Is it ever okay to call out blasphemy or heresy as it comes from the pulpit

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quandy57

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I think everyone has seen a catholic speaker speak heresy or blasphemy to an audience. I definately know there are times when I want to yell out heresy or blasphemy but choose not to, deciding I don’t want to make a scene. But each time I dont the risk is the audience holding to those teachings being lead astray. The question is more serious when it pertains to sacred liturgy during homilies or other moments of high reverence. I have my ideas on the topic but would like to see how others would go about discussing examples or teachings of the church. Thanks!
 
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I don’t think shouting out is at all advisable. Wait until the end, and if you have concerns, go and talk to the Priest about them. That’s a reasonable way to conduct yourself, and you will have an understanding of why he said what he did.
 
I personally would not call out. As th previous poster has said, speak to the priest afterwards if need be. Or you could always get up and walk out if you hear something you think is blasphemous or heretical, and go to Mass elsewhere.
 
quandy57 said:
I think everyone has seen a catholic speaker speak heresy or blasphemy to an audience.
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Nope, can’t say I’ve seen this in my life to my knowledge.
Especially during the homily at Mass.

If you are seeing it frequently enough that you have to ask this question, I would suggest that you make an appointment to discuss with the priest or deacon speaking. Also be open to the possibility that your own understanding might be in error here.
 
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Sure, but the problem with that is a priest who speaks blasphemy or heresy knowing it to be against church teaching can be approached and still not change his ways. I could go to the bishop and some bishops would definately do nothing. So what is the obligation of the laity in trying to ensure the dignity of truth.
 
Perhaps find other parish to attend?
 
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To use an example. If a priest said something to the effect of “the church ought to bless same sex unions” or “abortion is a right” or “satan is not a real entity” there are plenty I have heard. If Fr. James Martin was preaching, I know the bishops arent silencing him, I know he thinks he is speaking truth, so ought i say something when he speaks against church teaching. Not limited to fr. James Martin. There are plenty of priests and deacons and some bishops all over the place. It’s not my parish. Its everywhere
 
If you do decide to shout out, “Blasphemy!” Then you must stand and repeat this three times at the top of your lungs, tearing your outermost garment atwain.

Seriously though, if everyone in the pews did shout out or make a public accusation whenever they thought they heard something they think might warrant it, things would get extremely disruptive and dramatic. Also we may be wrong about something and cause scandal to others, creating confusion because of our own ignorance or self-righteousness. It’s best to approach the preacher privately if you can, and not admonish him publicly, at least at first.
 
If it was ever done, it would indeed have to be rare if at all.
18:15 "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 18:16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 18:17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector
Is not speaking out blasphemy bring the attention to the church. 1st to priest in private. 2nd bring parochial vicar or pastor or friend of priest. 3rd. Send letter to bishop.

Is spealing out a possible option for step 4 before deciding priest as gentile and tax collector.
 
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quandy57 said:
If a priest said something to the effect of “the church ought to bless same sex unions” or “abortion is a right” or “satan is not a real entity” there are plenty I have heard. If Fr. James Martin was preaching, I know the bishops arent silencing him,
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Do you have an actual example of a priest saying what you have just listed, in your personal hearing?

I can tell you first hand Fr Martin does not say anything against the Church teaching in his public talk. He also states in his talk that the Church teaches that gay sexual relations are a sin, without offering any additional opinion or commentary on that. The bishops don’t silence him because he is careful to not say anything that would give them grounds to do so.
 
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How well do we really trust ourselves not to have missed some nuance?
 
quandy57 said:
I think everyone has seen a catholic speaker speak heresy or blasphemy to an audience.
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No, “everyone” hasn’t.
quandy57 said:
I definately know there are times when I want to yell out heresy or blasphemy but choose not to, deciding I don’t want to make a scene. But each time
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Don’t embarrass yourself. Especially as you may not be correct, and may be seeing heresy and blasphemy where there is none. If this is happening to you frequently, you should talk to a spiritual director about it and seek his or her guidance.

If indeed your priest is teaching in error, go to him privately and talk to him about it. If that doesn’t solve it, go to the vicar of clergy for your diocese, and then the bishop.
 
The answers are all the same and hardly interesting. I have literally heard priests from the pulpit speak that abortion is good, satan is not real, same sex unions are good and should be recognized as such. These are easily recognizable ones as heresy, I have also hear less recognizable ones. Fr. James Martin, the German bishops, numerous of priests I’ve been to mass. I have never spoken in mass against such heresies, in reverence to the mass. I simply wonder the possiblity where there might be a time where it is essential to do so. I have already acknowledged Christ’s teaching on fraternal correction, speaking to in private, then with 1 or 2, then to the church. But sometimes none of those are enough and souls are at stake. How far should we go, how quiet should we be? This is not a particular case, it’s more general. There hasn’t been a time where I thought I ought to get up and say something, but what if thet ime comes. What if a priest blaspheme against the holy spirit by saying Jesus cannot forgive sins, that the power of Jesus is not of God.
 
If thay ever happens tha t is the time to doo something. Worry is never good.
 
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quandy57 said:
I have literally heard priests from the pulpit speak that abortion is good, satan is not real, same sex unions are good and should be recognized as such. These are easily recognizable ones as heresy, I have also hear less recognizable ones. Fr. James Martin, the German bishops, numerous of priests I’ve been to mass.
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I sincerely doubt you have heard Fr Martin and the German Bishops all speaking in person much less at a Mass.

If you are hearing the statements you mention from “numerous priests” then you are clearly having an experience most of us have not had.

Please contact each of these priests individually and make an appointment to discuss with them. Then for each priest, if you are not satisfied with his response or explanation to you, please write a letter to his bishop.
That is the proper way to go about it.

I would further suggest that if you are truly concerned with solving this problem you say you have, your time would be better spent doing the above meetings and letter writing, rather than posting threads here wringing your hands over a problem that the rest of us simply aren’t having with our priests.
 
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quandy57 said:
I think everyone has seen a catholic speaker speak heresy or blasphemy to an audience.
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I don’t think this is true. What I do think is true is that an extremely large number of people have had something presented to them as an “error” when it isn’t or some otherwise misrepresentation of the Church and either don’t know better, moving on in their lives nearly unaffected, or they become part of the self-appointed ‘special patrol’ that corrects everything in no need of correction making themselves above reproach.

It would be best if we learned some humility and charity before we learned how to judge. Chances are, our judgments will be in error.
 
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