Railing for tradition

Well today's thought does have some theological significance. Once we've reclaimed the building just how far shall we go? At what speed should we travel, to put the place back into some decent Christian order. (At this point feel free to mentally insert your favourite before and after shots). In particular how quickly can the altar rails return?

Now, of course, the weeping neo-cons will want us to be sensitive to the needs and feelings of whatever remnant of the nervous ordo faithful are still dragging their zimmer frames down the nave (and presumably around the altar). The Diocesan buildings commitee will, no doubt, want to do some 'inputting' on appropriate restoration, i.e. making sure that things are made as difficult as possible for the celebration of the traditional rites whilst still staying within the letter of the liturgical law. But the traddies? Well, no surprises, it seems that even on this point we can offer an opportunity for playing 'Who's got the biggest cheque book?'

Expect to be frisked from several sides.

Admire and listen to: (1) The DIY traddy brigade (salt of the earth type-forever with a hammer to hand). Fresh from whipping up the new confessionals they see no reason to break the bank on this one. Fair enough and some sympathy from me.

Beware of : (2) The aesthete traddy brigade (men, probably of a certain age, and with a nasty experience at the seminary). There can be no alternative to a complete reconstruction of what used to be there. The fact that your 'worship centre' was built after 1970 should not be considered a problem.

Dont forget: (3) The timid traddy brigade (the vast majority). They don't give a hoot what's there as long as their poor knees get some support as they kneel to receive our Lord. They're just glad to get a Mass at last and I suspect their's is the Kingdom of Heaven.