Prayer of the Faithful- Pray for policy

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SalesianSDB

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I attended Mass today and during the Prayer of the Faithful, they prayed for illegal immigrants who are being persecuted and then prayed for the passage of the Dream Act. I’m perfectly OK with praying for illegal immigrants and immigrants in general. However, I was kind of put back by the praying for the passage of a certain act.

Is this allowed?

This is the second time I’ve seen this, and in a different diocese.
 
I don’t think it is against the rules…Jesus said to give Caesar what is Caesar’s, not that we couldn’t try to get Caesar to change his mind, right?

Are there any current alternatives for children who are here illegally?
If not, it’s either the Dream Act, or going back to “Country X” the day you turned 18.
Also, to be a good Catholic, do you have to tell authorities about a crime of which you are aware (as long as it isn’t dangerous for you to reveal it)?
I.e., would that 18 year old -actually, any kid who has reached the age of reason and who’s aware that their family is not legally in the US- have to give immigration services a call to tell them that their family is illegally here?

To pray that the Dream Act passes is to pray that these kids not have to pay for their parents’ transgressions, and be put in the dilemma of incriminating their family, one that many of us who are more than 18 years old would have difficulty with.

To be Devil’s advocate, so to speak, maybe it would be best for your parish to pray for an acceptable alternative to the Dream Act? Or that all illegal immigrants see the error of their ways, and file the proper paperwork right away, or leave the country and come back if they can legally do so.

Hopefully I didn’t show too much ignorance on this today. I probably showed a little bias though :rolleyes:
[SIGN]Disclaimer: I haven’t read the Dream Act, so I’m looking forward to being schooled by anyone that has (on either side of the argument):D[/SIGN]
 
Please don’t discuss government policies in the L&S forum. Take such discussion to the Social Justice forum. Please limit this thread’s discussion to whether or not political policy ought to be part of the Prayers of the Faithful. Thank you all. 🙂
 
There is no hard and fast rule on what specifically can or cannot be said during the prayer of the faithful. That being said, the Pastor has final authority on this so it would be best to take up with him any issues during the prayer that you find objectionable.
 
From the GIRM
*
*The Prayer of the Faithful
*
Click to expand...
  1. In the Prayer of the Faithful, the people respond in a certain way to the word of God which they have welcomed in faith and, exercising the office of their baptismal priesthood, offer prayers to God for the salvation of all. It is fitting that such a prayer be included, as a rule, in Masses celebrated with a congregation, so that petitions will be offered for the holy Church, for civil authorities, for those weighed down by various needs, for all men and women, and for the salvation of the whole world.67
  2. As a rule, the series of intentions is to be

  1. *]For the needs of the Church;
    *]For public authorities and the salvation of the whole world;
    *]For those burdened by any kind of difficulty;
    *]For the local community.

    Nevertheless, in a particular celebration, such as Confirmation, Marriage, or a Funeral, the series of intentions may reflect more closely the particular occasion.
    1. It is for the priest celebrant to direct this prayer from the chair. He himself begins it with a brief introduction, by which he invites the faithful to pray, and likewise he concludes it with a prayer. The intentions announced should be sober, be composed freely but prudently, and be succinct, and they should express the prayer of the entire community.
    The intentions are announced from the ambo or from another suitable place, by the deacon or by a cantor, a lector, or one of the lay faithful.68

    The people, however, stand and give expression to their prayer either by an invocation said together after each intention or by praying in silence.
 
zab said:
From the GIRM
**
Click to expand...
lets use the new GIRM whenever possible, since the old one now means nothing

*69. In the Universal Prayer or Prayer of the Faithful, the people respond in some sense to the Word of God which they have received in faith and, exercising the office of their baptismal Priesthood, offer prayers to God for the salvation of all. It is desirable that there usually be such a form of prayer in Masses celebrated with the people, so that petitions may be offered for holy Church, for those who govern with authority over us, for those weighed down by various needs, for all humanity, and for the salvation of the whole world.[66]
  1. The series of intentions is usually to be:
a) for the needs of the Church;

b) for public authorities and the salvation of the whole world;

c) for those burdened by any kind of difficulty;

d) for the local community.

Nevertheless, in any particular celebration, such as a Confirmation, a Marriage, or at a Funeral, the series of intentions may be concerned more closely with the particular occasion.
  1. It is for the Priest Celebrant to regulate this prayer from the chair. He himself begins it with a brief introduction, by which he calls upon the faithful to pray, and likewise he concludes it with an oration. The intentions announced should be sober, be composed with a wise liberty and in few words, and they should be expressive of the prayer of the entire community.
They are announced from the ambo or from another suitable place, by the Deacon or by a cantor, a reader, or one of the lay faithful.[67]

The people, for their part, stand and give expression to their prayer either by an invocation said in common after each intention or by praying in silence.*
 
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