Church with movie screens near alter?

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I’ve attended a church with a movie screen in back wall above alter which I felt was very intrusive and also the musical group was on the alter. This seemed inappropriate.

Recently a church near me put up two white screens on both sides so that songs could be posted. It seems ok as they are smaller screens and the children can now read the songs. I called the bishop office and they seem to think it is OK. The musical group is on the left side near right near alter. Is this OK?
 
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gam197:
I’ve attended a church with a movie screen in back wall above alter which I felt was very intrusive and also the musical group was on the alter. This seemed inappropriate.

Recently a church near me put up two white screens on both sides so that songs could be posted. It seems ok as they are smaller screens and the children can now read the songs. I called the bishop office and they seem to think it is OK. The musical group is on the left side near right near alter. Is this OK?
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The GIRM satates that the altar area (sanctuary) must be at least, visually separate from the rest of the congregation (it also used to be physically separated by 3 steps and an altar rail!)
They are supposed to be physically a part of the congregation (the faithful - NOT the ordained)
So,
If they are not, it is not ok.

usccb.org/liturgy/current/chapter5.shtml#sect2

#295 tells where the sanctuary is and what it contains

#311 and 312, 313 (“for the faithful” which obviously includes the choir and instruments) tells where EVERYTHING/EVERYBODY ELSE/ must be

FIRST - take photos during mass (try to use a camera without a flash and try to be discrete) - this is a fact finding mission and should probably not be the mass you attend for Sunday obligation.) Copy the applicable parts of the GIRM, write a letter to the pastor. and request that he follow the GIRM. CC all priests and parish council members (get that info from the parish secretary) Request a response within 10 days. If no response (or negative response) then send a copy of the letter and GIRM to the Bishop and the Liturgy office (office of worship) and to the Canon lawyer of the diocese requesting a response within 14 days.(cc to the Sacred Congregation - fax it to them)
Don’t do this on the phone, do it all in writing.

If you get nothing, or no action is taken, call St. Joseph Foundation in Texas, or find a Canon lawyer (search online for one in your area NOT attached to any diocese that is a problem diocese) to present this information to the Sacred Congregation Divine Liturgy and Discipline of the Sacraments
catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dxdws.html
(addresses and names and fax #'s)

God bless,
KEEP THE FAITH!!
Angel
 
The use of screens to project words is an encroachment from the “praise” version of some Protestant worship where they somehow don’t think that hymnals or written orders of worship in bulletins are enough. Although it is a relatively minor consideration in comparison the the hideousness of the abuse, the practic is an insult to people like myself who are trained musicians and can read both words and music from any source when the projections offer the words only and leave it to the presumably poor ability of the average person to just “figure out” the music.

Projections have no place in Catholic worhsip, period.
 
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gam197:
I’ve attended a church with a movie screen in back wall above alter which I felt was very intrusive and also the musical group was on the alter. This seemed inappropriate.

Recently a church near me put up two white screens on both sides so that songs could be posted. It seems ok as they are smaller screens and the children can now read the songs. I called the bishop office and they seem to think it is OK. The musical group is on the left side near right near alter. Is this OK?
Click to expand...
Ha ha ha… you went to that parish I went to when we went to Disneyworld in Florida!

Ken
 
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gam197:
Recently a church near me put up two white screens on both sides so that songs could be posted. It seems ok as they are smaller screens and the children can now read the songs. I called the bishop office and they seem to think it is OK. The musical group is on the left side near right near alter. Is this OK?
Click to expand...
Obviously the same “church” I stumbled into on Christmas Eve that I left in tears!
 
I was not in Florida so apparently there are a number of these churches. They don’t seem like a bad idea in that the children from age 7 to adult can read the words. The children do participate more.

I have seen the children;s mass where the children particpate at homily time. In another church near me all the children quietly leave before the readings to go downstairs for instruction and then return after the homily. Maybe these are better ideas then the hung movie screens as the screens are intrusive. Any suggestions on how to make the children more involved in the mass?

I will take pictures and make a complaint and mention music but I am not hopeful as the bishop’s office knows what is going on. The pastor is older now, has served faithfully, (He has been correctled on other things that he also tried to push on the parishioners…) so I hope the bishop’s office is just trying to get by until he retires and then it will correct it.
 
Thanks for your responses.I hope no one is offended as I just receive the post from the moderator, and apparently it is not ok to ask. I did not mind anyone asking if it was a particular state as I could see there could be a problem if many people took pictures at the same church. Hope this is OK to say.
 
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gam197:
I’ve attended a church with a movie screen in back wall above alter which I felt was very intrusive and also the musical group was on the alter. This seemed inappropriate.

Recently a church near me put up two white screens on both sides so that songs could be posted. It seems ok as they are smaller screens and the children can now read the songs. I called the bishop office and they seem to think it is OK. The musical group is on the left side near right near alter. Is this OK?
Click to expand...
Just to get this thread back on track, the movie screens are a GREAT idea! That way the whole congregation, i mean audience, can see the liturgical dancers! 🙂
 
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MulusChristi:
Just to get this thread back on track, the movie screens are a GREAT idea! That way the whole congregation, i mean audience, can see the liturgical dancers! 🙂
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I know a plot of concrete land where they could set up a new church and they’d already have a really big screen, along with a concession stand instead of a collection- oh wait. That’s an unused drive-in movie!😉
 
originally posted by Angels Watchin
The GIRM satates that the altar area (sanctuary) must be at least, visually separate from the rest of the congregation (it also used to be physically separated by 3 steps and an altar rail!)
They are supposed to be physically a part of the congregation (the faithful - NOT the ordained
Click to expand...
The movie screens are to the far right and left wall area about 20+ ffeet from altar so does this make it OK.? They just appear closer because they are bigger than I originally thought.

How about a nine person musical group with grand piano?
 
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gam197:
originally posted by Angels Watchin

The movie screens are to the far right and left wall area about 20+ ffeet from altar so does this make it OK.? They just appear closer because they are bigger than I originally thought.

How about a nine person musical group with grand piano?
Click to expand...
That part of the GIRM is speaking of the “musical group” you asked about being on or near the altar.

Angel
 
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