Posted on 07/18/2005 2:55:09 PM PDT by Heartofsong83
Phoenix Bishop says "No Sunday Shopping" - A Wedge Issue in the Culture Wars
PHOENIX, July 18, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The Catholic bishop of Phoenix, Arizona, quoted in the Arizona Republic, told a congregation attending the most recent priestly ordinations that the world has suffered with the loss of the religious observance of Sunday as a day of rest. The article, which appeared in the July 17th Sunday edition, posed the question, "Whatever happened to Sunday?" It reflects the observation of many Christians that the day which used to be reserved to religious and family togetherness, has turned into "an extension of Saturday," filled with errands invariably including shopping.
Bishop Olmsted of Phoenix said, "Keep the Lord's day holy. . . refrain from all shopping and enjoy Sunday as a day of rest, a day of leisure, a day for family, a day for celebrating the Eucharist."
The trend to the loss of the observance of Sunday is another feature of the general de-Christianizing of western culture since the end of the second world war. Some say it is one small symptom among others, but others see it as the thin edge of the wedge and one which may easily be reversed. According to a 2003 survey by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as many as 33% of workers are at work on Sundays and holidays.
Steve Skojec, a married Catholic layman involved in the burgeoning Latin Mass community in Phoenix, says that his family as well as the other families involved in the traditional Catholic community take the Sunday religious and family observance as a serious part of their faith. Skojec, a realtor and father of two, told LifeSiteNews.com, that the observance of Sunday is worthwhile for its spiritual benefits. "For my wife and I, being in real estate, Sunday is a big money making day. But we feel, if we forego the ability to make money on Sunday, God will bless us."
The work of restoring Christian culture is one that interests many young Catholic and other Christian lay people. The leadership of Christian communities can help by encouraging the growth of genuine Christian social and political movements such as pro-life activity, a project at which the new bishop of Phoenix has excelled.
The diocese, which has recently made the Latin Mass much more available, has also encouraged other traditional Catholic measures to counter the secularizing trend. Bishop Olmstead recently welcomed five sisters from the same cloistered order of nuns as Mother Angelica of EWTN fame to his diocese. Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests For Life was also recently featured giving talks on the right to life in a Phoenix parish. Bishop Olmsted is also often seen protesting outside area abortion mills.
Skojec, 27, implied that the observance of Sunday, what Catholics refer to as the 'Sunday obligation' extends further than merely attending Church services. He said, "To us, if we forego the ability to make money on Sunday, God will bless us. In our minds, the avoidance of temporal gain on Sunday is rewarded with spiritual blessings."
Read Arizona Republic coverage: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0717sundays.html
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If you force businesses to close those employees are out of the double or triple overtime they get paid to work holidays IF THEY CHOOSE. Why not let individuals and businesses make own decisions?
Of course, they use the wrong day of the week, but we'll have to agree to disagree about that.
I agree. I manage a shop that is closed on Sunday, although we are up against a large discount chain that is open every day and for longer hours. We are blessed as it is and am grateful to God for watching over us.
It isn’t the end of the world. The town I grew up in was part of a “dry” county and the city wouldn’t allow any tobacco products be sold within the city limits.
They had “blue laws” and you couldn’t buy anything other than “non-prepared” foods on Sunday. That meant you could buy hamburger meat or chicken or a bag of rice, but you couldn’t buy KFC or Pizza Hut or tennis shoes or gasoline or anything other than non-prepared food.
No cigarettes or beer/booze within the city/county line under any circumstances - Sunday or not. Somehow we survived. It wasn’t the end of the world.
My dad used to say he remembered stores used to be closed on Sunday in his day.
Since I am LDS (Mormon) we are strongly encouraged to keep the Sabbath holy and not to spend money. There is even a children's song about preparing on Saturday for the Sabbath, so we don't have to work again until Monday.
Shopping or not should be left to the individual. OK?
If we're going to go by "majority rules", would you support taking a vote on Sunday openings? Or why don't we save the taxpayers a bundle and just say "each individual follows his own conscience"?
It used to be that Jewish shop owners closed their stores for their religious days as well.
Exactly!
If you're opposed to shopping on Sunday, then don't shop on Sunday. If you're a retailer, and you're opposed to operating on Sunday (such as the Chick-Fil-A chain), then feel free not to. If you think you'll go to Hell for cutting your grass on Sunday, then I heartily approve of you not cutting your grass on Sunday. And, if like Joe Lieberman, you believe you shouldn't drive a car on Saturday, then by all means don't.
But don't you dare tell me when I am permitted to engage in such pursuits.
A split? Here? Nawww... :)
Let's have a day of rest, religion and prayer.
What is stopping you? No, really! What? There is no law or directive compelling you or anyone else to do anything on Sunday you do not wish to do.
If you desire, or are required by your belief to stay at home, or spend the day in prayer, or keep it strictly for family, please, do so.
Just do it without telling others that they have to do the same as you, and do not restrict the activities of others because the do not hold sacred the same day or not to the same level.
Before you answer, consider that we also play host to religions that hold Saturday as the Day Of Rest and if there is reason for restrictions of activities on Sunday, those reasons apply also to Saturday or any other day deemed 'Holy'.
There's a commandment to that effect.
If you don't want to shop on Sunday, don't. Expecting stores to close because of your religion is wrong.
Country lost moralality when it forewent church to make a buck.
Obviously we need to get some of the morality back.
The Sabbath begins Friday at sundown and ends Saturday at sundown. That has never changed, and never will.
Please don't refer to Sunday as the Sabbath because it is not the Sabbath.
We still have one like that here in Columbus. Two actually, stores called "Schotenstien's". They are a low cost bargain outlet and observant of Jewish religious holidays.
Their choice, no laws involved, and without trying to be snarky just a little hypocritical. The Saturday closures are set aside for the Christmas season.
Well, this is the dictionary definition of Sabbath:
Sab·bath ( P ) Pronunciation Key (sbth)
n.
The seventh day of the week, Saturday, observed as the day of rest and worship by the Jews and some Christian sects.
The first day of the week, Sunday, observed as the day of rest and worship by most Christians.
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later pingout.
Of course, they use the wrong day of the week, but we'll have to agree to disagree about that.
At least some others around here acknowledge that.
A lot of people read their Bibles backwards.
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