Posted on 08/14/2005 9:17:15 AM PDT by Chi-townChief
I'll apologize in advance for this vanity post but I need to get this off my chest:
At our 10:30 a.m. mass this morning, our pastor was the celebrant. Today's Gospel was the story of Christ's meeting with the Canaanite woman and the eventual healing of her daughter. Our pastor then followed with his homily where he first related the plight of the Canaanite woman with a woman he knew who called him requesting prayers for an illness in her family which we could relate to since my wife and I are both contending with (minor, we hope) health issues.
The nest thing we know, the pastor is relating this to the "lady camped out in Texas asking for healing AND ACCOUNTABILITY" (the emphasis is my own). We sat there and listened through the sermon as he returned to the Sheehan story a few more times asking us to imagine an Iraqi woman who lost children in the same position.
Thankfully, it was pretty short and we stood for the Creed but then, immediately before the intercessions, the pastor returned to the topic.
This was too much for us so we turned and left, commenting to those around that we don't come to church to hear politics. I handed the usher my offering as we exited.
This is the first time something like this has happened in this church we have attended for the past twenty years or so and I feel pretty horrible about the whole thing.
I would have walked out too. Actually, I have walked out before -- a parish I used to go to had a very liberal priest who always injected his political opinions into everything.
Please let the bishop know about this. If he does not correct it, I suggest you cease financial support and make sure they know why.
reminds me of a similar incident with me. I was attended a Catholic church in town (Los Angeles) with my girlfriend. In the sermon the priest called for prayers for Timothy McVie, and yes-- God even loved Timothy McVie..
a made a bee-line for the door.
Only a blind follower would have stood for that.
Though not a vanity person myself, that needed telling. Thanks.
What's to apologize for?
That man would be my former pastor at this point. And, possibly, that would be my former church. I have only belonged to one church for my entire life so I don't say that lightly. People who hop and shop churches drive me nuts but that would be a deal breaker right there.
I've done this myself, but I stopped off at the men's room first to wash my hands before I left.
Hopefully, it will be heeded in the future.
The Sunday after the 0/11 attacks, my priest went to "..the corrupt neb who control Alan Greenspan.." in his sermon. He is a touchy feely creep who walks the aisle during his words of wisdom. When he got within two rows, I got up, genuflected and left.
This is not uncommon.
Me, too.
And I wouldn't have left an "offering."
I wouldn't go back to that church, either.
The political views of the pastor have no business intruding.
Remember John Paul II stood against the "Liberation Theology" of priests, which was nothing more than marxism.
Yes, that's 9/11.
I am a Catholic. I would have joined you. (Offering prayers for the health of both of you.)
I would not suggest writing to the newspaper before writing a letter to the Priest and seeing what the response is.
"What does the Canaanite woman and the eventual healing of her daughter, have to do w/cindy sheehan?"
You should have made it clear to the congregation why you were leaving. Some may think it was because you had an emergency. Too bad you didn't stand up and say to the preacher "we don't come to church to hear politics".
So sorry for you. I slept in this a.m. but would have done the same if it occured at any of the protestantant churches I frequent. :)
You did the right thing by walking out. We need more people with character. It's a shame that crap is coming from the pulpit and they are feeding the "sheeples" with it.
I walked out of a Sabbath service in Maryland a few months ago when it turned out to be a God-mocking left-wing shindig. You ain't alone.
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