"If you're not pro life you shouldn't be here."

[cathdoki]

I think sometimes we tend to alienate the very people the Lord would have us help save and heal by helping them come to Christ’s healing wellspring…
It’s not helpful…

So so well put. Instead of condemning people we should be luring them to the truth with sweetness and love. NOT telling them they’re going to the firey pit.

It seems as though many post from a position of aloofness. Nothing Jesus would have us do.

 

[VetA]

I would politely suggest that you aren’t going to change anyone’s mind by telling them they are pro-murder if they classify themselves as pro-choice. It may make you feel better about yourself and you may believe it accurately reflects their position, but it would immediately put them on the defensive and mitigate anything further you had to say. What is your goal? To feel better about yourself, or to change hearts and minds?

it was a little rude of me i admit, but that is the way i honestly feel, my goal is to change hearts, and thats not the way to go about it. but like i said that is the way i actually feel

 

[Shin]

As the priest hears confessions, it may well be the case that he knows his parish quite well, and knows what they need to hear – perhaps he has already advised the parishioners that they must be pro-life, and should not receive Communion unless reconciled with the Church.

I doubt he wants to have to deny Communion publicly.

There’s so much room for charity here for this priest… so many possibilities… As well as simply accepting the direct statement.

Who knows the parish better, you or the priest?

 

[VetA]

Here so many people want stronger teaching from the pulpit, but the minute the priest tries something, “OH NO!”

[SIGN]^this^[/SIGN]

my priest recently gave me the penance of “ABSOLUTELY NO computer for the next two days, do you understand me, son, no computer.”(it has been 4 days since then i did my penance btw) when a priest tells you something, it may be for the good of your soul, so you may want to listen, i didn’t think ‘o well this priest was a jerk’ i just did my penance and was like ‘this sucks i cant go online’ lol. personally i like when the priest gives a strong message to me.

 

[smithm29]

It wasn’t the parish priest, it was a visiting priest. By the tone of the OP, I assume he wasn’t the regular confessor for anyone in the parish, either.

 

[cathdoki]

As the priest hears confessions, it may well be the case that he knows his parish quite well, and knows what they need to hear – perhaps he has already advised the parishioners that they must be pro-life, and should not receive Communion unless reconciled with the Church.

I doubt he wants to have to deny Communion publicly.

There’s so much room for charity here for this priest… so many possibilities… As well as simply accepting the direct statement.

Who knows the parish better, you or the priest?

God knows it best. And confession does not allow a priest to levy a monetary “fine”. Unless of course someone has stolen. Then he can be made to pay for stealing.

 

[cathdoki]

[SIGN]^this^[/SIGN]

my priest recently gave me the penance of “ABSOLUTELY NO computer for the next two days, do you understand me, son, no computer.”(it has been 4 days since then i did my penance btw) when a priest tells you something, it may be for the good of your soul, so you may want to listen, i didn’t think ‘o well this priest was a jerk’ i just did my penance and was like ‘this sucks i cant go online’ lol. personally i like when the priest gives a strong message to me.

You’re missing the point. A priest can not tell you to spend money on a license plate whether confession or not.

God bless you, no computer for 2 days? Now that isn’t easy in this day and age.

 

[VetA]

As an old priest I used to have would say,

We will only change peoples hearts and minds about the horror of abortion through PRAYER.

We won’t do through arrogance. As we all know, this past Sunday’s gospel was about compassion. This priest was not only uncompassionate toward the OP, but plain old rude. And he did it in front of the tabernacle.

not at the TLM sir (or ma’am, no need to offend people) at the EF it was about not everyone that says LORD LORD will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.’ that actually brings up an interesting point about our priest friend and the licence plate, he could have had this in mind when talking about the plate, it is not enough to just say you are pro-life, you should show outward signs of it… i dont really know without talking to him, but i think that is a fair assumption, no?

[BIBLEDRB]Matthew 7:15-21[/BIBLEDRB]

 

[VetA]

You’re missing the point. A priest can not tell you to spend money on a license plate whether confession or not.

God bless you, no computer for 2 days? Now that isn’t easy in this day and age.

see my below comment

 

[VetA]

Okay shin, I’m going to find a priest that tells you to sell your car, home, and all personal property except for one pair of clothing. Live as a pauper but continue to work (I’m assuming you do) but give every last cent to the poor. Your only meals will be from a soup kitchen.

What a silly idea you’ve set forth.

… not really if a priest gives you that for penance i think it is binding and you have to do it, i know for confession a priest can give you the penance of giving alms to the poor, i fail to see how this is any different (other than the obvious extremity). take this for example:

I dont know if Birnie Madoff is Catholic or not, but supposing he was never caught, but he went to confession and said ‘bless me Father for i have sinned i stole $500,000,000 from many people.’ i think the priest would be justified in saying ‘well my son for your penance you need to sell your worldly possessions and live as a poor man and give every cent thats not meant for food to the poor.’

 

[cathdoki]

not at the TLM sir (or ma’am, no need to offend people) at the EF it was about not everyone that says LORD LORD will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.’ that actually brings up an interesting point about our priest friend and the licence plate, he could have had this in mind when talking about the plate, it is not enough to just say you are pro-life, you should show outward signs of it… i dont really know without talking to him, but i think that is a fair assumption, no?

[BIBLEDRB]Matthew 7:15-21[/BIBLEDRB]

I think the thing that upset the OP and me is that the priest TOLD people to go out and buy the vanity plate. Then when a parishioner questioned him after Mass, the priest just looked away. Is that being a fisher of men. BTW, it appears as though he acted rudely in front of the tabernacle.

I am very pro-life. I’ve had bumper stickers made expressing so. But nobody has the right to tell me what to do. There may well be parishioners in that church that spend plenty of time in prayer for the unborn. The priest was just plain rude. If I knew who he was I would have no problem emailing and telling him.

 

[smithm29]

We don’t need to show “outward signs” of being pro-life, we need to actually “do something” about being pro-life. The “fruit” of being pro-life is pro-life activity, not pro-life apparel- doing the will of the Father in heaven, not talking about it. We could pull some scriptures out equating bumper stickers and license plates with the pharisees who fasted publicly and shouted their prayers for all to see. (However! I’m not necessarily equating bumper stickers and license plates with “pharisaic inactivity,” and I hope nobody takes it as that. I am saying that purely public confessions aren’t enough- actions are required.) I believe, with others here that the priest had good intentions, I just think his declaration that failing to buy a license plate is a sin is dead wrong.

I also have to disagree with the assertion that a priest can’t tell us to spend money. I think that, on a personal level, your confessor knows you very well. If you submit yourself to him (or any other spiritual director), they can and even should tell you to spend money if the situation warrants it. In that case, failing to follow his direction would in fact be a sin, even if his direction was that you spend money. This is why St. Francis de Sales says to be very careful in choosing a spiritual director- it’s not just bad spiritual advice you have to worry about.

 

[VetA]

I don’t think anyone here is denying the evil of abortion. We’re talking about an arrogant priest who tells people to go and buy a vanity plate. Then turns his back on a parishioner. I’m glad he’s not my priest. I wonder if he’s going on his boat today.

i think he is courageous, not arrogant, i would be proud to have someone who is not afraid of the pro-murder people to teach the truth at the pulpit

however i do agree he should not have turned his back

 

[Shin]

You’re missing the point. A priest can not tell you to spend money on a license plate whether confession or not.

God bless you, no computer for 2 days? Now that isn’t easy in this day and age.

“In accordance with the maxim " contraria contrariis cumntur” those good works are generally prescribed which are directly contrary to the sins committed, hence the prescription of the Roman ritual to impose as penances almsgiving upon the avaricious, fasting or other bodily mortifications upon the sensual, humiliating works upon the proud, exercises of devotion for the tepid. "

• Theory and Practice of the Confessional, Prof. Caspar E. Schieler [an instruction manual for priests]

Have any documents to support your statement?

Because unless you can prove it – there it is. Penances of fines and almsgiving.

 

[Shin]

The level of judgement and condemnation of this priest is definitely venturing into the realm of sin. Be prudent!

 

[VetA]

We don’t need to show “outward signs” of being pro-life, we need to actually “do something” about being pro-life. The “fruit” of being pro-life is pro-life activity, not pro-life apparel- doing the will of the Father in heaven, not talking about it. We could pull some scriptures out equating bumper stickers and license plates with the pharisees who fasted publicly and shouted their prayers for all to see. (However! I’m not necessarily equating bumper stickers and license plates with “pharisaic inactivity,” and I hope nobody takes it as that. I am saying that purely public confessions aren’t enough- actions are required.) I believe, with others here that the priest had good intentions, I just think his declaration that failing to buy a license plate is a sin is dead wrong.

I also have to disagree with the assertion that a priest can’t tell us to spend money. I think that, on a personal level, your confessor knows you very well. If you submit yourself to him (or any other spiritual director), they can and even should tell you to spend money if the situation warrants it. In that case, failing to follow his direction would in fact be a sin, even if his direction was that you spend money. This is why St. Francis de Sales says to be very careful in choosing a spiritual director- it’s not just bad spiritual advice you have to worry about.

thats what i meant my friend, thats what i meant. if those words would have come to me when i was thinking about what to put in my post i would have put them

 

[estesbob]

The level of judgement and condemnation of this priest is definitely venturing into the realm of sin. Be prudent!

Which is petty much par for the course for these types of threads. you always see much harsher condmeation of those who outspokely attack aborton and those who support it than you do against those who support abortion. I think the clergy has treated this issue with kid gloves for way to long ,

 

[VetA]

Which is petty much par for the course for these types of threads. you always see much harsher condmeation of those who outspokely attack aborton and those who support it than you do against those who support abortion. I think the clergy has treated this issue with kid gloves for way to long ,

… and people do not like it when the kid gloves come off

 

[cathdoki]

“In accordance with the maxim " contraria contrariis cumntur” those good works are generally prescribed which are directly contrary to the sins committed, hence the prescription of the Roman ritual to impose as penances almsgiving upon the avaricious, fasting or other bodily mortifications upon the sensual, humiliating works upon the proud, exercises of devotion for the tepid. "

• Theory and Practice of the Confessional, Prof. Caspar E. Schieler [an instruction manual for priests]

Have any documents to support your statement?

Because unless you can prove it – there it is. Penances of fines and almsgiving.

Well, you seemed to ignore post 24. Here it is again.

**Okay shin, I’m going to find a priest that tells you to sell your car, home, and all personal property except for one pair of clothing. Live as a pauper but continue to work (I’m assuming you do) but give every last cent to the poor. Your only meals will be from a soup kitchen.

What a silly idea you’ve set forth. **

Remember, when Jesus told the rich man to sell all he owns and give it to the poor, He was doing it as a penance. So, my question is, are you following His direction? You seem to think others should.

 

[smithm29]

I don’t know that anybody is saying the priest shouldn’t have preached against abortion. Maybe someone did and I missed it?