Ivory Coast: Archbishop Condemns Liturgical Abuses

In September 2008, Mgr. Jean-Pierre Kutwa, the archbishop of Abidjan (Ivory Coast), wrote a pastoral letter to parish priests, parish leaders of liturgical chant and choir masters, which was published in the May 7, 2009 edition of the Ivory Coast daily Nord-Sud.

This pastoral letter, entitled De la divine liturgie is to serve as a “guide” for a liturgy “more Catholic and more holy”. Pointing out “several liturgical deviances which need to be corrected,” the archbishop listed his concerns: “all sorts of songs are performed”, the faithful no longer make the “distinction” between rousing hymns, the songs of other religious denominations and liturgical chant. During the meditation, the psalm recommended is “spurned” in favor of any old song. At the offertory, “the offertory procession looks more like recreation time, during which dance demonstrations and comic acts are performed.”

In view of these practices which “lead away from the Sacred Liturgy”, Archbishop Kutwa has ordered that there be no more performance of songs “of other religious denominations or lively songs” during the Eucharistic Celebration, because it must be understood that “liturgical chant alone is allowed”. So, the psalm must never be replaced and should be executed according to “the psalmodic mode”. During the offertory procession there “must no longer be bare-chested girls or transparent clothes,” the men “will no longer wear just their underwear” and no disguise will be worn or anything else which might cause amusement. The archbishop concluded by drawing attention to the multiple signs of the Cross which the faithful make during the Mass, outside of the liturgy.

(Sources: apic /Nordsud)