Unrest at Berkeley parish Oakland bishop greeted outside church by demonstrators unhappy with ‘conservative’ priest

[Pax_et_Bonum]

Unrest at Berkeley parish
Oakland bishop greeted outside church by demonstrators unhappy with ‘conservative’ priest

When Oakland Bishop Salvatore Cordileone went to a Berkeley parish last weekend to confer Confirmation and celebrate Mass, he was greeted outside by a group of protesters upset by orthodox-leaning policies instituted by a new pastor.

“Parishioners of a liberal Catholic Church demonstrated outside the facility Sunday, protesting what they say is a more conservative direction the parish has taken the past two years,” reported the Oakland Tribune.

Between 100 and 150 current or former parishioners at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church participated in the demonstration, complaining that Fr. John Direen, who was appointed pastor two years ago, has been making changes with which they disagree.

“The protesters objected to Direen’s dismissal of the parish council and its Latino counterpart, the Consejo Latino,” reported the Tribune… “In addition, parishioners assert that Direen has closed the conference room in the rectory to the church’s Social Justice Committee, the St. Vincent De Paul Society and Berkeley Organizing Community for Action, an interfaith political action group that lobbies the city and the school board on issues affecting the poor.”

calcatholic.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?id=67322639-3621-4037-9892-73772045e2b7

 

[GRATEFULONEjim]

Hooray for Father Direen. There is no place for a “Liberal Catholic Church” within the Catholic Church. Straighten them out Father:thumbsup:

 

[kozlosap]

Hooray for Father Direen. There is no place for a “Liberal Catholic Church” within the Catholic Church. Straighten them out Father:thumbsup:

So, working on committees that help the poor are considered liberal? I think that Blessed JPII might have disagreed with that supposition.

 

[Catholic1954]

LOL! I know Bishop Cordileone, and the protestors are messing with the wrong guy! Liberal parishioners and the local rag will not tell him how to run his diocese. We need 1000 more priests like Fr. Direen.

 

[Sailor_Kenshin]

Hooray for Father Direen. There is no place for a “Liberal Catholic Church” within the Catholic Church. Straighten them out Father:thumbsup:

I hope so, but the enemy smells blood and will go in for the kill.

They never rest. Neither should we.

 

[SteveGC]

OK. So I’m not quite seeing the liberalism here. I read the linked article, and the best I could find was their involvement in “social justice”. I know that there is a trend in the Church for some to misconstrue (and even redefine) the Church’s teaching on social justice, but from the article I’m not seeing anything specific that would allow anyone to take any sides yet.

Anyone else seeing something here?

 

[GRATEFULONEjim]

So, working on committees that help the poor are considered liberal? I think that Blessed JPII might have disagreed with that supposition.

I am sure that the poor have not been forsaken. Organizations that use the poor as a front to further liberal political agenda should not be condoned by any parish or be allowed to operate under guise at any parish. Fr. Direen has had time to ascertain what is happening at his parish and is instituting corrective action.

 

[StOwen]

The National Catholic Reporter described the roots of the controversy this way: “At issue are a number of actions taken by Direen since he became pastor two years ago. These include disbanding the parish and finance councils, limiting participation of El Consejo Latino (the Spanish-speaking advisory council), removing the social justice committee from a list of parish ministries, turning the parish’s primary meeting space into a religious gifts store, and asking a respected resident priest to move.”

How are these actions ‘conservative’ and what Catholic approves of it?

 

[GRATEFULONEjim]

OK. So I’m not quite seeing the liberalism here. I read the linked article, and the best I could find was their involvement in “social justice”. I know that there is a trend in the Church for some to misconstrue (and even redefine) the Church’s teaching on social justice, but from the article I’m not seeing anything specific that would allow anyone to take any sides yet.

Anyone else seeing something here?

Here is a quote from the original article: “Parishioners of a liberal Catholic Church demonstrated outside the facility Sunday, protesting what they say is a more conservative direction the parish has taken the past two years,” reported the Oakland Tribune.

Maybe this will clarify.

 

[GRATEFULONEjim]

How are these actions ‘conservative’ and what Catholic approves of it?

Any action that is taken up against politically liberal organizations is immediately misconstrued as being conservative in today’s society. I am also sure that Fr. Direen’s course of action is approved by his Bishop.

 

[StOwen]

Any action that is taken up against politically liberal organizations is immediately misconstrued as being conservative in today’s society. I am also sure that Fr. Direen’s course of action is approved by his Bishop.

Having thought about it, the Church cannot be ‘too conservative’ so those who would make such a claim are likely in the wrong.

 

[laszlo]

Interesting difference. Two weeks ago, some of our conservative parishioners wanted to protest the auxiliary bishop before the confirmation for some issues. It was told them that the bishop comes to administer sacrament (also confirmation), which is sacred, so there is no place for demonstration, and they accepted it.

Is there sacred for a liberal, or everything is immanent?

 

[Phemie]

As far as I can see the only thing he’s done that’s questionable is to have dismissed the Finance Council. Canon Law mandates that there be such a council in every parish. Of course their role is to advise the Pastor, not boss him around, that’s the Parish Council’s role – er, I mean the parish council also serves in an advisory capacity.

 

[Stylites]

Here is a quote from the original article: “Parishioners of a liberal Catholic Church demonstrated outside the facility Sunday, protesting what they say is a more conservative direction the parish has taken the past two years,” reported the Oakland Tribune.

Maybe this will clarify.

We Catholics generally don’t allow the secular media to define us.

 

[tm30]

The leftist mob: Coming to a parish near you.

 

[Pax_et_Bonum]

How are these actions ‘conservative’ and what Catholic approves of it?

It’s his parish to run as he sees fit.Unlike protestants we are not run by elders but by the Shepherd.A lot of protestant churches hire and fire their ministers-we don’t.They are appointed by the Bishop.

Sometimes heterodox (liberal) parishes are given a shake up when the laiety try a takeover.This is what happened at my Parish.Our priest is very orthodox and the first thing he got rid of were altar girls(the boys came streaming back)and put a few mouthpieces in their place.And informed people during a sermon that he was the man in charge.

People complained to the Bishop but the Bishop wanted a conservative orthodox priest in place.The belly achers left and went to other Parishes but this man of God is loved by his congregation who were starved for orthhodoxy.

The Catholic Church is the greatest non governmental supporter of Good Works but it is not a social club for social workers.It is about the Eucharist and the sacraments.JPII very much condemned liberation theology. A lot of the committees that formed were not respectful of Catholic teaching and got too political so our priest turfed them.Look at the shame of liberal Churches marching in Pride Parades complicit in the sin of encouraging homosexual genital sex and causing scandal to us all.

 

[Fink]

It’s his parish to run as he sees fit.Unlike protestants we are not run by elders but by the Shepherd.A lot of protestant churches hire and fire their ministers-we don’t.They are appointed by the Bishop.

Sometimes heterodox (liberal) parishes are given a shake up when the laiety try a takeover…

…causing scandal to us all.

Well said!
I bet contraception was one of the ways that the “Social Justice” Committee ministered to the poor.

tm30:
No, mate.
The counter-attacks begun; and theyre under retreat. Thanks be to God!

 

[cspb56]

There’s no doubt that there are problems in the church which need to be fixed but based on the article there is nothing that should have chnaged. Parish and finance councils are called for in canon law (articles 536 and 537) as well as social justice responsibility (article 222). Popes beginning with Pope Leo XIII down to Pope John Paul II have written many encyclicals and letters on the subject. So based on church law and teaching what has happened is a violation. Now perhaps these parish organizations have taken over and pushed their own agenda. If so the pastor has a right to correct these groups and place them on the right path but not disband these groups. Unfortunately whether liberal or conservative a lot of agendas are been pushed these days, all of which hurt the church.

 

[Fink]

There’s no doubt that there are problems in the church which need to be fixed but based on the article there is nothing that should have chnaged. Parish and finance councils are called for in canon law (articles 536 and 537) as well as social justice responsibility (article 222)…

…the pastor has a right to correct these groups and place them on the right path but not disband these groups. Unfortunately whether liberal or conservative a lot of agendas are been pushed these days, all of which hurt the church.

The only way the priest could win back control of the parish was probably by getting rid of the lot of em in one operation: an orthodox Catholic **Blitzkrieg**! The Bishop must have agreed. In the end, thatd be less painful for everyone…especially the priest. Hit em hard and fast, so that they dont have a chance to regroup. A quick surgical operation.

Fr. C`s “Surrender is NOT an Option” comes to mind.

 

[wisdomseeker]

Unrest at Berkeley parish
Oakland bishop greeted outside church by demonstrators unhappy with ‘conservative’ priest

When Oakland Bishop Salvatore Cordileone went to a Berkeley parish last weekend to confer Confirmation and celebrate Mass, he was greeted outside by a group of protesters upset by orthodox-leaning policies instituted by a new pastor.

“Parishioners of a liberal Catholic Church demonstrated outside the facility Sunday, protesting what they say is a more conservative direction the parish has taken the past two years,” reported the Oakland Tribune.

Between 100 and 150 current or former parishioners at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church participated in the demonstration, complaining that Fr. John Direen, who was appointed pastor two years ago, has been making changes with which they disagree.

“The protesters objected to Direen’s dismissal of the parish council and its Latino counterpart, the Consejo Latino,” reported the Tribune… “In addition, parishioners assert that Direen has closed the conference room in the rectory to the church’s Social Justice Committee, the St. Vincent De Paul Society and Berkeley Organizing Community for Action, an interfaith political action group that lobbies the city and the school board on issues affecting the poor.”

calcatholic.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?id=67322639-3621-4037-9892-73772045e2b7

I knew that these people want to run the Church as to their liking. they need to be tought what is the Church. they mingle with other faiths and soon they acquire the mind of the unbelievers. that is why is not a good idea to mix faith. when are we going to realize that?