Bishops issue instructions to curb activities of "showman priests"

The Spanish Episcopal Conference has decided to intervene in the online activities of priests across Spain, particularly in the transmission of the Holy Mass via online streaming. The Bishops have opted to take this step due to concerns that these activities have led to the "trivialization of the Eucharist".

As a response, the Spanish Bishops have released a document titled "Guidelines for the Transmission of Liturgical Ceremonies". The said document provides guidance on how to broadcast the Mass appropriately, with the sole aim to "preserve its spiritual character" and "elevate respect towards the Eucharist".

The Episcopal Committee for Media and Liturgy has clarified that "the content of the document is not a rule". Nonetheless, it is intended to serve as a guide to the principles of liturgy broadcasting for priests and those in charge of technical execution.

What rules will the Spanish Episcopate impose? The primary goal is to curtail the activities of the so-called 'showman priests'.

Believers participating online deserve the same dignity as those attending the churches in person. We observed a rise in 'showman priests' who seem to do everything during the broadcast. This trend emerged after the pandemic, which we believe has led to the trivialization of the Eucharist — commented Bishop José Leonardo Lemos, the Chairman of the Episcopal Committee for Media, as quoted by the portal deon.pl.

Priests will be required to take down the Mass broadcast after it is aired, strictly adhering to the "live" broadcasting principle. Those conducting online Masses are required to excel in communication skills and audiovisual language.

Furthermore, a priest must not draw attention to himself, nor place a cell phone on the altar. Departing the altar to collect donations during the Mass is also considered inappropriate.

The document also outlines the technical conditions for broadcasting. A trained technician, comfortable with the principles of liturgical participation, should conduct the process, ensuring that they do not disrupt the service.