Confrontation with Parishioner

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Sharon

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Recently, our Roman Catholic priest noticed a Catholic missal was used to prop up a Christmas tree in church. This was done by a parishioner who set up the Nativity scene. That person did this work out of the kindness of his/her heart, in this busy parish. Our priest, who is the finest man, the kindest priest ever, thinks this is blasphemy . (using a Catholic missal to prop up a Christmas tree) I think it is the work of a parishioner who is ignorant of appropriate behavior. The parishioner, whoever he/she is, was thoughtless, careless, ignorant and probably rushed to get the Nativity scene scene up in church. He/she was not being blasphemous, only ignorant. The priest wants to confront the parishioner and make a big deal out of it. I feel so badly for everyone involved. I would never do that but I can see someone, being careless and rushed, doing it, if they didn’t know better. Who is right?
 
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Sharon said:
The priest wants to confront the parishioner and make a big deal out of it. I feel so badly for everyone involved. I would never do that but I can see someone, being careless and rushed, doing it, if they didn’t know better. Who is right?
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I think the person should be educated on what is appropriate but it doesn’t need to be made a big deal out of. I’m assuming that this is the first time that the person has done something like this. If the priest has had to speak to the person about it before then making a big deal is very appropriate.
 
Thank you so much for your reply. But do you think it rises to the level of blasphemous? When there is no ill intent involved?
 
IMHO, without intent there is no blasphemy. I think the priest needs to take a breath and relax. Then have a calm conversation explaining why it was wrong, not a confrontation hurling the accusation of blasphemy.
 
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Sharon said:
involved. I would never do that but I can see someone, being careless and rushed, doing it, if they didn’t know better. Who is right?
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The priest is wrong. if he makes a big deal of this. The parishioner in question will apologize and back away, and learn to keep his distance from the priest. But that’s not what you need in a church, you need people to volunteer their time.
 
First, why are there Christmas trees/Nativities set up during Advent?

Second, we are talking about the missalettes that are in the pews? The same books that get tossed in the garbage at the end of their season?
 
TheLittleLady said:
Second, we are talking about the missalettes that are in the pews? The same books that get tossed in the garbage at the end of their season?
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My thoughts, too. Someone is going to have to educate me as to why using a missal would be blasphemous and careless.
 
I’m in the same boat. I can understand being a little miffed if the missal is expensive and is being damaged, but if not, what’s the problem?
 
I guess I have a question, and this comes from someone who likely has been around as long if not a whole lot longer than the priest: were the missals officially blessed before being distributed to the pews? And if they were, was the parish informed?

If they are not blessed (and in 72 years, I have never heard of them being blessed) then there was perhaps a minor mistake. Blasphemy? That is so over the top I don’t even know where to begin.

Could the parishioner have used something else? Likely, there was nothing.

Of a list of things the priest could have a nuclear meltdown over, from top to bottom, this one is down somewhere in the mud. Not only not blasphemous, but I would say not wrong - maybe not the best choice, but there was most certainly no harm intended to the missal, to the priest, to the congregation, or to the Holy Family.
 
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Missal​

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Missalette​

Sharon said:
Our priest, who is the finest man, the kindest priest ever, thinks this is blasphemy
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His opinion doesn’t make something blasphemous.
Sharon said:
The parishioner, whoever he/she is, was thoughtless, careless, ignorant
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No, they just reached for a book.
Sharon said:
The priest wants to confront the parishioner and make a big deal out of it.
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Well, He’ll soon get to enjoy erecting Christmas Trees by himself. Then, when nobody wants to volunteer, he’ll probably Chastise the Congregation. At least that’s what my Priest did 😅
 
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I don’t remember being taught how to treat the missals during my first communion or confirmation classes. I honestly thought they were just like a tool for accessing the mass.
 
It’s a prayer book. A missal! It’s not the Bible. It’s not blessed. It’s overkill here. Let it go!
The priest can find another prop & change it. He can say, casually,” I found a brick to replace the missal holding the Crèche up. It was a cleaver, short term fix”. OR DONT SAY ANYTHING.
Rejoice in the loving help. Never criticize the help, unless drunk or using a Bible for a prop.
I’m thinking.
God bless
Merry Christmas
 
Sharon said:
That person did this work out of the kindness of his/her heart, in this busy parish. Our priest, who is the finest man, the kindest priest ever, thinks this is blasphemy . (using a Catholic missal to prop up a Christmas tree) I think it is the work of a parishioner who is ignorant of appropriate behavior.
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yes i agree, with the priest ,the parishioner should be corrected in private. in Revelation 19:13 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called The Word of God. as the Missal contains the Word of God

http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s2c1a2.htm
I. THE NAME OF THE LORD IS HOLY**

2142 The second commandment prescribes respect for the Lord’s name . Like the first commandment, it belongs to the virtue of religion and more particularly it governs our use of speech in sacred matters.

**[2143]
Among all the words of Revelation, there is one which is unique: the revealed name of God. God confides his name to those who believe in him; he reveals himself to them in his personal mystery. The gift of a name belongs to the order of trust and intimacy. “The Lord’s name is holy.” For this reason man must not abuse it. He must keep it in mind in silent, loving adoration. He will not introduce it into his own speech except to bless, praise, and glorify it.74

**[2148]
Blasphemy is directly opposed to the second commandment. It consists in uttering against God - inwardly or outwardly - words of hatred, reproach, or defiance; in speaking ill of God; in failing in respect toward him in one’s speech; in misusing God’s name. St. James condemns those "who blaspheme that honorable name [of Jesus] by which you are called."78 The prohibition of blasphemy extends to language against Christ’s Church, the saints, and sacred things. It is also blasphemous to make use of God’s name to cover up criminal practices, to reduce peoples to servitude, to torture persons or put them to death. The misuse of God’s name to commit a crime can provoke others to repudiate religion.

Blasphemy is contrary to the respect due God and his holy name. It is in itself a grave sin.79

Romans 13:1-5 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities; for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists authority resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you wish to have no fear of the authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive its approval; 4 for it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do what is wrong, you should be afraid, for the authority does not bear the sword in vain! It is the servant of God to execute wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be subject, not only because of wrath but also because of conscience.
 
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1 Peter 2:13-17 13 For the Lord’s sake accept the authority of every human institution,whether of the emperor as supreme, 14 or of governors, as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing right you should silence the ignorance of the foolish. 16 As servants of God, live as free people, yet do not use your freedom as a pretext for evil. 17 Honor everyone. Love the family of believers. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
 
Dear Francis:
I have absolutely no idea what that scripture means but thank you for answering my post. When people speak in scripture , they assume everyone knows what they are talking about. Please don’t quote scripture-just advise in plain english-thank you. Sharon
 
Thank you for clarifying that for me. I agree. I just thought maybe I was wrong and there was something sacred about the missal that I didn’t know. Sharon
 
I think the priest is focusing on the wrong things. Doesn’t necessarily make him right or wrong. His reaction is a good way to discourage parishoners from taking an active role in their parish. Maybe this is what he is hoping for?

I don’t think there is much you can do about the situation, other than to say a prayer. If the priest corrects the parishoner publicly, you should defend the parishoner publicly. Hopefully it doesn’t come to that.
 
The missal is an object of worship. It contains icons of saints, God, their names and holy invocations. To treat them as props is offensive. The priest probably was shocked they get this little attention and the natural attitude of the parishioner of using them as if they were any piece of paper.
Plus you said the priest is the nicest. If the nicest priest felt anger at the missal being used this way then maybe it was justified.
The thing is, this is not about the priest’s person versus the parishioner. This is about whether God was disrespected or belittled. Whatever the person involved has to say to counteract the priest’s correction it will happen between them two.
 
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