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
hw
agreed
I note that you refer to the Apostles and the other early Christians who celebrated the Eucharist on "the Lord's Day"--i.e., Sunday, the day the Lord rose from the tomb, as "the Catholic Church."
Many of the converts of the early church were Pagans, the pagans wished to seperate themselves from the heritage of christ and the discipiles and did not practice his teachings by word or action lest they be idenified as a J-- so they never were christians then or now.
It is in the nature of some jobs that work on Sundays can be an occasional necessity. Mine falls into that category. I try to minimise it, and never let it interfere with assisting at Mass, but stuff happens.
The Sabbath was to serve as a reminder that God had brought the Israelites out of Egypt:
Deuteronomy 5:15 - "15 And you must remember that you became a slave in the land of Egypt and Jehovah your God proceeded to bring you out from there with a strong hand and an outstretched arm. That is why Jehovah your God commanded you to carry on the sabbath day. (italics mine)
God did not bring the Christians out of Egypt. The Law served as a tutor, but we don't need a tutor anymore, because we have the faith:
Galatians 3:23-25: "23 However, before the faith arrived, we were being guarded under law, being delivered up together into custody, looking to the faith that was destined to be revealed. 24 Consequently the Law has become our tutor leading to Christ, that we might be declared righteous due to faith. 25 But now that the faith has arrived, we are no longer under a tutor."
It's true that at Acts 20:7 Paul delivered a discourse to some disciples "the first day of the week", but that's because they were already having a meal (no indication that it was a "mass"), and Paul was leaving the next day. There is no evidence from scripture that Christians are obligated to observe Sunday as a "sabbath". If we're going to be under any part of the Law, then we have to accept the entire Law.
Colossians 3:16, 17 - "16 Therefore let no man judge YOU in eating and drinking or in respect of a festival or of an observance of the new moon or of a sabbath; 17 for those things are a shadow of the things to come, but the reality belongs to the Christ."
What kind of job?
I fixed dinner for my small group of 80 for quite some time. It was hardly a "day of rest" for me.
Was I violating the Sabbath so that others could observe it?
In my case it's an engineering job that requires some field testing of equipment ... that can get hairy. Consider also military, ER personnel, police, fire, etc.
Nonsense.
Why do you feel the need to try and structure others lives. (Blue Laws) Many work shiftwork or some form of 24 hour Operations. Their needs should be secondary to your religous beliefs, why?
Absolutely, and I encourage you to act as you wish. Why stop there though?
Unplug all electrical appliances, turn the water off, start a fire in the fireplace for heat, and forget calling 911.
Then take the time to stand back appreciatively at what others do for you the rest of the week. Maybe you won't want to try and structure their lives by supporting "Blue Law" legislation.
As to protection of workers from discrimination based upon their practice of their respective religions, employers who want to be open every day should make a point of hiring enough heathens to keep their businesses open on Holy Days.
You seem to have a bit of an attitude about religion practiced as though practitioners actually believe. Did Mom get terrified by a priest, minister or rabbi when she was carrying you?
BTW, just how many seculars do you imagine I am depending upon in my daily life? I will wager that if there are any, they constitute a very tiny minority and can be replaced, if necessary.
No and a priest does not violate the Sabbath by saying Mass (as spiritually necessary for his flock as dinner was materially necessary for your guests and probably even more so). Or the surgeon performing necessary surgery or many other necessary occupations. Cosmetology or hairdressing or auto detailing or lumberjacking seem to be among the non-emergency occupations which need not be performed on the Sabbath. We do not need laws to back up the distinctions, however. God gave you free will. Use it.
If a "Catholic" employer says: "I don't care what their religion is, my employees will be banging those cash registers on Sunday like any other day," then denial of the Eucharist would be in order for such an employer. If the Church would make a point of confronting the world rather than knuckling under to its worldly enemies, then the state of belief and practice would certainly improve.
It would be wonderful if this would be implemented nation-wide!
**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."**
Bishop Olmstead bump!
Let's see - as a Catholic Bishop this guys got no working wife, no kids, has many basic needs supplied to him by the Church, and has at least some free time during daylight hours on weekdays to do what ever he wants. He really has no clue what life is like for the rest of us.
Nationwide and beyond! We need to make it so that it cannot be allowed across national borders either...to close off complaints from those on the northern and southern borders.
Actually, the law uses the term "reasonable accomodation" to enforce the rights of believers.
You may choose otherwise, but unless you have a REALLY good excuse, expect EEOC at your door.
And were you in the military?
If not, please don't discuss Iraq.
Are you male? If not, don't discuss childbearing.
Are you female? If not, don't discuss masculinity.
I hope that a few examples of stupid remarks modeled precisely on your screed help you understand the inanity of your post.
And he is asking you to realign those priorities, not give excuses.
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