Inappropriate Sermons?

[Married39]

Good Day Everyone!

I have started taking my 4 year old and 1 year old to mass regularly. Alot of children are at our 11am mass. I am getting tired of the priest mentioning the dreaded “Pornography” during his sermons as are alot of other parents I speak to. He usually mentions “Let’s pray for the end of pornography and let’s sign a petition to outlaw it”

I do not watch porn so don’t think I am advocating it but I think it would be better left to parents to explain what the word means as opposed to our kids asking mommy and daddy “What’s pornography?”

Let’s get real here, let’s try to change things that we can change. Porn will always be here, always was and always will be. It’s a billion dollar industry.

Let’s work on things we can change, how about this for starters:

1. Human Trafficking (for slave labour and sex trade)
2. Child Labour in 3rd world countries
3. Sex selection abortion (India aborts milllions of female fetuses every year)
4. ??? I am sure there is more

I think the above would be better served then worrying about mostly consenting adults fornicating!

Thanks for your (name removed by moderator)ut! Should I email the church or just mind my own business???

 

[newyorkcatholic]

I disagree. I have no idea why you think we can’t fight porn because it’s a big industry but we can fight those other things, which from a human point of view are also very entrenched.

Fact is, with God’s grace we can fight all evils. I actually think it’s pretty awesome the priest is willing to talk about this – not only is this a big problem worldwide, but in the actual lives of his parishioners, this is likely a huge deal.

How many men in the parish are human traffickers or paying for sex-selective abortions … and how many are viewing porn?

Also, all of these issues are related.

It also seems like if your kids ask what pornography is, then that is your opportunity to explain it to them, at their appropriate level.

 

[mfrances]

Father most likely brings up porn because it is so ingrained in today’s society with easy access to the internet, so many men and even women fall into this sin, and our kids are being sexualized from an early age by advertising that frankly is borderline porn.

He probably hears it so much in the confessional at your church that he feels it needs this sin needs more awareness and to be prayed about more openly. Human trafficking, Child Labor, etc, although also very serious and deserving of our prayers, is not as pervasive as porn on the local parish level.

 

[DhuAlQarnayn]

I imagine he brings it up because 80-90% of the people in the pews engage in it on a regular basis, as opposed to the other things you mentioned, which they don’t have any control over. I don’t think this is an inappropriate topic for a sermon at all. Why do you want to protect your children from knowing what pornography is but you’re happy for them to learn about sexual slavery and abortion, anyway?

 

[1ke]

Should I email the church or just mind my own business???

Well, I think that if you want to approach the topic you should make an appointment to talk to your priest. Emailing the church is just not the approach I would suggest.

Talk to him about options such as Children’s Liturgy of the Word that can be utilized to take young children out for their own readings/reflection when the priest chooses to touch on sensitive topics that may not be appropriate for children’s ears.

Your post is a little confusing, though.

You **say **that your concern is with the priest talking about “pornography” and that you don’t think it’s appropriate for your young children to hear that-- and that it leaves you in the awkward position of explaining or dealing with questions.

But, then you go on a totally different track and shift into porn being something we “can’t do anythning about” and go on to name other things you would like to see focused on. Sex trafficking and abortion are also items I can see parents having concerns about explaining to their children.

So, really, which is it? Is your issue that the priest is talking about adult topics from the pulpit or is your issue that in your personal opinion other social issues should be emphasized more than “porn”?

These are two different conversations with the priest. Don’t comingle the issue. Figure out what your real issue is first.

 

[BenedictFTW]

Good Day Everyone!

I have started taking my 4 year old and 1 year old to mass regularly. Alot of children are at our 11am mass. I am getting tired of the priest mentioning the dreaded “Pornography” during his sermons as are alot of other parents I speak to. He usually mentions “Let’s pray for the end of pornography and let’s sign a petition to outlaw it”

I do not watch porn so don’t think I am advocating it but I think it would be better left to parents to explain what the word means as opposed to our kids asking mommy and daddy “What’s pornography?”

Let’s get real here, let’s try to change things that we can change. Porn will always be here, always was and always will be. It’s a billion dollar industry.

Let’s work on things we can change, how about this for starters:

1. Human Trafficking (for slave labour and sex trade)
2. Child Labour in 3rd world countries
3. Sex selection abortion (India aborts milllions of female fetuses every year)
4. ??? I am sure there is more

I think the above would be better served then worrying about mostly consenting adults fornicating!

Thanks for your (name removed by moderator)ut! Should I email the church or just mind my own business???

The Mass is probably the only opportunity your priest has to speak on such issues to the congregation. Pornography is a huge problem - evidenced by the size of its business! Probably the guy or woman sitting next to you needed to hear what the priest had to say! You simply do not know.

As a mum, you can merely fob off questions on that subject with very young children. Older children will know all about it, as they speak among themselves. Don’t kid yourself that it is not a topic of conversation. You also do not know at what age, your own children may need to hear that good priest.

I find the problem with our priests is that THEY DO NOT SPEAK about such issues as pornography, abortion, homosexuality, contraception or cohabiting. They are afraid that we will all leave and not put money in the plate. They have been forced into silence, certainly throughout Europe. So, be grateful for your priest that he has the courage to tackle such an awkward subject for the sake of souls.

God bless.

 

[bscastro]

I don’t think it’s inappropriate particularly in the prayers. As others mentioned, the priest hears it in the confession, and just looking at the industry and statistics, it’s a huge problem and will undermine the chastity of the family in the long run if not stopped.

God bless,
Bryan

 

[domandcarols]

Let’s get real here, let’s try to change things that we can change. Porn will always be here, always was and always will be. It’s a billion dollar industry.

Can you elaborate on that? What makes you say that? You could easily say that about rape, murder or abortion or anything else. Porn ruins peoples lives, exploits women, breaks up marriages, and creates sexual predators. What makes you so sure we could change the other things you mentioned but not that? Porn never existed in the way that it exists today where about 100% of boys 9 and up are complete addicts.

 

[aicirt]

I’m all for sermons which relate to the lives of the congregation. Sometimes we go too far afield. Yes, abortion should be discussed but what about alchol abuse in the family, adultery, abandonment of parents, not going to confession before communion, how to make a good confession, what constitutes the breaking of the commandments and what is the difference between a mortal and venial sin, modest and appropriate dressing (first for the women and the second for men e.g. wearing one’s fav Jack Daniel’s tee to Mass, not taking off one’s trucker hat), think before attending or watching movies the message of which is not Catholic, or supporting actors and actresses whose politics are against Church teaching.

Then after we get ourselves straight, we can stretch our horizons.

 

[Luna_Lovecraft]

These are two different conversations with the priest. Don’t comingle the issue. Figure out what your real issue is first.

This.

 

[Luna_Lovecraft]

Well, I think that if you want to approach the topic you should make an appointment to talk to your priest. Emailing the church is just not the approach I would suggest.

Talk to him about options such as Children’s Liturgy of the Word that can be utilized to take young children out for their own readings/reflection when the priest chooses to touch on sensitive topics that may not be appropriate for children’s ears.

This.

 

[SwizzleStick]

Good Day Everyone!

I have started taking my 4 year old and 1 year old to mass regularly. Alot of children are at our 11am mass. I am getting tired of the priest mentioning the dreaded “Pornography” during his sermons as are alot of other parents I speak to. He usually mentions “Let’s pray for the end of pornography and let’s sign a petition to outlaw it”

I do not watch porn so don’t think I am advocating it but I think it would be better left to parents to explain what the word means as opposed to our kids asking mommy and daddy “What’s pornography?”

Let’s get real here, let’s try to change things that we can change. Porn will always be here, always was and always will be. It’s a billion dollar industry.

Let’s work on things we can change, how about this for starters:

1. Human Trafficking (for slave labour and sex trade)
2. Child Labour in 3rd world countries
3. Sex selection abortion (India aborts milllions of female fetuses every year)
4. ??? I am sure there is more

I think the above would be better served then worrying about mostly consenting adults fornicating!

Thanks for your (name removed by moderator)ut! Should I email the church or just mind my own business???

I say listen to the homilies and take them to heart. And thank Father for having the courage to address the topic. And, then also pray that your priest, and others too, also address from the pulpit this and other important topics to clarify the teachings of Holy Mother Church, including but not limited to:

Pornography
Abortion
Homosexuality
Adultery
Fornication
Divorce
Birth Control
Euthanasia
Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Scandal
Detraction and Gossip
Sin
Hell

That is what I say.

 

[PacoG]

1. Sex selection abortion (India aborts milllions of female fetuses every year)

**I am troubled by you mentioning this and limiting to just sex-selection abortions. The Church’s stand is against ALL abortion, not just sex selection. Are you even aware of Church teaching on the issue? **

I think the above would be better served then worrying about mostly consenting adults fornicating!

****Last time I checked, fornication is a sin. Lust is one of the 7 biggies. The priest is justified in taking up arms against the sea of sexualization in today’s society. Once again…are you aware of Church teaching? This isn’t some feel-good Protestant church…the Catholic Church engages and fights evil.

And your children should hear this. And you as a good parent who is trying to raise her kids in the faith should explain what father meant. ****

 

[SwizzleStick]

…3) Sex selection abortion (India aborts milllions of female fetuses every year)…

All abortions are wrong, so why mention just sex selection abortion?

…I think the above would be better served then worrying about mostly consenting adults fornicating!..

Mostly consenting adults? So, worrying about rape would be okay? Would that be easier to explain to your children than pornography?

By the way, you mentioned that you have a 1-year old and a 4-year old. Do they ask questions about pornography after it is addressed in a homily? I’m fairly sure the 1-year old does not, and I would be surprised if 4-year old asks. So, what is it you have an issue with regarding the homilies?

 

[bscastro]

I say listen to the homilies and take them to heart. And thank Father for having the courage to address the topic. And, then also pray that your priest, and others too, also address from the pulpit this and other important topics to clarify the teachings of Holy Mother Church, including but not limited to:

Pornography
Abortion
Homosexuality
Adultery
Fornication
Divorce
Birth Control
Euthanasia
Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Scandal
Detraction and Gossip
Sin
Hell

That is what I say.

I am fortunate that there are several priests in our diocese whose Masses I attend (my home parish and a few others where I go to daily Mass) who address a few of these and not just tell us, “Let’s all be nice to each other and hold hands, etc.”

I got into an argument with a friend whose casual Catholic views hold that discussing these “serious” topics makes people feel guilty and suggested that I was too uppity to which I responded, “No, I realize I AM a sinner, so need to hear about these things and be educated in accordance to God’s word and the teachings of the Church.”

In any case, God’s peace be with you all!

In Christ,
Bryan

 

[SwizzleStick]

I am fortunate that there are several priests in our diocese whose Masses I attend (my home parish and a few others where I go to daily Mass) who address a few of these and not just tell us, “Let’s all be nice to each other and hold hands, etc.”

I got into an argument with a friend whose casual Catholic views hold that discussing these “serious” topics makes people feel guilty and suggested that I was too uppity to which I responded, “No, I realize I AM a sinner, so need to hear about these things and be educated in accordance to God’s word and the teachings of the Church.”

In any case, God’s peace be with you all!

In Christ,
Bryan

God’s peace be with you too!

 

[Luna_Lovecraft]

**I am troubled by you mentioning this and limiting to just sex-selection abortions. The Church’s stand is against ALL abortion, not just sex selection. Are you even aware of Church teaching on the issue? **

In the OP’s defense and to take nothing away from the issue of abortion in general, sex-selective abortion and female infanticide in India and China have reached proportions where even individuals and groups (NGOs and the like) who are not pro-life understand the necessity of ending the practices because they’re quickly becoming a huge economic and demographic problem in some parts of China and India, as well as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Taiwan.

Yes, abortion is immoral. That a woman fears she will die in a “kitchen fire” if she gives birth to a/another daughter and seeks an early ultrasound to abort a female fetus for this reason adds a particular level of heinousness to it.

How to craft a homily about it that both addresses Church teachings and is “family friendly” I’m sure is a taxing task for our priests.

Luna

 

[Irishgal49]

Well, I think that if you want to approach the topic you should make an appointment to talk to your priest. Emailing the church is just not the approach I would suggest.

Talk to him about options such as Children’s Liturgy of the Word that can be utilized to take young children out for their own readings/reflection when the priest chooses to touch on sensitive topics that may not be appropriate for children’s ears.

Your post is a little confusing, though.

You **say **that your concern is with the priest talking about “pornography” and that you don’t think it’s appropriate for your young children to hear that-- and that it leaves you in the awkward position of explaining or dealing with questions.

But, then you go on a totally different track and shift into porn being something we “can’t do anythning about” and go on to name other things you would like to see focused on. Sex trafficking and abortion are also items I can see parents having concerns about explaining to their children.

So, really, which is it? Is your issue that the priest is talking about adult topics from the pulpit or is your issue that in your personal opinion other social issues should be emphasized more than “porn”?

These are two different conversations with the priest. Don’t comingle the issue. Figure out what your real issue is first.

I would guess that a lot of people suffer with addictions to porn. It’s very pervasive in our churches. Also women are coming forward with addictions in this area. I totally agree with the poster I quoted, the other things you named seem just as “touchy” and even harder to explain. I wouldn’t go and confront the priest, but rather, ask him how should you, as a parent explain pornography to your (insert age) child. Of course a I know some parents freak out and their child never even asks about it. But forearmed is always good.