Chittister video slated for retreat at my parish

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When I read in the bulletin that the speaker for the mini-retreat nextSunday was Sr. Joan Chittister, I made a note to myself to research her as the name raised a red flag for me. My fears were confirmed; I found she has been
a regular writer for The National Catholic Reporter, and is a knowndissenter, advocating for women priests.

So I emailed those in charge (not our pastor, it was his day off) even saying I was so alarmed that I would consider changing parishes if this video was endorsed. I was invited to a pre-view and prayed for wisdom and also charity in voicing my opinion.

I viewed the video and was not impressed, except in a negative way. I was asked my opinion and gave it and was considered seriously (hallelujah) . I said I would not attend the retreat if this speech by a notorious dissenter was shown and didn’t think our parish should be associated with someone who is so against our RC heirarchy. I know there are a few women in our parish who are probably excited to see this video being presented.

I later (today actually) emailed a detailed critique (which wasn’t difficult). I had found the text of the speech online. I do credit the Holy Spirit for helping me through this; I said a rosary before going to the viewing, and continue to pray for guidance. And I’d been to confession recently, too, so I’m sure that helped.

I was told it was too late to change the video, but I remembered I’d donated a video to the parish library featuring Mary Jo Anderson speaking about the dangers of CEDAW; she’s been on EWTN, an excellent speaker and writer, and orthodox.

I gave many links for suggestions for future showings, such as Kimberly or Scott Hahn. I will also give them a book I’m reading What Will Happen to God? by Wm Oddie about the influence of radical feminism over the last 25 yrs or so. It’s eye-opening.

So I guess the crisis has passed, but I haven’t heard from Fr. as yet. I’m hoping he will assert his authority and have them change the video to the one I suggested or provide another.

Those in charge did not seem to know much about Sr. Joan. I found out she is on the list of banned speakers of a neighboring diocese which is known for its faithfulness to the Magisterial teachings.

I suppose if they decide to show the video I can at least take my critique and state that I would like to see some Authentic Catholic speaker.

Any other suggestions (other than sabotaging the video tape machine)?
 
So I emailed those in charge (not our pastor, it was his day off) even saying I was so alarmed that I would consider changing parishes if this video was endorsed. I was invited to a pre-view and prayed for wisdom and also charity in voicing my opinion.
Code: 
Oops; I meant to say Monday was our pastor's day off, not Sunday like it sounds above!

I hope to hear from him soon. I will call and see if he's in tomorrow.

Mimi
 
Wow Mimi! That’s great! I think you did a great job handling this. Let us know what happens.👍
 
You should call your Bishop and let him know and also send a letter to the papal nuncio in Washington DC and to the Holy Father ! Keep up the good work and follow through!
 
Sr. Joan and her radical sisters are spoken about one of the women whose conversion/reversion is in the book Prodigal Daughters: Catholic Women Come Home to the Church by Donna Steichen.

One of the women featured in the book lived with Sr. Joan and her other radical sisters for quite a while without taking vows. She realized that many of these nuns had seriously lost their way. She talks about being chastised for trying to lead the Our Father because some of them did not want to acknowledge God as Father.

There were many other disturbing things mentioned such as godess rituals at “Catholic” seminars that made me wonder how the Vatican can continue to allow these type of women to openly oppose fundamental teachings while being supported by the church. Many of them when they state their actual beliefs would not even be considered Christian but they choose to remain inside our church instead of going off to be Wiccan or whatever they really profess.
 
Thank you for the support (so far)!

One of those in charge, our pastoral assoc. (a religious sr.), has told me that this video was approved by our pastor, the school principal and our DRE when I met with her today. Also that the DRE is a fan of Sr. Joan (no surprise there). She and the pastoral assoc. also think it’s a good idea to loosen things up with the liturgy once in a while, which was one of me and my dh’s complaints with our former pastor (giving the homily before the gospel reading, for one example). Our present pastor has impressed us with his faithfulness to the GIRM :), althought holding hands during the Lord’s Prayer is still a practice (frown).

Our PA also claims she really didn’t know Sr. Joan was such a ‘rebel’ (my word). How can one be a religious without knowing who’s who in your profession/vocation? Thanks to my reading here and being a subscriber to New Oxford Review, as well as listening to EWTN radio/TV, I am aware of the factions in the Church and those who want change where our beloved Pope JPII has said it is not possible.

I also found out the video is being shown to our RE instructors after an appreciation dinner for them. So they will be influenced as well. Our PA said she will give a preface before the video. I’d like to know what she will say…she said she did not have time to read my critique and felt threatened by my first response (which was understandably shock). I said I may have to change parishes if this kind of thing keeps being allowed. No response from Fr., but he often doesn’t get to his emails after the weekend. I should call.

I apologized for any hurt I may have caused and reiterated that I was just so shocked when I saw Chittister’s name in the bulleting announcement.

I may go to the neighboring (more orthodox) parish priest and ask if I was way off base in my critique. Here is the URL for the text of the Chittister speech.
lcwr.org/lcwrannualassembly/KeynoteChittister.htm

Anyone willing to read my critique and give me some feedback? PM me and I will send it to you.

I just want to be a faithful Catholic and do what’s right to defend our Church!

Mimi
 
I would take the letter you wrote or modify it to be more appropriate for an audience. That way you could make copies of it and pass it out before the video.

This can make a teaching moment during the video and allow everyone to critique it for errors. I would suggest this to the pastor as it would be standing up for truth and teaching the faith.
Make it a sort of worksheet to follow the video along with and point out the errors, as they come along during the video. Make sure it is charitable but faithful and straightforward.

Show this to the priest before the video or just say you will follow along and share it with everyone.

Do not do anything that would seem like you are antagonistic or angry. This is how most liberals like to portray people who stand up for the faith; rigid, intolerant, unloving, or uncaring. If you end up looking like that, you will not be listened to.

God Bless
Scylla
 
Mimi said:
Thank you for the support (so far)!

One of those in charge, our pastoral assoc. (a religious sr.), has told me that this video was approved by our pastor, the school principal and our DRE when I met with her today. Also that the DRE is a fan of Sr. Joan (no surprise there). She and the pastoral assoc. …I also found out the video is being shown to our RE instructors after an appreciation dinner for them.

I just want to be a faithful Catholic and do what’s right to defend our Church!

Mimi
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As a DRE in a diocese that veers often towards “progressive” theology… I have to say that this is a serious problem. I have read comments by Sr. Joan (in that terrible rag U.S. Catholic) and her brand of dissent is poison for our Church. Sadly, I have overheard DREs and pastoral associates endorse such views. Mimi, have you ever considered taking a job in a parish. We need more people like you in such roles as DRE, etc. Also, I would not necessarily abandon your parish… there may be more people who think as you do, and they need someone to call the parish on blunders such as this retreat.
 
Mimi, GOOD FOR YOU! We need more people like you to get the truth out.

I recently attended a spritual talk given by a nun that seemed to put a lot of her feminist views into her speech. She gave us the name of the author and book that she took much of her info from. When I got home I checked her name on this site of dissenters.
www.ourladyswarriors.org/dissent/dissorg.htm

You guessed it!!! …Chittister!! :eek:
We are not some casual or meaningless product of evolution. Each of us is the result of a thought of God. Each of us is willed, each of us is loved, each of us is necessary. Pope Benedict XVI, April 24, 2005
 
Angelic Dr.:
As a DRE in a diocese that veers often towards “progressive” theology… I have to say that this is a serious problem. I have read comments by Sr. Joan (in that terrible rag U.S. Catholic) and her brand of dissent is poison for our Church. Sadly, I have overheard DREs and pastoral associates endorse such views. Mimi, have you ever considered taking a job in a parish. We need more people like you in such roles as DRE, etc. Also, I would not necessarily abandon your parish… there may be more people who think as you do, and they need someone to call the parish on blunders such as this retreat.
Code: 
AD: Mimi, have you ever considered taking a job in a parish. 
We need more people like you in such roles as DRE, etc.

I humbly thank you for your comment and support!

Well, I guess you could say I do have a job, and a v important one which takes up a fair amount of time, or at least being there on Sunday a.m. early; I accompany at Mass. It's volunteer at this point. Our parish has never found it important enough to actually have a hired music ministry position NOR do we have a youth minister. So does that also give you a clue as to where the council thinks our money is well spent??
Not having a head paid music director causes problems (in my AND my dh's opinion - he's the choir director). Fr. leaves it to dh to decide certain things (which new mass setting to be used, things like that), but his decisions are sometimes not followed by the other musician. 

Frankly, I don't think I have the kind of personality for being a DRE, but may consider being in RCIA, or RE teacher, except I'd probably get fired for being TOO Catholic!
AD:I have to say that this is a serious problem. I have read comments by Sr. Joan

So far, I don’t think I’ve been taken too seriously. I need to make an appt with Fr. Do you think it’d be okay to meet him in the confessional about this? At least I know I’d have privacy.
Code: 
AD: Also, I would not necessarily abandon your parish... there may be more people who think as you do, and they need someone to call the parish on blunders such as this retreat

Right; but I've been wracking my brain to figure out how to find them! There are allies in my pro-life group, but we are FEW. And I can't v well call people I might think are like-minded and say, "Do you believe in following the teachings of the Magisterium and think dissent is sinful??" If you can help me think of some strategy, I'd greatly appreciate it. Our parish is fairly small, and shrinking!

Many thanks for your comments.
Peace,
Mimi
 
Mimi - you are an inspiration to me. Sister Joan is thought highly of and quoted often by many in my “progressive” parish. I’m waiting for the day she is invited to speak, and praying it will never come. When and if it does, I will follow your example.

If you have any information you can share with me in regard to your critique, I would appreciate having it. If not, I’m sure I can find a wealth of information on-line, also, as you did.

Thank you!
 
Mimi said:
So far, I don’t think I’ve been taken too seriously. I need to make an appt with Fr. Do you think it’d be okay to meet him in the confessional about this? At least I know I’d have privacy.
Code: 
Mimi
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This is not a sin or a situation that needs privacy… it should be confronted in the open. Your priest must see and acknowledge your legitimate concerns publically for all to see.

The future direction of your parish will be affected by what he does today.

.
 
Elzee said:
Mimi - you are an inspiration to me. Sister Joan is thought highly of and quoted often by many in my “progressive” parish. I’m waiting for the day she is invited to speak, and praying it will never come. When and if it does, I will follow your example.

If you have any information you can share with me in regard to your critique, I would appreciate having it. If not, I’m sure I can find a wealth of information on-line, also, as you did.

Thank you!
Click to expand...
Code: 
Elzee,
Thank you for your support! Please pray for wisdom and that I can proceed in a charitable manner. I am reminded by what I hear on EWTN radio that it is not charitable to allow people to do things that are blatantly against the Church.

I will send you an email with my critique as well as the URL for the text of the speech (which you should also read, of course).

Peace,
Mimi
 
I am curious, what omissions were there from the speech.

Did they matter or am I curious for nothing?

God Bless
Scylla
 
scylla said:
I am curious, what omissions were there from the speech.

Did they matter or am I curious for nothing?

God Bless
Scylla
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It was no biggie; just a little story about some kind of mtg Sr. Chittister had with a cleric; I remember he was a monsignor, but not positive on that. ANyway, in telling the story she kept referring back to him as The Old Man and not Fr. so-and-so.

And after being introduced by the host, she says “I like to my my own introduction.” Sheesh; how about just a prayer. Don’t you think that’s an indication of self-centeredness?

Peace,
Mimi
 
MrS said:
This is not a sin or a situation that needs privacy… it should be confronted in the open. Your priest must see and acknowledge your legitimate concerns publically for all to see.

The future direction of your parish will be affected by what he does today.

.
Click to expand...
Thank you, Mrs. S!
I had opportunity to call ETWN’s Open Line show with Colin Donovan today! He advised me to go and state my concerns with having a known dissenter speak to a group of RE teachers. And he said that to just filter out the good stuff was “silly” advice. That’s not our faith, that’s Protestantism. He also said Sr. JC has been told by the Pope to “cease and desist” and she just goes on and on spreading discontent and distrust in the Church. But she still says she’s Catholic. Sigh.

Guess it’s time to put my signature to use! I’m not normally the confrontational type, though.

Best,
Mimi
 
Mr. S, I like your signature, and it has been proven to me many times. It seems like all the reading and listening to apologetics on the radio over the past few yrs have really paid off in this incident.

I also noticed this was a recent thread:
biblechristiansociety.com/2min_apologetics.php?id=5

Q: As Catholics, do we have to accept everything the Church teaches?

I’d like to send that to a few in our parish, starting with our DRE! (But she rarely responds to emails.)

I’d like to give you all an update: (lengthy)

Well, the retreat wasn’t as hard as I thought it might be. I knew I had the Church on my side. There weren’t any shouting matches and there was time for discussion which was something I’d hoped for. There were about 30 women present, a good turnout for our parish. I happened to be the youngest one there, and I’m 51! Too bad, as I think some of the younger ones could have learned a lot.

After the viewing, we were all asked to write down 3 things that stood out to us. And any feelings we might have. It’s a women’s retreat, guess we have to address feelings. I stated my feelings weren’t important. The sheets were not turned in.

Seated at my table (of 8) were two older women who I knew were fairly liberal; support Call to Action, read the Nat’l Catholic Reporter. One is on the local (and also maybe the state) Council of Catholic Women. Well, I knew they weren’t going to like what I had to say. I did not get up in front of the whole group and say, “This speaker is a Dissenter and hates the Pope!” I passed a note to the lady to my R (who I was fairly sure was an ally-known her for a long time) that Sr. JC is a dissenter and is for women priests and she was surprised. I sure wish Fr. had stopped in for some of it.

So, at least I know better that there really is a push for this kind of stuff to be pushed on to us laity and we have to generate more awareness. I got to mention Sr. JC is on banned speaker’s lists, and one lady challenged me (the one who’s in CCW), and wanted to know who banned her; the bishop? I said I’d been told (by a local priest I trust) the Pope has told her to stop and she hasn’t and that’s good enough for me. A younger woman who has kids in our school was going to come but she got called away; her MIL was seriously ill. But she got to let the school principal know about SR JC’s reputation and agenda that morning, and he didn’t like it. I also found out that there had been no approval of any kind, just notice at a staff mtg that a video was going to be shown for a women’s mini-retreat, and the staff (including our priest) said Okay. There was no pre-viewing or background check on the speaker, etc.

Fr. did finally email me back. I went to talk with him after Sat night Mass. He likes us parishioners to sort things out mostly and says discussion of differing opinions is good; doesn’t like controversy, but neither does our PA. I feel I can’t really trust him to protect us from the erosion of dissent. But when both your DRE’s as well as your PA may be working against you, it can make things tough (for him).

So I’ll hold off contacting the Bishop. It seems to me some people were just blindsided.
I may have to form a sort of watchdog group, maybe Catholic Defenders Club or some sort; there could be a youth club, too. I know sometimes kids get picked on for being “too religious”. (CIA - Catholics Investigating Apologetcs?)

I also suggested a talk or presentation on Catholic women throughout history; printed out an article on Hildegard of Bingen (who herself battled heresy). And our PA was familiar with her.

Another lady I’d met just 2 wks before, S., was there and we chatted a bit after. Turns out she’s a convert from Pentecostalism and she’s interested in apologetics, too! So maybe I have my first club member.

Thank you so much for all the prayers; I’m sure they really helped!!

God bless,
Mimi
 
Mimi said:
Thank you, Mrs. S!

Best,
Mimi
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OOOOPsie! Sorry 'bout that. Guess I’m trying to type too fast, or getting a little dyslexic in my middle age. I’ll try to be more careful.

Thank you for your sense of humor.

Mimi
 
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