Traditional Catholics are not representing the Catholic Faith

[blessedtoo]

emom,
I feel your pain. I lived in my last neighborhood for 15 years and it wasn’t until the last year that I found a Parish with a faithful Pastor and traditional liturgy. I drank that Church up and thanked God every day for leading me there. Now I have moved about an hour away. In my new neighborhood, there are four Churches. In one, the congregation claps during the singing of the Gloria, has never sung Holy, Holy, Holy, and still employs guitar playing, long-haired hippie folksingers. They also use the psuedo-Nazi salute to bless the children as they depart for the kid’s liturgy. The second Parish stated in their Christmas bulletin that, while the Sunday obligation is not “technically” met by going to the Christmas Vigil, “God is not concerned with ‘rules’ or ‘obligations’ and the parishioners should follow their consciences.” The third was fine until today when the Pastor announced that next week, in honor of Black History Month, we will be celebrating Holy Mass with African American song and DANCE. My point: keep searching until you find a Parish that doesn’t leave you in tears after Mass has ended.

 

[Windmill]

so dont believe there is a hell anymore.

problem solved…

 

[UKcatholicGuy]

Has God given us this challenge to continue to voice our concerns and try to change our parish? Or do we make a compliant to the diocese and move on because we need to think about our children’s formation more. My son will be going into 2nd grade and working on First Communion and Penance, and I don’t want our parish community to break down what we are teaching at home. Even if we do pull out our children from the education program, he will be surrounded by the priest and other leaders voicing their want of change to modernize the faith.

I would say your children’s faith is the primary concern. If this parish is going to hurt their faith (and from what you describe, it will destroy it), you should pull them out immediately. Let the heretics pollute their own minds, but don’t let them teach your children.

 

[Chancellare]

Our parish is very liberal and I wanted to know the opinions and advise of all you on what I need to concern myself with. I would consider our family as being “traditional/conservative/orthodox” Catholics. We are working to learn more about our faith and trying to get the discipline enough to be good Catholics.

I wanted to get more involved in leading our parish and forming an adult/child education that will bring them back to the true values of the catholic faith. I am on the adult formation committee thinking I can help spread good catholic teaching. I’ve brought to the attention to all the leaders of our church such as the pastor, DRE, pastoral associate and committee members good material such as Lighthouse Media with Scott Hahn cds, EWTN radio/TV, local radio programs and web sites to pass to our parishioners.

I am always told that it is not the focus of our parish for these materials or that these materials do not represent the catholic faith. I am very discouraged now and I feel that I can no longer be in this parish. The pastor doesn’t like confession, our associate believes woman should be priest, our DRE doesn’t even consider the “real presence” of Christ the most important thing at the Mass.

Has God given us this challenge to continue to voice our concerns and try to change our parish? Or do we make a compliant to the diocese and move on because we need to think about our children’s formation more. My son will be going into 2nd grade and working on First Communion and Penance, and I don’t want our parish community to break down what we are teaching at home. Even if we do pull out our children from the education program, he will be surrounded by the priest and other leaders voicing their want of change to modernize the faith.

Your parish sounds more like a non-denominational congregation than a catholic church.
My 2 cents worth - Just an alternative to fleeing away:

If I were you, I would adopt some techniques taught in apologetics: be a friend first before anything else - if needed, use words. This means forgetting about your doctrinal stand for a while but focus on helping them by getting down into hard work- whatever needs to be done. The more indispensable you become the better for shock effect. Then only after establishing your importance you can throw your influence around. I know this is easier said than done. But I am speaking from experience - we tried it in a foreign land before and the community we built there continues to grow long after we moved on. (everytime I visit that parish, the priest would always remind the leaders of our role in establishing that community). Try it before giving up completely.

End of my 2 cents worth.

 

[Chancellare]

The pastor doesn’t like confession, our associate believes woman should be priest, our DRE doesn’t even consider the “real presence” of Christ the most important thing at the Mass.
.

The above quoted practices are not in line Catholic doctrines. In earlier days, they are liable for interdict or ex-communication. They are the ones who don’t and can never represent Catholicism.

 

[moira]

sorry, I did not use St. Josemaria’s quote in this signature. It is as follows:

“Whenever you see a poor, wooden cross, alone, uncared-for, worthless…and without a corpus, don’t forget that that cross is your cross–the everyday hidden cross, unattractive and unconsoling–the cross that is waiting for the corpus it lacks: and that corpus must be you.”

I have never heard this quote before and I thank you for posting it. I have had a very hard time this past year with many family problems and this really spoke to me.

 

[lel]

This thread raises an important question for Traditional Catholics.

What’s best for the Church?

a. For traditional orthodox minded catholics to isolate themselves.

b.Re-take the Church from within, by teaching RCIA, Being on parish councils, DRE, Youth Ministry etc.

If the Church has been infiltrated by liberal minded unorthodox dissenters why cant traditional Catholics who have a sound knowledge of the Faith plan an infiltration of their own and reclaim the wholr Church.

I believe that’s what is going on in my diocese. I’m starting to worry that it will go so far that we will lose sight of social justice in favor of focusing solely on theological orthodoxy.

soe dont believe there is a hell anymore.

Some believe it’s there and empty, or pertty close to it.

emom,
I feel your pain. I lived in my last neighborhood for 15 years and it wasn’t until the last year that I found a Parish with a faithful Pastor and traditional liturgy. I drank that Church up and thanked God every day for leading me there. Now I have moved about an hour away. In my new neighborhood, there are four Churches. In one, the congregation claps during the singing of the Gloria, has never sung Holy, Holy, Holy, and still employs guitar playing, long-haired hippie folksingers.

Sounds like my kind of parish! As long as they are playing music suitable for Mass, what’s the problem?

The second Parish stated in their Christmas bulletin that, while the Sunday obligation is not “technically” met by going to the Christmas Vigil, “God is not concerned with ‘rules’ or ‘obligations’ and the parishioners should follow their consciences.”

Half the crowd probably never goes to Mass anyway unless it’s Christmas or Easter. Won’t have an effect one way or the other.

The third was fine until today when the Pastor announced that next week, in honor of Black History Month, we will be celebrating Holy Mass with African American song and DANCE. My point: keep searching until you find a Parish that doesn’t leave you in tears after Mass has ended.

Sounds neat! It’s wonderful to see recognition of other cultures in the celebration of Mass.

 

[lel]

This thread raises an important question for Traditional Catholics.

What’s best for the Church?

a. For traditional orthodox minded catholics to isolate themselves.

b.Re-take the Church from within, by teaching RCIA, Being on parish councils, DRE, Youth Ministry etc.

If the Church has been infiltrated by liberal minded unorthodox dissenters why cant traditional Catholics who have a sound knowledge of the Faith plan an infiltration of their own and reclaim the wholr Church.

I believe that’s what is going on in my diocese. I’m starting to worry that it will go so far that we will lose sight of social justice in favor of focusing solely on theological orthodoxy.

soe dont believe there is a hell anymore.

Some believe it’s there and empty, or pertty close to it.

emom,
I feel your pain. I lived in my last neighborhood for 15 years and it wasn’t until the last year that I found a Parish with a faithful Pastor and traditional liturgy. I drank that Church up and thanked God every day for leading me there. Now I have moved about an hour away. In my new neighborhood, there are four Churches. In one, the congregation claps during the singing of the Gloria, has never sung Holy, Holy, Holy, and still employs guitar playing, long-haired hippie folksingers.

Sounds like my kind of parish! As long as they are playing music suitable for Mass, what’s the problem?

The second Parish stated in their Christmas bulletin that, while the Sunday obligation is not “technically” met by going to the Christmas Vigil, “God is not concerned with ‘rules’ or ‘obligations’ and the parishioners should follow their consciences.”

Half the crowd probably never goes to Mass anyway unless it’s Christmas or Easter. Won’t have an effect one way or the other.

The third was fine until today when the Pastor announced that next week, in honor of Black History Month, we will be celebrating Holy Mass with African American song and DANCE. My point: keep searching until you find a Parish that doesn’t leave you in tears after Mass has ended.

Sounds neat! It’s wonderful to see recognition of other cultures in the celebration of Mass.

 

[MTD]

Hi emom,

I would at all costs go to that other good parish. Your children will suffer if you don’t. In their adolescence, when they start making their own judgments, they will be terribly confused no matter how much you’ve taught them the truth in their earlier years.

As you can see from my profile, I’m quite young (21), so I believe I can speak from some personal experience. At the time of my First Holy Communion, my family went to a more liberal parish. Shortly thereafter, however, we changed to going to a conservative parish an hour and a half away. My parents did that because despite how they themselves felt they could hold up to the atmosphere and teaching of the liberal parish, they knew that it would not be good for the children. I am eternally grateful to them for making that change; I now see the fruits of that decision. In addition to myself having a correct sense of what being a Catholic means, I see my younger siblings developing that same sense. I feel confident that when they go out into the world and make their own lives, they will be strong in their faith no matter what parish, liberal or conservative, in which they might find themselves since they know from experience what true Catholicism is.

I think there is some merit in orthodox Catholics “infiltrating” the less-than-orthodox parishes in order to bring them back to the right path. However, most people do not have the stamina for that since it really requires a special grace or call. For most people, the parish is a support and guide in the living of our Christian life, so if it’s not in line with the Catholic Faith, what kind of support and guidance will you get? Like it or not, the spirit of a liberal parish will eventually rub off on you…unless you are not only extremely vigilant but also have the special graces from God to survive the influences. I think one of my great grandfather’s favorite sayings applies to this situation: “If you hang around manure, you’re sure to get it on your feet!”

In other words, save your liberal parish for after the children are grown!

Maria

 

[JacktheCatholic]

I am emom’s husband and wanted to give an update because we followed the advise given here and went to a very traditional parish. Since that time our son has become much more interested in the Mass and the last few months he has been an alter boy. For my wife and myself this has been a very joyful thing to see our seven year old son helping in the mass and being so pious.

Also our family has changed in a short time as well. With our new parish we have been awakened to more of what the Catholic church teaches and we have changed the way we live to be more Catholic oriented by referring to the Catechism and our priest. For myself it has been a major change in that I see things differently and feel a calling to the permanent deaconate.

I just wanted to share my family’s joy at being at a more traditional church and to thank all of you that helped steer us in the right direction.

God Bless you all and God Bless “Catholic Answers”.

Jack and family

 

[CatholicChick]

Thats awesome Jack the Catholic! How wonderful for you and your family! God Bless!

 

[ravenonthecross]

God bless ya Jack and Emom! It’s good to know we’ve got alot of great orthodox Catholic parents out there bringing there children up in the Holy Catholic Faith correctly!

 

[KathleenElsie]

This thread raises an important question for Traditional Catholics.

What’s best for the Church?

a. For traditional orthodox minded catholics to isolate themselves.

b.Re-take the Church from within, by teaching RCIA, Being on parish councils, DRE, Youth Ministry etc.

If the Church has been infiltrated by liberal minded unorthodox dissenters why cant traditional Catholics who have a sound knowledge of the Faith plan an infiltration of their own and reclaim the wholr Church.

Wish that would work. The best I am allowed to do is to clean or do the garage sale. If we are on the Traditional side we are considered odd and not allowed to teach. I just show up and try to be a good example.

 

[leonie]

I feel like my conservative parish is going the wrong way lately. Of course, some of it may be me. I find myself wanting more Traditional liturgy. Is the parish becoming more liberal or is it me becoming more conservative?

Some of our staff is turning over soon, so I think the new hires will show what the direction is going. If the new youth minister and music directors are orthodox and conservative, I’ll know that my suspicions of late are unfounded. If they are liberal, I’ll know that things are going a different direction than I would like.

I’ve got an escape plan if needed. There’s a very good parish downtown that a lot of people join when their parishes go the wrong direction. It has a very dynamic evangelical spirit while being very traditional. My husband is not Catholic, so I am very sure that I need the best Catholic community around my children that I can find.

But, I love my parish, so I hope I’m wrong.

 

[Yerusalyim]

Originally Posted by emom
The pastor doesn’t like confession, our associate believes woman should be priest, our DRE doesn’t even consider the “real presence” of Christ the most important thing at the Mass.

DOCUMENT the above, PRESENT your concerns to the Pastor, and then inform him that unless some changes are made you will address these concerns to the Bishop…and then do just that…find even one other like minded parishoner…it will add weight…but, don’t be afraid to tape record conversations or get them to commit in writing…

 

[tradition]

Our parish is very liberal and I wanted to know the opinions and advise of all you on what I need to concern myself with. I would consider our family as being “traditional/conservative/orthodox” Catholics. We are working to learn more about our faith and trying to get the discipline enough to be good Catholics.

I wanted to get more involved in leading our parish and forming an adult/child education that will bring them back to the true values of the catholic faith. I am on the adult formation committee thinking I can help spread good catholic teaching. I’ve brought to the attention to all the leaders of our church such as the pastor, DRE, pastoral associate and committee members good material such as Lighthouse Media with Scott Hahn cds, EWTN radio/TV, local radio programs and web sites to pass to our parishioners.

I am always told that it is not the focus of our parish for these materials or that these materials do not represent the catholic faith. I am very discouraged now and I feel that I can no longer be in this parish. The pastor doesn’t like confession, our associate believes woman should be priest, our DRE doesn’t even consider the “real presence” of Christ the most important thing at the Mass.

Has God given us this challenge to continue to voice our concerns and try to change our parish? Or do we make a compliant to the diocese and move on because we need to think about our children’s formation more. My son will be going into 2nd grade and working on First Communion and Penance, and I don’t want our parish community to break down what we are teaching at home. Even if we do pull out our children from the education program, he will be surrounded by the priest and other leaders voicing their want of change to modernize the faith.

Hi

Best for you to move on, unless there are others there like your self to help you organize. This is not a healthy atmosphere for
your children to become accustomed to.I believe it was Pope Pius the X ? (the Pope against modernism) he called modernism the sewer of heresies…

View attachment 1675

 

[Iowa_Mike]

Tradition,

I empathize with your situation but don’t agree with the advice suggesting that you move out of your parish. You have truth on your side and truth is eternal. I’m done with being silent in the face of heresy, I’m done standing around with my hands in my pockets while the liberal Catholics introduce abuses. If your pastor refuses to listen to your complaints and will not support Church traditions, teachings and doctrine…then it’s time to go to the Bishop and beyond. It’s time for faithful Catholics to speak out and take the Church back. No raised voice, no waggling fingers and not red face just the truth of Catholic dogma. The last thing I plan to do is go away.

Good luck.

Iowa Mike

 

[Ave_Maria_1]

I live in a town with two large parishes. We are what is called ‘american catholic’. I left my long time parish as the other was slightly better but the pastor up and left. We now have a ‘peace and justice’ ordained sacramental minister who will not allow any pro-life activity or devotional activity and only preaches himself and about h is anger and nightmares and so on. He had been removed from ministry for anger issues and returned last fall. My children HATE to listen to him. At the other parish, the priest takes many many vacations and tells about them. In neither parish is the Gospel preached. I wish I could find a Roman Catholic parish!!! If there was one in driving distance, I would go.

Write to the bishop? Don’t make me laugh. I have done that. And he asked that I be removed from any activity in the parish. This is a hostile diocese and these are hostle parishes to Roman Catholics. But we endure for Our Lord is there and if we do not adore Him, who will?

That does not mean I would stay in a bad parish. The poison rubs off.

 

[ReConverted]

Tradition,

I empathize with your situation but don’t agree with the advice suggesting that you move out of your parish. You have truth on your side and truth is eternal. I’m done with being silent in the face of heresy, I’m done standing around with my hands in my pockets while the liberal Catholics introduce abuses. If your pastor refuses to listen to your complaints and will not support Church traditions, teachings and doctrine…then it’s time to go to the Bishop and beyond. It’s time for faithful Catholics to speak out and take the Church back. No raised voice, no waggling fingers and not red face just the truth of Catholic dogma. The last thing I plan to do is go away.

Good luck.

Iowa Mike

Amen, Mike! I’m going through a Ministry formation program sponsored by our Diocese, and have had to correct the teacher more than once. I’m aghast at some of the things I’ve heard in our classes.

 

[seremina]

I’ve gone through something similar as the OP had. I switched parishes and I’m a lot happier. Sure, its quite the walk, but well worth it. We must remember that some of the saints had to walk a long way to go to Mass. Some as far as 15 miles!

When you go to a proper Mass, it shouldn’t be an inconvenience to go the long walk [for those that have cars…long drive] to attend Mass. It is our obligation to go to Mass every Sunday and on the Holy Days of Obligation. If you have to work on Sunday, then go on Saturday evenings. The point is, go. Your soul and guardian angel will thank you for it.

If you have no other Catholic Church to go to [because you live in a small town, rural town, all the parishes are bonkers, etc.] then I’m sure Jesus will be merciful and count each EWTN Mass you watch.

Last but not least…Adoration will help you think clearly. Please get into Adoration, even if it means doing so at savior.org ! Even if you do get a proper Mass, we still must do reparation for all the offenses done to our Lord and our Mother.