Brazilian bishop says young Catholics have a ‘right’ to traditional liturgy

(LifeSiteNews) — A Brazilian bishop has said young Catholics have a right to Traditional forms of liturgy because Catholicism is inherently “plural.”

On April 17, Bishop Joel Portella Amado of Petrópolis, president of the Brazilian Bishops’ Commission for the Doctrine of the Faith, stated during a press conference at the 62nd General Assembly of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB) that young people are entitled to more traditional expressions of Catholic liturgy. He explained his position that this right follows from the “plural” nature of Catholicism while responding to questions about a perceived increase in traditional practices among younger members of the faithful.

“Do they have the right to be like this? Yes, because Catholicism is plural by nature, especially in a deeply plural world,” Amado said.

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The bishop’s remarks came in response to a question from a journalist about what has been described as a “return of certain traditional Catholic practices within Mass,” particularly among younger participants. The question specifically referenced observable behaviors such as “kneeling to receive Holy Communion” and the “use of veils by women.”

In addressing the issue, Amado pointed to broader demographic data rather than treating the phenomenon in isolation. He referred to the 2022 national census, highlighting that “individuals between the ages of 19 and 39 constitute the largest segment of those who identify as having no religion” in Brazil.

He clarified that this category does not necessarily imply atheism, but rather a form of belief in God without institutional affiliation: “It is not that they do not believe in God. The evangelical world calls them non‑religious. I prefer this expression. They believe in God, in heaven, but they have no mediation on earth, no path within the Church.” This sociological phenomenon is sometimes described in evangelical contexts as “dechurching.”

Against this background, Amado suggested that the resurgence of interest in traditional liturgical expressions among some young Catholics may be understood as part of a broader search for religious identity and structure. “In the hour of emptiness, we search and search, including within certain historical realities that these young people have not experienced,” Amado stated.

However, he did not present this as a universal or normative development, but rather as one among several legitimate expressions within the Church.

Amado further stressed that, while traditional forms of liturgical expression are permissible, they must not be imposed on others. He framed this limitation in terms of charity and ecclesial unity, stating that no group or individual should claim an exclusive truth in matters of liturgical preference.

“If, on the one hand, there is the right to live and express your faith in your own way, according to your own way of being, on the other hand, in the name of love and fraternity, you cannot impose it on others or think that only you are right. This applies not only to the example you gave, but to any other,” he said.