International Commission on English in the Liturgy
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[edit] Formation and Mandate
The International Commission on English in the Liturgy was established on 17th October 1963 as a result of the Second Vatican Council's decision to allow the public celebration of the Catholic Mass in the vernacular. The idea of translation was endorsed by the Vatican II Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (Sacrosanctum Concilium) promulgated by Pope Paul VI on 4th December 1963. Article 25 of the document states "The liturgical books are to be revised as soon as possible; experts are to be employed on the task, and bishops are to be consulted, from various parts of the world," and Article 36.4 decrees, "Translations from the Latin text into the mother tongue intended for use in the liturgy must be approved by the competent territorial ecclesiastical authority mentioned above." Given this, those territories where English-speakers represented a significant portion of the church population joined the ICEL to act on this mandate.
[edit] The Work of the Commission
When an ICEL translation has been completed and approved by the Bishops of the Commission, it is sent to the member- and associate member- conferences for their consideration.
The Bishops of ICEL are assisted in their work by the professional staff of ICEL’s Secretariat, which is located in Washington, D.C. The Secretariat coordinates the work of specialists throughout the English-speaking world in the preparation of translations.
[edit] Controversies surrounding the ICEL
The development of an English Liturgy by the ICEL has been a highly charged issue, splitting progressive and traditionalist elements within the Roman Catholic Church. ICEL translations (from Vatican-approved Latin originals) have often been denounced as tendentious, unfaithful and inelegant.
[edit] ICEL Chairmen
Chairmen of the ICEL have been
| Chairman | Dates |
|---|---|
| Archbishop Francis Grimshaw | |
| Archbishop Paul Hallinan | |
| Cardinal Gordon Gray | |
| Cardinal G Emmett Carter | |
| Archbishop Denis Hurley | 1974-1991 |
| Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk | 1991-July 1997 |
| Bishop Maurice Taylor | July 1997-July 2002 |
| Bishop Arthur Roche | July 2002- |
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