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Melchior_1
Guest
I’m sure there is nothing wrong with a dog being at Mass provided that…
It’s a St. Bernard.
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH
It’s a St. Bernard.
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH
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Rence
Guest
Yup. I see no problem at all with having a dog, or cat, in Church. They are creatures of God too. If people are so out of touch with nature, that theyAll animals are Catholic animals, since all creation belongs first and foremost to God…
when they see an animal in Church, then I think that’s really sad. I’m happy for a priest who has a pet companion in his life and I think it’s great when he tries to involve that pet companion in the community by letting the pet in Church or going to functions. Don’t see an issue with it at all whatsoever. People just need something to complain about. It’s part of the drama.
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Julia_Mae
Guest
BTW - although most churches accept their presence, churches are exempt from these laws. Also handicapped access laws.
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akela135
Guest
That’s great!I’m sure there is nothing wrong with a dog being at Mass provided that…
It’s a St. Bernard.
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH
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Rence
Guest
Well, first of all, they should not be exempt from these laws. And secondly, if they did dare refuse admittance of service animals, a large majority of people would rightfully have issue with it. That’s probably why they allow it, even if there’s an apathetic person involved who has issue with a service animal’s presence.
Oh, and if the chuch in question receives any federal funding at all, and may of them do, they’re funding can be dropped immediately if they don’t allow access to service animals, in accordance to ADA. If they receive any government grands or funds, they have to let them in and obey the laws, just like everyone else.
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Armor_of_Light
Guest
St. Bernard perhaps?Perhaps it’s a Catholic dog.
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Julia_Mae
Guest
I agree with you but I know of no parish that receives any federal funds. A school might, I suppose, but it would be separate from the parish. Federal funding is for Cath Charities and such, not parishes generally.
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PJH_74
Guest
I wonder if the church has a Dogma (bad I know, sorry) about this…
In all seriousness it sounds like the priest is using this dog in a way that makes church fun or inviting for people. I respect that some of you are very devout Catholics on this board, but not every person attending church has a faith experience that is as intense. Some people experience God at lot better when thing aren’t so serious all of the time and it sounds like this priest is doing something for that.
When I was in second grade, we had a clown Mass. The priest, the servers, and we children were dressed as clowns. This upset a number of people at the church. But I tell you what, I still remember that service 30 years later.
Doctrine may be important, but it is irrelevant if the people have no connection to the church or God. Sometimes you have to meet people where they are,
In all seriousness it sounds like the priest is using this dog in a way that makes church fun or inviting for people. I respect that some of you are very devout Catholics on this board, but not every person attending church has a faith experience that is as intense. Some people experience God at lot better when thing aren’t so serious all of the time and it sounds like this priest is doing something for that.
When I was in second grade, we had a clown Mass. The priest, the servers, and we children were dressed as clowns. This upset a number of people at the church. But I tell you what, I still remember that service 30 years later.
Doctrine may be important, but it is irrelevant if the people have no connection to the church or God. Sometimes you have to meet people where they are,
WOW!!! :hypno:
I have been reading about clown Masses in this forum for years. But in all that time you are the first person I have ever actually known to have claimed to have attended one.
Was this actually a *Catholic *Mass?
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Z_Ninja
Guest
All Dogs go to Heaven.Perhaps it’s a Catholic dog.
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TheDoctor
Guest
Why would this not be OK? I have it on good authority there is a German Shepherd at Mass in the Vatican almost every Sunday?
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TimothyH
Guest
My daughter went on vacation down to the coast from Atlanta with some friends of the family and described exactly what you described, a dog which sat quietly in the narthex and then carried the missal in his mouth during the recessional.
My daughter laughed at first, but then wondered out loud if it was appropriate.
-Tim-
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PJH_74
Guest
It was at St. Agnes in Butler, WI. I was in Catholic grade school there and the priest was a family friend. Was it a Mass? I’m nearly positive the Eucharist was celebrated…so yes I’m pretty sure it was a Catholic Mass.
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TheDoctor
Guest
Seriously now. If it is a service animal it should be allowed at Mass. If it is a pet I don’t think it is appropriate as it takes away from some of the dignity the Mass should have.
A near-by parish pastor has 2 rescue boxers that sit in his office during Mass and meet him in the narthex at the end. It is kind of sweet to see kids, who are ususally shy and may be intimidated by Priests, come running over to talk to Father and ask if they can pet the dogs.
A near-by parish pastor has 2 rescue boxers that sit in his office during Mass and meet him in the narthex at the end. It is kind of sweet to see kids, who are ususally shy and may be intimidated by Priests, come running over to talk to Father and ask if they can pet the dogs.
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SpeSalvi
Guest
Sounds like the Catholic Bear!Perhaps it’s a Catholic dog.
"An atheist was taking a walk through the woods, admiring all that evolution had created.
“What majestic trees! What powerful rivers! What beautiful animals!”, he said to himself. As he was walking along the river, he heard a rustling in the bushes behind him. When he turned to see what the cause was, he saw a 7-foot grizzly charging right towards him. He ran as fast as he could. He looked over his shoulder and saw that the bear was closing, He ran even faster, crying in fear. He looked over his shoulder again, and the bear was even closer. His heart was pounding and he tried to run even faster. He tripped and fell on the ground. He rolled over to pick himself up, but saw the bear right on top of him, reaching for him with his left paw and raising his right paw to strike him.
At that moment, the Atheist cried out “Oh my God!..” Time stopped. The bear froze. The forest was silent. Even the river stopped moving.
As a bright light shone upon the man, a voice came out of the sky, “You deny my existence for all of these years; teach others I don’t exist; and even credit creation to a cosmic accident. Do you expect me to help you out of this predicament? Am I to count you as a believer?”
The atheist looked directly into the light “It would be hypocritical of me to suddenly ask You to treat me as Christian now, but perhaps could you make the bear a Christian?” “Very well,” said the voice.
The light went out. The river ran again. And the sounds of the forest resumed.
And then the bear dropped his right paw … brought both paws together…bowed his head and spoke: “Bless us, Oh Lord, and these Thy gifts which we are about to receive…”
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CaptFun
Guest
youtube.com/watch?v=2TiwtPMDhKI&feature=related < nice clip from movie “Brother Sun, Sister Moon” shows** animals in church **- though not a massYup. I see no problem at all with having a dog, or cat, in Church. They are creatures of God too. If people are so out of touch with nature, that they
*(perhaps it was a reference to Francis’ custom of blessing animals - though probably OUTSIDE of Church). The scene begins with a rich friend from Assisi coming to try to get Francis to
drop his Quixotic “repairing the ruined Church” and begging. The friend sees the poor helping Francis … and their animals are “in the - ruined, unrebuilt - church” being milked and such.
The scene cuts to the finished Church (San Damiano near Assissi) in summer, filled with singing, people, gifts and animals - including a lamb on the altar. A living lamb
placidly sitting there. Symbolic - and great theatre for a movie scene - but after 5 seconds of quacking ducks, I can see why Jesus put them out of the Temple
.*
The Blessing of the Animals (a Franciscan thing hearkening back to St. Francis, an ardent animal lover) is well known – but it is separate from Mass.
A blind man’s seeing eye dog would probably be allowed in Church (wouldn’t it?) though I can’t remember having seen one.
But by and large, no prejudice against God’s wonderful animals, they don’t belong at mass.
There’s “nothing wrong with” a football uniform either - shoulder pads, cleats, and helmet - in fact these are good things in their place (but don’t wear them to Mass for HEAVEN’S sake). Not unless the whole Mass is JUST for the team (pre-or-postgame) and even then take the helmets off, right?
Churches have crying rooms for our babies who we love - but may not have the awareness and self-control to behave proper to the mass among the “general population” < (ooh, unfortunate prison reference this).
If assigned the “pro-animal at Mass” side in a debate I suppose I would make teary eyed lump-in-the-throat references to Bethlehem and Noah’s Ark and lightly scold that God LOVES the animals.
If given the other side in the same debate I’d have to mention Jesus overturning tables and ushering animals out of the Temple (setting them free), and quote Him about humans being worth “many sparrows” to quell the equivalency arguments. I might not remind people that in old school worship an animal in the holy place was usually a blood sacrifice for atonement. :sad_yes:
I’ll grant you animal advocates that the Mass could be more sensational if Father galloped in on a white horse and released doves to the sound of trumpets. But we will probably have to wait for the “even NEWER Order of the Mass” and the “spirit of” another Chuch Council liberally interpreted to get to the full on zoo. :nope: - never happen
- I’ll see my pets AFTER Mass I guess.The Catholic Church in Orange County CA. has just purchased the Crystal Cathedral (now named Christ Cathedral) which had a long tradition of animals in its “performed within the main body of the Church” pageants for Easter and Christmas. There were camels, oxen, donkeys, etc. etc. in the pageants. But during their services, no. The interior of the “Cathedral” was rather multi-purpose in that way. Like the almost gone now multipurpose sports stadiums, the two things were done but never at the same time.
As baseball and football teams hardly ever share stadiums anymore (Oakland still does) because things are done better if the place supports the event. It’s probably best to not merge the sanctuary with the petting zoo. Or even have it THAT close to the Church during the Parish carnival! After all, we have enough achooing every time Father offers a little incense - making a worshipper sit still for an hour while battling an animal allergy would be a positively medieval penance.
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tabycat
Guest
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robwar
Guest
that is a very good response. I have seen seeing dogs in church before and there is no problem. Likewise, there are dogs used to detect seizures etc. Maybe we judge to quickly without all the facts of the situation.Is the dogs just a pet for the priest? If so I could see how that may raise some concerns but perhaps the dog is a service dog, or being trained to be a service dog?
One of the families in my parish raised a service dog a while back. As the dog has to be capable of helping its owner in all situations the dog had to be conditoned to going to church as well. As there are many types of service and volunteer dogs it could prehaps be appropriate for the dog to be at church.
I obviously don’t know the whole situation, but I like to give people the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps the dog is a therapy dog that visits nursing homes or hosiptals and has to be trained to sit quietly while the priest says mass in these locations?
Or perhaps the dog gives a good example for all the people, after all if a dog can be respectful during mass, maybe it inspires rowdy parishoners to do the same!
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tabycat
Guest
I’m sure there is nothing wrong with a dog being at Mass provided that…
It’s a St. Bernard.
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH
I rremember my mom telling, when she was a girl, how the paster’s dog (I think it was a German Shaperd) setting in the corner of the frount pew during mass. This was some time during the 'teens or '20’s in Detroit Michigan. St. Bernards are just overgrown lap dogs. :whacky:
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thequeen
Guest
That is what I was thinking.Perhaps it’s a Catholic dog.
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