Priestly Faux Pas?

[KephasAugustine]

I wasn’t sure where to ask this question, so I’m putting it here.

My girlfriend’s parish recently got a new pastor, whose first action was to fire the DRE, a pious man on assisted living with a wife and five children, saying they didn’t have the funds to pay him. He subsequently spent the former DRE’s salary on new chalices, new books, and things that weren’t entirely necessary for the life of the parish.

While I am sure the priest is pious and holy, he caves easily to what people want to hear, rather than stand steady and hold fast to the Truth of the Gospel. He has not only approved the holding of hands, but enforces it in the whole of the parish. He was washing his hands in the sacristy one day, and told the altar boys that they had to hold his hands during the Our Father. He also told the whole of the congregation that they were to hold hands from how on whenever they prayed the Our Father during Mass. I am told that the Church’s numbers of parishoners has increased, but most of the new people are there only to hear what they want to hear, rather than what is really the real Truth of Jesus Christ in a real liturgy.

My question is this: I realize that laypeople have some authority to correct a priest that is in error, but how would one go about doing that? What should be done about a priest who isn’t respecting the Mass’ rubrics, who puts a good and holy DRE out of a job so he could get flashy new sacramentals, and who forsakes the Truth in order to fill the pews?

 

[b_justb]

I wasn’t sure where to ask this question, so I’m putting it here.

My girlfriend’s parish recently got a new pastor, whose first action was to fire the DRE, a pious man on assisted living with a wife and five children, saying they didn’t have the funds to pay him. He subsequently spent the former DRE’s salary on new chalices, new books, and things that weren’t entirely necessary for the life of the parish.

While I am sure the priest is pious and holy, he caves easily to what people want to hear, rather than stand steady and hold fast to the Truth of the Gospel. He has not only approved the holding of hands, but enforces it in the whole of the parish. He was washing his hands in the sacristy one day, and told the altar boys that they had to hold his hands during the Our Father. He also told the whole of the congregation that they were to hold hands from how on whenever they prayed the Our Father during Mass. I am told that the Church’s numbers of parishoners has increased, but most of the new people are there only to hear what they want to hear, rather than what is really the real Truth of Jesus Christ in a real liturgy.

My question is this: I realize that laypeople have some authority to correct a priest that is in error, but how would one go about doing that? What should be done about a priest who isn’t respecting the Mass’ rubrics, who puts a good and holy DRE out of a job so he could get flashy new sacramentals, and who forsakes the Truth in order to fill the pews?

Most of your post has me asking, “How do you know that?” As far as any problems you think you are encountering with your parish priest, talk to the priest first before doing anything else. Call and make an appointment and have your questions at the ready so you can just get clarification on each point and tell him your concerns.

 

[kage_ar]

When it comes to Staff/hiring and firing, there are many factors including legal regs. While it may APPEAR this is what took place, what actually took place is between the Pastor, the DRE and the Diocese. Unless you were privy to the actual events, speculation about HR happenings is not wise.

Perhaps someone made an anonymous donation to purchase the new Vessels?

 

[DanB]

Your listed location mentions Steubenville, so technically I would think you can find the most orthodox answers. However, that said, you do tend to have an inside track to the DRE and his plight.
This may not be an answer, but I think the Church has a Parish Council and a Finance Council of which the priest would confide in, before he had let the man go. I’m sure there is more to it than your brief summation.
Go ask the priest or someone in office of the details…so you don’t feel like your in some sort of scandal.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Not all DRE’s are equal, and why this DRE was fired, isn’t known.

Our new pastor fired our DRE too. We were all shocked at first, but then came the issue of $5000 over budget in the CCD program.

When the new Pastor demanded that the DRE provide the parish council with a budget for the upcoming year, she refused, saying, it wasn’t necessary to provide a budget, but to buy what she felt was needed to run the program.

So, what may seem like an innocent firing, may not be the case and this pastor as actually getting things under control.

As far as holding hands during the Lords Prayer, its necessarily an abuse.

That all being said, do as some one else suggested. Have a meeting with the priest and express your concerns.

Jim

 

[Sr_Sally]

Most of your post has me asking, “How do you know that?” As far as any problems you think you are encountering with your parish priest, talk to the priest first before doing anything else. Call and make an appointment and have your questions at the ready so you can just get clarification on each point and tell him your concerns.

Absolutely. This is not your parish, it is your girlfriend’s. Presumably she wasn’t in the sacristy when he talked to the altar boys. The vestements, etc may have been his own that he brought with him, or something donated to the parish. You do not know if the DRE was fired, resigned, or something else. And if he was fired, you do not know the reasons.
Speculation in these matters is not a good idea. If you must have answers, ask to speak with the priest in person. But I don’t think he will discuss a private personnel issue with you.
Your best course of action (and your girlfriend’s) is to pray for this priest, the DRE, and the faith life of the parish.

 

[puzzleannie]

the rest of the parish should not know any of the details about employment, hiring, firing, salary, of parish staff. only those with a vested interest -altar society, finance council, anyone whose business it is to review vestments, plate, and other necessities for Mass and oversee their care, ordering new ones etc. should know any details about that. sounds like your parishioners have a lot of spare time for gossip which could be better spent on evangelization and ministries.

 

[bpbasilphx]

<<My girlfriend’s parish recently got a new pastor, whose first action was to fire the DRE, a pious man on assisted living with a wife and five children, saying they didn’t have the funds to pay him.>>

As a generaly practice, in churches I’ve been associated with, all the subordinate staff–associates, DREs, paid musicians (orgainsts and choir directors) and such–were expected to tender their resignations ASAP upon the coming of a new pastor, who should have the right to select his own assisting staff.

 

[otjm]

As far as holding hands during the Lords Prayer, its necessarily an abuse.

Jim

Well you were doing fine until that point.

Very specifically, the GIRM does not have any posture at all for how one is to hold one’s hands during the Our Father. It odes not say the one is to put one’s hands in their pockets, put them palms together, fingers pointed out; palms to gether fingers interlaced, at one’s side, or holding the hands of the person next to you. It is unregulated and has been unregulated for the last 35 to 40 years, or since the 1962 Missal was replaced. Archbishop Chaput, not one considered a liberal in most circles, has spoken succinctly about it; and I suspect he is better trained in proper liturgical rules than just about anyone herein: he stated that it is unregulated; that those who wish to do so are not to be criticised; and that those who wish to not do so should be left alone, and that charity should be towaerds all.

And per the Archbishop, the priest should not be enforcing hand holding at all; it is not part of the rubrics; neither should he be forbidding it, as the rubrics do not speak to the posture of the hands. And that is for the OP. whether or not it is worth the OP going to the pastor and making an issue of it is up to the OP, but since there are no rubrics dictating hand posture, the simplest would be to do what he is most comforatable with.

 

[puzzleannie]

every lay parish employee should be prepared to tender his resignation, along with an updated CV and request to be considered for the position, when a new pastor comes on board. the pastor should feel total freedom to build his own staff. I assume this would apply to diocesan employees when a new bishop arrives. Any employee who is not aware of this is quite frankly, living in a dream world. Even if the employee is retained (which usually happens) it is an opportunity to discuss the position with the pastor, share goals and agendas, bring to his attention the increasing scope and responsibilities of the position, highlight the employee’s growth in experience, competence and academic qualifications, renegotiate salary and contract, and renegotiate budget for the ministry.

 

[John_Lilburne]

…My question is this: I realize that laypeople have some authority to correct a priest that is in error, but how would one go about doing that? What should be done about a priest who isn’t respecting the Mass’ rubrics, who puts a good and holy DRE out of a job so he could get flashy new sacramentals, and who forsakes the Truth in order to fill the pews?

Complaints can be made to the priest himself, to his bishop and to the Vatican.
My not following the rubrics the priest is not following the Code of Canon Law, canon 846.
There is a system of justice for enforcing the Code of Canon Law. There is done through the diocese’s Tribunal. But if the people bring the case, rather than the bishop, it will cost them money.
More about the process can be learnt from reading the Code of Canon Law, which is long, but available at vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/_INDEX.HTM . An example of a case I brought is at romanrite.com/Tribunal.html .