Posted on 06/05/2016 8:50:18 AM PDT by detective
How do you attract new parishioners when they don't know of the church will remain open and that when they “donate” to the church it really is just paying off for crimes to victims of pedophile priests.
1) The parish was UNSUPPORTED. The very article itself tells of only 100 or so people - who are now essentially Protestants - trying to keep the parish open against the will of the bishop. This shows support for the parish was small and few of the attendees who continued after the closing were even orthodox - and that hints at a very heterodox and spiritually sick parish.
2) You mistakenly assume - apparently - that this “a reorganization necessitated by the financial settlements after the clergy sex-abuse scandal” means exactly the same thing as “The parish was closed to sell the real estate to pay for the legal settlements caused by homosexual priests.”
From the article:
“the parishioners were willing to contribute financially as well. The parish was free of debt and had even raised the possibility of opening up a Catholic school for the community.”
“Eleven years ago the Boston Archdiocese announced that it was closing the parish, a reorganization necessitated by the financial settlements after the clergy sex-abuse scandal. The parishioners at St. Frances have tried to alter the hierarchy’s decision using canon law as well as the US legal system, maintaining a presence in the building so it would not be sold out from under them.”
The parish was supported by the parishioners. The article states that the decision to close the parish was made by the Diocese for financial reasons. The hierarchy wanted to sell the real estate. The wishes of the parishioners were not the basis for the decision. Whether the decision to sell the parish real estate was directly based on the legal settlements caused by the diocese supporting, promoting and protecting homosexual priests is really not debatable. The diocese needed or wanted money. The needs of the parishioners did not matter.
The Diocese denied them access to a diocesan priest. That is why they were forced to use an illegal priest.
The fact that so many parishioners were willing to support their parish for eleven years in the face of the diocese decision to sell it is remarkable. It can not have been easy.
I am a devout Catholic and I am very active in my parish. The parish priests I have known have been good and holy men who sacrifice for their parishioners.
The hierarchy do not support faithful Catholics. They ignore their needs and their struggles and only contact them to ask for money.
Good priests are treated badly by the hierarchy. Homosexual and political priests are supported and protected.
The strength of the Catholic church in America is the faith and generosity of its members. The weakness of the Catholic church is the dishonesty of the hierarchy.
The parishioners of every parish I have ever known pay to build and maintain the parish. They volunteer to keep the parish viable.
The hierarchy take money from the parishioners but give back little or nothing. In this case the hierarchy decided to ignore the needs of the parishioners and sell the parish out from under the parishioners.
I am a devout Catholic and I am very active in my parish. I have been given much responsibility by the pastor and have helped to keep the parish going.
I have seen good and holy priests treated badly. I have seen homosexual and political priests protected and supported. I have seen the needs of the parishioners ignored by the hierarchy.
The strength of the Catholic Church in America is the faith of its members. The weakness is the dishonesty of the hierarchy.
Good for you. Will you also jump religions if your church is shuttered by your bishop?
Right! Like Nancy Pelosi, Joe Biden, Barbara Mikulski, Mary Landrieu and their like?
“So my question would be, how far does it have to go before you say this isn’t what you thought it was?”
In my lay opinion, Pope Francis has made decisions or statements that can be confusing to Catholics. Nevertheless, its the same Mass, same Catechism, same doctrine as it was before he took over. Given that, I cannot judge his intentions or his heart. Ultimately, as Pope, he is aware that he will be held accountable on how he led his flock.
For some reason, its easier to complain about a Pope or Bishop than to pray for them.
Nevertheless, concerning the “gates of hell.” The Church has survived and endured much worse in its history than parish closings and a weak hierarchy.
These are politicians who may or may not be sincere Catholics. I try not to judge other people.
They are not the faithful Catholics I was referring to.
I meant the people who support their parishes and do the thankless jobs to keep parishes going and ask for nothing in return.
“Good for you. Will you also jump religions if your church is shuttered by your bishop?”
No. I do a lot to support my parish. But if the parish is closed I will find another parish to join.
You've already patted yourself on the back. No need to be repetitious.
“You’ve already patted yourself on the back. No need to be repetitious.”
I was trying to answer your question. I have no need to pat myself on the back. Your comment is rude and dishonest.
How was my post dishonest? Check your posts #44 and #49. Are they not prideful?
Like the squatters in St. Frances X. Cabrini Church who are fixing to jump off the Ark rather than driving down the road to assist at a real Catholic Mass? Come on! It's Boston, surely they can find another Catholic church.
I was trying to have an honest conversation and let you know about my experience and perspective. In answering your questions I was trying to tell you about my experience. I was honest about my experience. Honesty is not prideful.
I will no longer try to engage in an honest, intelligent conversation with you.
You have no interest in the current challenges facing the Catholics in America. You do not seem to even understand the current situation in the Catholic Church.
All you care about are throwing out dishonest insults.
Once again, there was nothing dishonest in my posts.
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