End-of-pew blockers

[Faithdancer]

I wish I had you sitting behind me and my kids at Mass. That would make things so much easier.

Actually, encouraging children to make more noise at Mass is not appropriate.

 

[Faithdancer]

And children laughing out loud in church is a problem? I’m so sorry! I’d rather hear a toddler laugh out loud than just about anything! It is a joyous sound! “Let the little ones come to me,” said Jesus!

There is a huge difference between children laughing out loud when it is appropriate, and children laughing out loud when it is not appropriate. It is not appropriate in Mass.

 

[RyanBlack]

No excuses to be chronically late.

I find this sort of blanket judgment to be problematic. Literally no excuses to be chronically late? Generally, I’m of the mind that people who are chronically late don’t make being on time a priority, or simply don’t care. However, it may not always be that simple. I know that for me personally, I’m almost never late for work–in fact, I generally arrive about 45 minutes earlier than what is required. When the alarm goes off, I’m up. On the other hand, my wife has a health issue that causes her to feel very tired, sometimes even exhausted, almost all of the time. So for us, to say that we should just get up half an hour earlier so that we can arrive half and hour earlier is not really quite as straightforward as it sounds. So is it really the case that there are no excuses for being chronically late?

 

[RyanBlack]

Gee, I don’t know. When you’re acting in persona Christie and about to do the most important aspect of your vocation, and you can’t hear yourself pronounce the words the make Jesus present on the Altar, it’s kinda a big deal, and little Johnny and Mary-Sue crying, screaming, and kicking the kneeler down would be a tad distracting. On the other hand, sitting in the pew isn’t really that big of a deal.

If sitting in the pew isn’t really that big of a deal, then if the priest is not bothered by noisy children (and in my experience, it’s almost never the priests who are making such a fuss over this), there’s no reason for the people, who after all, are only sitting the pew, to make big deal out of it.

 

[RyanBlack]

There is a huge difference between children laughing out loud when it is appropriate, and children laughing out loud when it is not appropriate. It is not appropriate in Mass.

Toddlers generally lack the capacity to understand this distinction.

 

[Jala]

That’s not an appropriate seating arrangement for a Catholic Church. We’re supposed to be facing the East towards the resurrection and coming of Jesus. That’s why we’re called “Easter People” because we face east. Churches that do the closed in happy clappy circle thing make me mad.

Dear Deo Gratias–

The thought of you harboring such strong emotions for a church you never have and never will attend makes me sad.

Jala

 

[Faithdancer]

Toddlers generally lack the capacity to understand this distinction.

And parents have the obligation to control the public behavior of their children and to teach proper etiquette in church.

 

[Stylites]

Maybe the ushers ought to conduct the arrivals up to the most-forward seats available, filling up one pew at a time, like in a West German movie theater.

 

[Faithdancer]

I find this sort of blanket judgment to be problematic. Literally no excuses to be chronically late? Generally, I’m of the mind that people who are chronically late don’t make being on time a priority, or simply don’t care. However, it may not always be that simple. I know that for me personally, I’m almost never late for work–in fact, I generally arrive about 45 minutes earlier than what is required. When the alarm goes off, I’m up. On the other hand, my wife has a health issue that causes her to feel very tired, sometimes even exhausted, almost all of the time. So for us, to say that we should just get up half an hour earlier so that we can arrive half and hour earlier is not really quite as straightforward as it sounds. So is it really the case that there are no excuses for being chronically late?

The key term is “chronically late,” meaning “usually late” or “habitually late.” Being late occasionally due to unforeseen circumstances or an occasional personal lapse is one thing. How could there be any excuse for being chronically late?

 

[LucyLight]

I find this sort of blanket judgment to be problematic. Literally no excuses to be chronically late? Generally, I’m of the mind that people who are chronically late don’t make being on time a priority, or simply don’t care. However, it may not always be that simple. I know that for me personally, I’m almost never late for work–in fact, I generally arrive about 45 minutes earlier than what is required. When the alarm goes off, I’m up. On the other hand, my wife has a health issue that causes her to feel very tired, sometimes even exhausted, almost all of the time. So for us, to say that we should just get up half an hour earlier so that we can arrive half and hour earlier is not really quite as straightforward as it sounds. So is it really the case that there are no excuses for being chronically late?

There is a hypocrisy on this thread that is really starting to bother me. I don’t know what people’s ages are on this thread, but I think we are dealing with a few know-it-all teenagers. It’s pretty disrespectful for a young person to start lecturing parents on how their children should be more repsectful and how to be on time to church. All the while showing no respect for parents, who are their elders.

 

[RyanBlack]

And parents have the obligation to control the public behavior of their children and to teach proper etiquette in church.

I don’t disagree that parents have the obligation to teach proper etiquette in church. However, there is an age before which social etiquette is entirely meaningless to a child. Surely you understand that. As for the part about parents having the obligation to control the public behavior of their children, I agee with that to an extent. Sometimes, all parents can do is react to behaviors. My son either does not yet understand that he is not supposed to do things like talk, laugh, and run around in the church, or lacks the impulse control to stop himself. My wife and I do react to all of these behaviors and attempt to minimize the extent to which they distract others during Divine Liturgy. However, aside from resorting to harsh punishments that we do not believe to be warranted, I don’t really see how we can control his behavior in the sense of entirely preventing things like talking, laughing, and moving around, which are perfectly normal for a toddler who lacks the ability to remain perfectly quiet and remain in the same place for a 75-90 minute Divine Liturgy.

 

[maryjk]

I find this sort of blanket judgment to be problematic. Literally no excuses to be chronically late? Generally, I’m of the mind that people who are chronically late don’t make being on time a priority, or simply don’t care. However, it may not always be that simple. I know that for me personally, I’m almost never late for work–in fact, I generally arrive about 45 minutes earlier than what is required. When the alarm goes off, I’m up. On the other hand, my wife has a health issue that causes her to feel very tired, sometimes even exhausted, almost all of the time. So for us, to say that we should just get up half an hour earlier so that we can arrive half and hour earlier is not really quite as straightforward as it sounds. So is it really the case that there are no excuses for being chronically late?

I know how your wife feels. I have lupus. It makes me very tired, most days. In fact, most days I nap for 2 hours. Yes, every day.

Now, I am sure there are other issues that people have that are worse than mine. But I always make it Mass on time. And I get there early enough to get an aisle seat. I make it to work on time as well. But I plan ahead. If I am attending Saturday evening Mass, I make sure my nap is early. If I attend on Sunday, I make sure I go to bed early. Just like with small children, for me, it takes planning.

Now, as I said, I am sure there are people that simply can’t make it on time. That have bigger issues than I have. But really, aren’t they a small minority?

 

[RyanBlack]

The key term is “chronically late,” meaning “usually late” or “habitually late.” Being late occasionally due to unforeseen circumstances or an occasional personal lapse is one thing. How could there be any excuse for being chronically late?

I understand perfectly the meaning of the word “chonically” and do not need to have it explained to me. Can you really not see that there are some people, who for reasons related to illnesses or chronic conditions have an excuse for why they are frequently either late or just on time? I gave the example of my wife. She has an illness that frequently makes it difficult for her to muster up the energy just to get out of bed, get herself cleaned up, and dressed. So she has no excuse?

 

[RyanBlack]

I know how your wife feels. I have lupus. It makes me very tired, most days. In fact, most days I nap for 2 hours. Yes, every day.

Now, I am sure there are other issues that people have that are worse than mine. But I always make it Mass on time. And I get there early enough to get an aisle seat. I make it to work on time as well. But I plan ahead. If I am attending Saturday evening Mass, I make sure my nap is early. If I attend on Sunday, I make sure I go to bed early. Just like with small children, for me, it takes planning.

Now, as I said, I am sure there are people that simply can’t make it on time. That have bigger issues than I have. But really, aren’t they a small minority?

They probably are a small minority, and I’ve not said otherwise. However, since I do not know who is and who is not in the position of having legitimate reasons for frequently being unable to arrive on change, I think it best not to judge any particular person as simply being lazy, irresponsible, careless in their planning, or simply not caring.

 

[theistgal]

This whole thread makes me grateful I’m a cantor and get to sit upstairs in the choir loft.

FWIW, though, when I’m downstairs, I am definitely one of those annoying people who plants herself at the end of a pew and refuses to move. Why? I’ll tell you why: I’m older and I may need to make a quick break for the bathroom from time to time, that’s why.

Aren’t you glad you asked?

 

[Seeker1961]

Your neighbor and your cousin are not everyone else. Whether or not you are aware of it, there are some families, that because of the needs of the children, do need special consideration. If you re-read my post, you will see that it was the children, not the parents, that I said need special consideration. Furthermore, how do you, in any particular situation involving a family with young children that asks for some sort of special consideration that there is no need, that it’s only desire? You don’t. You’re making a judgment.

If those families are that rare in not demanding the world bend to their “special needs” it is truly a shame.

And you are making a judgment about me, it’s the Internet. That’s why there are Internet forums so we can all make judgements and share them with the universe.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

There is a huge difference between children laughing out loud when it is appropriate, and children laughing out loud when it is not appropriate. It is not appropriate in Mass.

Whatever. Why don’t you bring some duct tape for your next Mass.

People who are so darn sanctimonious make me retch.



But, I guess we can add this to the list of inflammatory topics on CAF

Spanking
Modest dress by women in church
Attachment parenting
Co-sleeping
Hand-holding during the Our Father
COTH or COTT
SSPX

 

[zab]

This whole thread makes me grateful I’m a cantor and get to sit upstairs in the choir loft.

FWIW, though, when I’m downstairs, I am definitely one of those annoying people who plants herself at the end of a pew and refuses to move. Why? I’ll tell you why: I’m older and I may need to make a quick break for the bathroom from time to time, that’s why.

Aren’t you glad you asked?

Well, Depends

 

[Allegra]

You know what? I like to sit on the end. I got up on time and got to church and that’s the spot I picked. You want to sit in the pew, I’m happy to let you in. You need to get up during Mass, I’ll be happy to let you out. I don’t need a doctor’s note. I don’t have an anxiety disorder. I’m not an OBGYN with patients in labor. I just like the end. If you don’t think I’m worthy to sit on the end in my barren state, then tough turnips tootsie. It’s a free country and I got there first.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

Well, Depends

:clapping::bowdown: