The rise of militant American Catholic men

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From my experience, it’s never that over the top. It’s simply framing spirituality in a way that resonates.

I remember a friend of mine who went to a Christopher West lecture on Theology of the Body. He came back visibly disgruntled and I asked him what the deal was and he replied “There was nothing wrong with what he said, it just seemed like we was talking to 40 year old women.”

I remember going to a Bible study one time and, as coincidence would have it, there were 10 women and two men. By the end of it I wanted to gouge my eyes out. Again, there was nothing wrong with anything that was said, just the conversation was essentially directed from woman to woman, a very different dynamic than man to man.

On the other side, my wife always asks why all my cousins are so mean to each other. I just say it’s how we interact. We’ve all been best friends since elementary school.

You can give the same information, and the audience will be either intrigued or bored depending on the wording you use to present it.
The problem is with men, not with women. If more men went, there would be more men there!
 
As to the Mass being feminized because of the large number of women serving as readers, EMHC’s and ministers of the cup, I don’t what it’s like in other parishes, but in mine, these are all volunteer positions and not exclusive to just females.

So, if your parish doesn’t have enough men doing these jobs, perhaps it’s the fault of the males of the parish not stepping up to volunteer.

Jim
I must attend a unique parish since most of the volunteer positions are filled by men of all ages.
 
I must attend a unique parish since most of the volunteer positions are filled by men of all ages.
I appears you misconstrued my reply.

My parish has a balance of both men and women.

However, I was addressing another post who complained about the predominance of women serving at Mass.

Jim
 
I must attend a unique parish since most of the volunteer positions are filled by men of all ages.
In both my and my neighboring diocese, there is an observable disparity. I’d wager EMHC’s are > 3/4 female and lectors are > 2/3 female. I have volunteered to serve at my parish in these capacities but was told they don’t need more (which is fair, numerically they aren’t hurting for people.) But I am pretty sure that out of our 10+ EMHC’s and lectors, none are male.
 
As to the Mass being feminized because of the large number of women serving as readers, EMHC’s and ministers of the cup, I don’t what it’s like in other parishes, but in mine, these are all volunteer positions and not exclusive to just females.

So, if your parish doesn’t have enough men doing these jobs, perhaps it’s the fault of the males of the parish not stepping up to volunteer.

Jim
JIm, I absolutely agree with you about men stepping up. That was my point, but I didn’t communicate it clearly Sorry. I also think, though, that when men see mostly women as EMHC;'s and lectors, some men might perceive those as being women’s roles in the Mass. I disagree with that position, but I can see some men shying away from those ministries for that reason.
 
I wish anyone would step up in my parish.

At the 4:30 PM Mass on Saturday, I’m scheduled as minister of the cup alone every week(we need just two) and the lector often has to fill in the other spot.

No one is volunteering, despite pleas from the pastor.

Unfortunately, he’s retiring the end of the month and we’re getting a new pastor.

Hopefully he can start a fire in getting people to help out.

Jim
 
JIm, I absolutely agree with you about men stepping up. That was my point, but I didn’t communicate it clearly Sorry. I also think, though, that when men see mostly women as EMHC;'s and lectors, some men might perceive those as being women’s roles in the Mass. I disagree with that position, but I can see some men shying away from those ministries for that reason.
If the pastor asks for volunteers, and mostly women step up, they, the women get blamed for the feminization of the liturgy.

What is the pastor supposed to do? Turn down the women and say men are preferred in order to avoid feminization of the liturgy?
 
If the pastor asks for volunteers, and mostly women step up, they, the women get blamed for the feminization of the liturgy.

What is the pastor supposed to do? Turn down the women and say men are preferred in order to avoid feminization of the liturgy?
Well for parish councils, our pastor seeks out people. He doesn’t announce he is looking to everybody and anybody. So there is always the option of approaching people on an individual basis.
 
If the pastor asks for volunteers, and mostly women step up, they, the women get blamed for the feminization of the liturgy.

What is the pastor supposed to do? Turn down the women and say men are preferred in order to avoid feminization of the liturgy?
It’s not women’s fault.

With the guys I talk to in ministry, it’s more an issue with the new rubrics of the liturgy. I would go into more detail, but their comments would go against forum rules.
 
It’s not women’s fault.

With the guys I talk to in ministry, it’s more an issue with the new rubrics of the liturgy. I would go into more detail, but their comments would go against forum rules.
Why the rubrics would have anything to do with men not volunteering for the ministries is beyond me.

Jim
 
Why the rubrics would have anything to do with men not volunteering for the ministries is beyond me.

Jim
The Mass is the Cornerstone of the Church. If the Mass does not resonate, nothing else the parish offers will.
 
The Mass is the Cornerstone of the Church. If the Mass does not resonate, nothing else the parish offers will.
If the Mass doesn’t resonate, it’s a problem in the spiritual formation of the person attending, regardless of their gender.

The Rubrics has nothing to do with men not volunteering to serve at Mass in their parish.

Jim
 
If the Mass doesn’t resonate, it’s a problem in the spiritual formation of the person attending, regardless of their gender.

The Rubrics has nothing to do with men not volunteering to serve at Mass in their parish.

Jim
I disagree. I guess we are at an impasse
 
I really don’t want my posts to sound like women-ministers bashing. It’s more a knock agains tthe men who use the lame excuse that the women seem to want the jobs. If a parish is having trouble recruiting competent minsters, that parish needs renewal.
 
This is my thought as well. I for one enjoy the freedoms that we now have as men in modern society, we aren’t expected to “play the part” anymore. It’s so much easier when you can openly admit you like flowers, baking cupcakes, and listening to John Denver without feeling like an outcast.

That said, I have absolutely no problem with men’s groups or even groups that focus on a more macho masculinity. Different strokes and all that.
I as a female am glad you are using the word militant. We are at war w the enemy breaking up the family, especially the military family. Soldiers are coming home and on one occasion his wife met him on green ramp(they just got off the plane) and gave him divorce papers. They have gone on 3-5 deployments. With women in the military, emotional moments occur in combat where a life is saved and things get confused. Of course, we personally, know a few friends who are just frisky when away. My son-in -law was killed in 2007 w 3 others in his humvee. The senior sgt. another Jason who lived, his wife didn’t move w him when he came back a couple years ago but they visited and I thought were improving. She left 2 days ago. I think leaving the 2 girls w him. We had car trouble and this beautiful soldier helped my husband and me. He had been married but was divorced Has 3 kids. Had deployments.
NOW, WE HAVE SYRIA AND IRAQ. Do we need militant prayer men and women.YES.

Demos Shakarian was an Armenian who started the Full Gospel Business Men Group. He noticed men weren’t in the church or weren’t involved. So, they reached out to men of all denominations.
The Chaplet of His Holy Face.Patronage=to honor the five wounds of His HOly Face involving His five senses. To ask of God the triumph of His Holy Church. US
In this Chaplet we ask God , through the Holy Face of His Son to bring about the downfall of His enemies.
Psalm 68.1 Let god Arise and let His enemies be scattered. Let them that hate Him flee from before HIs face.
in Christ’s love
tweedlealice
Thank you for your prayers as a group of men for the family, nation, congress and world.
 
Jesus can walk and chew gum.
“Danny’s only a man. But he break wind at both ends simultaneous - which is more, I reckon, than any god can do.” --Kipling 😃

I’m 48 years old. The militant paradigm might have been attractive to me 30 or 40 years ago, but not so much now. I just want to go to church and eat cupcakes, whether they’re made by a man or a woman.
 
“Danny’s only a man. But he break wind at both ends simultaneous - which is more, I reckon, than any god can do.” --Kipling 😃

I’m 48 years old. The militant paradigm might have been attractive to me 30 or 40 years ago, but not so much now. I just want to go to church and eat cupcakes, whether they’re made by a man or a woman.
Hey, a warrior’s gotta eat.
 
While I support our military and believe in the concept of just war, I’m uncomfortable with the “militant paradigm” as a part of religion. Isn’t this the very threat (in its extreme form) the U.S. and the Western world has faced for the past fourteen years?
 
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