Posted on 09/13/2010 7:33:54 AM PDT by marshmallow
Catholic bishops have likened the Pope to the headline act at a series of gigs in a ‘cringe-worthy’ guide to his visit this week which insiders fear exposes the Church to ridicule.
In a list of ‘useful terms’ in the official booklet, the three open-air Papal masses – the most solemn occasions of the historic trip – are referred to as ‘shows’ or ‘gigs’, terms normally associated with rock concerts.
The document also compares the clergy who organise services – known as liturgists – to ‘performers’ or ‘artists’.
It refers to the ‘Holy Father’ and the bishops as ‘headline act(s)’ and says congregations are often termed ‘audiences’ or ‘crowds’.
Injecting even more showbusiness style, the leaflet translates weighty terms such as ‘sanctuary’ into ‘stage’ and the distribution of Holy Communion into ‘giving out’.
Religious words such as ‘spiritual’ and ‘uplifting’ become ‘enjoyable, fun, exciting’.
The unusual glossary raises fresh questions over the handling of Pope Benedict XVI’s four-day visit, which starts on Thursday and has already been mired in controversy.
The Church is distributing thousands of copies of the glossy, eight-page booklet produced by the Papal Visit Team, overseen by Archbishop of Westminster Vincent Nichols. Its cover carries the official slogan of the visit – the first to Britain since 1982 – Heart Speaks Unto Heart.
Insiders said the pamphlet is aimed at workers from companies arranging events, police officers, broadcasters and journalists who may not be Catholics and are unsure about the Church’s rituals and beliefs.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Sad to see some still wedded to this forlorn and futile groveling.
Unfortunately, they get it from the Christian music industry, which goes the opposite direction, labeling-wise: concerts are billed as opportunities to “worship” with “the biggest names in praise”, etc. Calling a rock concert a worship experience panders to the “rock-star” mindset. K-Love, a music ministry we’ve supported for 15 years, has listener contests that promise a guitar signed by Chris Tomlin or Mercy Me, free travel to a “praise event”, and the latest: dinner with (I think) Jeremy Camp on top of the Space Needle during some regional Christian music fest.
There’s a difference between becoming, to paraphrase Paul, “like the world to save the world”, and selling out. I’m afraid too many “ministries” are crossing that line.
Colonel, USAFR
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