[k omalley]

"Forcing people to socialize and touch one another at Mass does not build a genuine sense of community and it is very awkward."

I have to agree with you,Howling. My daughter attended Catholic University and at her first Mass as a freshman, the priest instructed the students to hug the person next to them. The person next to her was a male whom she didn't know and it made her very uncomfortable. She never went back to a student Mass.

[old and tired]

I went to one student Mass while my daughter was at Boston College. I was horrified. It seemed like the handholding Our Father, and not the consecration, was the high point.

Afterwards I told the priest his Mass ought to come with a warning label on the door.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

Thanks. We agree. The ideas behind this seem to come from Third Force psychology (touchy-feely psychobabble). It's a given that if you are showing up for Mass and have a genuine faith in Jesus, you love and care about your neighbor. Touching someone in affection or even shaking hands are things which have to be VOLUNTARY and spontaneous in order to be genuine.

Considering what has been going on with the Rainbow Sash crowd, the gender bending, and the sex molestation scandals, it seems entirely inappropriate to try to force people to touch one another at Mass. I find the pyschobabbleization of Catholicism to be ridiculous. It should stop.

Here's an example. I was at Mass one Sunday and when I turned around to give the "sign of peace" there was a prominent "Catholic" liberal Democrat politician in the pew RIGHT behind me. I didn't want to "shake hands" with this person because he is well-known for giving aid and comfort to the pro-abortion agenda in American politics. It was VERY awkward and I felt ill, nauseated, and like I wanted to throw up. It really ruined the mood of the Mass for me. It made me very angry that I was forced to be in the situation where I had to shake hands with a pro-abortion maniac or look rude. And it put me into a state which was an undesirable disposition for being at Mass and preparing to receive Holy Communion.

I have a suggestion for priests and bishops: Get rid of the sign of peace or kick the pro-abortion politicians out of the Church.