After observing too many extraordinary ministers at Mass mishandling the purification of the chalices for the Precious Blood, I mentioned to my husband about my distress and why doesn't the bishop remedy this situation. To my surprise, he said America had been granted a three-year Indult allowing lay people to do this but it expired in 2005. When the American Bishops requested an extension of the Indult, Pope Benedict declined the request.
I was talking to some parishioners, who are also extraordinary ministers, about this situation. They had just been to a huge event/training session for extraordinary ministers and their take from the bishop's instruction was that they were to continue doing the purification of the vessels and the priest were no longer permitted to do so. This didn't sound correct to me.
Another person said that Rome leaves it up to the bishops on these matters and that didn't sound line steering one, Catholic, universal Church, either. In fact, one of the extraordinary ministers said he didn't know what all the fuss was about. He said he had been informed by every priest he met, over the years, that the only reason for the purification of the chalice, etc. by the priest was to give the congregation a little more time to pray after Communion.
I did a little research on the subject and found this link:
http://www.adoremus.org/1106ExtraordinaryMinisters.html
It sure doesn't sanction the way our bishop is allowing things to be done. I have to wonder about this kind of attitude. Naturally, our bishop demands and deserves respect but how do we cope with this when his example seems to be a disregard for the word from Rome?
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