PRIEST'S WORDS SPARK WALKOUT IN CHURCH

Troy Record ^ | March 25, 2003 | Jeff Buell and Kate Perry

[NYer]

TROY - A priest took preaching too far for some parishioners at Sacred Heart Church over the weekend when he used his homily to voice displeasure over the war in Iraq.

Rev. Gary Mercure told the congregation at four Masses Saturday and Sunday that the war in Iraq was evil, immoral and contradictory to Christian doctrine.

According to those who attended any of the services, Mercure called for parishioners to not support President Bush, and said the U.S. should work closer with the rest of the world.

As many as 60 congregants responded by leaving the church at one of the masses, several yelling comments in the priest's direction and heckling him on the way out.

Clem LaPietra, a Troy resident attending a mass for his father, was stunned when Mercure began the homily.

"Father Gary, I think he went a little bit over the edge," LaPietra said. "He said how morally wrong the U.S. was. He told us to remember the Germans, and the English, and the Roman Empire. A lot of the older gentlemen got up and left. Someone stood up and told him he was out of line. There was some heckling."

Rose Romano, a Wynantskill resident, attended the 8 a.m. mass on Sunday, the third time the homily was given. She claimed that Mercure called Americans bullies, and said the people shouldn't support the president.
Romano said the comments were so shocking she had to catch her breath. Three people directly in front of her left the mass immediately.

"I was stunned. After a few minutes I was numb," she said. "I'm going to church for my own welfare and a place to pray. That's no place for a political platform."

Mercure said about three people walked out of that service, and said between 50 and 60 walked out of the following mass at 11 a.m. on Sunday.

Mercure said he was talking about the Ten Commandments, particularly, "Thou shalt not kill," and knew that some of his parishioners might not be of the same opinion. At that point, Mercure said, he offered everyone a chance to leave.

He said he also prefaced the homily by saying that, "we love those serving and want them out of harm's way."

While the war is a political matter, Mercure said it is a moral issue as well. He insists he was not using the pulpit as a platform for his own views, but as a servant of God.
"They don't have to think the way I think," he said. "But as a preacher of God, it is my role to enhance life, to bring more life, and God's life, to people."
He also dismissed the idea that he preached anti-American sentiments or judged the morality of the president. He said he used the phrase "our government" several times, but stopped short of making moral judgments on anyone.

He said it was also his privilege as a patriot to speak out against the war, and his duty as a priest to do so. Mercure said he received many calls Monday, most of them positive, thanking him for the sermon.

Troy resident John Browne was one of those who thanked him.

"I'm a veteran of the Philippines and was a prisoner of war for three-and-a-half years in Japan," Browne said. "The reason we fought over there is so people could do what they did in church yesterday.
"I went up to him afterward and said, 'I'm proud of you father.'"
News of the homily traveled fast, as calls were made to The Record Monday saying kids were being taken out of the Sacred Heart School by angry parents. Mercure said he was unaware of any children leaving the school.
The school principal sent a letter home to parents Monday explaining the issue to parents. While the letter was vague, it did say that all the school teaches is for the children to pray for peace.

Albany Roman Catholic Diocese spokesman Rev. Kenneth Doyle said he had heard of Mercure's homily, but did not want to address it specifically. He did repeat the church's stance on the war.
"I don't know exactly what Father Gary said," Doyle responded when asked for comment. "The position of the Vatican and American Bishops has been very clear against the war. In the church's mind there has not been the sort of imminent threat that would justify a preemptive and unilateral strike.

"Now that the war has begun," Doyle added, "I believe the important thing is to pray that it ends quickly, and with as few causalities as possible and that innocent lives be spared."

[OpusatFR]

Absolutely forbidden to make political statements during mass or homily.

Throw him out. He is desecrating the Sacrament of the Mass.

[jwalburg]

Though possibly well-intentioned, these peacepriests should be aware of the not-so-hidden face of their protesting allies:

[doug from upland]

Some in my Church has lost their way over child rapist priests and the recognition that we must fight evil. Maybe they need spiritual guidance from some parishoners.

[mountaineer]

"I'm going to church for my own welfare and a place to pray. That's no place for a political platform."

I wish I had a dime for every time either of the Clintons,Al Gore, the "Rev." Al Charlatan or Jesse Jackson stood before the congregation of a black church and preached politics. I'm glad these people spoke up, and am disgusted by the priest tipping off the news media.

[LizardQueen]

I left my church (Unitarian, yeah, yeah, I know what a lot of you think of it) because of their political views. I did this well before the war, about 3 years ago.

I went to church to feed and foster the spiritual dimension of my life, not to be subjected to a political browbeating or fundraisers for causes I didn't agree with, which is what my church had turned into. The radical hairy-legged granola people had taken it over and turned it into just another weekly political rally, not a church.

It's too bad. And it's not just the Unitarians doing this.

LQ

[ArrogantBustard]

IMHO, the church's role mission during wartime

is to preach the Gospel and give witness to the Truth. Same as in peacetime. And the country they are in is the Kingdom of God, which is not of this world. The Church is NOT subordinate to the State, nor does she exist to serve the purposes of the State.

[ewm138]

When was the last time the church preached about abortion, co-habitation, divorce, homosexuality, pre-marital sex, motherhood, etc.

I was just saying this to my wife the other night, we can't remember the last time morality was discussed at mass. Our "Pastoral Life Director" gives half the homilies. We are seriously considering putting the kids in a non-denom. Christian school because our diocese is so flaming liberal (Seattle).

[paltz]

I. Exploitation of the Weak - A Power Issue

I Kings 21 Naboth's vineyard

Genesis 38 Judah and Tamar

II. Standing With the Oppressed, the Weak, the Hurting

Isaiah 58:6-12 True worship and God's promises

II Samuel 9 King David Welcomes Mephibosheth

Matthew 25:31-46 Judgment of the nations

[FrdmLvr]

That would be the last time I'd ever set foot in that church.

[CaptainJustice]

Its true, its happening all over. Thankfully my church sticks with the Bible. A Bible-believing church is not very palatable to a leftist, so we dont have to worry...

[RetiredArmy]

And, probably some who can't keep their hands off little boys.

[Bigg Red]

"They don't have to think the way I think," he said. "But as a preacher of God, it is my role to enhance life, to bring more life, and God's life, to people."

I wonder how many homilies he has given against abortion.

I hope the NY freepers freep this creep.

[NYer]

I did the same thing in 1970 when I had to listen to a priest in West LA lecture us over the immorality of the Vietnam War. Never been back.

Cardinal Mahony territory! Another liberal.

I can truly appreciate your anger, but in walking away, you are only punishing yourself. Look around for another parish that is more conservative in its approach. We have had some excellent discussions on this in the religion forum. Most importantly, put yourself first! Go back to church. God is not political.

[Notwithstanding]

Well, its funny, Pius XII is villified by Catholic haters for NOT inserting himsef in global affairs during WWII, and now these same Catholic haters think the pope should mind his own business.

Idiots.

[Notwithstanding]

If your church stuck to the bible it would not be sticking to the bible.

(Nowhere does the bible say "stick to the bible")

[anymouse]

Would this constitute an ad-homily attack on President Bush? :)

[Chi-townChief]

Good job!! So far, they have stayed way from that kind of crap at my church - I believe that the priests within our parish are actually at odds among themselves on what position to take. Our pastor's newsletter from about a month ago was pretty much pro-action based on the United States' right to self-defense. I copied it into a thread that I'll try to find.

[tracer]

Please note that I did not post to bash anyone but, rather, was replying to another's post re: what he referred to as "the church's being in the business of making geopolitical military judgements"......

[stevio]

Never been back.

Don't let a mortal stain God's word. I'm Catholic and our priest is very conservative. He's also a good speaker, so he doesn't outrightly piss of the baby-boomer liberals in the crowd. I've also found more like minded thinkers to talk to, in person. Thank you Lord!

[OldCorps]

nothing more sickening than a commie loving pansy priest. We hear this talk from Anglican church leaders in the US and Britain. No wonder the Anlican church is falling apart. They don't know what they believe.