Catholic Priest Celebrates Mass in a Dracula Cape w/hangings of Wolfman & Frankenstein

The Times of Trenton ^ | 10.31.03

[Coleus]

Growing up a member of the Adams family, The Rev. Dave Adams got kidded about the old TV show featuring creepy family members who snapped their fingers in unison and were particularly popular during Halloween.

The holiday was always "a big deal" in this home with spooky sounds from a tape recorder, and a lurking cast of Halloween characters - Dracula, Frankenstein, mummies and werewolves.

[Coleus]

The Catholic Church has spent 2,000 yrs. converting pagans to Catholicism where countless priests have died doing so and now this priest glorifies Halloween and focuses the mass on the occult and popular movies and not Jesus.

[Coleus]

`

[american colleen]

I didn't get that this priest focuses the Mass on popular movies and the occult and not on Jesus... unless I read it wrong, it seems this priest put together a presentation/show -- "a one-hour, light-hearted look at the Christian messages lurking in All Hallows Eve. Word of the presentation spread and other parishes invited him to speak, so he now takes his Halloween show on the road" -- however, the halloween decor does not belong on the altar or in the church (and all churches have some kind of hall for presentations/classes) at any time. That is sacreligious and offensive in the extreme.

PS. Once again, I notice that the contact is a nun named "Carol" - why are so many nuns named "Barbara" or "Carol"? ;-)

[Coleus]

A picture is worth a thousand words when you look at the picture what comes to mind?

[Coleus]

It is seen everywhere how the spirit of naturalism tends to penetrate every part of the social body, even the most healthy; a spirit which fills the minds with pride and causes them to rebel against every authority; depraves the heart and turns it after the desire of earthly goods, neglecting those eternal.....

FIN DAL PRINCIPIO
Encyclical of Pope Leo XIII on the Education of the Clergy

[nickcarraway]

Well, I can say one thing about this guy: truth in advertising.

[Cagey]

I don't know, Coleus. The article never says he "says Mass" in a dracula costume. It says he began sharing the stories during mass and with Boy Scouts. Are you sure the photo is during Mass, or could it have been set up by the photographer?

This may me much to do about nothing. I bet one thing, the kids that listen to his stories are probably listening rather than wishing they were home watching TV. Seems to me he is doing this for kids and it is quite harmless and most likely they think he is great.

Plus, you changed the title. Two demerits!

[Calpernia]

We are all doomed.

How symbolic. I just read this post, looked up from my office window and there is the moom raising, glowing read.

*shivers*

[RaginCajunTrad]

Catholicguy, you're worried about the Trads? Better watch out for the modernists!

While this kooky priest was doing his shenanigans, my wife and I were at a daughters house for an All Saints party with some of the adults and most of the children dressed as saints.

As I have said many times, CG your wrath is firing in the wrong direction.

[american colleen]

"picture is worth a thousand words when you look at the picture what comes to mind?"

Like I said - "... unless I read it wrong, it seems this priest put together a presentation/show -- 'a one-hour, light-hearted look at the Christian messages lurking in All Hallows Eve' (not during the Mass) -- however, the halloween decor does not belong on the altar or in the church (and all churches have some kind of hall for presentations/classes) at any time. That is sacreligious and offensive in the extreme."

[Coleus]

He can say mass under tonight's lunar eclipse and feel right at home.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the heads up!

[Romulus]

, Jesus made love a priority. By willingly suffering and dying on the cross, "he achieved love and immortality.

Gnostic slop. This priest is the scariest thing going on Halloween. However, as others have noted, the article makes no mention of his offering Mass in this getup. It's bad enough as it is.

[RaginCajunTrad]

When the Werewolf howls at the full moon, do you think Fr. Adams will have some words of explanation?

[rogator]

The headline says its a Mass. If so it makes the sacrilige of abusing the altar of God the more egregious. It could not have happened the same way forty years ago.

[Bohemund]

There is nothing in the article or on the newspaper's website that says that he celebrates Mass in a Dracula cape with hangings of the Wolfman and Frankinstein. I apreciate your concern for the sanctity of the mass, but I think your headline is misleading.

[american colleen]

The "Mass" headline was created by the FR poster... click on the link and find the newspaper headline as "A lesson on `Holy Halloween'."

[Salvation]

**Is this type of Mass mentioned in the GIRM?**

NO!!

[Salvation]

** when you look at the picture what comes to mind?**

Certainly not the Holy Mass and the Holy Eucharist!

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

Whether he said Mass in that getup or not, the picture causes one to believe he did. That picture alone is blasphemous.

[rogator]

Thank you.

[Coleus]

Yes, and why is he wearing his priestly vestments which are only worn for sacraments. It's scary

[Conservative til I die]

It's the usual twisting and distorting by the petulant Trads and their useful idiot allies in the evangelical movement. Take a kernel of truth and turn it into something larger than it is. So, a story about a priest giving lectures based around Halloweenm and making sloppy analogies between Halloween and the horror genre become hysterical headlines like "Catholic Priest Celebrates Mass in a Dracula Cape w/hangings of Wolfman & Frankenstein."

Losers.

[Conservative til I die]

Actually I think an apology for putting up a fraudulent headline with the intent to deceive (lying's a mortal sin, btw) and violating the site owner's rule is in order.

[Conservative til I die]

**Is this type of Mass mentioned in the GIRM?**

>>>>NO!!

Salvation, I appreciate your sentiment, and I agree with it wholeheartedly, but there was no Mass involved. The original poster intentionally lied and attempted to defraud the board with his headline. For what purpose, I don't know.

[rogator]

"...there was no Mass involved."

Do we know this?

[al_c]

PS. Once again, I notice that the contact is a nun named "Carol" - why are so many nuns named "Barbara" or "Carol"? ;-)

Heh heh ... my mother-in-law is Barbara, my sister-in-law is Carol. Two very devout Catholic Christians, btw.

How ya doin', AC?

[VermiciousKnid]

My kids go to Catholic school. On October 31, the whole school attends Mass and the first grade students are all dressed as saints. There are NO other costumes allowed in school that day. Everyone else is wearing the school uniform.

Six children from each of the two first grade classes are chosen to recite brief biographies of the saints they have chosen to portray. (This all happens After Mass.)

The children do a GREAT job (my Billy was chosen last year -- he was, of course, Saint William the Abbot) and truly, they all look so adorable and serious.

THAT'S the way Halloween should be celebrated in a Catholic church. NOT "Wolfman."

Regards,

[Coleus]

your brain is a mortal sin. who cares what you think.

[Coleus]

The original poster intentionally lied and attempted to defraud the board with his headline. >>

oh, a flamer in the works.

so, go squeal and tattle tale to the moderator and have the title changed; the reason for the rule with titles tends to deal with double postings, this topic/artice/picture is very esoteric so I'm sure it won't be a problem as a matter of fact, the pic appeared in the print newspaper and not on thier website.

Please stop trying to put yourself on a pedestal; it makes you just look more pathetic, how do you know my intentions? And golly gee, the little boy is resorting to name calling and innuendo. Hey, thanks a lot brother; obviously not a "practicing" Catholic. And does all powerful and all knowing Conservative till i die know that the reporter was NOT there and conducted the interview by telephone? Hmmm, I guess not.

It's such a flashy title let me bookmark it. There it's done.

......He began sharing them during Sunday Mass and campfire Masses with area Boy Scouts.......

And what part of this sentence and the words "them" and "mass" don't you understand? The issue is the "picture" which was taken in very poor taste, here you have a priest in his vestments(which are worn for conducting Sacraments) with his arms outstretched as if he were saying the final prayer before the blessing with pagan symbols in front and behind the altar. Doesn't sound Catholic to me and it's a slap in the face to the liturgy and to the fine priests doing their job saving souls not confusing people and posing for idiotic pictures; he should have known better. This sort of thing doesn't belong in a Catholic Church in the sanctuary. Notice you never see halloween decorations outside a rectory, there is a reason for it.

The Importance and Dignity of the Eucharistic Celebration
http://www.nccbuscc.org/liturgy/current/chapter1.htm

II. Arrangement of the Sanctuary for the Sacred Synaxis
(Eucharistic Assembly)
http://www.nccbuscc.org/liturgy/current/chapter5.htm#sect2
Pumpkins and Frankenstein I don't think are sacred images.

http://www.nccbuscc.org/liturgy/current/chapter6.htm
Sacred Vestments are used for Sacraments not Halloween

Can. 929 In celebrating and administering the Eucharist, priests and deacons are to wear the sacred vestments prescribed by the rubrics.

Q. 950. Why does the priest wear special vestments and use certain ceremonies while performing his sacred duties?
A. The priest wears special vestments and uses certain ceremonies while performing his sacred duties:

(1) To give greater solemnity and to command more attention and respect at divine worship;
(2) To instruct the people in the things that these vestments and ceremonies signify;
(3) To remind the priest himself of the importance and sacred character of the work in which he is the representative of Our Lord Himself.
Hence we should learn the meaning of the ceremonies of the Church.

[Conservative til I die]

The original poster intentionally lied and attempted to defraud the board with his headline.

oh, a flamer in the works.

Did you or did you not make up your own headline? And this is regardless of your motives. Did you or did you not make up your own headline? Very simple question.

so, go squeal and tattle tale to the moderator and have the title changed;

No one tattle-taled or squealed. Stop jumping to conclusions.

the reason for the rule with titles tends to deal with double postings, this topic/artice/picture is very esoteric so I'm sure it won't be a problem as a matter of fact, the pic appeared in the print newspaper and not on thier website.

You're obfuscating.

Please stop trying to put yourself on a pedestal; it makes you just look more pathetic, how do you know my intentions? And golly gee, the little boy is resorting to name calling and innuendo.

Says the liar/fraud/board rules violator that just called me pathetic.

[Conservative til I die]

your brain is a mortal sin.

What a Catholic you are.

BTW, what the heck kind of insult is "your brain is a mortal sin," anyway? Pretty lame-o.

[Coleus]

Actually I think an apology for putting up a fraudulent headline with the intent to deceive (lying's a mortal sin, btw) and violating the site owner's rule is in order.>>>

Yes, your brain thought that a free republic title is akin to lying and a mortal sin, pretty stupid, I think.

BTW, what the heck kind of insult is "your brain is a mortal sin," anyway? Pretty lame-o>>

Insult? that was a compliment.

[Conservative til I die]

Lying's a sin. You posted a false subject in a header, IMO with the intention to stoke debate by sensationalizing the the title.

But keep it up with the personal insults.

[Coleus]

But keep it up with the personal insults.>>>

Insults?  I must have learned from the best, keep up the good work, brother. He who lives in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

The original poster intentionally lied and attempted to defraud the board with his headline. For what purpose, I don't know.
25 posted on 11/10/2003 1:00:41 AM EST by Conservative til I die

Says the liar/fraud/board rules violator that just called me pathetic.

31 posted on 11/10/2003 10:40:19 PM EST by Conservative til I die

 

Lying's a sin. You posted a false subject in a header, IMO with the intention to stoke debate by sensationalizing the the title.>>>

 

And who are you to decide what is a sin and what is not and who is lying?  How can you get that head of yours through a doorway?  And if I did intend to stoke debate as you stated; it must have worked since you seem to be on some kind of crusade over here.

[Conservative til I die]

And who are you to decide what is a sin and what is not and who is lying?

I would have thought it was kinda laid out pretty clear that lying is a sin. Lying's defined as saying something not true. Work with me here, these aren't terribly difficult concepts.

How can you get that head of yours through a doorway? And if I did intend to stoke debate as you stated; it must have worked since you seem to be on some kind of crusade over here.

The thread's a month old and had 35 responses. Get a clue and a life.

[Coleus]

The thread's a month old and had 35 responses. Get a clue and a life.>>

My how time flies, brother. I was cleaning out some messages and came across this. My life is fine, I don't need to get one, I'm very content.