Should I stay or should I go?

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Wretched_One_1

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So I’m at mass and the last of the priests delivered a Homily that I think might have been heretical? I’m not sure. One of the priests says that the Eucharist should not be a prize for good behavior which means he will not stop one from receiving even if he were to know they are in grave sin or had not yet completed RCIA. Another priest at the parish posted something on social media to the effect that the Bible does not reveal the Lord’s condemnation of homosexual behavior. And this week the one priest who had never said anything I determined to be heresy today talked about a local Catholic school hiring a lesbian who plans to gay “marry” another female as a positive development & that maybe the Church should consider allowing same-sex “marriage” . A. Isn’t that against the teachings of the Magesterium and as such heresy? B. Does this make all the masses said by this priest to be invalid, just the one he said? I am a revert to the Faith after a long period away from the Church and even spent a number of years as an atheist. When I was an atheist I had. no issues with gays getting married, marching in parades, being parents or teaching children. But as I have attempted to learn more about the Faith the Truths of Catholic doctrine have started to permeate my understanding to the point that when I heard him say these things I felt too upset for it to have been appropriate to receive the Blessed Sacrament. I had a senior parishoner invite me on social media to support Planned Parenthood! I’m very involved with the parish but I find myself going to other parishes that are more orthydox to confess and to receive the sacrament. Do I try to stick it out @this parish and hope to be an agent for change, or cut ties and find a parish where I’m not subjected to scandal on a weekly basis? I’m so glad to be able to ask this here! I didn’t think of this til just now but I’ve had a pretty trying day feeling isolated & betrayed. Sorry that’s dramatic but accurately described how I felt.
 
Wretched_One said:
So I’m at mass and the last of the priests delivered a Homily that I think might have been heretical? I’m not sure. One of the priests says that the Eucharist should not be a prize for good behavior which means he will not stop one from receiving even if he were to know they are in grave sin or had not yet completed RCIA. Another priest at the parish posted something on social media to the effect that the Bible does not reveal the Lord’s condemnation of homosexual behavior. And this week the one priest who had never said anything I determined to be heresy today talked about a local Catholic school hiring a lesbian who plans to gay “marry” another female as a positive development & that maybe the Church should consider allowing same-sex “marriage” . A. Isn’t that against the teachings of the Magesterium and as such heresy? B. Does this make all the masses said by this priest to be invalid, just the one he said? I am a revert to the Faith after a long period away from the Church and even spent a number of years as an atheist. When I was an atheist I had. no issues with gays getting married, marching in parades, being parents or teaching children. But as I have attempted to learn more about the Faith the Truths of Catholic doctrine have started to permeate my understanding to the point that when I heard him say these things I felt too upset for it to have been appropriate to receive the Blessed Sacrament. I had a senior parishoner invite me on social media to support Planned Parenthood! I’m very involved with the parish but I find myself going to other parishes that are more orthydox to confess and to receive the sacrament. Do I try to stick it out @this parish and hope to be an agent for change, or cut ties and find a parish where I’m not subjected to scandal on a weekly basis? I’m so glad to be able to ask this here! I didn’t think of this til just now but I’ve had a pretty trying day feeling isolated & betrayed. Sorry that’s dramatic but accurately described how I felt.
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Wow, I feel for you! That would make me queezy having to endure that. I’m not sure about the validity of the mass with that situation but by all means if you feel uncomfortable you have every right to find a more orthodox parish. If you want to take another route, maybe you could privately confront the priests about this. I’m not sure if this will end well though as someone I know got a door slammed in their face when they confronted one priest about not kneeling during the consecration. God is with you through this. Pray about it and ask him what he wants you to do. If you don’t get an answer use your (God given) best judgement. I hope it turns out well for you!
 
I would not attend that parish because I wouldn’t be able to focus on God. I would be constantly bracing for heresy and analyzing everything someone said. That said, if you don’t have such a problem then you could try to remain. It seems there are some entrenched positions there, though. Regardless of what you choose, I would contact the bishop about what is being taught at this parish.
 
Run! Do not walk to the nearest CATHOLIC church. I don’t wish to make a judgement on your priests, but you need spiritual nourishment that you are not getting at this site. Pray and run.😦
 
Write an anonymous letter to your bishop telling him what you told us. Then it is up to him to check into it. He needs to know.

But I would seek out another parish to attend for now because it is hurting you spiritually.
 
fred_conty said:
Write an anonymous letter to your bishop telling him what you told us. Then it is up to him to check into it. He needs to know.

But I would seek out another parish to attend for now because it is hurting you spiritually.
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I think the OP ought to bear in mind the possibility that the bishop is fully aware of what is going on, and condones it.

And why an anonymous letter? The Church isn’t the mafia. The bishop isn’t going to make you an offer you can’t refuse – is he? The Church’s means of persuasion stop short of concrete overshoes.
 
There was a thread on a similar subject last week, and I think the conclusion was that the Mass was still valid.
TARRAT said:
Run! Do not walk to the nearest CATHOLIC church. I don’t wish to make a judgement on your priests, but you need spiritual nourishment that you are not getting at this site. Pray and run.😦
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Agreed, as I said in a thread just last week, referring to when I was in a similar situation.

When the priest handed over the podium to a member of a dissident Catholic group to give the “homily,” I decided I’d go to Mass somewhere else.
 
Are you sure it’s a Catholic church? Maybe you joined an Episcopalian church by mistake?
 
BartholomewB said:
I think the OP ought to bear in mind the possibility that the bishop is fully aware of what is going on, and condones it.

And why an anonymous letter? The Church isn’t the mafia. The bishop isn’t going to make you an offer you can’t refuse – is he?
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Because some people feel uneasy about giving out their name, and the name isn’t necessary to inform the bishop.

We can’t go on the assumption that the bishop already knows because if everyone worked under that assumption he wouldn’t be informed.
 
fred_conty said:
Write an anonymous letter to your bishop telling him what you told us. Then it is up to him to check into it. He needs to know.

But I would seek out another parish to attend for now because it is hurting you spiritually.
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An anonymous letter won’t do anything. It’ll end up in the waste basket.
 
fred_conty said:
After it is read.
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No, it will end up in the wastebasket before the Bishop sees it. It will not go directly to the Bishop, someone on his staff will screen it first. Writing an anonymous letter is more or less hearsay–if one is anonymous, they cannot be contacted to determine the truth, if need be, and no one is going to just believe something claimed in an anonymous letter to be the truth–there are all kinds of cranks out there who will write anything. The Bishop and his staff just do not have that kind of time to waste to investigate things that cannot be verified by the accuser.

If you sign your name and give a way to be contacted, it gives some legitimacy to your letter. But whether the Bishop sees it or not is another matter, and if he decides to investigate and act is entirely his call.
 
Wretched_One said:
So I’m at mass and the last of the priests delivered a Homily that I think might have been heretical? I’m not sure. One of the priests says that the Eucharist should not be a prize for good behavior which means he will not stop one from receiving even if he were to know they are in grave sin or had not yet completed RCIA. Another priest at the parish posted something on social media to the effect that the Bible does not reveal the Lord’s condemnation of homosexual behavior. And this week the one priest who had never said anything I determined to be heresy today talked about a local Catholic school hiring a lesbian who plans to gay “marry” another female as a positive development & that maybe the Church should consider allowing same-sex “marriage” . A. Isn’t that against the teachings of the Magesterium and as such heresy? B. Does this make all the masses said by this priest to be invalid, just the one he said? I am a revert to the Faith after a long period away from the Church and even spent a number of years as an atheist. When I was an atheist I had. no issues with gays getting married, marching in parades, being parents or teaching children. But as I have attempted to learn more about the Faith the Truths of Catholic doctrine have started to permeate my understanding to the point that when I heard him say these things I felt too upset for it to have been appropriate to receive the Blessed Sacrament. I had a senior parishoner invite me on social media to support Planned Parenthood! I’m very involved with the parish but I find myself going to other parishes that are more orthydox to confess and to receive the sacrament. Do I try to stick it out @this parish and hope to be an agent for change, or cut ties and find a parish where I’m not subjected to scandal on a weekly basis? I’m so glad to be able to ask this here! I didn’t think of this til just now but I’ve had a pretty trying day feeling isolated & betrayed. Sorry that’s dramatic but accurately described how I felt.
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Wow. Sorry for your situation. I think I would leave. I guess you should write a letter to the Bishop describing everything you have witnessed. Pray about it.
 
CB_Catholic said:
No, it will end up in the wastebasket before the Bishop sees it. It will not go directly to the Bishop, someone on his staff will screen it first. Writing an anonymous letter is more or less hearsay–if one is anonymous, they cannot be contacted to determine the truth, if need be, and no one is going to just believe something claimed in an anonymous letter to be the truth–there are all kinds of cranks out there who will write anything. The Bishop and his staff just do not have that kind of time to waste to investigate things that cannot be verified by the accuser.

If you sign your name and give a way to be contacted, it gives some legitimacy to your letter. But whether the Bishop sees it or not is another matter, and if he decides to investigate and act is entirely his call.
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Then mark the letter “Personal” , then he will see it.
 
I experienced a similar situation at my small church. I had asked the priest several times for an opportunity to talk with him. He didn’t have time. I wrote a letter to our priest and outlined what I didn’t think was right. I was respectful and factual. His response was quick…and not too kind. I responded with thank you for your honest response. . He responded immediately with an apology and an invitation to sit and discuss my concerns.

Your situation though is different. The whole pastoral team appears to be going in the same direction. I would send your letter to the Bishop, sign it, and find another parish. It’s going to take a while for things to change at your current church. And I would have a difficult time receiving the Holy Eucharist when I am raging inside against the Homily.

God Bless You.
 
Wretched_One said:
So I’m at mass and the last of the priests delivered a Homily that I think might have been heretical? I’m not sure. One of the priests says that the Eucharist should not be a prize for good behavior which means he will not stop one from receiving even if he were to know they are in grave sin or had not yet completed RCIA. Another priest at the parish posted something on social media to the effect that the Bible does not reveal the Lord’s condemnation of homosexual behavior. And this week the one priest who had never said anything I determined to be heresy today talked about a local Catholic school hiring a lesbian who plans to gay “marry” another female as a positive development & that maybe the Church should consider allowing same-sex “marriage” . A. Isn’t that against the teachings of the Magesterium and as such heresy? B. Does this make all the masses said by this priest to be invalid, just the one he said? I am a revert to the Faith after a long period away from the Church and even spent a number of years as an atheist. When I was an atheist I had. no issues with gays getting married, marching in parades, being parents or teaching children. But as I have attempted to learn more about the Faith the Truths of Catholic doctrine have started to permeate my understanding to the point that when I heard him say these things I felt too upset for it to have been appropriate to receive the Blessed Sacrament. I had a senior parishoner invite me on social media to support Planned Parenthood! I’m very involved with the parish but I find myself going to other parishes that are more orthydox to confess and to receive the sacrament. Do I try to stick it out @this parish and hope to be an agent for change, or cut ties and find a parish where I’m not subjected to scandal on a weekly basis? I’m so glad to be able to ask this here! I didn’t think of this til just now but I’ve had a pretty trying day feeling isolated & betrayed. Sorry that’s dramatic but accurately described how I felt.
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I would probably end up leaving that Parish, but not before I addressed these matters with each priest involved. I think I would actually write a letter to each priest and give it to them in person. I would first write that letter to the Bishop.

In this letter I would discuss your concerns, and I would also quote I Corinthians 11:27-31 which says, “Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep.”

The priest is ultimately responsible for his flock, and he needs to know that this is a very serious matter. I would not leave without talking to them about it first. Tell them you could not stay in a parish that was in such grievous error according to church doctrine and scripture. Confronted with these things, the choice would be theirs, both before the Lord and the parish.
 
Thank you all for kind responses sorry I have taken so long to do so. So I went ahead & notified the Archbishop via e-mail and snail mail. I got a wonderful response by the Archbishop in writing and a follow up call from the Archdiocese office of clergy who thanked me for notifying them of what was going on. I had not attended the parish in question since the mass about which I wrote and apart from Facebook interaction with a few parishioners, don’t really have much contact so not sure what will become of those involved. I thank all you who responded. I really was at a loss for how to handle the situation. I look back to before I found this group. I probably would have continued to attend at parish until I became truly miserable or left without notifying the proper authority.
 
RedFox0456 said:
I would not attend that parish because I wouldn’t be able to focus on God. I would be constantly bracing for heresy and analyzing everything someone said. That said, if you don’t have such a problem then you could try to remain. It seems there are some entrenched positions there, though. Regardless of what you choose, I would contact the bishop about what is being taught at this parish.
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This is sound advice I think. 👍
 
TARRAT said:
Glad you got a response but is anything going to be done. :confused:
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It’s hard to say. As I mentioned I’ve refrained from attending mass at that parish so unless one of the few remaining FB friends happens to mention something I really have no way of knowing. When I spoke to the Archbishop’s personnel they advised that they shared my concerns & I got a sense that I was not the first parishioner that had expressed issues with the nonsense going on there. However, because the parish is not a diocesan parish addressing concerns may not be as cut & dry as if it were. I do know that there had been some talk whether the order would continue to fund the parish as the pastor is nearing retirement and parish participation has been dwindling with parish members who are getting older not being replaced by their children who don’t seem to think it’s important to attend Sunday mass for some reason. “By their fruit ye shall no them”, comes to mind…
 
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