Please pray for a Legalistic Priest

[Brendan]

What about it? Are you suggesting that I said something contrary to what this Ecumenical Council said?

Again, obedience does not mean we have to like it or agree with it. Furthermore, it doesn’t mean that we have to agree that a decision made by the Vatican is the correct one. Instead, we are simply to obey…

In which case, we agree

(The bolded above was all I was trying to say)

 

[Annabelle_Marie]

So far we don’t have any reason to think the priest needs any “heart softening”
Maybe the cranky parishioners are the ones who need some “heart softening”

Why is it wrong to pray that a priest (especially a new one) learn a pastoral approach that is …maybe not so rough around the edges?

I don’t have anything against the priest…he is new…I’d rather pray for him then have him responsible for souls turned away.

Priest have it tough…it seems like the OP is just saying that this new one has almost all of it down…he just needs a little heart softening.

As far as the parishioners…the OP said he knew of several that had been hurt so it doesn’t sound like they need any more softening…

Sorry I just don’t get what is wrong about praying for our priests?

We have a really good one at our parish and I pray for him every day!

Why can’t you just pray for God’s will for the priest?

 

[Annabelle_Marie]

I hate threads like this.

All we have is one side of the story. This poor priest is not here to defend himself. We only have the word of one anonymous user on the internet.

I always pray for priests. I will especially remember this one as it seems there are those out there against him.

I will also pray for the user who posted this.

I’m not “against” the priest.

What I am against are those who think a severe approach is the best way. As was said “knock us upside the head”

And I can certainly understand how a new priest may not quite have everything down yet…

 

[The_Curt_Jester]

In my experience, people can be “hurt” by a soft-spoken priest who gently explains rules. Some people will be hurt no matter what if someone else tells them that they are wrong or asks them to do something they don’t want to. I’m skeptical when the sole basis for how good a priest’s methods are is on “hurt” parishioners.

 

[superamazingman]

In my experience, people can be “hurt” by a soft-spoken priest who gently explains rules. Some people will be hurt no matter what if someone else tells them that they are wrong or asks them to do something they don’t want to. I’m skeptical when the sole basis for how good a priest’s methods are is on “hurt” parishioners.

Exactly. I’m sure Jesus’ whip of cords hurt feelings as well. Told that story in a different way, I’m sure many would accuse him of not being pastoral as well.

 

[Brendan]

I’m not “against” the priest.

What I am against are those who think a severe approach is the best way.

I don’t think anyone here thinks that a severe approach is ALWAYS the best approach, but I would claim that it cannot be ruled out.

After all, at time it is the Christ like and the pastoral thing to do.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

I’m not “against” the priest.

What I am against are those who think a severe approach is the best way. As was said “knock us upside the head”

And I can certainly understand how a new priest may not quite have everything down yet…

The big problem here is that we do not know that a severe approach is being taken.

All we know is that the user who posted this thread has an issue with this poor priest and is characterizing him (the priest) as taking a severe approach.

As I said, we only have one person’s perception of what is happening here and the priest is not able to defend himself.

I will always err on the side of the one who is unable to defend themself,

This thread amounts to nothing more than gossip.

 

[OraLabora]

Actually. no He was not.

If He was condeming legalism, He would not have started out the critique of the Pharisees as such

Note that He was telling the people that they needed to follow the teachers of the Law, for they sit in the Chair of Moses ( a position now filled in the Chair of Peter)

But that the current ‘crop’ so to speak practiced what they did not preach.

Can the same be said for the Church, either the Pope, the bishops, or the priest in question.

The chapter was on HYPOCRISY, not on any legalism.

We see that again in Mt 23:15

So Christ’s ire was NOT directed at those who followed the law, in fact He directed all to do what they law givers directed.

What He objected to was Hypocrites, those who said one thing and did another.

If the priest mentioned in the OP was doing such, if he demanded that those in his parish followed all the rubrics to a ‘t’, but deliberately did not do so himself, then yes, he is deserving of critcism. If not, if he asked no more from others that he will do himself, then there are no grounds for critcism.

Of course, Luke 18 goes on to say:

11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed[a] thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

ISTM that superficial observance of the rules isn’t enough. It rarely is, and often, doesn’t last.

True conversion of the heart on the other hand brings lasting change. It’s why St. Benedict insists on it so much in his famous Rule, and why he insists so much on humility.

I’ve been hanging out with Benedictines for over 10 years now. They never use legalism in their homilies, nor in their spiritual direction. Yet they have truly helped transform many lives and helped people with deep psychological wounds overcome them and surpass themselves.

They never teach heresy, and they always have Truth in the back of their minds. They use encouragement, not fear, to move us along, and they promote healing, not strict observance of rules.

The Church needs more like them. They do miracles with broken souls, failing marriages, addictions, etc.

 

[Annabelle_Marie]

The big problem here is that we do not know that a severe approach is being taken.

All we know is that the user who posted this thread has an issue with this poor priest and is characterizing him (the priest) as taking a severe approach.

As I said, we only have one person’s perception of what is happening here and the priest is not able to defend himself.

I will always err on the side of the one who is unable to defend themself,

This thread amounts to nothing more than gossip.

Actually I did not get from the OP - maybe we read it differently. I didn’t get the impression that he thought he was a poor priest or that he disliked him. Just that he felt this priest might be a little over zealous in his new assignment and wanted prayer for him.

What I did get from other posters here was that legalistic and severe was the way to go.

I don’t think anything bad at all about the priest from the OP…and of course will continue to pray for him in his new assignment.

Maybe we read it differently…

 

[Annabelle_Marie]

I don’t think anyone here thinks that a severe approach is ALWAYS the best approach, but I would claim that it cannot be ruled out.

After all, at time it is the Christ like and the pastoral thing to do.

We obviously disagree and will have to leave it at that…

 

[Cavaille-Coll]

In my experience, people can be “hurt” by a soft-spoken priest who gently explains rules. Some people will be hurt no matter what if someone else tells them that they are wrong or asks them to do something they don’t want to. I’m skeptical when the sole basis for how good a priest’s methods are is on “hurt” parishioners.

People get their feelings hurt:
When their chosen godparents are denied because they are in an irregular marriage.
When the priest refuses to marry a couple because of their immaturity or a prior bond.
When a homily touches on Church teachings that some people don’t want to hear.
When parishioners are asked to be respectful and quiet before and after Mass.
When the pastor attempts any communication with “contemporary” musicians about the Holy Father’s and Vatican II’s actual teachings on sacred music.
When the traditional Halloween party is brought to an end.
When the priest dares to utter anything in Latin.
Et cetera.

Folks, if you don’t want to have a priest upholding the teachings of your Church, please either humble yourselves before the Lord, or find another church that meets your satisfaction.