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Views from the Choir Loft

When Disobedience Is Not Only Good, But Necessary!

Aurelio Porfiri · September 2, 2014

903 obey WANT TO GET this straight: I don’t really like those who bow to everything the Pope says, whoever the Pope is. After all, according our faith, the Pope is infallible only for certain pronouncements; not for everything he does or says. This kind of papolatry—although not absolutely irreconcilable with our Faith—certainly causes disturbance to those desiring to be CATHOLICS in the deep, strong meaning of this word. Now, of course, we must listen to the Pope with attention because we know that most of the time his words are intended for the good of our spiritual life, so—even if we’re not “bound” strictly speaking—it would be wise to follow his advice and teachings. But not everything he says is a definitive pronouncement.

Here’s what often happens: new Pope, new lifestyle. Some who formerly took delight in displaying their lovely high notes singing Gregorian chant during the reign of Benedict XVI now suddenly discover a south American soul with Pope Francis. We are surrounded—both in and beyond the Vatican—by “men without qualities,” to cite a novel of the writer Robert Musil. The problem is, such undisputed acceptance is demanded by some for everything uttered by a cardinal, bishop, or pastor … However, when they say things that our conscience finds unsound, they are announcing a doctrine that misleads us instead of leading us. In such cases, disobeying is good! 1

How many fights I’ve had with priests because of liturgy! How many times concerned Catholics were saying to me that I should respect the pastor, the priest, blah blah blah. To all these people, I have one answer: who cares?!! If the pastor, the priest, the nun, the bishop, the cardinal, and beyond are saying that which my conscience rejects, I follow my conscience. This is not “freedom of conscience,” condemned by Gregory XVI in Mirari vos (1832). Our conscience should never be encouraged to commit evil; so in this sense, the freedom of conscience cannot be encouraged, but also a conscience deciding to walk on wrong ways cannot be stopped.

GOD LEAVES US FREE and ultimately responsible for our actions. But in the case of consenting to certain teachings, if they’re not in line with what an educated conscience feels is good, they have to be rejected, no matter whom they come from. Father Enrico Zoffoli, in one of his pamphlets about clergy, has said that we are not interested in private opinion of priests: they are the announcers of the Gospel, that’s all. We respect Pope, cardinals, bishops, priests … but up to a point. When they cross a line, we need not jump on the other side with them.

Indeed, in the encyclical of Gregory XVI, there’s another interesting point, and in this case I feel quite near to Mauro Cappellari (Gregory XVI’s name before his election):

“The holiness of the sacred is despised; the majesty of divine worship is not only disapproved by evil men, but defiled and held up to ridicule.” —Mirari Vos, §5 (1832)

Mmm … in this very case, I think that if these words were not written almost 200 years ago but today, they would still sound reasonable and sound, even to my own (maybe not very well educated) conscience.


BOTTEGA • Aurelio Porfiri is where you can discover
many of Mæstro Porfiri’s compositions in PDF format.



NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   Editor’s Reminder: According to Catholic teaching, those under obedience must refuse obedience if ordered to commit sin.

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Aurelio Porfiri

Renowned as composer, conductor, theorist, author, pedagogue, and organist, Aurelio Porfiri has served the Church on multiple continents at the highest levels. Born and raised in Italy, he currently serves as Director of Choral Activities and Composer in Residence for Santa Rosa de Lima School (Macao, China).

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Quick Thoughts

19 May 2022 • “Trochee Trouble”

I’m still trying to decide how to visually present the “pure” Editio Vaticana scores, using what is (technically) the official rhythm of the Church. You can download my latest attempt, for this coming Sunday. Notice the “trochee trouble” as well as the old issue of neumes before the quilisma.

—Jeff Ostrowski
16 May 2022 • Harmonized Chant?

This year’s upcoming Sacred Music Symposium will demonstrate several ways to sing the CREDO at Mass. This is because—for many parishes—to sing a full-length polyphonic CREDO by Victoria or Palestrina is out of the question. Therefore, we show options that are halfway between plainsong and polyphony. You can hear my choir rehearsing a section that sounds like harmonized plainsong.

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14 May 2022 • “Pure” Vatican Edition

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—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“From six in the evening, his martyrdom had continued through the ghastly night until nine o’clock in the morning. After fifteen hours of torture rarely if ever surpassed in the bloody annals of the Iroquois, the soul of Gabriel Lalemant was freed from its charred and mutilated prison and summoned to join his comrade Jean de Brébeuf in the radiant splendor of God. March 17th, 1649, was the date; for Brébeuf it had been the sixteenth.”

— ‘Fr. John A. O’Brien, speaking of St. Gabriel Lalemant’

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