Will those of you that have harshly critized Episcopal Priest Father Seamus also now critize Roman Catholic Priest Father Edward Hays??
No, and here’s why.
Fr. Hays (retired) has written numerous books of poetry and parable. In their own context there is nothing wrong with what he has written. He is not proposing doctrine. He is not teaching doctrine. He is writing poetry. It may not be your style, but it is a creative work, not a doctrinal one. It doesn’t seem that any of his works have ever been presented or promulgated as anything other than what they are: fiction, parables, poetry.
You may or may not *agree *with the way he expresses himself-- I personally think it’s rather wonky-- but it’s not represented as doctrinal so I don’t have a problem with it. He’s basically saying, in that psalm, that all the people who sought to worship God but knew him implicitly rather than explicitly (i.e., Mayans and Buddhists, etc) did so in an authentic yearning for union with God. I might have chosen to express that differently (perhaps as JPII did).
The Episcopal priest took a personal work of devotion, poetry, and turned it into a public liturgy at his parish. That is a very different matter as the Mass-- or the liturgy in the EC-- has a particular purpose. Choosing this particular psalm in the context of the public liturgy can erroneously promote indifferentism. It can confuse those who are not properly catechized. It can give scandal.
There are many reasons that it is wrong for the EC priest to have chosen to do this in the public worship of his parish, not the least of which the EC has an approved liturgy through the Book of Common Prayer and this is not it.
What should the Roman Catholic Church do to Father Edward Hays??
He’s retired, and I wouldn’t expect the Church to “do” anything “to” Fr. Hays.
The Church does not forbid people from writing personal devotions, poetry, fiction, parables, etc.
The Church may advise/caution people from reading certain works. Perhaps if these come to the attention of the Vatican they might issue a statement. However, the Church cannot police every work that comes out, that is why the list of forbidden books has gone by the wayside. It’s not practical or possible for the Vatican to pronounce on every work everyone writes in this day and age. The Church does involve itself in works that teach doctrine. Even that is still a problematic process given the sheer volume of works out there.
David is very good at exposing the insanity that goes on that TEC folks don’t like spread-about. Episcopalians don’t like hearing about lesbian lovers adopting kids and having them baptized, buddhists becoming bishops, priestesses saying that abortion is a “blessing” or Krishna-worship or all the Spong-like embarrassments. David Virtue tries to keep 'em honest about their cheapshot lawsuits and other stuff.
