Asnlady,
The teaching of the Church is clear on this issue. Like you I live in a liberal parish…I am labled as a conservative. However I’m not going to sit around smiling and twiddling my thumbs while my parish priest introduces scandelous liturgical practices, distorts the clear teachings of the Church, turns his head while our DRE waters down religious training, the book club prefers to read heretical books rather than Catholic ones, etc.
I’ve chosen to speak out in a strong, clear…but respectful voice. I have crosses swords with the pastor on a number of issues verbally and in writing and asked him to stop certain practices. He doesn’t like it but he cannot argue that the points I respectfully raise reflect Church dogma, Apostolic Tradition or the Universal and Ordinary Teachings of the Church. I have crossed swords with the RCIA Director and stopped his teaching of certain heresies dealing with forming a Catholic conscience.
As I said in previous posts in this thread…and I’ve given numerous citations to support my comments…a person risks becoming an accomplice to the sin if they sit by while someone spreads scandal by taking communion while publically persevering in manifest grave sin…that is Church teaching.
Do the liberal elements of the parish like it…no. Does the priest like it…no. Does the DRE like it…no. Do most of these people avoid me like I have the plague…yes. Am I excluded from participating in some of the ministries…yes. Does it stop me from commenting or getting involved anyway…no.
The key is to ground your complaints in Catholic doctrine, be respectful in manner and language, be persistant and show a little backbone. You can make a difference.
I’m not going to participate further in this thread because too many of the arguments are specious in nature and the teaching of the Church on this matter is clear.
God Bless,
Iowa Mike
