P
puzzleannie
Guest
I certainly cannot say what any individual should do in any given case, but I can tell a little of the story of our neighboring parish, easily the worst, most dissident in the diocese, home to a Call to Action cell, YM who organizes confirmation classes to picket ordinations with signs calling for women priests, active harrassment of orthodox parishioners in various ministries. The problem started with a pastor who was too easy going and allowed a certain group with an exceedingly liberal political agenda to take control of all the paying jobs, and through them most of the ministries, espectially catechetics. Their Mass was full of the more common abuses, too boring and too long a list for here. They don’t have CCD, they have an "intergenerational program’ which basically means families get together once of month to sing songs, play games, do goofy crafts and feel good without having to confront doctrine.
This priest also happened to be strongly involved in certain very laudable social justice activities, and may have let this interfere with his oversight of his own parish. He was replaced by another more conservative priest from Mexico. This man was harassed and tormented unbelievably from the first hour he took residence, and begged the bishop to remove him. The dissidents actually sued the bishop in a local court.
Through it all certain loyal Catholics in the congregation who had been members since the parish was founded about 25 years ago remained strong, continued to kneel during the consecration and Eucharistic prayer (even when forbidden from the pulpit), to speak up at small group meetings, to form a chapter of CUF, to remain as catechists teaching the truth, to speak up knowledgebly about enforcing RS and the GIRM (having done their homework through diocesan training), and most importantly, had an active ministry of love for the dissident leadership, which they vocalized at every opportunity.
Last year this parish got a new pastor, things are settling down. Some of the old guard, disgruntled at his restoration of order and propriety have left. He has been bolstered by the support of the loyal Catholics who stood firm during all their time of trial. This group has also been counselled by a wise priest during this time not to publicly oppose the old pastor, the proper way to register protests and to report abuses to the bishop, in other words, how to go thru channels. Because of this, the bishop had the ammunition he needed to take action. Without them, he would have had no evidence of the abuses. the loyal group also refuses to allow themselves to be used by others who have competing agendas, and have made their hallmark obedience to the pastor, speaking out in love when abuses occur or teaching is wrong, and meeting regularly to pray for the parish, and for the dissidents, for the conversion of their hearts and minds.
Incredibly, I spoke recently with one of the women who had been most outspoken and dangerous in the old regime, and she has been befriended by one of those loyal parishioners, has started attending their prayer groups, and has asked me for some reading and direction in more orthodox theology and materials, with a view to restoring a proper Confirmation program. She told me she has learned humility, and is beginning a spiritual journey of her own, and happily I have been able to direct her to persons who can assist her. She is very influential among the catechists so all of this may lead to a good outcome, with God’s mercy and blessing.
This priest also happened to be strongly involved in certain very laudable social justice activities, and may have let this interfere with his oversight of his own parish. He was replaced by another more conservative priest from Mexico. This man was harassed and tormented unbelievably from the first hour he took residence, and begged the bishop to remove him. The dissidents actually sued the bishop in a local court.
Through it all certain loyal Catholics in the congregation who had been members since the parish was founded about 25 years ago remained strong, continued to kneel during the consecration and Eucharistic prayer (even when forbidden from the pulpit), to speak up at small group meetings, to form a chapter of CUF, to remain as catechists teaching the truth, to speak up knowledgebly about enforcing RS and the GIRM (having done their homework through diocesan training), and most importantly, had an active ministry of love for the dissident leadership, which they vocalized at every opportunity.
Last year this parish got a new pastor, things are settling down. Some of the old guard, disgruntled at his restoration of order and propriety have left. He has been bolstered by the support of the loyal Catholics who stood firm during all their time of trial. This group has also been counselled by a wise priest during this time not to publicly oppose the old pastor, the proper way to register protests and to report abuses to the bishop, in other words, how to go thru channels. Because of this, the bishop had the ammunition he needed to take action. Without them, he would have had no evidence of the abuses. the loyal group also refuses to allow themselves to be used by others who have competing agendas, and have made their hallmark obedience to the pastor, speaking out in love when abuses occur or teaching is wrong, and meeting regularly to pray for the parish, and for the dissidents, for the conversion of their hearts and minds.
Incredibly, I spoke recently with one of the women who had been most outspoken and dangerous in the old regime, and she has been befriended by one of those loyal parishioners, has started attending their prayer groups, and has asked me for some reading and direction in more orthodox theology and materials, with a view to restoring a proper Confirmation program. She told me she has learned humility, and is beginning a spiritual journey of her own, and happily I have been able to direct her to persons who can assist her. She is very influential among the catechists so all of this may lead to a good outcome, with God’s mercy and blessing.
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“Come out of her, my people, that you may not participate in her sins and that you may not receive of her plagues; for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.” —Revelation 18:4-5.