But you can be assured that all 11 bishops of ICEL are aware of the seriousness of that issue," Msgr. Harbert told the Canadian bishops Oct. 21 at their annual plenary assembly in Cornwall. "The priorities have to be weighed," he added. "A choice has to be made between using the word 'man' and using the words 'human being.'" Msgr. Harbert was responding to comments from retired Bishop Remi De Roo of Victoria, British Columbia, during a question period following his talk on the revised Roman Missal and "Liturgiam Authenticam," a 2001 Vatican document on liturgical translations. "Liturgiam Authenticam," the fifth instruction for the right implementation of the Second Vatican Council's Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, was issued in May 2001 by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments.

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