Pastor prohibits Bible Study

[JRRTFAN]

We’ve got a group of parishioners who have, under the auspices and sponsorship of the parish, done, for each of the last 5 years, one of the 28 week Catholic Scripture Study International programs. The parish no longer wishes to endure the administrative work level that a 28 week study requires. Our group, however, led by a canonically qualified individual, wants to do another 28 week study, on our own, with no parish involvement or work, next year. We are getting push back from the parish adult formation “staff” and may get a prohibition from the pastor, which I don’t think he has the authority to do but which would put several of our members and leader in an untenable position of disobedience if he prohibits and we procede.

Any ideas how to handle this? Personally, having lost all my family to Fundamentalist BSF it astounds me that a Catholic priest would not beg us to continue just to supplement his parish.

 

[PatriceA]

Meet in a private location, the priest can not prohibit you from doing a bible study in the privacy of your own home or another member’s home or another private location.

 

[Cat_Herder]

Coordinate it through your diocese’s adult religious education department instead.

 

[Fidelis]

He can only prohibit you from conducting an unapproved study on parish property or (if you start one outside the parish) from advertising or promoting it in such a way that implies it is sanctioned by the parish.

 

[Crumpy]

Meet in a private location, the priest can not prohibit you from doing a bible study in the privacy of your own home or another member’s home or another private location.

The prohibition makes no sense. I don’t know what if any reason was given for it.

I wish I was there to join your group.

 

[JRRTFAN]

The prohibition makes no sense. I don’t know what if any reason was given for it.

I wish I was there to join your group.

It baffles us too. The people in the groupd are extremely active in the parish and there is simply no logical reason for it, we’re pretty discombobulated.

 

[PatriceA]

It baffles us too. The people in the groupd are extremely active in the parish and there is simply no logical reason for it, we’re pretty discombobulated.

From the way you describe it, it sounds like its something personal with the adult faith formation staff. Have you had a private meeting without any of the staff being present with the priest? If the staff is the only people talking to the priest about the situation and they have their own personal or selfish reasons for you to not have the group, perhaps the priest would make a different decision if someone from YOUR group talked to him privately and one on one.

If it was me though, and this staff was really pushing hard to not have the bible study on parish grounds, I would do as I suggested earlier and not have the bible study anywhere near the parish. But I would invite the priest from time to time to the study, regardless. I belonged to a bible study/prayer group from awhile when I was much younger. We met in someone’s home but people would invite priests from around the diocese that they knew personally to participate in the group from time to time. It was so enriching, probably more so than if we had been associated with just one parish.

 

[ahs]

… under the auspices and sponsorship of the parish, …The parish no longer wishes to endure the administrative work level that a 28 week study requires…

Sounds to me like no one can/wishes to invest the time to officially oversee the administrative part, and then it becomes a liability issue, while on Church property or under the sponsorship of the Parish. In other words, if the Parish sponsors it, they have to administrate it, and they are saying they don’t have the manpower to do that.

I’d talk to the Priest directly, or just have a home-study…and make certain that the Bible study adheres to the Catholic understanding of Scripture. You might also consider joining another Parish’s Bible study.

 

[JRRTFAN]

From the way you describe it, it sounds like its something personal with the adult faith formation staff. If it was me though, and this staff was really pushing hard to not have the bible study on parish grounds, .

Actually, it is a situation with the “faith formation” group in the parish, I think. The leader of which does not participate in the 28 week studies. But that’s neither here nor there.

This is not on parish property. This is in an individual home. We have absolutely no drag on the parish if we do this. Frankly, if the pastor forbids it, I am going to ask him when was the last time he told a cohabiting couple to not do what they want to do.

I’m just baffled.

 

[JRRTFAN]

Sounds to me like no one can/wishes to invest the time to officially oversee the administrative part, and then it becomes a liability issue, while on Church property or under the sponsorship of the Parish. In other words, if the Parish sponsors it, they have to administrate it, and they are saying they don’t have the manpower to do that.

I’d talk to the Priest directly, or just have a home-study…and make certain that the Bible study adheres to the Catholic understanding of Scripture. You might also consider joining another Parish’s Bible study.

It is a home study, the pastor has been talked to, the parish needs to do NOTHING. It’s just that our leader feels he needs permission from the pastor.

 

[ahs]

It is a home study, the pastor has been talked to, the parish needs to do NOTHING. It’s just that our leader feels he needs permission from the pastor.

Ah…I see. Well, you don’t need permission to read the Bible or do a Bible Study. Instead of “St. [Goodsaint’s] Bible Study” you can have “Catholic Bible Study Group atJRRTFAN’s House”

 

[PatriceA]

It is a home study, the pastor has been talked to, the parish needs to do NOTHING. It’s just that our leader feels he needs permission from the pastor.

From reading your OP though, the staff is the one that is “pushing” you not to do the bible study, correct? Are they the ones saying the pastor will prohibit the study or have you heard those exact words from the pastor’s lips? Like I said in my earlier comment, I’d go directly to the pastor and to the pastor only. Talk to him about the bible study, even invite him from time to time. I still believe he can not prohibit you from studying the bible on your own, even in a group, if there is truly no involvement from the parish staff.

 

[Uzziah1]

We’ve got a group of parishioners who have, under the auspices and sponsorship of the parish, done, for each of the last 5 years, one of the 28 week Catholic Scripture Study International programs. The parish no longer wishes to endure the administrative work level that a 28 week study requires. Our group, however, led by a canonically qualified individual, wants to do another 28 week study, on our own, with no parish involvement or work, next year. We are getting push back from the parish adult formation “staff” and may get a prohibition from the pastor, which I don’t think he has the authority to do but which would put several of our members and leader in an untenable position of disobedience if he prohibits and we procede.

Any ideas how to handle this? Personally, having lost all my family to Fundamentalist BSF it astounds me that a Catholic priest would not beg us to continue just to supplement his parish.

I’m been doing Bible study for 30 years. I have seen pastor after pastor oppose it or shut it down.

The Church is God’s preferred conduit to Heaven and God’s inspired teacher on Earth.

But, sometimes, our Church administrators are just plain dumb.

 

[Nicea325]

I’m been doing Bible study for 30 years. I have seen pastor after pastor oppose it or shut it down.

The Church is God’s preferred conduit to Heaven and God’s inspired teacher on Earth.

But, sometimes, our Church administrators are just plain dumb.

Why on earth would ANY pastor oppose Bible study at any parish?

 

[JRRTFAN]

Why on earth would ANY pastor oppose Bible study at any parish?

I’m afraid the pastor does what the staff wants and the staff don’t want. I am not a member of the parish (my parish doesn’t have the CSSI program) so I don’t feel like I can raise a big brouhaha, but dad gum! name a pope that wouldn’t put the smackdown on the “staff” at this place?

 

[Nicea325]

I’m afraid the pastor does what the staff wants and the staff don’t want. I am not a member of the parish (my parish doesn’t have the CSSI program) so I don’t feel like I can raise a big brouhaha, but dad gum! name a pope that wouldn’t put the smackdown on the “staff” at this place?

Oh trust me, I know because I work for a parish,but at the Faith Formation office. I know that the administration office loves to tell our pastor what to do or not to do,especially the Business Manager. So tired of it! Why on earth the pastor as the head priest does not call the shots is beyond me? Trust me, I have put the BM in her place really quick.