Michael Haynes | VATICAN CITY (LifeSiteNews) –– Mexico’s Catholic bishops have overwhelmingly approved and sent to Rome their proposals for a Mayan rite of the Mass, which incorporates lay leadership and apparent elements of idolatry. LifeSite has received a copy of the text now being examined by the Vatican, and presents elements of it below.

ACI Prensa reported on July 25 that the Mexican Bishops’ Conference has submitted its proposals for an “indigenous” liturgical adaptation of the Mass to the Vatican’s Congregation (now Dicastery) for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments (CDW).

The emeritus bishop of San Cristóbal de las Casas, Cardinal Felipe Arizmendi, described the proposed rite as “advancing the progress of inculturation of the Church in the native peoples and of taking responsibility for the celebration of Holy Mass with some elements of these cultures.”

Bishop Aguilar also joined Arizmendi in presenting the proposals to the Pope and the CDW, stating that the Vatican had received the proposals “favorably” when they were delivered to the CDW in June. 

Arizmendi told ACI Prensa that he had responsibility for writing the text and presenting it to the bishops before they voted to approve it. 

The proposed liturgical changes were then approved almost unanimously by Mexico’s bishops, who voted 103-2 in favor during the April 2023 plenary assembly. Arizmendi also stated that the country’s bishops extended the proposals to “all the native peoples of the country,” rather than just to those of the San Cristóbal diocese.

Joining Arizmendi in promoting the endeavor to the other Mexican bishops was the cardinal’s successor in the Diocese of San Cristóbal—Bishop Rodrigo Aguilar. Aguilar also joined Arizmendi in presenting the proposals to the Pope and the CDW, stating that the Vatican had received the proposals “favorably” when they were delivered to the CDW in June. 

Read the Rest here. 

Latest from RTV — “TRADITIONALISTS ARE PROTESTANT!” (Michael Matt Answers the Critics)