The Angry Young Man

[DJ_Pius_X]

Ever since getting back from China, I’ve wanted to be able to learn more about Catholicism. Lately, however, whenever I go to mass, instead of feeling joy or gratitude I feel anger. This is really disturbing to me.

I am praying for help, but I can’t seem to find peace. This has been a problem for weeks now. I am angry at church leadership. I just have so much resentment–toward the CDF for bullying dissidents into submission, toward the fact that I’m unable to receive communion, toward the priesthood and the amount of power they wield, toward the bishops who covered up child abuse…sometimes I think that this isn’t worth it, and the spiritual awakening that I had in China was wrong; that I should just go off and be Old Catholic or Episcopalian.

Today, I went to mass at my university, and was thinking about power abuse by the papacy and magisterium, when an an altar server (student my age) asked me to “consider removing my hat while in God’s house”. He said nothing to the girl with a veil in front of me. If that’s how it was going to be, fine. I got up and left.

Does anyone else have this problem? I feel like I can’t go to mass anymore without getting ticked off at something. This is really out of character for me, because I’m usually a friendly, happy person; in fact, it’s a little worrying. I feel like I can’t enjoy mass again because of what it represents to me.

Help?

 

[E.E.N.S]

Ever since getting back from China, I’ve wanted to be able to learn more about Catholicism. Lately, however, whenever I go to mass, instead of feeling joy or gratitude I feel anger. This is really disturbing to me.

I am praying for help, but I can’t seem to find peace. This has been a problem for weeks now. I am angry at church leadership. I just have so much resentment–toward the CDF for bullying dissidents into submission, toward the fact that I’m unable to receive communion, toward the priesthood and the amount of power they wield, toward the bishops who covered up child abuse…sometimes I think that this isn’t worth it, and the spiritual awakening that I had in China was wrong; that I should just go off and be Old Catholic or Episcopalian.

Today, I went to mass at my university, and was thinking about power abuse by the papacy and magisterium, when an an altar server (student my age) asked me to “consider removing my hat while in God’s house”. He said nothing to the girl with a veil in front of me. If that’s how it was going to be, fine. I got up and left.

Does anyone else have this problem? I feel like I can’t go to mass anymore without getting ticked off at something. This is really out of character for me, because I’m usually a friendly, happy person; in fact, it’s a little worrying. I feel like I can’t enjoy mass again because of what it represents to me.

Help?

I just wanted to point out that women are traditionally supposed to wear a veil in a church, and men are supposed to have their heads uncovered.

 

[DJ_Pius_X]

I just wanted to point out that women are traditionally supposed to wear a veil in a church, and men are supposed to have their heads uncovered.

…

oh.

I feel like an idiot now.

Sorry.

Still, that speaks to gender differences that I’m not really comfortable with. I’m a big fan of egalitarian Christianity. Besides, covering my head is an act of humility regardless of the gender, yeah?

 

[E.E.N.S]

…

oh.

I feel like an idiot now.

Sorry.

Still, that speaks to gender differences that I’m not really comfortable with. I’m a big fan of egalitarian Christianity. Besides, covering my head is an act of humility regardless of the gender, yeah?

No need to apologize. Since you mentioned in your original post that you were interested in studying Catholicism, maybe read some material on head coverings, (heck, even St Paul mentions this in Scripture ) You don’t see it much in the US these days, but it is a 2,000+ year old practice.

If you have no problem with an all-male priesthood (which hopefully you don’t), then this issue shouldn’t be a problem for you at all.

---

I have a ton of books I could recommend, but I will just through this out there for you, as it is fairly short, and well written (IMO), a book entitled The Spirit of Catholicism by Fr. Karl Adams. (It’s been years since I read that book, but I remember reading it and loving it when I first became Catholic.)

 

[DJ_Pius_X]

No need to apologize. Since you mentioned in your original post that you were interested in studying Catholicism, maybe read some material on head coverings, (heck, even St Paul mentions this in Scripture ) You don’t see it much in the US these days, but it is a 2,000+ year old practice.

If you have no problem with an all-male priesthood (which hopefully you don’t), then this issue shouldn’t be a problem for you at all.

---

I have a ton of books I could recommend, but I will just through this out there for you, as it is fairly short, and well written (IMO), a book entitled The Spirit of Catholicism by Fr. Karl Adams. (It’s been years since I read that book, but I remember reading it and loving it when I first became Catholic.)

Actually, I do have a problem with an all-male priesthood. That’s something I struggle with too. I’ve heard a lot of reasons, but have yet to get my head around it. I can’t see it as being anything other than plain sexism. Priests deny that it’s a power trip, but that would be easier to believe if, you know, the clergy were less absurdly powerful in the first place.

 

[E.E.N.S]

Actually, I do have a problem with an all-male priesthood. That’s something I struggle with too. I’ve heard a lot of reasons, but have yet to get my head around it. I can’t see it as being anything other than plain sexism. Priests deny that it’s a power trip, but that would be easier to believe if, you know, the clergy were less absurdly powerful in the first place.

Take it from me, it’s definitely NOT sexism. Rather, instead just study some good material on the matter, as you’ll get much better info I’m sure.

Here’s a tract to get you started:

catholic.com/tracts/women-and-the-priesthood

 

[someperson555]

Ever since getting back from China, I’ve wanted to be able to learn more about Catholicism. Lately, however, whenever I go to mass, instead of feeling joy or gratitude I feel anger. This is really disturbing to me.

I am praying for help, but I can’t seem to find peace. This has been a problem for weeks now. I am angry at church leadership. I just have so much resentment–toward the CDF for bullying dissidents into submission, toward the fact that I’m unable to receive communion, toward the priesthood and the amount of power they wield, toward the bishops who covered up child abuse…sometimes I think that this isn’t worth it, and the spiritual awakening that I had in China was wrong; that I should just go off and be Old Catholic or Episcopalian.

Today, I went to mass at my university, and was thinking about power abuse by the papacy and magisterium, when an an altar server (student my age) asked me to “consider removing my hat while in God’s house”. He said nothing to the girl with a veil in front of me. If that’s how it was going to be, fine. I got up and left.

Does anyone else have this problem? I feel like I can’t go to mass anymore without getting ticked off at something. This is really out of character for me, because I’m usually a friendly, happy person; in fact, it’s a little worrying. I feel like I can’t enjoy mass again because of what it represents to me.

Help?

I cannot tell you how much I can relate. yes it is an unfortunate problem that we catholics must acknowledge. corruption within the church is rampant. I also sometimes find myself disgusted when my local parish priest “prays for the victory of our troops” in this unjust war of aggression. or when they praise America and defend big bussiness, while staying silent on real social issues. HOWEVER, one day i realised, that preists are just humans too. they can also misunderstand or not understand current events and certain social and political problems too. we must realise that the point of mass is not political but rather spiritual. the point of mass is not to debate about worldly events, rather it is to find out how to better OURSELVES spiritually. it is for us to get communion so that we can experience the presence of God and Christ. so the next time a priest starts saying his own opinion on the news, or politics, etc. just ignore that part and focus on the daily scripture reading and its message.

 

[DJ_Pius_X]

Take it from me, it’s definitely NOT sexism. Rather, instead just study some good material on the matter, as you’ll get much better info I’m sure.

Here’s a tract to get you started:

catholic.com/tracts/women-and-the-priesthood

I actually already read this but I’ll check it out again. Maybe I missed something.

Maybe the problem isn’t as much the fact that only men are priests, it’s that they just have too much power period. If there weren’t the whole “We’re the clergy and you have to obey us lol” I wouldn’t struggle as much.

 

[IrishSFV]

Besides, covering my head is an act of humility regardless of the gender, yeah?

Not really. I’m not sure if you’re familiar with Western culture or not, but we (men) remove our hats to show humility.

 

[kmuestwin]

Today, I went to mass at my university, and was thinking about power abuse by the papacy and magisterium, when an an altar server (student my age) asked me to “consider removing my hat while in God’s house”.

You should have removed your hat. It is a sign of respect for men to take off their hats. It is acceptable and respectable for a woman to wear a hat.

 

[Redbaron998]

I actually already read this but I’ll check it out again. Maybe I missed something.

Maybe the problem isn’t as much the fact that only men are priests, it’s that they just have too much power period. If there weren’t the whole “We’re the clergy and you have to obey us lol” I wouldn’t struggle as much.

Its not really a matter of power but a matter of service. For example:

Lets say I live in Boston, and I decide to drive to Florida and I start driving northward towards Canada. If someone tells me that I am going the wrong way if I want to get to Florida are they trying to boss me around or hold power over me? or are they trying to do me a service and help me by directing me even if it means I have to change direction?

This is what a good priest should do, help you get to where you want to go and I think I speak correctly when I say most of us are trying to get to Heaven. It is not to say that there have not been clergy who have misused or betrayed that trust in the past, but their judgement is in God’s hands and the vast vast majority of clergy are men who believe in God’s truth and want to help us so much they have chosen to give up everything to live a life of service to help us.

 

[Blenderx]

I find a great answer to this kind of resentment and anger (in any area of life) to be prayer. Pray for those you are angry with.

Recently I have been offering prayers and fasting on Fridays for the sanctification of priests, bishops, religious, missionaries, etc. My attitudes have changed quite a lot. Try it, and put it all in God’s hands.

God bless you.

 

[kmuestwin]

I actually already read this but I’ll check it out again. Maybe I missed something.

Maybe the problem isn’t as much the fact that only men are priests, it’s that they just have too much power period. If there weren’t the whole “We’re the clergy and you have to obey us lol” I wouldn’t struggle as much.

Priests didn’t take power. They were given power. The Church works because Christ gave the power to the apostles and the apostles to the various bishops and the bishops to our priests today. This is how it is supposed to be. We can’t all be bishops.

I have never met a priest who said, “I’m a priest you should obey me.” I work for in a church for a priest. I argue with him, I joke with him and I struggle with some of the choices he makes but I never forget that he calls the shots. I know that his spiritual education and experience greatly surpasses my own so when he disagrees with me, I understand and respect his opinion and I follow his decision.

 

[fhansen]

I actually already read this but I’ll check it out again. Maybe I missed something.

Maybe the problem isn’t as much the fact that only men are priests, it’s that they just have too much power period. If there weren’t the whole “We’re the clergy and you have to obey us lol” I wouldn’t struggle as much.

Are you sure this was a Catholic Church? I don’t know any priests like that. It used to be that the laity was somewhat too submissive to clergy, IMO, but that was partially our own fault. In any case, between changes Vat II has made and things like the sex scandals, the priesthood has taken some serious set-backs, some for the better.

 

[puzzleannie]

. This has been a problem for weeks now. I am angry at church leadership. I just have so much resentment–toward the CDF for bullying dissidents into submission, toward the fact that I’m unable to receive communion,
Help?

who is the CDF and who are they bullying? what on earth is that about? we don’t burn people at the stake anymore, you know.

Why can’t you receive communion? no it is none of my business but it is your most pressing business. Answer that question and deal with it and the rest of your problem will probably resolve itself.

 

[DJ_Pius_X]

Priests didn’t take power. They were given power. The Church works because Christ gave the power to the apostles and the apostles to the various bishops and the bishops to our priests today. This is how it is supposed to be. We can’t all be bishops.

I have never met a priest who said, “I’m a priest you should obey me.” I work for in a church for a priest. I argue with him, I joke with him and I struggle with some of the choices he makes but I never forget that he calls the shots. I know that his spiritual education and experience greatly surpasses my own so when he disagrees with me, I understand and respect his opinion and I follow his decision.

But here’s the thing. He shouldn’t have the final say just because he is the one to consecrate the Eucharist. He should have the final say if he is more learned. That’s the problem with church hierarchy. Even if you’re learned, you can’t have any real influence in interpreting doctrine unless you’re ordained. You can’t be ordained unless you’re male. This is effectively the equivalent of second-class citizenship for half the church. How terrible!

Again, I would have no problem with an all-male priesthood if qualified laypeople had an equal say in doctrine and faith.

 

[DJ_Pius_X]

who is the CDF and who are they bullying? what on earth is that about? we don’t burn people at the stake anymore, you know.

Why can’t you receive communion? no it is none of my business but it is your most pressing business. Answer that question and deal with it and the rest of your problem will probably resolve itself.

The CDF is the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. They’re basically silencing any opposition to their stance on faith and morals by saying “We’re make decisions because God said it. Never mind the fact that we were the ones who said God said we make decisions, lol”

It’s quite all right. I can’t receive communion, essentially, for this reason. I am also a supporter of Women’s Ordination and same-sex marriage. One of the reasons I’m so upset is because I feel torn between receiving the Lord in communion or standing up to what I view to be injustice. So, I can’t take communion if I don’t change my opinions, but doing so for the sake of communion would be a breach of integrity. Finally, claiming to have changed my mind and taking communion while espousing heretical ideas would be utterly dishonest. I can’t lie to the Church.

As far as burning people, I find it repulsive that, while claiming to represent an organization that promotes human rights, church leadership has yet to make a specific apology for any of its past crimes, or pay reparations to the families of victims, such as can be traced.

 

[kmuestwin]

The CDF is the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. They’re basically silencing any opposition to their stance on faith and morals by saying “We’re make decisions because God said it. Never mind the fact that we were the ones who said God said we make decisions, lol”

It’s quite all right. I can’t receive communion, essentially, for this reason. I am also a supporter of Women’s Ordination and same-sex marriage. One of the reasons I’m so upset is because I feel torn between receiving the Lord in communion or standing up to what I view to be injustice. So, I can’t take communion if I don’t change my opinions, but doing so for the sake of communion would be a breach of integrity. Finally, claiming to have changed my mind and taking communion while espousing heretical ideas would be utterly dishonest. I can’t lie to the Church.

As far as burning people, I find it repulsive that, while claiming to represent an organization that promotes human rights, church leadership has yet to make a specific apology for any of its past crimes, or pay reparations to the families of victims, such as can be traced.

You are right. You should not receive communion until you research and conform your views to those of the Church. I’ll say a prayer for you!