Vatican approves Canadian Lectionary with inclusive language

Source: CCCB

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) have received permission from the Vatican to publish a revised Lectionary for Sundays and Solemnities which has been written using inclusive language. The revised Lectionary uses the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible in English.is expected to be available next spring in order to be used for the beginning of the following liturgical season - Year B - starting 30 November 2008.

The project is the fruit of many years of research and discussion by the Bishops of Canada and a number of experts working in close collaboration with the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments in Rome. The project also involved consultation with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

CCCB Vice President Archbishop James Weisgerber of Winnipeg said he welcomed the news that the Holy See has granted its official seal of approval for the publication of the Lectionary. He said: "The Lectionary is the result of important cooperation between members of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and officials of the Holy See. While most of the Lectionary text has not been altered, changes have been made so that the Word proclaimed in our churches will be clearer or more accurate. I look forward to receiving this new edition into our diocesan Church."

Feminist theologian Doris Keiser said it was a positive move not just for women, but for all people. She said: "When we're moving forward in the world and allowing our understanding to open up, everyone benefits." Canada is currently the only country where the Roman Catholic lectionary is based on the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible, the copyright for which is held by the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Other English-speaking Episcopal Conferences are now also considering the possibility of using the text.