Priest's dog in church during Mass

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A dog is mans best friend- can’t see the harm as long as he is not barking or causing other disruptions. You might want to pet him after mass.
 
In the Philippines, pets wander around the street as part of everyday life and some of them do find themselves inside churches during Mass. I guess as long as they are not in the Sanctuary, then that is fine. I’ve seen someone chase away a stray dog away from the Sanctuary once, but usually if they just stay around the pews people just ignore them.
 
Ohana said:
Hey, All Dogs go to Heaven. Can’t say that about all people. 🙂
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And a far eastern religion says … oh, lots of things about animals. 🙂 Back here on Earth:

Dogs are colorblind “experts” say (think?) .

So I was thinkin’

if THIS priest’s*** D-O-G*** was dyslexic -

he might think Church is all about HIM. :ouch:

In heaven … dogs sniff … only incense! :highprayer:
 
As long as the dog genuflects and does the sign of the paws at the proper times, no big deal. 😃

Note that service animals are generally tolerated inside churches. Many pets are brought onto church grounds for blessings on the Feast of Saint Francis each year too. I think bringing random animals in without restriction is asking for trouble, but provided they’re kept out of the nave and other interior spaces of the church, I’m not about to go up in arms over their presence.
 
The_Curt_Jester said:
Didn’t edit in time… but I should also state that the priest tosses doggy treats for the dog to fetch, and even throws them into the sanctuary. :mad:
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he does this DURING MASS???

:eek::eek::mad::mad:

Someone should tell the Bishop this. A line needs to be drawn.
 
Crumpy said:
I never tried to upload a photo but I’m going to try. My niece went to a baptism in Ohio at a Catholic Mass and the priest had his dog in church during Mass.

She said the priest was, well, very laid back.

Well, I don’t know how to do it. But trust me, there’s a dog in church during Mass.
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Which diocese in Ohio? I think I may know something about this 😃
 
TheRealJuliane said:
he does this DURING MASS???

:eek::eek::mad::mad:

Someone should tell the Bishop this. A line needs to be drawn.
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Fortunately not yet. The time I heard this done, it was right before a holy hour or Mass, can’t remember which. People were already present in the church praying, apparently, when he came in and did this. I’ve also heard that he lets his dog run around and bother people, too.

And yes, someone should tell the bishop. I’m still praying for the pastor that won’t come!
 
Tantum_ergo said:
well why stop THERE, Rence? Only the PRIEST gets to have his dog? Why not open up the Church to anybody who wants to bring Fido or Kitty. . .or Iggy the iguana or Sam the snake or the Bubble Guppies? Heck, why not get rid of the 'walls of the church and let in the wasps and the hornets and the pooping pigeons etc? They’re all God’s creatures. It’s not like Mass is anything other than a big get-together anyway, so why not have everybody come in PJs and with pets and I phones and boom boxes and LOTS and LOTS of food and drink, so they can play with the pets, listen to music, and chow down during our community event, all comfy and cozy. . .:rolleyes:
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Yup, that’s right they are. And sometimes they’re better mannered and definitely a lot sweeter than many human beings. And the wasps and hornets and birds already get in, at least in our Church. And the good old time party your describing above doesn’t happen when dogs are in the Church, which again, makes them better behaved than people at times 👍
 
Tantum_ergo said:
well why stop THERE, Rence? Only the PRIEST gets to have his dog? Why not open up the Church to anybody who wants to bring Fido or Kitty. . .or Iggy the iguana or Sam the snake or the Bubble Guppies? Heck, why not get rid of the 'walls of the church and let in the wasps and the hornets and the pooping pigeons etc? They’re all God’s creatures. It’s not like Mass is anything other than a big get-together anyway, so why not have everybody come in PJs and with pets and I phones and boom boxes and LOTS and LOTS of food and drink, so they can play with the pets, listen to music, and chow down during our community event, all comfy and cozy. . .:rolleyes:
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I don’t think I’d have had the courage to ride that slippery slope… it looks pretty steep from here! 😛
 
I’ve shared this story on CAF before, but I’ll put it in here again, because it was too funny. Or perhaps inspired. Regardless, it bears repetition:

When I was a schoolgirl, pre VII, we had a temporary structure for a church in my parish. It was little better than a Quonset hut. It was heated in the winter, but there was no air conditioning in the summer, other than opening the plain colored glass windows and the doors.

We also had a pastor who had possibly the worst singing voice that God ever permitted in the ranks of His priests. Monsignor was from Boston, and had a very nasal, off-pitch voice that could probably cut glass. Think of Roseann Barr singing the National Anthem at the 1990 Padres game, and you’ve got the picture. Unfortunately, Monsignor chanted the High Mass at 11 AM on Sundays. Most of the cognoscenti parishioners avoided that Mass like the plague.

One particularly hot summer Sunday morning, I got “stuck” with going to the 11 AM Mass. My parents were good people, but not necessarily all that conscientious about going to Mass on Sundays. So my sister and I got drafted to bring the family envelope to church, and we’d better return home with a bulletin (mimeographed in those days) just to prove we’d been there.

Monsignor was droning his way through the Gloria when we heard the clicking of little nails on the linoleum floor. My sister and I surreptitiously turned (Sister was sitting in the pew behind us) and noticed that a little dog had wandered into church, and was proceeding down the main aisle. About halfway up the aisle, he sat down on his haunches, threw his head back, and howled, almost as if he was trying to match Monsignor’s “pitch.”

An usher made after the little dog, who eluded him, got towards the front of the church, and again sat down and howled.

Now, you would have had to have been around in those pre Vatican II days: Laughing in church simply wasn’t done. In fact, I firmly believed I’d go to hell if I laughed in church. I was turning purple with suppressed laughter, as was my kid sister.

The usher chased, and the dog howled. The congregation couldn’t stand it any longer, and cracked up in laughter. I was on the verge of hiccoughs from having held in the laughter, and just roared with it.

Even Monsignor was starting to crack a smile up there on the altar.

The usher finally corralled the dog, and shooed him out of church.

The following week, one of the other priests, who had a rich baritone voice, sang the High Mass. Monsignor did the 8 AM Low Mass, and the schedule stayed that way.

And many times through the years, whenever that memory comes up, I’m convinced that perhaps the Holy Spirit thought that Monsignor needed a special message, and sent that little doggie to add his voice to Mass. And I’m equally convinced that Jesus, the Apostles, and all the Saints, got as big a kick out of the impromptu canine chorale as we did here on earth!

As a dog lover myself, no, I don’t think that it’s appropriate for a priest, or anyone else, to bring a non service animal to church. But I’m very grateful that my parish offers a Blessing of Animals on the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. It’s held outside the church, on the parish grounds, and every animal gets blessed and gets a treat. I always take whatever pet I have to it.
 
everyone has brought up valid points,

but has anyone ever contacted a Bishop if one has seen this as a problem, I can only imagine if the Bishop doesn’t find it a problem that the person who complains still would…

but everyone brings up a valid point, what if it is a service dog in training, and if it starts with a dog, where does it end.

though granted there are other ways to train a service dog…

a poster had commented on a " clown mass " i find that more disturbing than having a dog or any animal present … IF someone said i had to choose which is worse.

I hope the " clown mass " which i assume means a Roman Catholic Mass, is nothing but a sick myth.

Also if a service dog is brought into a church, most of the time it is obvious, the person has obvious impared vision, may be carrying also a walking stick, may or may not have another person with them, the dog in question should at least have the proper harness and a vest that says something like, I am a service dog, or something similar.

plus posting a photo is rather worthless as with photoshop now anyone can make anything and claim it to be real.
 
odile53 said:
I’ve shared this story on CAF before, but I’ll put it in here again, because it was too funny. Or perhaps inspired. Regardless, it bears repetition:

When I was a schoolgirl, pre VII, we had a temporary structure for a church in my parish. It was little better than a Quonset hut. It was heated in the winter, but there was no air conditioning in the summer, other than opening the plain colored glass windows and the doors.

We also had a pastor who had possibly the worst singing voice that God ever permitted in the ranks of His priests. Monsignor was from Boston, and had a very nasal, off-pitch voice that could probably cut glass. Think of Roseann Barr singing the National Anthem at the 1990 Padres game, and you’ve got the picture. Unfortunately, Monsignor chanted the High Mass at 11 AM on Sundays. Most of the cognoscenti parishioners avoided that Mass like the plague.

One particularly hot summer Sunday morning, I got “stuck” with going to the 11 AM Mass. My parents were good people, but not necessarily all that conscientious about going to Mass on Sundays. So my sister and I got drafted to bring the family envelope to church, and we’d better return home with a bulletin (mimeographed in those days) just to prove we’d been there.

Monsignor was droning his way through the Gloria when we heard the clicking of little nails on the linoleum floor. My sister and I surreptitiously turned (Sister was sitting in the pew behind us) and noticed that a little dog had wandered into church, and was proceeding down the main aisle. About halfway up the aisle, he sat down on his haunches, threw his head back, and howled, almost as if he was trying to match Monsignor’s “pitch.”

An usher made after the little dog, who eluded him, got towards the front of the church, and again sat down and howled.

Now, you would have had to have been around in those pre Vatican II days: Laughing in church simply wasn’t done. In fact, I firmly believed I’d go to hell if I laughed in church. I was turning purple with suppressed laughter, as was my kid sister.

The usher chased, and the dog howled. The congregation couldn’t stand it any longer, and cracked up in laughter. I was on the verge of hiccoughs from having held in the laughter, and just roared with it.

Even Monsignor was starting to crack a smile up there on the altar.

The usher finally corralled the dog, and shooed him out of church.

The following week, one of the other priests, who had a rich baritone voice, sang the High Mass. Monsignor did the 8 AM Low Mass, and the schedule stayed that way.

And many times through the years, whenever that memory comes up, I’m convinced that perhaps the Holy Spirit thought that Monsignor needed a special message, and sent that little doggie to add his voice to Mass. And I’m equally convinced that Jesus, the Apostles, and all the Saints, got as big a kick out of the impromptu canine chorale as we did here on earth!

As a dog lover myself, no, I don’t think that it’s appropriate for a priest, or anyone else, to bring a non service animal to church. But I’m very grateful that my parish offers a Blessing of Animals on the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. It’s held outside the church, on the parish grounds, and every animal gets blessed and gets a treat. I always take whatever pet I have to it.
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What a great story and memory! Hilarious! Sounds like St. Francis saintly ears may have been offended by Msgr.'s off-key singing too! Har har har, so cute.
 
odile53 said:
…Monsignor was droning his way through the Gloria when we heard the clicking of little nails on the linoleum floor. My sister and I surreptitiously turned (Sister was sitting in the pew behind us) and noticed that a little dog had wandered into church, and was proceeding down the main aisle. About halfway up the aisle, he sat down on his haunches, threw his head back, and howled, almost as if he was trying to match Monsignor’s “pitch.”…
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I think I’ve seen your story before. :D:D:D

In general I don’t think animals (other than service animals) belong at Mass. But as others have noted, they are often less disruptive than some of the people, so I don’t get overly concerned if one makes an appearance. I am actually a bit more concerned about the occasional bird that comes in and can’t find its way out than I am of land animals. Land animals are unlikely to have an “accident” on my head. And I hate to see the poor bird so distressed at not being able to find a way out.
 
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