Hi YoungCatholic!
I’m put in mind of that scene in Fiddler on the Roof where Tevye is asked to judge an argument.
*Tevye hears one side, strokes his beard, then says “You’re Right!”
The other side makes its case passionately, and Tevye says “You’re Right!”
A bystander, angered comes over and says,
“First you say HE’s right, then you say HE’s right. They can’t BOTH be right!”
Tevye listens, strokes his beard and says “You too … are RIGHT!”
*
I sort of agreed with all the posts above.
You yourself probably can measure your unique audience best. Part of that audience posted the Michael Voris video. You seem to have some neophyte Catholics, or perhaps just-warming-up to their faith people or someone you feel might need more gentle encouragement to move to their next step (my impression, sorry if I got it wrong). So you are discerning what to do. Very Wise.
I laughed at the popcorn eating post. Not much counsel there, but perhaps more prudence than I’m offering. So, more wise discernment.
THEN someone gives you some counsel. Voris is great. Leave it up.
And like Tevye I say yes again.
Watch it once more to discern if the Holy Spirit is in the Voris piece. If it IS … roll with it. Even if people initially draw back. Jesus often challenged others too. And sometimes
a challenge can be the seed of the word.
I remember being “almost offended” when I first began reading Fulton Sheen’s “Life of Christ” due to the authors’ self confidence and certitude … and the fact that he stated facts without a tedious explanation for each (speaking UP to the audience, as if that audience was knowledgeable and ready for the “meat” of the word).
As I went along in the book my question marks in the margin became exclamation points(I began to “get it”).
So my counsel agrees with your “leave Michael up” poster … without criticizing your caution to this point. All the more since YOU didn’t post it, but part of your community did.
If I was you, view the Voris clip yourself, anticipate what (if any!) complaints or questions you might get … and then how to answer them.
I would also counsel - don’t be too quick to remove a good thing at the slightest request. Or to not include something because it’s – too good, too advanced, or states a truth too forcefully.
I’VE HAD TO DEAL WITH ISSUES LIKE THIS IN YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY (background)
I was once President of a thriving Young Adult Ministry in our Diocese. Non-Catholics were allowed to make our retreat-like “weekend” experience - which was a sort of practical demonstration (as well as presentation) of the Catholic faith and a graduated call to a deeper, more adult and committed faith life.
Our diverse group was a blessing and a curse sometimes (I speak only of the difficulty of what to do NOW with a diverse group).
**Strong Catholics hungry for MORE - **had to endure or roll with the gentle icebreaking, introductions, and non-profound Friday night program which featured an almost secular “Who am I?” talk/sharing by a peer. Love of God evidenced - but by design - no high theology YET.
Nominal Catholics, “Christian” non-Catholics, and the willing unChurched - had to
stretch their comfort zones as each sharing on Saturday and Sunday moved to a deeper level. Pretty quickly too.
Sometimes we’d have visiting priests (not on the retreat to get a feel for who they had with them) come in to do a mass for us.
I DO remember hearing what would have been a great “Super Catholic” call to greatness by a priest … who criticized a sort of phony Christianity. He probably also meant uncommitted Catholics, but it came across to some as considering “other Christian denominations” as “wrong, VERY wrong.”
He may not have known about our policy and that about 8 of our candidates were non-Catholics. Some of these folks were REALLY attracted toward being with us … until Fathers’ sermon - coupled with their confusion about not being able to receive communion (not always well explained beforehand in our ministry)
But we did “lose” or seemed to lose some people.
Who knows though, maybe the seeds he sowed that day have born fruit by now.
YOU may have the job of trying to keep it all together. But the Holy Spirit knows how to do that. And in general … high standards (not impossible however, lol) are better than going with the “lowest common denominator” when we are doing the Lord’s work.
One strategy you might employ re:Voris. Use it as a conversation starter. A “What do you think?” on the matter. Put it neutrally. Then challenge both sides (unless there is NO controversy … then just smile).
“That Michael Voris piece that a member posted SURE got some important discussions going. What did you like about it? Do you think it’s too heavy for beginners or a good challenge?”
That way you don’t step on the member who showed leadership in bringing a good thing to your organization; but you modify the hows and wheres and even IFs of whether the presentation will: always be up, up for a short period of time, judged not appropriate (for now), or not-right-for-us.
God bless you YoungCatholic for stepping out and being a leader!
