Apprpriate to use religious suffix by lay person

[Judith_T_Kern]

This week end, a parishoner posted a pro life message and signed it with his name and added the letters T.O M after his name. Since he belongs to a parish group called Marists, we assumed the letters denoted Third Order of Mary. (S.M.,Society of Mary, is the proper identification) Is it appropriate for a SECULAR individual to distinguish himself in this manner even though he has not been ordained nor earned a specific educational degree? I always thought this honor was reserved for men & women that have gone through specific training. Thank you!
Judith T Kern

 

[MissMichal]

I don’t think it’s inappropriate if his membership in the secular order is directly related to the message being written, but he should certainly be careful to use the correct designation! I also think one should be careful about getting a big head about the alphabet soup following one’s name–I have belonged to a few organizations where it was all about titles and there was no spiritual fruit to be had there. But I digress. I guess the answer is, unless it’s important to the message to know that the writer is a member of a secular order, the title should probably be omitted.

 

[Judith_T_Kern]

Thank you Miss Michal for your reply!

I think the words “Big Head” are very appropriate in this case. It had nothing to do with his post and is actually contradictory to the Marist organization of humility. Attention to oneself is NOT appropriate. Although his message was good,“Think twice, pro life” it should have been anonymous.

Judith T Kern

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

Thank you Miss Michal for your reply!

I think the words “Big Head” are very appropriate in this case. It had nothing to do with his post and is actually contradictory to the Marist organization of humility. Attention to oneself is NOT appropriate. Although his message was good,“Think twice, pro life” it should have been anonymous.

Judith T Kern

If a person is a full member of a secular third order they have the right to use the initials of that group unless the group does not allow this.

No one outside of the organization has the right to criticize the use of such a thing.

We have people here to identify themselves in such a way and in my orders communications, when an article is written by a member of our secular third order their name is followed by T.O.Carm.

It is also not a persons job to judge the spirituality of any group, secular third order, or first, second, or religious third order and make statements based on that judgment as to the actions of individuals who belong to such groups.

 

[Chatter163]

I think the words “Big Head” are very appropriate in this case. It had nothing to do with his post and is actually contradictory to the Marist organization of humility. Attention to oneself is NOT appropriate. Although his message was good,“Think twice, pro life” it should have been anonymous.

This is a completely subjective judgment.