Movement of the Tabernacle to the Hinterlands?

[bardegaulois]

There’s no libel or defamation of character in the article. I’m not worried about that. I think the article appeals most to those interested in local history, architectural history and those that actually were around when the change took place, which are fewer and fewer all the time.

As I type this you make me think of something. It’s possible, but not likely that he has felt pressure from someone to move the tabernacle back based on my article. That’s a long shot, but it’s the only thing I can think of that would make him send a terse email.

Well, if someone had, understanding that the high altar is the proper traditional place for the tabernacle, then this person has come to learn more about the customs of his faith. I don’t see how that could be a bad thing at all. A priest dealing with that request who would castigate you for enlightening someone on this issue – in a completely secular journal, moreover – sounds, frankly, petty and Orwellian. I hate to say that this is even possible, but, alas, I’ve known far too many priests like so.

 

[edwest2]

Here is an article about the unrequired movement of the Tabernacle. I hope it provides some insight.

ncregister.com/daily-news/wisconsin-bishop-puts-tabernacles-in-their-rightful-place

Ed

 

[zab]

Well, if someone had, understanding that the high altar is the proper traditional place for the tabernacle, then this person has come to learn more about the customs of his faith. I don’t see how that could be a bad thing at all. A priest dealing with that request who would castigate you for enlightening someone on this issue – in a completely secular journal, moreover – sounds, frankly, petty and Orwellian. I hate to say that this is even possible, but, alas, I’ve known far too many priests like so.

As I understand it, the priest did not “castigate” him. He was “terse”- abrupt in his short message that he wanted to talk to him regarding the article. If someone had spoke to the pastor about moving the tabernacle back, Is it not understandable that the expression of a desire to have the church restored could cause some initial concern or anxiety in the present pastor? There is nothing wrong with wanting to talk about it.

A few decades ago, we got a new pastor who was caught in the middle a dispute between parishioners who wanted a modern sculpture removed from the sanctuary that was obstructing the view of our beautiful rose window and other parishioners who threatened to leave if it was removed. This was our own version of the renovations of the 1970’s and there were many misconceptions and false rumors that spread about the placement and meaning of the sculpture. So the new pastor at that time wanted to learn more about it. He was able to speak to the older priest who was still living at that time and cleared up a lot of things. He knew what he wanted and needed to do but it takes time and money and a lot of commitment from parishioners. And sometimes there are more pressing needs at the time.

 

[Solomonson]

You seem to get easily annoyed at the suggestion to inform your pastor of the writing that you have been asked to do about his parish. I don’t understand your reaction to my posts. What response did you expect to get from people who do not know anything about you, have not read your article, do not know your pastor or even why he wants to meet with you?

I’m not annoyed. Not in the least, nor do my postings suggest I am to be rather frank.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

My employer occasionally reminds all staff that if we are ever contacted by a media outlet we should refer things up through channels. In part they want to know what is being published about us and in part they want to make sure we are communicating a consistent message. If I were communicating with a reporter or writing an article about my parish I would make sure the pastor was in the loop. If I were talking about some other organization I belonged to I would include the leadership, at least to let them know what was going on. It is courteous to act like a member of the group rather than go off single handedly.

 

[zab]

I’m not annoyed. Not in the least, nor do my postings suggest I am to be rather frank.

Good. I hope you will keep us updated on how the meeting with your pastor went.

 

[Solomonson]

Here is an article about the unrequired movement of the Tabernacle. I hope it provides some insight.

ncregister.com/daily-news/wisconsin-bishop-puts-tabernacles-in-their-rightful-place

Ed

A very interesting article to be sure. A long held belief in my diocese (going back to at least the late 1960s) by those in charge, which was not mentioned in your article, was that the faithful were “confused” by the presence of the Blessed Sacrament in repose inside the tabernacle while also being present upon the altar of sacrifice following the miraculous transformation that takes place during celebration of the Mass. I have always found this belief to be highly problematic.

 

[edwest2]

A very interesting article to be sure. A long held belief in my diocese (going back to at least the late 1960s) by those in charge, which was not mentioned in your article, was that the faithful were “confused” by the presence of the Blessed Sacrament in repose inside the tabernacle while also being present upon the altar of sacrifice following the miraculous transformation that takes place during celebration of the Mass. I have always found this belief to be highly problematic.

There was no confusion. We had Religion Class at my Catholic school and went to Church during the week. We clearly saw what the priest did regarding the tabernacle. The large host the priest consumed, and the smaller hosts in a small metal container which were given to the people. I was there before and after Vatican II.

Ed

 

[commenter]

My employer occasionally reminds all staff that if we are ever contacted by a media outlet we should refer things up through channels. In part they want to know what is being published about us and in part they want to make sure we are communicating a consistent message. If I were communicating with a reporter or writing an article about my parish I would make sure the pastor was in the loop. If I were talking about some other organization I belonged to I would include the leadership, at least to let them know what was going on. It is courteous to act like a member of the group rather than go off single handedly.

This is likely the situation. In all my jobs, the boss wants to be made aware of any contact from the media, or anything known to be going into the media. This would be true about a parish, as well. A pastor does not want to get a call from the bishop’s office, or an angry parishioner, asking about an article, and have to admit “Article? What article?”

At a minimum, he likely would want to be made aware of something going into any media about the parish, in advance. The more complex issue is, what if he disagrees with something? Now, it is simple if he points out that the parish records show something happened differently from what you recall, or what you heard; in that case, you should make a correction.

But what if he says “you should not print this article, it would cause more harm than good”?
That is a tough question for me, because I am a strong supporter of the traditional location of the Blessed Sacrament. On the other hand, a parish is a parish. There could be other stuff going on that I don’t know about…

The role of the tabernacle is important. So is the role of the pastor.

 

[Solomonson]

May I ask, since I too found the use of the word “hinterlands” in the title of this thread offputting, was it used in the body or the title of your article or might it be a reflection of the tone of your article?

On the other hand some pastors, like many CEO’s, can be quite protective of what they see as their “turf.”

Just conjecturing here what may have prompted.your pastor’s “request ” for a discussion.

No, I did not use the term “hinterlands” in the article. I used it in the title here as a word saving measure. I didn’t want to write something like “Movement of the Tabernacle to a location far removed from the sanctuary.”

 

[Solomonson]

My employer occasionally reminds all staff that if we are ever contacted by a media outlet we should refer things up through channels. In part they want to know what is being published about us and in part they want to make sure we are communicating a consistent message. If I were communicating with a reporter or writing an article about my parish I would make sure the pastor was in the loop. If I were talking about some other organization I belonged to I would include the leadership, at least to let them know what was going on. It is courteous to act like a member of the group rather than go off single handedly.

I’m not an employee of the parish or the diocese. I also didn’t write about a current or timely event. I had no responsibility to alert anyone at least by secular measures, hence my question.

 

[Solomonson]

Good. I hope you will keep us updated on how the meeting with your pastor went.

He didn’t celebrate the Mass I attended today so I didn’t talk to him. I’m a little worried based on some of the comments here. If he really does take exception to what I wrote, based upon what I actually did write, it could really lead to an unfortunate situation.

 

[Solomonson]

There was no confusion. We had Religion Class at my Catholic school and went to Church during the week. We clearly saw what the priest did regarding the tabernacle. The large host the priest consumed, and the smaller hosts in a small metal container which were given to the people. I was there before and after Vatican II.

Ed

I agree. None at all.

One thing I would have liked to express in my article, but I did not is the sign value (specifically in my parish church) of moving the tabernacle. At certain angles one can see both the sanctuary and the niche where the tabernacle is now located. I think if anyone without any knowledge of the Catholic faith were shown pictures of the before/after location, they would logically surmise that the tabernacle and its contents lost significance or importance and were thus “moved out of the way.”

Because it was a history article and not a commentary I couldn’t really go into that, but I just might one day in the future.

 

[Chatter163]

I’m not clear from the OP as to when the article was written. If the article was written recently, then surely a parishioner, before writing an article publicly about his or her parish, should inform the pastor–whether the parishioner was asked to write it, or volunteered to do so. It’s a simple courtesy, and lacking that, the pastor could be justifiably annoyed.

 

[Solomonson]

I’m not clear from the OP as to when the article was written. If the article was written recently, then surely a parishioner, before writing an article publicly about his or her parish, should inform the pastor–whether the parishioner was asked to write it, or volunteered to do so. It’s a simple courtesy, and lacking that, the pastor could be justifiably annoyed.

From the first post on this thread:

…The article ran last October. There was nothing controversial about it. It was a historical article, not a commentary. I received positive feedback on it, nothing negative…

 

[felsguy]

My question is, did I somehow overstep something by writing on such a subject as a layman? Thank you for any insight.

No, I did not use the term “hinterlands” in the article. I used it in the title here as a word saving measure.

One thing I would have liked to express in my article, but I did not is the sign value (specifically in my parish church) of moving the tabernacle. At certain angles one can see both the sanctuary and the niche where the tabernacle is now located. I think if anyone without any knowledge of the Catholic faith were shown pictures of the before/after location, they would logically surmise that the tabernacle and its contents lost significance or importance and were thus “moved out of the way.”

Because it was a history article and not a commentary I couldn’t really go into that, but I just might one day in the future.

Probably the best any of us here can offer you is more along the lines of conjecture (read here “uneducated guessing”) rather than insight, but since you asked and in vein here’s another possibility (again read here “guess”).

In light of what you have shared here, perhaps while not an obligation, in your pastor’s mind consulting with him during the writing of your article may be viewed as the appropriate or courteous thing to have done. In trying to think of an analogous situation the best I can do at the moment is that if someone were to write a biographical article on one of my grandparents, I would think it appropriate and want to be consulted before it went to publication.

 

[tafan]

He didn’t celebrate the Mass I attended today so I didn’t talk to him. I’m a little worried based on some of the comments here. If he really does take exception to what I wrote, based upon what I actually did write, it could really lead to an unfortunate situation.

It would be conjecture to guess why your pastor wants to meet. I don bot believe you did anything wrong at all. You should respond to his email asking for an appointment. Approach the whom respectfully and have an open mind. Be ready to explain it in clear, concise terms without getting defensive.

I suspect the “terse” email demanding a meeting was not intended that way, just how some people wrote emails when they are in a rush.

BTW, a lot of churches around here are moving their tabernacles back to the main sanctuary, behind the altar. Its pure conjecture, but it wouldn’t surprise me if your pastor is considering to do the same.

 

[Solomonson]

It would be conjecture to guess why your pastor wants to meet. I don bot believe you did anything wrong at all. You should respond to his email asking for an appointment. Approach the whom respectfully and have an open mind. Be ready to explain it in clear, concise terms without getting defensive.

I suspect the “terse” email demanding a meeting was not intended that way, just how some people wrote emails when they are in a rush.

BTW, a lot of churches around here are moving their tabernacles back to the main sanctuary, behind the altar. Its pure conjecture, but it wouldn’t surprise me if your pastor is considering to do the same.

That’s quite interesting. I had never even considered the thought that he might want to do that, largely because of the tone of his email. It might be the case though, I really don’t know. One thing is for certain, my article is ironclad documentation of how, when and supposedly why it happened.

 

[otjm]

Here is an article about the unrequired movement of the Tabernacle. I hope it provides some insight.

ncregister.com/daily-news/wisconsin-bishop-puts-tabernacles-in-their-rightful-place

Ed

Considering the source, I find the article - interesting…

Rightful place based on what? What the Church has done for a couple of centuries? What the church ahs done for more centuries?

For the first 9 centuries, there basically were no tabernacles.

And after that, for centuries, tabernacles were off to the side, or in a chapel, as anyone who has toured cathedrals in Europe has likely experienced.

Which leaves the tabernacle centered on the altar as a recent innovation, given the 20 centuries the Church has been around.

However, most people, having absolutely no knowledge of the matter, are likely to say (per the centered tabernacle) “That is the way we have always done it.” - “always” being the operative word of emotion, not fact.

And as to the comments in the article about the tabernacle being elsewhere rather than on the main altar (or directly behind it), my parish had the tabernacle in the chapel - where we also had Perpetual Adoration, basically 23/7/362+. We also have had 2 women who are now professed sisters, 2 deacons, and at least 4 priests during that period; so I disagree that moving the tabernacle is a diminishing of either reverence or belief.

But then, the issue is one driven largely by emotion, not logic. Where the tabernacle is, is far, far less important than how the parish worships, and Adoration is part of that worship life of the community if it is practiced.

The bishop in Wisconsin most certainly has the authority to say where the tabernacle will go. Authority and expertise are not necessarily the same; I would rather see him all out promoting regular, and where possible, Perpetual Adoration.

 

[otjm]

My employer occasionally reminds all staff that if we are ever contacted by a media outlet we should refer things up through channels. In part they want to know what is being published about us and in part they want to make sure we are communicating a consistent message. If I were communicating with a reporter or writing an article about my parish I would make sure the pastor was in the loop. If I were talking about some other organization I belonged to I would include the leadership, at least to let them know what was going on. It is courteous to act like a member of the group rather than go off single handedly.

Would it have made any difference if the OP was a Catholic historian at the local university? Or a historian and member of another parish? Or a non-Catholic historian?

If I understood correctly, the article was not written for the parish, but for a much wider audience, and the OP was not an employee, but a historian - who happened to be a member of the parish, a matter having nothing to do with the article.