Animal rights during the Mass

[MarkThompson]

and who is talking about anglican church? did i say anything about england? why dont you find first what i am talking about before you make your judment. ’
what i am talking about did not hapenned in england. It happened in teh CC by a priest. it was a complained from a Catholic who saw and was discussed with it. no, it did not happened in england. get it?

I’m calling your bluff. All you ever do around here is drag up complaints about the “Novus Ordo church,” and this is a typical fake one / urban legend. Show your proof, or everyone will know you’re just spreading calumnious falsehoods about priests of your own Church.

 

[SunnaB16]

I thought I would try daily Mass again half hoping someone who attends who has been there longer than I would have said something about the altar-dog server…

If I should report this to a higher authority and not necessarily a Bishop, does anyone know if there is any kind of church law against a dog roaming the altar at Mass? If I am going to stick my neck out, I’d like some assurance this is fixable and that it is not licit.

Sticking your neck out would be what God wants you to do.
If you get nowhere, at least you did your bit.

Youll probably be opposed by most of the parishioners, because theyre besotted by the whole thing: “Its so cute!"; "Its lovely for the kiddies!” and other assorted tripe. Don`t you dare consider the significance of the Mass!!!

Best wishes!

 

[Sherry_G]

If you speak privately with the priest (call and ask for an appt) no one else in the parish needs to be involved or know of your visit. If that doesn’t work, please contact your diocese bishop and ask the question about the behavior, just asking IF it is appropriate to have a dog on the altar during Mass. If he says, No Way! then tell him the exact circumstances, including where and when. That is really all you need to do. You will not be causing an uproar, just doing the right thing.

After that, if things do not change, then definitely go to another parish. Doing the right thing may seem hard, but taken one step at a time, privately and done is a questioning manner instead of in an accusatory tone will be accepted in the spirit in which it is offered, most of the time. God has already placed it in your heart and on your path so don’t veer off course. I will be praying for you.

 

[Adonia]

Just when I thought I’ve heard it all, now this! This is so wrong on so many fronts. If the priest does not end this immediately a communication with your Bishop is certainly in order.

 

[donanobis]

Bulletin notice:

“Halloween! I want to invite the little ones to wear their Halloween costumes to Church on the 30th and 31st and if they do there may be a little treat for them as they leave Mass!”

"Doing my best to serve the Lord, I am Fr. (X) "

Is this a new custom now? Perhaps dressing as different species of canines would be in order. I have seen this custom before but kids were invited to dress specifically as a Saint. I personally disapprove of any Halloween celebration at Mass or giving candy treats.

This priest is becoming a near occasion of sin for me. It is getting to be too much to confront.

Do you think I would be justified to go to another parish where I would not be sinning in thought and maybe deed by being there? As someone else states, maybe leave this entertainment to the ‘besotted’ to enjoy? I really prefer to give Our Lord my full attention when I come to worship him. Do you think it would be wrong to just move to another parish and not bring any (of these) problems to this priests’ attention?

Youll probably be opposed by most of the parishioners, because theyre besotted by the whole thing: “Its so cute!"; "Its lovely for the kiddies!” and other assorted tripe. Don`t you dare consider the significance of the Mass!!! Best wishes!

:banghead:

 

[PatriceA]

Bulletin notice:

“Halloween! I want to invite the little ones to wear their Halloween costumes to Church on the 30th and 31st and if they do there may be a little treat for them as they leave Mass!”

"Doing my best to serve the Lord, I am Fr. (X) "

Is this a new custom now? Perhaps dressing as different species of canines would be in order. I have seen this custom before but kids were invited to dress specifically as a Saint. I personally disapprove of any Halloween celebration at Mass or giving candy treats.

This priest is becoming a near occasion of sin for me. It is getting to be too much to confront.

Do you think I would be justified to go to another parish where I would not be sinning in thought and maybe deed by being there? As someone else states, maybe leave this entertainment to the ‘besotted’ to enjoy? I really prefer to give Our Lord my full attention when I come to worship him. Do you think it would be wrong to just move to another parish and not bring any (of these) problems to this priests’ attention?

:banghead:

That’s really worrisome. I’ve never heard of inviting children to dress up in their costumes. Yes, our former parish did have the school children dress up as saints for All Saints Day, which is totally appropriate. But your situation, its becoming a bit too secular for my taste. I would switch parishes if it isn’t too difficult to do so. But if it is too much of a burden to switch, then I would talk to the priest, or your bishop.

 

[Acta_non_verba]

Our parish had a priest who used to do this but not until Communion was finished. He would keep the dog in the sacristy and let him out right afterwards. The dog wasn’t particularly disruptive, but it just didn’t seem right. Glad I’m not alone in feeling this way. It seemed everyone else thought it was “cute”.

 

[sojo]

We attended a rare weekday noon Mass at our tiny little Church. My son was only about 10 or 11 years old, and yes, our Priest had his dog in attendance. Normally, the dog, who is enormous, just sort of hangs out, and maybe goes up to one of the 6 or so people who attend this weekday Mass. But since we were new to him, and since my son was young, the doggie did come over for pets, and like I said, he is enormous and my son was just a bit frightened, though he normally loves animals.

The Priest did give one of the regulars “the eye” and the guy came and escorted the doggie into the kitchen and closed the door. And the Priest apologized. But since this Mass is only attended by about 6-8 regulars a day, and its over in a blink of an eye, I think he wasn’t prepared. The poor guy spends most of his time of the road as his flock is spread out over many miles in a rural area, and the dog is his companion.

We’ve never seen the dog at the Sunday Mass. It actually made the weekday Mass a little bit homier to tell the truth. Probably not up to code and all, but not really worth sweating over.

The dog was less distracting than the babies and kids are – we don’t have a crying room, after all.

 

[donanobis]

I have never seen a baby or kid at the altar during the Consecration distracting the Mass attendees while scratching their fleas. Or a baby or kid allowed to roam the aisles with their parents permission. That does make me sweat.

. Probably not up to code and all, but not really worth sweating over. The dog was less distracting than the babies and kids are – we don’t have a crying room, after all.

 

[bluerose]

Perhaps pointing out to the priest that there is a probability that someone in the congregation, or even someone visiting (and not a member of the parish), might have an allergy or phobia about dogs would make him re-think this practice.

In some parts of the world, this is known as “common sense”.

 

[donanobis]

I like your idea! As the football coach always says, “The best defense is an offense.”

It is good to make another think about how his behavior is affecting others. Jesus did that with parables, didn’t he? Some got mad but not all

Perhaps pointing out to the priest that there is a probability that someone in the congregation, or even someone visiting (and not a member of the parish), might have an allergy or phobia about dogs would make him re-think this practice.

In some parts of the world, this is known as “common sense”.

 

[sojo]

No, in our case, the enormous doggie just wandered down the aisle looking for pets. He never got up on the altar.

The screaming, crying, running kids HAVE been known to get on the altar, but mostly they just cry so loudly that we can’t hear Father. And then their father or mother running around, tripping over people trying to get their kiddie - it is distracting. But we have no crying room, and kids are kids, so we all just put up with it.

A large furry creature just coming in for a head pat quietly is a lot less distracting. I realize that those who go to big churches wouldn’t understand. We don’t even have kneelers - just a bunch of folding chairs that move around and get tangled up in women’s purses and such. We are grateful to have a Priest (just one - and we share him among 4 different churches, one of which is just an outdoor area used in the summer).

But talking about kids or dogs on the altar - I had a foster kid once who got up on the altar during a Christmas Mass. She was in her angel costume, and my husband sorta combat crawled across the altar trying to drag her off. She would have none of it.

Another year, my son, with Down syndrome, was up there in his angel costume and when all the other kids exited the altar for the consecration, he latched onto Father’s robe and wouldn’t let go. So Father motioned for us to leave him alone - he was about 2 years old, I think. Father distributed Mass to about 100 people with my son in his angel wings latched firmly onto Father’s leg. Father never lost a beat.

 

[Forte]

To the dog’s credit, she was very well behaved and quiet.

Well at least the dog of all people respects the mass.

This story could only be worse if the OP had told us that the abuse had gotten even more egregious in that the dog had also been taught to hold hands during the Our Father, and possibly shake hands afterwards.

I know I’m not supposed to laugh, but I did.

But yeah you gotta talk to the priest, I don’t suggest being agressive about it because there might be a good reason why the dog is there, but you have a right to ask at the very least

 

[donanobis]

That is what I was trying to explain. Part of me craves the entertainment of a dog at the altar checking us all out during the Consecration, stretching out and scratching fleas and the other part of me is offended. I know I wasn’t supposed to laugh but did guffaw a bit at this humorous situation. But is it a good thing for one’s attention and affections for Our Lord and the Mass to be divided and distracted like this? Should I maybe lighten up a bit and not take the Mass so seriously?

I know I’m not supposed to laugh, but I did.

 

[SunnaB16]

That is what I was trying to explain. Part of me craves the entertainment of a dog at the altar…
Should I maybe lighten up a bit and not take the Mass so seriously?

NO!!!
That`s exactly what the fella down under wants you to do.
Do the exact opposite.

i reckon you should speak to the priest first; and if you get no satisfaction: leave, if you have that luxury. Try the TLM?

While you`re speaking to the priest, take off one of your shoes, and start scratching yourself with the exposed foot. Open your mouth, and show him your canines.

Seriously: it`s nothing to laugh about!

 

[donanobis]

Wouldn’t a problem such as this dog altar server and the one with the offensive wearing of halloween costumes at Mass be best addressed by the parish council? Isn’t the parish council the representative or go between the parishioners and the pastor?

 

[SunnaB16]

Wouldn’t a problem such as this dog altar server and the one with the offensive wearing of halloween costumes at Mass be best addressed by the parish council? Isn’t the parish council the representative or go between the parishioners and the pastor?

The parish council is probably stacked with individuals whod support the priest to the hilt. Most of em are probably more interested in the upcoming Bingo night, and whether the takings will pay for the ugly new “liturgical banners”. Better to go straight to “the source”; bypassing the middle men who wouldn`t pass on your concerns, anyway!

Can you find another parishioner who`s as upset as you are, to go with you? Or are you the only one with a sense of the Sacred?

 

[FCEGM]

Wouldn’t a problem such as this dog altar server and the one with the offensive wearing of halloween costumes at Mass be best addressed by the parish council? Isn’t the parish council the representative or go between the parishioners and the pastor?

No. As much as he may not want to be so, the priest is still the one given charge of the parish by the Bishop, so he is the one who must be approached about this very obvious dereliction of his priestly duty. And, as much as you may not want to speak to him, you cannot let this pass. It’s 14 days since your OP; don’t you think it’s time to do say something to him?