I am a 58 year old woman. A convert to the Catholic faith,a conservative Catholic.When I first attended a Catholic sacred liturgy I was captivated by the reverence of body and presence. That is one of the reasons I decided to take lessons,year 1971-72. Now I see so many people young and old when at Mass show such disrespect in dress and talking. Many people take vows,priests,married couples and some are celibate for different reasons. I know a wonderful woman who is very sick and her husband takes such good care of her but she does not get to do all the things married couples do together. But the husband understands he took a vow before God to love till death. It is very hard on them but they seem to love each other. But I think what if the husband decided to break his vow as this priest has so he can have something of a better life,better situation.Too many of our pastors and preachers,priests have turned their back on God,they accept sin and support it. Even the life of a child can not touch the heart of those who are suppose to serve the Lord and shepherd his people. Jesus asked Peter three times,will you feed my sheep. But before that question he asked three times do you love me. Today too many love themselves more than they love Jesus. They don’t want to sacrifice,suffer,follow in the steps of Jesus. They do not feed his sheep,they feed themselves while the sheep are starving for the truth of the Gospel. So now this priest breaks his vow to God and his church to take yet another vow with this woman? Will she trust his vow to her after he has already broke his vow to God and then left his church for another? For the sake of his sorrowful passion has mercy on us and on the whole world.
I agree fully regarding the disrespect shown before, after, and even during Mass. Seems like an increasingly small number of people actually fully comprehend the Real Presence in the tabernacle. If you have a "extraordinary form" (i.e., Tridentine Latin) Mass somewhere within driving distance, I'd suggest that you go check that out every now and again. Around here (metro DC), the atmosphere is far more reverent that what has devolved in many Novus Ordo parishes.
If an extraordinary form Mass is not available to you, you could check into an Eastern Rite parish in communion with the Holy Father. If not that, possibly a Mass celebrated at a local religious institute (particularly one by the Dominicans).
Great points and beautifully said.
I too am a convert to Catholicism though you have more years then I. I was received into the Church in 2006.
Prior to my conversion and to this day I struggle with two issues. First, I believe that the death penalty is appropriate in certain circumstances. My position is in direct conflict with the USCBC though the Church itself does allow for capital punishment in very specific cases and as a last report. I fully confided with my priest on this subject and add it to my confessions. I also continue to pray about it.
Secondly, I believe in birth control that prevents fertilization of an egg but will not kill a newly formed life. This position is completely contrary to the teachings and catechism of the Church. It is also a position I have confessed to my priest and continue to pray and confess upon to this day.
While I hold these two issues obviously in difference with the Church, I did not convert to Catholicism to force my positions upon her. It is my responsibility to change my views to become in accordance with Church teachings, not to work against the Church to force my personal beliefs upon her and millions of Catholics who are in accordance on these two positions.
All too often I find Catholics who seem to feel it is their right and duty to change the teaching of the Church. This happens with both clergy and the faithful. In fact, my sponsor through RCIA believes in abortion, birth control and and rejects the authority of our Archbishop.
What Alberto Cutie did is a symptom of the sickness in our Church and in society in general. Oaths, morals, vows, ethical standards are becoming going to way of the dinosaurs. To see dozens on Catholics stand outside of Cutie’s press conference carrying signs of support for him disgusted me.
Cutie slapped in the face his followers, the Church, Favalora, The Pope, Jesus and his Holy Mother and people who call themselves Catholic support him. Why? Because he’s good looking? He’s a “celebrity”? He gave good relationship advice, obviously he had experience with that topic.
Personally I believe the Church is better off without priests who either feel they have a right to change the base principles of the Catholic Church or disregard their oaths when those teaching interfere with their choosen lifestyle.
This is not to say that Alberto Cutie does not need our prayers, in fact he needs them more now then ever. That does not mean we accept what he did or the path he has chosen to take. As the saying goes, I don’t hate the sinner, I hate the sin.
In Christ...