Comments on: Hiding Behind Altars

By: Grace Harman

Grace Harman — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:10:33 +0000

Little errors or omissions are not the major threat to our Faith.
The BIG scandal is about some Bishops giving “wiggle room” to pro-abortion politicians and not speaking out against them even if they publicly receive Our Lord in Holy Communion -even though they openly support the slaughter of the helpless babies.
If these babies had lived, many would be now paying into the social Security pool and it would not be as badly in jeopardy. 50 million deaths has a major impact on a nation. (But of course Congress having access to, and robbing the Trust Fund for other “pet projects” is also a major cause of the program’s problems.)
Why wasn’t there a bigger outcry when Roe v. Wade was first decided? Why has it taken so long for (only some) Bishops to speak out? The baby is obviously human. It is clearly alive and growing. Life comes from God and not the State. Why can’t the Judges follow our Bill of Rights and protect these babies from murder? No one is safe if judges can just “declare” a group of people “non-persons”.

By: Daughter of the King

Daughter of the King — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:15:34 +0000

I agree with tarasz about second hand stories. Unless you were one of the two parties involved you really don’t know what happened. Maybe the woman was one who was constantly ‘quietly’ nagging her priest about things he did wrong. Maybe he had had enough and just broke under the pressure of her constant demand for perfectionism with circumstances like lack of sleep from being up with a dying person all night. Or just found out some other stressing news which made missing the creed seems so insignificant. Who knows. Besides, saying the Creed at Mass is what is considered an accidental, it is not essential for the Mass to be valid. And maybe the priest had a lot on his mind that day and just forgot? I’ve seen it happen. I certainly didn’t go running to correct my pastor when Mass was over.

I do know of some folks in my own parish who are ‘ultra conservatives’ I’ve been told (I’m new to the parish) and they pounce on the priest for every little thing. They’ll pounce “discretely” on any priest who enters their parish who does something they consider to be wrong, disobedient, etc. They are throns in the priests’ sides.

By: Warren Jewell

Warren Jewell — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:00:34 +0000

tarasz, it is a story nearly as old as the Tridentine formulae. Titled ‘clericalism’, it won’t go away ignoring it.

I think that overworked and overburdened pastors – i.e., most pastors – go ‘clerical’ at times. None is perfect and all get frustrated by yet more problems, burdens, work, etc. Think what they go through just to help keep their parish schools up and running. Such things as any parish finances, in collecting, accounting, etc., are their responsibility as their bishops require of them.

But, this goes hand-in-hand with pew-dwellers just sitting there expecting to be catered-to without lifting a finger to help serve. And, this too is part-and-parcel of lack of catechesis, which would build vibrancy and vitality into parishes that a pastor could bank on and fall back upon as he needs to.

Which, again, falls into the lap of the diocesan ordinary. He must teach: to raise up Catholics trained ‘mighty in spirit’ to their faith; and ‘powerful of purpose’ to service to the faith, the faithful and to God.

By: tarasz

tarasz — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:43:50 +0000

I take issue with a third-party report of a priest doing something awful. Isn’t that gossip? Even though it’s just relating a story in a book, we weren’t there, and we don’t know what happened.

Let’s please not talk badly about our priests, even when it’s true. This article could have been complete without that story.

By: Mary Kochan

Mary Kochan — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:56:30 +0000

Noel, condolences on the death of your brother.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.

By: DonnaMaria

DonnaMaria — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:51:55 +0000

Yes, most priests are great, and I think the majority of CE readers love and support their priests, and encourage our children to pray, discerning a call to religious life. However, we should be able to find out who the dissenters are. It is very frustrating when a pastor or bishop does not lead his flock–and just like abusive priests, dissenters who openly teach against our Holy Mother Church need to be weeded out, as they lead so many astray. We need to give them the benefit of the doubt, but we can’t bury our heads in the sand, either.

Noel, had the priest responded to his parishioner with a kind explanation, instead of arrogance and extreme rudeness, I’m sure she would have understood. His response is inexcusable! I don’t think this article is a blanket statement against priests! It calls attention to some problems which need to be addressed, so that we can avoid future scandals.

By: noelfitz

noelfitz — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:05:34 +0000

I am sorry to read this article.

Bishops and priests need our support. They have very difficult lives and are often under great stress.

To say that “[t]The priest walked away, giving the woman and her husband what appeared to be “the single-digit salute” is very unfair to all the priests who are working hard to spread the kingdom.

Recently my brother died and the priests in the hospital and the parish were absolutely wonderful. I am so grateful for their support and prayers.

In Ireland the Creed is not said at all Masses, (eg week day ones, except major feasts).

God bless,

NoelFitz.
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In necessariis, unitas; in dubiis, libertas; in omnibus, caritas.
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By: elkabrikir

elkabrikir — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:25:34 +0000

I rejoice to be so naive as to think our bishops would have been spared the “elitism” and “clericalism” described above.

I always find it shocking and I hope I always will.

I pray I never lose my love for those anointed with Holy Orders in the line of the Apostles.

Truly, my heart would break if a shadow of cynicism crept into my love for our Pope. May the Holy Spirit continue to strengthen and guide him.