Yes, the Church can become extended family which makes the the past decade pretty rough for some. My single friends have tried to find ways to be active in both parish and community groups. They are wonderful though some have stopped or were stopped in their activity.
In our parish over the past decade we actually had 2 priests in succession given warrants by the Philly DA in a public manner that hit regional and national news. One was a favorite of the children, the other a few years after, the parish pastor. The parish council and many eminent individuals had gone to the archdiocese with info for many years about the pastor to no avail.
It took the Philly DA to bring charges which led to defrocking. The parish lost many people and many families but the rural area had just become the outer ring of suburbia and new people were moving into the area so it didn’t show in a head count.
In the time between the two incidents the Tabernacle was moved to the side and the Presider’s seat was placed in the center where the Tabernacle had been.
**Yes, the Church can become extended family which makes the the past decade pretty rough for some. My single friends have tried to find ways to be active in both parish and community groups. **
Yes, we are all members of the Body of Christ, the Communion of Saints. with God, there is no timeline!