Help with Issue at Mass

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frankzfournier

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I recently moved to Tokyo, Japan. I came across a priest who had an entire Homily on why non-Christians are “unwelcome” in mass, the communion line, and if in attendance must leave before communion. I was pretty unaccustomed to this type of thinking and confronted him afterwards in which he was even more volatile with me.

I sent an email explaining my belief and why they would be losing a parishioner as I do not understand the “big deal” with blessing individuals during mass. I can attach my email if anyone needs me to explaining my rationale but I will summarize it:

If you consults the Ecumenical Directory [2019] and read;

“121. Blessings ordinarily given for the benefit of Catholics may also be given to other Christians who request them, according to the nature and object of the blessing. Public prayer for other Christians, living or dead, and for the needs and intentions of other Churches and ecclesial Communities and their spiritual heads may be offered during the litanies and other invocations of a liturgical service, but not during the Eucharistic Anaphora. Ancient Christian liturgical and ecclesiological tradition permits the specific mention in the Eucharistic Anaphora only of the names of persons who are in full communion with the Church celebrating the Eucharist.”

You will come to the same conclusion as I did; that, yes , non-Catholic Christians may (generally) receive blessings. The prerogative being up to the individual priest.

The email I sent was to the parish and the archdiocese. The priest in question responded privately to me with a separate personal email titled “Whatever Whatever” and was extremely condescending (I can also attach that email).

I am seeking advice on what to do.

Thank you
 
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It was traditionally done in the early church that non christians were not allowed to attend Mass, and underwent 3 years of catechism first. In my church now, non catholics undergoing RCIA are dismissed before the liturgy of the Eucharist.

What reason did your priest give in saying non christians are not welcome at mass. What country are you from that you are comparing the two.

I am asking in a nice non confrontational manner, to determine more information,
 
I understand. It is the same with children before their 1st communion.

His reason was:
The blessing at communion for non Christian was rejected by the synod on the Eucharist pope Benedict. The purpose of the communion procession is for members of the community to process to receive communion it is not a time that everyone should feel that they are welcome and that everyone should get something. The church does not welcome people to the altar who are not catholic. Notice the dismissal of catechumens who even if they are not dismissed do not come for a blessing and catechumens are getting ready for baptism.

I am from Lebanon, hence being Maronite Catholic, but I am American and usually live in the USA but I am currently living in Japan. I am comparing this situation to going to mass in the USA.

My issue isn’t with his own interpretation on this vague rule. My issue with how condescending and aggressive he is being while taking this already out-dated stance.

We live in a world where people try new things all the time. Any non-christian lining up isn’t expecting to get communion but a blessing gives them a taste of what being Catholic is all about. Being not only a part of the community but being so close to the embodiment of Jesus within the Eucharist. In many churches I have seen priests hold the Eucharist when they bless non-Catholics.

I understand I do not think you are being confrontational but thank you for the clarification haha.

I am really just looking for advice on how to go about this situation.
 
If I may say so, it seems you’re approaching the situation from a rather American perspective, which is understandable since that’s where you usually live. The thing is though, Roman Catholicism doesn’t precisely “feel” the same everywhere you go in the world. In the USA and West Europe, the Church tends to feel homely, accomodating, even cosy, and most priests consider hospitality, friendliness, etc. to be part of their job. In many other parts of the world though, Roman Catholicism is still a bit more strict and formal, and priests don’t view themselves as having the duty to be “welcoming to all”, or to engage in “equal dialog” about all kinds of things with laity and/or non-Christians, which is what you seem to expect.

You say your issue is not with the priest’s interpretation of the rule but rather with his condescending attitude. But you’re new there, and a foreigner, and yet you’re trying to tell him what he should and should not allow, and you’re doing that in a country where the culture is such that direct criticism of an ordained man is considered rather inappropriate. Moreover, the matter you’re criticizing him for does not affect you (right?), so you seem to be turning it into a “cause” and yourself as a “champion”, which is another thing that doesn’t sit so well with the Japanese.

Long story short, my guess from here is that your understanding of the Japanese is as yet rather limited, and that this priest senses this and is somewhat put off by it.
 
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I’m sorry about your experience but if you don’t mind me asking you, what’s the Church in Japan? What are Japanese Catholics like?
 
frankzfournier said:
I came across a very aggressive priest who had an entire Homily on why non-Christians are “unwelcome” in mass,
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As a matter of interest, did the priest deliver his homily in Japanese or in some other language, such as English, for example?
 
I did say in my church… I imagine each is different, and each country
 
frankzfournier said:
I sent an email explaining my belief and why they would be losing a parishioner as I do not understand the “big deal” with blessing individuals during mass.

I am seeking advice on what to do.
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Threatening to drop out seems a bit much on your part, and I can understand the priest’s resistance to that kind of ultimatum.

What would you want to happen? I don’t think its realistic to think that the priest is going to back down
 
The communion line is not for blessings, it is for communion. As to the rest— I can’t say that I agree with everything the priest said but I also am hearing it secondhand and I don’t know that you’ve accurately recalled evrerything or that there isn’t a cultural or language barrier/misunderstanding.

You are in a foreign country, being a guest I suggest you refrain from all this letter writing and confronting of priests.

Please do not attach private correspondence here, as that is against forum rules.

You gave your 2 cents. The priest responded— LET IT GO. This is for his bishop to address with him, or not.
 
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I understand your point of view and my description may have seemed confusing. This is a Catholic Church in Japan but it is by no means Japanese. Every mass is in English and it is a Western church in a westernized area (a lot of westerners live here), for westerners who cannot speak Japanese. This is the Franciscan Chapel in Roponggi, Tokyo. The priest in question is a former New York priest who was transferred to Tokyo.

A couple highlights of his rant during his homily complete with a handout.

“If you genuflect in mass and especially before communion, Philipinos tend to do this a lot maybe their nuns or priests gave them wrong information, you look stupid so don’t do it”

“If you are not Catholic you are not welcome at the altar or in communion please exit the church before communion starts”
 
Telling people they are unwelcome and/or stupid for genuflecting during a homily is a bit much. Not saying anything is what got us in trouble in the US as a church. Doing nothing is the biggest error. I would like this priest to be counseled in empathy and compassion which he seems to have lost.
 
I dont know if I was completely clear. This is not a cultural or language barrier or I wouldn’t have said anything as I am not Japanese and no expert on their culture. This is an American priest conducing mass in a Western church that only has masses in English.

I understand. I was not going to post private information that comment was more directed at someone affiliated with the church, Catholic Answers, or any governing body that I have evidence that could be provided. There are other anecdotes from other parishioners but I can only comment on my own interactions.

I have emailed the bishop my question was what to do after this. Letting it go is great advice and something I will do. Something I have learned being a Catholic in the US though is that I would like to mitigate any future scandals by nipping things as early in the butt as possible. Calling people “stupid for genuflecting” in mass and telling people they are unwelcome seems odd to me as a Catholic. Seems to me its a news story waiting to happen and we do not need more false hate. This is one of 2 western churches so there are no real options over here except going to a Japanese Catholic church and sitting in a service I cannot understand.
 
How about the obvious: after Mass, ask the priest what’s up. Since you are relatively new, there may be some history behind his sermon that you don’t understand–for example, maybe non-Catholics were taking communion and / or using the hosts in an unacceptable way. Who knows. Why not just ask?
 
Its fairly well known that 1st world European countries do not always export the cream of their priests and religious to foreign countries. Asian Catholic communities are well known for their olde worlde retro customs and, accordingly, lack of accountability and autocratic authority styles which attracts and retains priests to match.

In short you will likely get nowhere and its probably better to wear shoes rather than floor the world with leather.
 
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Hi! I did ask after mass. I mentioned that. I politely asked him what he meant and he was pretty hostile with me. Face red, cheeks puffed up, extremely annoyed. He said every priest who blesses non-Catholics during communion is committing blasphemy and even asking is frustrating. He wouldn’t even let me finish one of my questions before he burst in trying to condemn genuflecting during mass. So no suprise, I kid you not, he said Philippinos who genuflect stupid during his homily.
 
Thank you for your advice. I think you are right. I will join the only other Western Parish in the area.
 
Thanks for the clarification, it does change things considerably. Still, I personally agree with most of the substance of what the priest is saying (i.e. about the communion line, genuflections at unusual moments, etc.), though I agree with you that his tone is unnecessarily harsh. But what can you do about his tone? He’s probably been a “tough” priest for a wile, and so far his bishop or superior hasn’t put a stop to him. They (i.e. his bishop/superior) probably don’t disagree with the substance of his message. I wonder if this priest has actually said anything that is “provably” wrong, e.g. in violation of orthodoxy or unambiguous instructions. If he hasn’t, I don’t see what you can do about it.
 
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