Signing petitions during Mass

[lauren613]

Hey not sure what section to put this in but I thought I would see what you all know. Today in Mass our priest passed out a petition for FOCA, for congregants to sign during Mass. Many people were very unhappy with this decision, not because they agree with FOCA but because we were being asked to sign this petition during Mass. I had been told in the past you cannot sign petitions during Mass and that if someone has a petition for the parish it must be done so outside of the builiding. Does anyone know what rules are on this?

 

[JimG]

Hey not sure what section to put this in but I thought I would see what you all know. Today in Mass our priest passed out a petition for FOCA, for congregants to sign during Mass. Many people were very unhappy with this decision, not because they agree with FOCA but because we were being asked to sign this petition during Mass. I had been told in the past you cannot sign petitions during Mass and that if someone has a petition for the parish it must be done so outside of the builiding. Does anyone know what rules are on this?

Signing a petition to oppose FOCA does not constitute endorsement of any political candidate or party. The Church has always opposed abortion and is allowed to make its opposition known. There’s nothing wrong with it.

(Sort of like back in the 50’s during Mass, people were asked to pledge not to attend movies that were condemned by the Legion of Decency. But abortion is more serious than movies.)

 

[Teflon93]

I myself am very anti-FOCA and very pro-life. I would object to filling out any petition during Mass, the point of which is to worship Christ.

If you send this to Ask An Apologist I’m sure Father Serpa would know.

I would recommend in the future putting petition forms at the entrances and collection boxes nearby.

 

[chrisb]

Grace and Peace,

It happened at my fairly liberal parish and I signed it and plan to mail on Monday and have no problem with it at all.

 

[grannymh]

Hey not sure what section to put this in but I thought I would see what you all know. Today in Mass our priest passed out a petition for FOCA, for congregants to sign during Mass. Many people were very unhappy with this decision, not because they agree with FOCA but because we were being asked to sign this petition during Mass. I had been told in the past you cannot sign petitions during Mass and that if someone has a petition for the parish it must be done so outside of the builiding. Does anyone know what rules are on this?

We did not have a petition per se. After the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, we were given the opportunity to fill out post cards. I took some home to give out to friends.

Here is a way to respond to someone in doubt about FOCA:

Say these words with authority.

“All human life is worthy of profound respect. Human life is sacred.”

Smile at the person
and add

“Including yours.”

Blessings,
granny

 

[Light_Seeker]

I myself am very anti-FOCA and very pro-life. I would object to filling out any petition during Mass, the point of which is to worship Christ.

110% agree with this! I have absolutely no problems signing anti-FOCA petitions, and want to, but not ***during ***Mass.

 

[maryj]

I myself am very anti-FOCA and very pro-life. I would object to filling out any petition during Mass, the point of which is to worship Christ.

If you send this to Ask An Apologist I’m sure Father Serpa would know.

I would recommend in the future putting petition forms at the entrances and collection boxes nearby.

And how would it be that you aren’t worshiping Christ by showing an outward sign that you are opposed to that which Christ is in direct oposition to? I’m sure if the OP comes back we could ask her at what point in the Mass was this talked about. At my parish it was discussed just before the closing prayer, and before the Mass began. I not only signed it and dropped it into the collection basket, I took extras, and then came home and emailed my Representative and my Congressman.
The Post cards, not a petition, was also placed at the entrances and near collection baskets. Foca is without a doubt the most radical abortion legislation ever considered in the United States. For the first time, abortion would become an entitlement the government must fund and promote
FOCA WILL:
eliminate regulations that protect women from unsafe clinics and unscrupulous abortionists
FORCE American taxpayers to fund abortions
Force every state to allow partial birth abortions- it’s sponsors have said a primary purpose of the bill is to ensure that killing partially born children will again be permitted nationwide
Run roughshod over the conscience rights of physicians, nurses and hospitals that oppose abortions on religious, moral and ethicla grounds.
Strip parents of their right and RESPONSIBILITY to be involved in their minor daughter’s abortion decision.

Show me, please where opposing this is not worshipping God. If this had indeed been talked about at length before the election, there would be no need for this conversation at all.

E-mail messages reinforce communications sent through postcards, letters, phone calls, and personal meetings. To send e-mails to Capitol hill or the White house, please visit this special e-mail action page at: nchla.org

For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, Have Mercy on us and on the whole world. Amen

 

[Light_Seeker]

And how would it be that you aren’t worshiping Christ by showing an outward sign that you are opposed to that which Christ is in direct oposition to?

Political activism, which signing a petition is, should not be performed at Mass. I have no issues with before Mass, or in closing remarks, as you describe at your parish. Every Catholic should be involved with FOCA, but let us not use Mass to rally our political weight.

If this is allowed during Mass, what’s next? Political petitions on euthanasia? Death penalty? Anti-Iraq war? Catholics have a responsibility to be very active, vocal, and in communion on these political and ethical issues. But not replacing prayer & worship at Mass with a secular political process of filling out forms to send to your representative.

 

[Teflon93]

Again, I am pro-FOCA. I circulated the petition among my friends weeks ago and sent it into the NRLC.

However, Mass is the eternal Last Supper and should not be interrupted by passing a petition around. It distracts from the reason we are there.

In our cathedral parish this morning, our wonderful priest called our attention to postcards we will send to our Congressional representatives before Mass, homilized on the conversion of St Paul and the need for conversion on the part of those who support FOCA, and emphasized before the dismissal the need for the Church to fight this.

He both strongly supported the fight against FOCA and did not disrupt the Mass.

I would similarly object to showing pro-life videos during Mass. Before or after, sure, but the eternal liturgy should not be so disrupted.

We will also have great difficulty opposing other disruptions on other issues. Shall we circulate petitions for socialized medicing during Mass? How about petitions for an immediate withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan?

Why not a petition every week?

FOCA is quite simply the gravest threat to the Church right now. That is not to say that there will not be others. There have been many others in the past.

Mass is where we partake of the Last Supper. Since Christ didn’t circulate petitions against Rome or the Pharisees during it, I don’t understand why we feel the need to do so.

Especially with less-disruptive means ready to hand.

 

[Teflon93]

And I note Light Seeker and I must be on the same wavelength, although Light Seeker’s post is far more succinct.

 

[lauren613]

And how would it be that you aren’t worshiping Christ by showing an outward sign that you are opposed to that which Christ is in direct oposition to? I’m sure if the OP comes back we could ask her at what point in the Mass was this talked about. At my parish it was discussed just before the closing prayer, and before the Mass began. I not only signed it and dropped it into the collection basket, I took extras, and then came home and emailed my Representative and my Congressman.
The Post cards, not a petition, was also placed at the entrances and near collection baskets. Foca is without a doubt the most radical abortion legislation ever considered in the United States. For the first time, abortion would become an entitlement the government must fund and promote
FOCA WILL:
eliminate regulations that protect women from unsafe clinics and unscrupulous abortionists
FORCE American taxpayers to fund abortions
Force every state to allow partial birth abortions- it’s sponsors have said a primary purpose of the bill is to ensure that killing partially born children will again be permitted nationwide
Run roughshod over the conscience rights of physicians, nurses and hospitals that oppose abortions on religious, moral and ethicla grounds.
Strip parents of their right and RESPONSIBILITY to be involved in their minor daughter’s abortion decision.

Show me, please where opposing this is not worshipping God. If this had indeed been talked about at length before the election, there would be no need for this conversation at all.

E-mail messages reinforce communications sent through postcards, letters, phone calls, and personal meetings. To send e-mails to Capitol hill or the White house, please visit this special e-mail action page at: nchla.org

For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, Have Mercy on us and on the whole world. Amen

It was done right after Communion

 

[Teflon93]

It was done right after Communion

That being the case, I’m okay with it. I thought it was done throughout the Mass.

After Communion, it’s no more disruptive than a second collection.

 

[maryj]

Political activism, which signing a petition is, should not be performed at Mass. I have no issues with before Mass, or in closing remarks, as you describe at your parish. Every Catholic should be involved with FOCA, but let us not use Mass to rally our political weight.

If this is allowed during Mass, what’s next? Political petitions on euthanasia? Death penalty? Anti-Iraq war? Catholics have a responsibility to be very active, vocal, and in communion on these political and ethical issues. But not replacing prayer & worship at Mass with a secular political process of filling out forms to send to your representative.

Not political activism, Christian activism. Where has it been stated that prayer and worship were replaced at Mass?

 

[Teflon93]

Not political activism, Christian activism. Where has it been stated that prayer and worship were replaced at Mass?

I think the OP “during Mass” left that in question. Envisioning my own parish, it would take significant time to work through the sanctuary; if passed out at the beginning it would be disruptive throughout and detract from focus on prayer and worship. If passed out after Communion, not so.

 

[maryj]

You see, here’s the thing that struck me in the OP. I was fairly sure the OP’s parish talked about this after Holy Communion but before dismissal. The words that struck me were that people were :“very unhappy” with this decision, not because they don’t disagree with FOCA, but because they were asked (see: put on the spot) to do it in church. I can almost be certain that the majority of those “very unhappy” were among the 54% of catholics who didn’t want to hear this before the election, or as stated, on these boards, for months before the election they would fight against FOCA if it came up. Maybe it’s time for us to shut up and fight, no not maybe, IT IS TIME!!

 

[grannymh]

You see, here’s the thing that struck me in the OP. I was fairly sure the OP’s parish talked about this after Holy Communion but before dismissal. The words that struck me were that people were :“very unhappy” with this decision, not because they don’t disagree with FOCA, but because they were asked (see: put on the spot) to do it in church. I can almost be certain that the majority of those “very unhappy” were among the 54% of catholics who didn’t want to hear this before the election, or as stated, on these boards, for months before the election they would fight against FOCA if it came up. Maybe it’s time for us to shut up and fight, no not maybe, IT IS TIME!!

I agree, maryj,

I’m willing to bet there are a lot of agnostics and atheists around who also oppose the broad wording of FOCA.

I can’t imagine any parent wanting their daughter to have an abortion in secret. Nor can I imagine people supporting the closing of clinics because of the negation of the right of conscience. Taxes are high enough without supporting abortion.

Blessings,
granny

 

[Light_Seeker]

maryj:

Not political activism, Christian activism. Where has it been stated that prayer and worship were replaced at Mass?

As with Teflon93, filling out petitions would take a very considerable amount of time at my Parish. Each Mass at my parish has 1200-1500 worshipers. If this were to be done, something has to be replaced at Mass, such as the homily.

The Pastor has a responsibility to educate the laity on Catholic positions. And I have heard several homilies devoted to the Catholic teachings on abortion before and after the election. And I have also heard homilies on FOCA, what it means, & why the Church is against it. The Pastor is fullfilling his obligation to teach these positions, it his responsibility and right to do so.

But filling out postcards during a Mass goes beyond the teaching/learning functions, into political activism. Not Christian activism, political. Political because it is using the political process of making our voices heard, as defined in the political methods of our secular laws in this great country. The issue may be a Christian moral issue, but filling out postcards to send to representatives, I’m sorry, that’s a political process.

maryj:

And how would it be that you aren’t worshiping Christ by showing an outward sign that you are opposed to that which Christ is in direct oposition to?

I worship Christ, but frankly, I could care les about showing outward signs. Please reference our Lord’s teachings in Mat 6:5 about hypocrites praying to be seen by men.

And for the record, I am very pro-life. And very engaged in political activism campaigns and demonstrations supporting pro-life.

 

[grannymh]

And for the record, I am very pro-life. And very engaged in political activism campaigns and demonstrations supporting pro-life.

Dear Light Seeker,

Thank you for the above comment. Hopefully, it will encourage the “shy” ones to stand up. Our priest used an interesting description of today’s society. He called it the “whatever” people.

Blessings,
granny

 

[maryj]

As with Teflon93, filling out petitions would take a very considerable amount of time at my Parish. Each Mass at my parish has 1200-1500 worshipers. If this were to be done, something has to be replaced at Mass, such as the homily.

The Pastor has a responsibility to educate the laity on Catholic positions. And I have heard several homilies devoted to the Catholic teachings on abortion before and after the election. And I have also heard homilies on FOCA, what it means, & why the Church is against it. The Pastor is fullfilling his obligation to teach these positions, it his responsibility and right to do so.

But filling out postcards during a Mass goes beyond the teaching/learning functions, into political activism. Not Christian activism, political. Political because it is using the political process of making our voices heard, as defined in the political methods of our secular laws in this great country. The issue may be a Christian moral issue, but filling out postcards to send to representatives, I’m sorry, that’s a political process.
I worship Christ, but frankly, I could care les about showing outward signs. Please reference our Lord’s teachings in Mat 6:5 about hypocrites praying to be seen by men.

And for the record, I am very pro-life. And very engaged in political activism campaigns and demonstrations supporting pro-life.

then I suggest you take it up with the Bishops, who asked our parishes to do this. And I believe the hypocrisy our Lord spoke of, is a completely different case. God’s blessings.

 

[Light_Seeker]

then I suggest you take it up with the Bishops, who asked our parishes to do this.

Perhaps your Bishop. Not mine.

In the letter Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, issued by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops:

“We Bishops have the … responsibility … to provide moral guidance on the moral dimensions of public decisions, and to encourage the faithful to carry out their responsibilities in political life. In fulfilling these responsibilities, the Church’s leaders are to avoid endorsing or opposing candidates or telling people how to vote.”

Furthermore, our Holy Father wrote in his first encyclical, Deus Caritas Est:

“The Church cannot and must not take upon herself the political battle to bring about the most just society possible. She cannot and must not replace the State”