The Struggle Against the Black Mass, From Oklahoma Archbishop's Perspective

Aleteia ^ | September 19, 2014 | JOHN BURGER

[NYer]

But we’re not responding to the black mass performance in terms of religious liberty. They will be doing their satanic rituals in the future as they have in the past—and I suppose they have a right to do that—but the nature of this black mass, in my view, is that it is not authentic religion; it’s really more akin to hate speech. It’s a direct attack upon the Christian faith and the Catholic Mass and the Eucharist. It’s deliberately intended to inflame and incite, so I don’t think it’s necessarily a form of speech that is appropriate for a public venue. Not all speech is protected speech. If, for example, a group had desired to come and rent this same facility for the purpose of burning the Quran or lighting a cross in a racist, Ku Klux Klan sort of demonstration, or somehow committing anti-Semitic acts, I think the city likely would have found a reason to prevent that. Not all speech is protected speech.

Bingo! Ping!

[GreensKeeperWillie]

Si mundus vos odit, scitote quia me priorem vobis odio habuit. JOANNES 15.18

[aMorePerfectUnion]

“Ever since he first learned of a local satanic group’s plans to use a public theater to perform a “black mass,” Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City has been urging public officials to cancel the event and asking Catholics to pray for that intention.”

Waste of effort and time that only leads to controversy and publicity.

It means nothing.

You should be more concerned about all the false religious stuff in that picture that is a total add-on to Christianity.

[NYer]

You should be more concerned about all the false religious stuff in that picture that is a total add-on to Christianity.

That is quite a statement. How about backing it up with solid facts.

[Jacquerie]

It has taken decades of fraudulent Scotus decisions to confuse Americans into thinking that license = liberty.

[Talisker]

Satanism is not a 1st Amendment religion - that’s your legal argument. Take it all the way to SCOTUS. Get ‘er done.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Add-ons??? Ampu, Christianity has benefited from vigorous add-ons from Day One and even until today. There is nothing wrong with deepending clarifying and extending doctrine and practice under the sure guidance of the Holy Spirit, who is leading --- not just applying the brakes.

Sheesh. Do you realize that the Bible didn't even have chapters and verses until they were "added on"? Chapters were added by Archbishop Stephen Langton at the University of Paris around 1200 so passages could be cited in commentaries. Verses were put in around 1550 by Robert Estienne, a French scholar and printer who was working on a concordance to the Greek New Testament.

Ampu, my friend, don't you get this? You seem to think Christianity is a case of arrested development, like a fly immobilized in amber ca. 98 A.D. (or even before.)

[Hugin]

“whereas there’s nothing fitting or appropriate between a statue of Satan and what takes place within the capitol.”

That’s certainly debatable.

[Nordic Breed]

Thanks for this post and kudos to Archbishop Coakley. Now is a good time, with all the Catholic hate out there and a large growth in Satanism (yes, locals in my area have bragged about their growth), to return to receiving Holy Communion on the tongue and kneeling. It is much harder to drop the Sacred Host and a lot easier to control its consumption rather than having it pocketed to be used in sacrilege.

[Salvation]

Is this what you were trying to say?

John 15

17 This I command you, to love one another.

18 "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.

19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

20 Remember the word that I said to you, `A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also.

21 But all this they will do to you on my account, because they do not know him who sent me.

 

[aMorePerfectUnion]

4 man umbrella - added
Goofy outfits that look religious and worldy? added.

Need I go on?

You will search the scriptures in vain to see any such thing commanded or advocated before 100 ad. After paganism and syncretism crept into the church, sure.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

“Ampu, my friend, don’t you get this? You seem to think Christianity is a case of arrested development, like a fly immobilized in amber ca. 98 A.D. (or even before.) “

Sure. The Apostles revelation was handed to the church in written form before 100 AD. It is complete. As such, if you prefer to describe the Apostles teaching as a fly immobilized in amber, I’m with you.

After error crept into the church in the form of paganism, all kinds of false religious practices were added that eventually changed doctrine to accommodate these practices.

[Ouchthatonehurt]

Who are we to judge?
Need to start judging.

[Jim Noble]

Shame on you, brother.

[Mrs. Don-o]

•Chapters and verses in the Bible. Also table of contents. Also the names attached to the Gospels: "Matthew," "Mark," "Luke," and "John." All added on.

•Christians in the military. Military chaplaincies. Not New Testament practices! Added on!

•Academic degrees in religious subjects. Bible colleges. Theology departments. Added on.

•Swearing on a Bible. Added on.

•Radio-TV ministry: added on.

•Belief in a sun-centered solar system, rather than the earth resting in "pillars" as it says in the Bible. Added on.

•Crosses as church furnishings (rather than as a means of execution). Steeples. Crosses on steeples. Added on.

•Church Ownership of property, e.g. a church building and grounds: added on.

•Clergy owning property (instead of selling their property and giving it to the poor): added on.

•Liability insurance and property insurance for the church, health insurance, car insurance, life insurance: added on.

•Pensions--- or, good heavens, even stated salaries --- for the pastoral staff: added on.

•A wedding ceremony in church with bride in white dress and an exchange of rings: added on.

•American flag and/or "Christian flag" in church: added on.

•Youth groups/Youth ministry. Choir. Organs and other keyboard instruments. Guitars. Four white guys singing in harmony. Added on.

•The word “Easter”

•The word "Christmas."

•The words "Incarnation" and Trinity." Added on.

•Christmas trees and holly wreaths. Poinsettias.

•Parades and pageants and processions

•Cakes for birthdays (and candles on cakes)

•Wedding ceremonies themselves, which were also a pagan custom, and are not commanded in Scripture

•Burying people in caskets (coffins).

•putting flowers on graves

•putting crosses on graves

•making statues and paintings of people we admire (e.g. the founding pastor of the church --- and his lovely wife!)

•all theater arts and drama

•all sports, sport teams and athletic competitions

•internet prayer posts. E-mail prayer appeals. •Had enough? Not me! I love them all, and more. Some are theology, some are custom. Some are doctrine, some are devotion. Some are creed, some are culture. All good.

What a lively church we have, AMPU.

[narses]

In the Religion forum, on a thread titled The Struggle Against the Black Mass, From Oklahoma Archbishop’s Perspective, Mrs. Don-o wrote:
•Chapters and verses in the Bible. Also table of contents. Also the names attached to the Gospels: “Matthew,” “Mark,” “Luke,” and “John.” All added on.
•Christians in the military. Military chaplaincies. Not New Testament practices! Added on!

•Academic degrees in religious subjects. Bible colleges. Theology departments. Added on.

•Swearing on a Bible. Added on.

•Radio-TV ministry: added on.

•Belief in a sun-centered solar system, rather than the earth resting in “pillars” as it says in the Bible. Added on.

•Crosses as church furnishings (rather than as a means of execution). Steeples. Crosses on steeples. Added on.

•Church Ownership of property, e.g. a church building and grounds: added on.

•Clergy owning property (instead of selling their property and giving it to the poor): added on.

•Liability insurance and property insurance for the church, health insurance, car insurance, life insurance: added on.

•Pensions-— or, good heavens, even stated salaries -— for the pastoral staff: added on.

•A wedding ceremony in church with bride in white dress and an exchange of rings: added on.

•American flag and/or “Christian flag” in church: added on.

•Youth groups/Youth ministry. Choir. Organs and other keyboard instruments. Guitars. Four white guys singing in harmony. Added on.

•The word “Easter”

•The word “Christmas.”

•The words “Incarnation” and Trinity.” Added on.

•Christmas trees and holly wreaths. Poinsettias.

•Parades and pageants and processions

•Cakes for birthdays (and candles on cakes)

•Wedding ceremonies themselves, which were also a pagan custom, and are not commanded in Scripture

•Burying people in caskets (coffins).

•putting flowers on graves

•putting crosses on graves

•making statues and paintings of people we admire (e.g. the founding pastor of the church -— and his lovely wife!)

•all theater arts and drama

•all sports, sport teams and athletic competitions

•internet prayer posts. E-mail prayer appeals. •Had enough? Not me! I love them all, and more. Some are theology, some are custom. Some are doctrine, some are devotion. Some are creed, some are culture. All good.

What a lively church we have, AMPU.

[Salvation]

Good one. LOL!

The bells that ring as the Mass starts

The bells that are rung at the epiclesis and the consecration.

kneelers in churches

stained glass windows

Rosaries

I could go on too.

[Jeff Chandler]

I suppose the Satanists will eventually have a float in NYC’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Bravo, yada yada.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

I’m sure you can differentiate between acts of Christian worship and the list of things you added that fall in vastly different categories.