Help: Priest using crude language

[KathleenElsie]

Have you ever heard in the homily a priest use crude language? Is it ok to use this in the homily?

Our priest uses the word a** three times and now we have to explain to the children whey we don use that word unless it is for a donkey. By the way as for information the homily was on service to the church of time, talent and treasure.

How would you explain this to a child that has been taught not to use crude language?

 

[KathleenElsie]

Another question. Should we mention this to the priest or is it best to ignore it? I know there are many others that this shocked and that they will say something.

 

[CarrieH]

I can’t say that I have heard such language from a priest myself, at least not during a homily. I wonder, why on earth would he use the “non-donkey version” of that word in church??? Anyway, I would certainly say something, although in a tactful way, maybe telling him that although that word is commonly used today, you don’t want your children to pick up that sort of language and especially not at church, or something along those lines. Try to get others who are offended to say something as well. If enough people complain, maybe he will knock it off. If not, I’d notify the bishop.

 

[KathleenElsie]

I can’t say that I have heard such language from a priest myself, at least not during a homily. I wonder, why on earth would he use the “non-donkey version” of that word in church??? Anyway, I would certainly say something, although in a tactful way, maybe telling him that although that word is commonly used today, you don’t want your children to pick up that sort of language and especially not at church, or something along those lines. Try to get others who are offended to say something as well. If enough people complain, maybe he will knock it off. If not, I’d notify the bishop.

Thank you good advice.

 

[FrCorey]

He said ***? like in the one mary had? common language for a donkey.

 

[Beyrak]

If this was a one time thing, I wouldn’t say a word or think another thought of it.

If he uses that word a lot, I would casually say at an opportunity, I see you like to use the word a**. Is there a reason you like it so much?

But this is certainly not anything to take to a bishop. I could see that letter hitting the trash before it was finished being read.

Priests need our prayers, not us nit-picking at them.

 

[Brenda_V]

He said ***? like in the one mary had? common language for a donkey.

I gather that it was not in this context or else why would the OP say “Our priest uses the word a** three times and now we have to explain to the children why we don’t use that word unless it is for a donkey.”

I do think you need to charitably address this with your Priest. There are things a Priest does need to talk about in his homilies that sensitive little ears may need further explanation for but not as far as I can tell, this specific word!

Brenda V.

 

[CarrieH]

Priests need our prayers, not us nit-picking at them.

Agreed, but confronting someone who is supposed to be a leader and setting an example for our children, and who is using such language habitually in a setting which is supposed to be holy, hardly qualifies as “nit-picking” IMHO. If he were talking like this out in the parking lot after church or in private conversations, that would be a different matter altogether. Maybe he talks like this so much that he isn’t even aware that he is using this word at times when it is completely inappropriate, which is why I said in my earlier post to talk with him in a tactful way, and then if he persists, to consider taking it further.

Pax,
CarrieH

 

[ALLFORHIM]

Hi,

I agree with Carrie. I will go even further and say he shouldnt use this language EVER even in private conversations. I mean he is a priest who is suppose to uphold the faith–right? God does not like fowl language. You get my point.

If we want to win people to Christ we have to live holy lives. Especially a priest:thumbsup: I mean if we act like the world why would anyone care about christianity. Non-christians would think how are they any different then us.

If my minister used this language I would absolutely go to him with love, of course, and ask him to stop.

Be honest and say it was not only wrong for my children to hear but offensive to me.

Just my HO

 

[Kielbasi]

This must be a new way of preaching, and one with which I am not accustomed.

I don’t expect to hear any priest, or minister or rabbi for that matter, speak in crude language from the pulpit.

I’d complain to him.

 

[ljprevo]

Did you use the word describing what we call a donkey or was he actually using it in the vulgar sense?

See Luke 13:15

usccb.org/nab/bible/luke/luke13.htm

 

[sphilomena]

OP implied that the priest did not mean a donkey. A tactful comment is warranted. However, what is worse is priests (and plenty of others do it also) taking God’s name in vain, as in “Oh my G…!” Have they forgotten the commandments?! I guess this warrants a question posed to the priest also?

 

[ljprevo]

OP implied that the priest did not mean a donkey. A tactful comment is warranted. However, what is worse is priests (and plenty of others do it also) taking God’s name in vain, as in “Oh my G…!” Have they forgotten the commandments?! I guess this warrants a question posed to the priest also?

Re-reading the OP’s post I was a tad confused weather the priest actually used the word vulgarly or if it was used as a donkey. I assumed OP was offended, and said “now we have to explain to the children whey we don use that word unless it is for a donkey”

Like they NEVER used that word before, even for a donkey. “Oops the priest said ***** , oh boy now I have to explain THAT vulgar word is used to describe a donkey, to the kids.”

Could the OP clarify, YES the priest used the word vulgarly to erase any confusion or was it used to describe a donkey.

If it was used vulgarly, then I agree the priest had a case of bad judgement.

 

[FrCorey]

I have heard a few priests curse at the wrong time.
like at a wedding, when he is handed the rings for the blessing, and drops them on the floor and rolled away and he let loose with some very unpriestly language. big problem was it was a huge wedding and video taped, and the couple now have this tape as a loving reminder of thier beautifull wedding. poor couple.

 

[KathleenElsie]

Hi,

I agree with Carrie. I will go even further and say he shouldnt use this language EVER even in private conversations. I mean he is a priest who is suppose to uphold the faith–right? God does not like fowl language. You get my point.

If we want to win people to Christ we have to live holy lives. Especially a priest:thumbsup: I mean if we act like the world why would anyone care about christianity. Non-christians would think how are they any different then us.

If my minister used this language I would absolutely go to him with love, of course, and ask him to stop.

Be honest and say it was not only wrong for my children to hear but offensive to me.

Just my HO

Thank you. This is my thought also.

 

[KathleenElsie]

Did you use the word describing what we call a donkey or was he actually using it in the vulgar sense?

See Luke 13:15

usccb.org/nab/bible/luke/luke13.htm

Vulgar. Three times at one Mass and from what others told me twice in each of the others.

 

[KathleenElsie]

Re-reading the OP’s post I was a tad confused weather the priest actually used the word vulgarly or if it was used as a donkey. I assumed OP was offended, and said “now we have to explain to the children whey we don use that word unless it is for a donkey”

Like they NEVER used that word before, even for a donkey. “Oops the priest said ***** , oh boy now I have to explain THAT vulgar word is used to describe a donkey, to the kids.”

Could the OP clarify, YES the priest used the word vulgarly to erase any confusion or was it used to describe a donkey.

If it was used vulgarly, then I agree the priest had a case of bad judgement.

Not a donkey. But as in someone’s backside.

 

[LilyM]

THere’s a priest in a nearby parish here who also likes to get a rise out of people in lots of different ways, his use of language during the homily is just one It’s the content that I find much more troubling.

All you can do is pray, bring it to his attention (you’ll probably find others have done so before you and he just doesn’t care) - take it further up the chain if necessary.

 

[Harsalter]

Fr. Corapi on EWTN TV told the “when you assume” joke, that when one assumes you make an “a**” out of “u” and “me”. This has been replayed on EWTN many, many times.

People did not run to the doors in shock , or cover their children’s ears , but they laughed and took it in the spirit it was intended.

If a priest is cursing in his homilies using four letter words, that is one thing. But just because you disagree with the context a priest uses a word is something else.

And actually calling someone an a** is actually using the word in the correct context. He is describing their behavior as one of a jackass, which is a donkey, thus the short version a**. Let’s don’t be an a** by over reacting.

I bet the word “a**” sounds better in Latin. Everything is better in Latin.

 

[Harsalter]

Not a donkey. But as in someone’s backside.

On second thought, if he actually used the word as you described strictly describing one’s backside, as in “I need to cover my a** so I don’t get sued”, I could see speaking to him about it. But if he used it to illustrate… as in, “we act like an a** when we do so and so”, then I don’t see anything wrong at all with that context.