Pondering what to do

[sayntteresa2]

I attended Mass this weekend and right after Communion, the priest walked to the podium and told a joke about at bishop and a seminarian. He has done this type of “act” on several occ. but this is the first time he’s told a joke about a bishop, making him the “fool” of the joke. In the past, this priest has made sarcastic comments regarding HIS bishop. No one has brought him to task on the subject…nor has anyone thought it to be inappropriate to tell jokes after Communion…except me…I’ve been told to “lighten up”…(not going to happen!!) I find this behavior completely disrespectful…but…this time, after Mass, I asked the priest if His Bishop told him that joke…and his reply was no…that it fit his bishop and he snickered, walking away from me…NOW…here is my question…I think this priest is pushing the envelope and is out of line making disrespectful comments about the bishop from the pulpit…AND I’m tired of his disrespect of Holy Communion by his juvenile behavior…AND I’m wondering what and were I can go with my complaint…
Thanks…
sayntteresa2

 

[kitkatty]

I1m assuming this was directly after communion and not after the final blessing, correct? As far as the joke goes I guess it would depend on the joke but it sounds as from the way you put it the joke was disrespectful so I would have to say no, not okay.

 

[benedictgal]

I would gingerly approach the priest. Sometimes, humor can work to illustrate a point; however, it shouldn’t be used every time.

Furthermore, humerous jokes and anecdotes would be better used during retreat settings, which are less formal, as opposed to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. You certainly don’t hear Pope Benedict XVI cracking a joke during his homilies, or even after the post-Communion prayer.

 

[MusicMan]

I could swear that Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger cracked a joke during one of the Interegnum Masses. A tasteful and appropriate joke, but a joke nonetheless.

 

[benedictgal]

I could swear that Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger cracked a joke during one of the Interegnum Masses. A tasteful and appropriate joke, but a joke nonetheless.

But, now as Pope, I don’t think he’s done much of that. I think, though, that the only Interregnum Mass he celebrated (aside from the Funeral Mass) was the Mass for the Election of a New Pope.

Anyhow, even if he did, it was probably not as banal as what the OP reported.