A little dismayed and uneasy about this

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tibbar
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
T

Tibbar

Guest
Recently at a parish meeting, our pastor expressed his disdain for Pope Benedict XVI. He said that we need to be a welcoming and affirming community with more lay women in leadership positions in our Church. Our pastor has been quite active in the St. Mary of Magdala programs which are part of the “future Church” division of Call to Action, a grassroots program to promote Catholic women priests and deacons. Pastor also expressed a desire to reach out to a couple in the parish who have been both divorced and have re-married without obtaining an anullment and is desperately seeking ways to get them involved in public ministry at our parish.

I returned to the practice of the Catholic faith about a year ago, and have been very involved in parish life since that time. I am a bit taken a back by what transpired at this meeting. Not only did the meeting fail to begin with and end with a prayer, it centered more about changing the Church and replacing people who have served faithfully for years with many new faces.

I have taken the matter to prayer, but am unsure what I can do next. Is this the norm for Catholic parish life these days? I really don’t feel comfortable with this present situation.

Any advice is appreciated.
 
Run, don’t walk, to the nearest Exit and find yourself another parish. If faithful Catholics would leave these situations, instead of “sticking it out” for whatever reason, the man-hating, pope-hating, progressive types would be stuck in their graying hippie, sterile sex, childless parishes and they would eventually fade into nothingness.

Principle is one thing. But if it means enduring banal, or worse, rage-filled homilies and tuneless OCP “music”, no thanks. I’ll parish hop and parish shop to my heart’s content, until my heart’s content. Or at least my soul.

But that’s just me. Some will advise you to engage in “dialogue” with your pastor. HA! You’d have better luck trying to talk to the stagnant water in your parish’s holy hot tub.

Run away. Fast. :yup:
 
Get thee to the nearest indult Tridentine parish, and stay there.
 
Document what you heard and write to your bishop. This priest is clearly out of line.

Deacon Ed
 
Good golly, don’t run!

Honestly, people…to abandon that parish to that priest would be a huge disservice to Tibbar’s neighbors and community. How selfish you are to seek only to surround yourself with people as ‘good’ as you.

Trust me, many of the parishioners do not know they are being led astray…they will grow up in error and pass that along to their children.

NO…you must stay and fight for the Truth in all things. Can you imagine how different things would be today if the apostles only frequented loyal communities, never going back to those who were falling by the wayside? Many of the letters written to the communities admonish them for their errors and then call them back to the truth. Remember, you are a member of Christ’s church and must also go after His lost sheep.

Document the meeting.
Meet with the priest and ask him to explain his statements to you (charitably), and document his responses to you.
Then send the information to the bishop, explaining that you, as a faithful follower of the magesterium are uncomfortable with the pastoral guidance of this particular priest and are worried about your fellow parishioners, as well as yourself.

Continue to pray and trust in our Lord to set things right.
 
SELFISH? Sorry, but as it is, many priests are sadly set in their ways, looking at the “Sprit of Vatican II” rather than authentic church teachings as their guide, and they will be that way for the rest of their years. People switch parishes for their very spiritual survival, and to find support with others who also have gone though the same struggles. It is almost impossible to maintains one fidelity when Fr. __ at St. ___ covertly and openly defines church teachings and traditions, especially when one has a family and has to explain to their childern why Fr. ___ is in error.
40.png
YinYangMom:
Good golly, don’t run!

Honestly, people…to abandon that parish to that priest would be a huge disservice to Tibbar’s neighbors and community. How selfish you are to seek only to surround yourself with people as ‘good’ as you.

Trust me, many of the parishioners do not know they are being led astray…they will grow up in error and pass that along to their children.

NO…you must stay and fight for the Truth in all things. Can you imagine how different things would be today if the apostles only frequented loyal communities, never going back to those who were falling by the wayside? Many of the letters written to the communities admonish them for their errors and then call them back to the truth. Remember, you are a member of Christ’s church and must also go after His lost sheep.

Document the meeting.
Meet with the priest and ask him to explain his statements to you (charitably), and document his responses to you.
Then send the information to the bishop, explaining that you, as a faithful follower of the magesterium are uncomfortable with the pastoral guidance of this particular priest and are worried about your fellow parishioners, as well as yourself.

Continue to pray and trust in our Lord to set things right.
Click to expand...
 
I would advise you to stay and fight for a while. Document everything and do whatever you must to get it into the bishop’s hands. If this new pastor is not challenged, the results will be bad for all involved. You owe it to your fellow parishioners and to God to stand for the Faith.

That said, be prepared for a lack of action on the bishop’s part; that has been the result far too often in such cases. If nothing happens, and the pastor continues with his ways, then vote with your feet and your envelopes and find an orthodox parish.
 
40.png
Tibbar:
. He said that we need to be a welcoming and affirming community with more lay women in leadership positions in our Church.
Click to expand...
Similarly in a local parish here. The priest said that women should have been made priests long ago and implied that such a policy puts the Church out of step with the times.
 
Running to another parish is not the solution. It is clear the bishop needs to be informed of this situation.
 
40.png
JNB:
SELFISH? Sorry, but as it is, many priests are sadly set in their ways, looking at the “Sprit of Vatican II” rather than authentic church teachings as their guide, and they will be that way for the rest of their years. People switch parishes for their very spiritual survival, and to find support with others who also have gone though the same struggles. It is almost impossible to maintains one fidelity when Fr. __ at St. ___ covertly and openly defines church teachings and traditions, especially when one has a family and has to explain to their childern why Fr. ___ is in error.
Click to expand...
So you feel it’s better to allow that priest to continue to be a pastor to Catholics???

It’s not about you. It’s about all the others you leave behind in that parish. You have an obligation to help them. If you know the Truth, you must share it with them.

You are a soldier of Christ. Can you imagine how the war would be going like right now if people in particular battalions left to go to someone else’s who was more disciplined? The soldiers they’d leave behind would be slaughtered. But hey, so long as they survive by finding the ‘fittest’ division, no skin off their back, huh?

No. Unacceptable. We are in the middle of a war…and there are traitors in our midst. They are weakening the troops from the inside while the secular society is barraging us from the outside. We cannot run to safer ground leaving our brothers and sisters behind to perish.

So you feel uncomfortable explaining the Truth to your children??? How? Why? You have the Catechism to back you up. It’s important to teach your children what is right and wrong within Catholicism. It’s more important that you teach them to stand up for the Truth so that when they are older they will have the resolve to do the same.
 
If you had been catholic for a long time I would suggest that you stand and fight. However because you are new to the faith I suggest that you both write the bishop and then change parishes. That would be the most prudent decision for your state in the faith at the moment. Maybe in time you can go back and fight the good fight but now is not the time.
 
40.png
severinus:
I would advise you to stay and fight for a while. Document everything and do whatever you must to get it into the bishop’s hands. If this new pastor is not challenged, the results will be bad for all involved. You owe it to your fellow parishioners and to God to stand for the Faith.

That said, be prepared for a lack of action on the bishop’s part; that has been the result far too often in such cases. If nothing happens, and the pastor continues with his ways, then vote with your feet and your envelopes and find an orthodox parish.
Click to expand...
If the Bishop doesn’t come down on the wayward priest, can’t you write to the archbishop…go up the ladder before abandoning ship?

I just hate to leave these parishes in unwowrthy hands. There must be something one can do to get them straightened out.
 
40.png
YinYangMom:
If the Bishop doesn’t come down on the wayward priest, can’t you write to the archbishop…go up the ladder before abandoning ship?

I just hate to leave these parishes in unwowrthy hands. There must be someone one can do to get them straightened out.
Click to expand...
Still, it is imprudent for a neophyte to fight this battle.
 
40.png
mosher:
Still, it is imprudent for a neophyte to fight this battle.
Click to expand...
Hmmm…perhaps.
He says he returned a year ago…
we don’t know how long he’s been Catholic.

And still, a letter to the bishop is warranted no matter what.
If nothing else, but to be added to the priest’s permanent file.
 
40.png
YinYangMom:
If the Bishop doesn’t come down on the wayward priest, can’t you write to the archbishop…go up the ladder before abandoning ship?

I just hate to leave these parishes in unwowrthy hands. There must be something one can do to get them straightened out.
Click to expand...
Yes, one can go to the metropolitan, but he will usually not interfere with the local bishop. Taking one’s case to higher courts in the Church is a daunting task; I would not recommend this without experienced guidance.

There are two things that bishops understand: dwindling attendance and the accompanying dwindling monetary support. There comes a point at which the fight becomes pointless. Unless you can collect enough support from parishioners and get access to the bishop, leave and give your voice and your offering to an orthodox parish.

Straightening out parishes requires the action of a bishop; if the bishop fails to act after being informed, there is not much left to do in practical terms.
 
40.png
stanley123:
Similarly in a local parish here. The priest said that women should have been made priests long ago and implied that such a policy puts the Church out of step with the times.
Click to expand...
I would respond by suggesting that this is not the case, but rather an indication that the times are out of step with the Church.
 
What’s the name of the priest there? Maybe a few of us here at CA can persuade him? 😉

Ask him in the Gospels if there were any women present at the Last Supper. Ask him if He thinks the Church has the right to change the fact that Jesus Christ selected 12 Apostles, none of them women? Ask him if he thinks that men should be allowed to be nuns?

If the priest doesn’t fall into line and doesn’t quit brainwashing our fellow Catholics, he needs to lose his job, and fast.
 
**
Matthew: Chapter 10
Click to expand...
5 Jesus sent out these twelve 4 after instructing them thus, "Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town.
6 Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
**7 **As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
8 5 Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.
9 Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts;
10 no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals, or walking stick. The laborer deserves his keep.
11 Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it, and stay there until you leave.
12 As you enter a house, wish it peace.
13 If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; if not, let your peace return to you. 6
14 7 **Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words–go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet. **
15 Amen, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
16 "Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves.

6* [13] The greeting of peace is conceived of not merely as a salutation but as an effective word. If it finds no worthy recipient, it will return to the speaker.*

7* [14] Shake the dust from your feet: this gesture indicates a complete disassociation from such unbelievers.*
**

Our Lord Jesus gave the Apostles a pretty good “war” strategy…

If Jesus believed in extenuated dialogue, He would’ve instructed the Apostles to stick it out and persevere in persuasive speech…
My guess is that you’ll find that the moment you attempt to dialogue with this sort of pastor, you - the messenger - will be labelled or shot down…or both. (Or, perhaps he’ll smoothly try to convince you that “his” philosphy is the “right” one)
Some people want to hear, know, and spread the Truth, and others are too busy promoting their own agendas.
Shake the dust from your shoes and move on…
***The apostate parishes would die out if only we let our feet do the talking!!! ***

God Bless <><
 
Deacon Ed:
Document what you heard and write to your bishop. This priest is clearly out of line.

Deacon Ed
Click to expand...
The pastor in question also plays an important and vital role in diocesan affairs. I have found that his opinions are shared with the majority of the hierarchy throughout the Diocese which is probably why the media has glossed over many the sexual scandals in our particular diocese. The previous pastor was removed a couple of years ago because of a homosexual scandal.

I may seek out others in the parish who feel the same way as I do. There may be more clout in numbers when dealing with diocesan officials.

I had been considering becoming a deacon, but when I went for the information meeting, the priests and sisters running the program made it a point that they will not accept candidates that do not embrace progressivist ideas. One priest said, and I quote, “If you believe being a good Catholic means to be in lock step with what the Vatican says when it comes to moral and social matters, look elsewhere. The diaconate is not for you. We call these types of people rigid.”

I am not saying that I want to worship in a Church community where everybody is the same. I am saying that we should cut the nonsense and the passive-aggressive agendas and focus upon fulfilling the sacramental mission of the Church.
 
40.png
YinYangMom:
Hmmm…perhaps.
He says he returned a year ago…
we don’t know how long he’s been Catholic.

And still, a letter to the bishop is warranted no matter what.
If nothing else, but to be added to the priest’s permanent file.
Click to expand...
Raised a nominal Catholic. Had a “conversion experience” in college. Became active in my former home parish. Entered a seminary after college and studied to become a priest. Studied for a number of years. Decided this was not what I wanted to do and left. Married. Made the decision to come back to active participation in the Catholic faith about a year ago.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top