Posted on 04/09/2014 6:13:10 AM PDT by marshmallow
BERKELEY, CA, April 7, 2014 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Oakland Bishop Michael Barber, Pope Francis’ first U.S. episcopal appointment, has drawn ire from Catholic progressives after replacing the priests serving the University of California at Berkeley campus, one of whom is “openly homosexual.”
Newman Hall Holy Spirit Church, which functions as the parish church for Catholic students at the university, has been led by its pastor, Fr. Bernard Campbell, for the past seven years. Fr. Bill Edens, a self-identified homosexual, has served as student chaplain for the last five. Both are members of the Paulist order, which normally appoints priests at the parish.
Barber explained in a letter to the parish that he had intervened in the regular process because he wants to “totally reinvigorate our evangelization efforts for the University Community at Cal Berkeley,” and “reinvigorate and expand our mission ‘to the periphery.’”
Fr. Campbell described the bishop’s decision as a “sad moment” in a statement to parishioners.
(Excerpt) Read more at lifesitenews.com ...
Good, to evil appears evil.
I wonder what changes they are planning for the worship space? I was led to conversion in 1959 at the old Newman Hall at UC Berkeley, and my husband and I raised money to build the present church which is very modern — or was in 1963 when it was dedicated. (I liked the old one better, but UC Berkley wanted the land for an Engineering building.) I also was confirmed through them.
The worship space is rather stark (or was — haven’t seen it for years). It’s all concrete and built in a semi-circle with the altar as a mound. All of the altar furniture is also poured concrete and looks like something out of The Flintstones.
I thought it was really grand before the concrete furniture arrived and they were using the old baraoque furnishings fom the old Newman Center. The contrast between the old and the new was visually exciting. But, the designers opted for the cement furniture, and I never liked the space as much after that was installed.
The reason that the church was semi-circular and not a full circle is that one of the neighbors refused to sell his land to the church and actually put a clause in his will that forbid his heirs from selling to the Catholic Church, either.
In any case, the Paulists are a wonderful Order, dedicating themselves to bringing Christ’s teachings to University communities.
I should add that the main “decoration” of the worship space at Newman Hall is light. There are roof skylights that are somewhat obscured from the congregation’s view that send shafts of light through the ceiling that light up the worship space with these piercing beams. It is spectacular.
Leni
Any riots yet?
Paulists are so wonderful and gay
Yes. Visualize that concrete space with Spanish Baroque chairs and accoutrements. It was so much better, IMHO. But some designer thought that concrete furniture was just the “cat’s meow”. I never cared for it.
That is a cruel remark and undeserved. The Paulist who gave me my lessons left the priesthood during the upheavals of the ‘60s, married, and had 3 children the last I heard.
Leni
Where’s the tabernacle? It needs to be in the center.
Leni
Where did the designer get his inspiration? Beneath The Planet of the Apes? All that's missing is a cobalt-casing missile in the background.
Remembering that many Masses were celebrated in the catacombs on STONE tombs, the stone doesn’t upset me as much as the lack of the Holy Eucharist does.
God bless.
Catholic progressives! Now that’s an oxymoron.
70 specific ministries? I'm imagining a ministry to support the left handed, another to support owners of musically challenged canaries, etc.
Thanks marshmallow.
That doesn’t mean that the whole Order is bad!
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