In reading over the many comments from the piece on Bishop D'Arcy's statement was one that I found both interesting and thought provoking. I'm including it here for others to read and to comment on if they'd like. I would add to the comment below that the writer is absolutely right about parish life and heterosexual priests; while seminary life in a mostly male environment may be a little too tempting for a homosexual seminarian, parish life with the large number of women present is just as tempting for a heterosexual priest.
Here is the comment of a reader:
As I have often mentioned before, Bishop D'Arcy's view is inconsistent, because it also precludes gay men from going to college if they're going to be living in a dorm, and gay boys from participating in gym class if they're going to have to change in a locker room. It would also preclude gay men from participating in team sports, among other things. Yet the Church has never taught that gay men cannot live in college dorms, participate in gym class or play team sports. So it seems to me that the Church's motivation for preventing gay men from becoming priests is not that it's unfair to them.
Also, Bishop D'Arcy's assertion that priests should be men who would make good husbands and fathers is absolutely true. However, this should be determined from individual to individual, not just by lumping all heterosexuals into the category of "good husbands and good fathers" and all homosexuals into the category of "not." On the one hand, there are many heterosexuals who would and do make terrible husbands and fathers, and there are many heterosexual priests who have no business being in the priesthood. Conversely, there are many homosexuals who would make good husbands and fathers if they were heterosexual, and there are many good homosexual priests.
One could argue, by the way, that there are many heterosexual priests who should not be thrust into a parish where they must work with and around women, while also trying to maintain a celibate lifestyle. So this is not just a homosexual issue. There are both heterosexual and homosexual men who should not be priests.
Tuesday, July 20, 2004
Monday, July 19, 2004
What Bothers You Most About the Celebration of the Eucharist/Mass?
Note: I want to keep this at the top of my postings so that I can elicit as many comments/emails as possible. New postings may be below this one for that reason.
I'm soliciting opinions, feelings, anger, whatever about the Eucharist that will be used in a book that will be entitled something like "How to Get the Most Out of the Eucharist." I want to make it "real" so I'm putting it together from the ground up with all the feedback that I hear when I speak about the Mass to a wide variety of groups.
So I think their are three problem areas, but I'm open to expanding the list based on the feedback that I get here:
I'm soliciting opinions, feelings, anger, whatever about the Eucharist that will be used in a book that will be entitled something like "How to Get the Most Out of the Eucharist." I want to make it "real" so I'm putting it together from the ground up with all the feedback that I hear when I speak about the Mass to a wide variety of groups.
So I think their are three problem areas, but I'm open to expanding the list based on the feedback that I get here:
- Feelings and Reality: "I'm bored" "I don't like the pastor (or fill in the blank)" "I don't understand what's going on" "The preaching (or again fill in the blank) sucks" "I'm not being fed" "I don't believe in it" "I'm angry with the way things are done either correctly or incorrectly"
- The Wandering Mind: "I'm thinking about something else most of the time" "I find it impossible to concentrate"
- Real Abuses: "We use words that aren't in the Missal" "We shake hands at the beginning and in the middle" "(fill in the blank) "We hold hands during the Our Father" "The role of the priest and the laity is confused by the way the Eucharist is celebrated in our parish"
I would like to say with regard to #3 that sometimes people perceive and abuse where no real abuse is taking place, in defense of priests they sometime inherit a situation where certian things have been taking place in a parish and it is hard to stem the tide. I also think that many of the "abuses" have crept into the liturgy because of the items in #1 and attempts to make the liturgy more exciting or relevant, both huge mistakes. Such errors reveal that one doesn't understand the liturgy enough to know that it is the most amazing, exciting and relevant thing we will ever do in this earthly life!
Please link to this discussion on your blog, inviting your readers to participate in this discussion. Feel free to use the comments or to email me directly.
Thanks!
To Ordain Homosexuals, Unfair to Them
Bishop D'Arcy reiterates something he has said in his diocese back home in Boston...
From Boston.com / News / Local / Mass. / Bishop urges gay ban in clergy:
"''We must be very careful of who we accept in the seminary and who we ordain as priests,' D'Arcy told parishioners at Our Lady of the Presentation Church, the Brighton parish in which he grew up. ''It's time to ordain men of quality, not to just look for numbers.'
During yesterday's 10 a.m. Mass, D'Arcy, now bishop of the Fort Wayne-South Bend Diocese in Indiana, said the church must look for men whom children can respect -- ''men who would be good husbands, men who would be good fathers,' he said.
In an interview after the service, D'Arcy acknowledged that his reference to ''good husbands . . . good fathers' conveyed his belief that only heterosexual men should be allowed to become priests. He said men in the priesthood must embrace celibacy.
To put a gay man in the priesthood, in a mostly male environment, is unfair, given the potential attractions, D'Arcy said. ''We don't put these [heterosexual] men in with attractive women,' he said, referring to seminarians. ''You're putting him in with men. It's not fair to him, it's not fair to them, it's not fair to the church.'"
From Boston.com / News / Local / Mass. / Bishop urges gay ban in clergy:
"''We must be very careful of who we accept in the seminary and who we ordain as priests,' D'Arcy told parishioners at Our Lady of the Presentation Church, the Brighton parish in which he grew up. ''It's time to ordain men of quality, not to just look for numbers.'
During yesterday's 10 a.m. Mass, D'Arcy, now bishop of the Fort Wayne-South Bend Diocese in Indiana, said the church must look for men whom children can respect -- ''men who would be good husbands, men who would be good fathers,' he said.
In an interview after the service, D'Arcy acknowledged that his reference to ''good husbands . . . good fathers' conveyed his belief that only heterosexual men should be allowed to become priests. He said men in the priesthood must embrace celibacy.
To put a gay man in the priesthood, in a mostly male environment, is unfair, given the potential attractions, D'Arcy said. ''We don't put these [heterosexual] men in with attractive women,' he said, referring to seminarians. ''You're putting him in with men. It's not fair to him, it's not fair to them, it's not fair to the church.'"
Farewell Mass For Lastiri
Not just a "bishops" problem, but clearly the laity want to be led by guys picking up guys on the internet. I wonder when he'll be declared "healed" at St. Luke's and sent back to do parish work?
From ABC30.com: Farewell Mass For Lastiri:
"St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Merced held a farewell mass Sunday for outgoing Father Jean-Michael Lastiri.
Supporters of the priest are collecting signatures on petitions and hope to present the names of 2,000 supporters to the Fresno Diocese.
The priest is facing allegations of using the internet to solicit sex with men.
Although the priest was not at Sunday's mass, he did leave a statement to the parish vowing he will return.
Supporters hope he'll be forgiven for the alleged misconduct.
Lastiri has been removed from the parish. He is expected to leave the area next week and will then head to a Maryland treatment facility for psychological and spiritual counseling."
From ABC30.com: Farewell Mass For Lastiri:
"St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Merced held a farewell mass Sunday for outgoing Father Jean-Michael Lastiri.
Supporters of the priest are collecting signatures on petitions and hope to present the names of 2,000 supporters to the Fresno Diocese.
The priest is facing allegations of using the internet to solicit sex with men.
Although the priest was not at Sunday's mass, he did leave a statement to the parish vowing he will return.
Supporters hope he'll be forgiven for the alleged misconduct.
Lastiri has been removed from the parish. He is expected to leave the area next week and will then head to a Maryland treatment facility for psychological and spiritual counseling."
The Most Important Thing We Can Do in Our Lives
From Pope John Paul at Zenit:
"While Martha is taken up with domestic affairs," the Holy Father said, "Mary is seated at the feet of the Master and listens to his word. Christ affirms that Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her."
"To listen to the Word of God is the most important thing in our lives," the Pope added.
"Christ is always in our midst and wants to speak to our hearts," the Holy Father continued.
"We can listen to him by meditating with faith on sacred Scripture, recollecting ourselves in private and communal prayer, pausing in silence before the tabernacle, from which he speaks to us of his love."
In this context, John Paul II explained that Sunday is the day that Christians are called especially "to encounter and listen to the Lord." They are given the opportunity in the holy Mass "in which Christ prepares for the faithful the table of the Word and Bread of life," he said.
"But other moments of prayer and reflection, of rest and fraternity, can usefully contribute to sanctify the day of the Lord," the Pope continued. Moreover, when "by the action of the Holy Spirit, God takes up his dwelling in the heart of the believer, it becomes easier to serve brothers," as "happened in a singular and perfect way in Mary Most Holy," he added.
"While Martha is taken up with domestic affairs," the Holy Father said, "Mary is seated at the feet of the Master and listens to his word. Christ affirms that Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her."
"To listen to the Word of God is the most important thing in our lives," the Pope added.
"Christ is always in our midst and wants to speak to our hearts," the Holy Father continued.
"We can listen to him by meditating with faith on sacred Scripture, recollecting ourselves in private and communal prayer, pausing in silence before the tabernacle, from which he speaks to us of his love."
In this context, John Paul II explained that Sunday is the day that Christians are called especially "to encounter and listen to the Lord." They are given the opportunity in the holy Mass "in which Christ prepares for the faithful the table of the Word and Bread of life," he said.
"But other moments of prayer and reflection, of rest and fraternity, can usefully contribute to sanctify the day of the Lord," the Pope continued. Moreover, when "by the action of the Holy Spirit, God takes up his dwelling in the heart of the believer, it becomes easier to serve brothers," as "happened in a singular and perfect way in Mary Most Holy," he added.
Saturday, July 17, 2004
Michael Rose on the Austrian Seminary Scandal
I will tip my hat to him, he now admits that the gay subculture isn't just a "liberal" problem in the Church. Be warned that some may find the photos on Cruxnews.com objectionable.
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