Top Ten Questions the TRADS and the NEOS Have for Wilton Gregory and Company at the Sept 8 Meeting

[boromeo]

This is serious. The TRADS and the NEOS on Free Republic are full of good humor and grace, so I have a challenge. I would like to attempt to compile two top ten lists of discussion points, one from a TRAD and one from a NEO perspective with questions for the 'conservative' Catholic conference coming up with the Bishops (Gregory, etc.) set up by Deal Hudson. Sorry dissenters, you have to sit this one out. It would also be nice if we could arrive at a FREEREPUBLIC chat room top five list where TRADS and NEOS can prove that yes, dog-gone-it, sometimes, we can all just get along and agree. Or maybe not. Anyway, no fair crossing lines and mucking with each other's lists. Please limit your posts to 10 ideas, and send them to the group or to me privately. You have to mark clearly if you're suggestions are TRAD or NEO. All entries marked confidential will be kept confidential. Keep your suggestions compact TRADS. NEOS, points are deducted for using the word 'spirit.' Have fun!

[old and tired]

**This is a laughable suggestion.**

It's not laughable. I wish, for example, pro-abortion, publicly sinning politicians would be denied communion. But I don't think most pastors really know whether or not their congregation confesses. I have not gone to my own parish for confession, ever, in my whole adult life. As far as my pastor knows, I've never confessed a sin in all my years there.

And I go to confession weekly, believe me, I need it.

[VermiciousKnid]

Great thread!

I've got a couple of questions:

1) Why the continued animosity toward traditional Catholics and the "wide and generous" offering of the Latin Indult?

2) What will you do to stem the tide of the feminization of the Mass (Altar girls, nine bazillion EEMs on the altar, and the odious liturgical dance craze)?

3) Why has kneeling for Communion become verboten? Why was it ever changed in the first place? Same goes for Communion in the hand.

4) Why has church architecture taken a turn for the worse (doesn't seem possible, but it is) and why does my church look like the Brady's TV room?

5) Why are the Catholic schools employing the very same "self-esteem-boosting" methods that have utterly ruined the public schools? Many dioceses are doing away with traditional marks and grading in favor of rubrics and grade inflation.

6) Why does my local diocese preach to me about badgering our politicians to institute a "living wage," (in the NY/Metro area that translates to about $12/hr) but still has the nerve to pay its school employees (lunchroom, etc.) a measly $7.00/hour?

7) What does the Church intend to do about blatantly pro-abortion politicians? Why are bishops allowed to host campaign fund-raisers for these self-same politicians on church property?

8) What is the Church going to do to clean up the seminaries and make them more palatable to young men who wish to enter the priesthood?

9) What rocket scientist decided that "On Eagle's Wings" should be sung at nearly every Mass? Yeech! (Sorry...that wasn't very charitable of me, was it?)

And on a personal note:

10) When will the Catholic school system do something about the deplorable lack of schools for children with learning disorders? There is NOT ONE SINGLE school in the (very wealthy) Diocese of Rockville Centre (Long Island, NY) that would allow Catholic families to secure Catholic educations for their learning disabled kids.

That's about it for now. I hope somebody sees these lists and does something about them.

Regards,

[narses]

[sinkspur]

But I don't think most pastors really know whether or not their congregation confesses. I have not gone to my own parish for confession, ever, in my whole adult life. As far as my pastor knows, I've never confessed a sin in all my years there.

Why would you go to a parish where you don't feel comfortable enough with the clergy to confess to them?

Are you an axe murderer or something? (Kidding)

You realize, of course, that in fortunecookie's world, your pastor would be justified in refusing you the Eucharist.

[fortunecookie]

But I don't think most pastors really know whether or not their congregation confesses.

That's true, but not my point. If a church has just a few hours of confession a month (not including private confessions) and few people come to the confessions week after week, I know that our Pastor must wonder. It's a point one of our pastors brought up. And he asked regularly. And reminded everyone to go.

You realize, of course, that in fortunecookie's world, your pastor would be justified in refusing you the Eucharist.

I thought you might like that one. In my world, I have been seen known non-Catholics receive Communion at Ecumenical prayer services. I know from our parish council and music ministry that our current pastor laments regularly about this and the small turnout at confession. It happens more often than you think.

I'm sure most Priests shy away from refusing because they don't want to be wrong. Some just don't want to be 'judgemental'.

[Northern Yankee]

I am hoping to see the tabernacle back behind the altar, where adoration may be done respectfully, and with reverence.

All too often the tabernacle has been removed from the altar to other places in the church.

[k omalley]

"Why has kneeling for Communion become verboten?"

I wonder about that also. Who came up with the bright idea that falling on your knees in the presence of Christ is no longer considered an appropriate posture? Yes,I know, I've heard the reason about being "resurrection people." But kneeling has been a long standing tradition. Why did the liturgists and whoever else forced the standing issue find kneeling to be such a problem?

[fortunecookie]

Even trad priests couldn't be expected to keep up with the confessional habits of their congregation.

True in large parishes. But in smaller ones like mine? My point is they used to ask. They stressed confession. Think about how many people go to communion and how many abstain from communion. In many places, it's almost everyone. Now think about how many people go to confession. Christmas and Easter aside, which covers a lot of them, there is still an imbalance. What?, are we suddenly all saints? Ask yourself or someone who goes once a month. Most pastors will admit there is an imbalance and admit they hope and pray for their parishioners.

[sinkspur]

I'm sure most Priests shy away from refusing because they don't want to be wrong. Some just don't want to be 'judgemental'.

I distribute the Eucharist every week. People are just a blur. I'm trying to pay attention to children coming up for blessings, older folks who need some assistance, whether a communicant wants to receive on the tongue or the hand......

Priests and deacons distributing the Eucharist at six Sunday Masses with 1000 communicants are just not paying attention who comes up. They really aren't. It's almost mechanical.

[fatima]

Bump.

[fortunecookie]

Amen!! I go at least once a month. I see a lot of 'regulars'. I know just what our pastor is talking about. I do confess in my parish, but for a long time I did not. (Recall from other posts the schismatic temporary pastor, I just couldn't.) I guess my point with that is not that I expect Priests to deny communion to every other person, but that, as you said, pols like the John Kerry incident, would be advised in advance.

[VermiciousKnid]

Beats me, k...all I know is that one week sometime in the '70s, we all knelt at the altar rail for Communion, and the VERY NEXT WEEK, we were all standing instead.

Soon after, they gutted our formerly beautiful church, took out the altar rail, the main altar, the real candles and the statues, and put in ugly carpeting, ugly paneling, ugly felt banners and those awful fake push-button "candles."

The congregants were NOT happy, but that didn't stop 'em.

Regards,

PS: I can't think of a more appropriate posture for the congregation to take while receiving the Holy Eucharist than kneeling. I will NEVER understand why it was changed.

[fortunecookie]

Hmm. Those are good points. I guess that's why our pastor hopes and prays. That must be a sea of people. So bishops stressing regular confession, as our pope does, would be best.

[Litany]

My questions are regarding the Mass:

1. Do they realize the damage that has been done by changing the focus of the Mass to a psycho-social feel-good rock concert instead of what it should be ---the adoration and worship of our reason for being there-- Christ who died for us

2. Do they understand that a direct consequence of #1 is the lack of honor, respect,reverence and awe during the Consecration--including by THE PRIEST HIMSELF--, and especially right before Communion when the priest holds up the Body of Christ.

3. Do they understand the importance of Eucharistic Adoration? (My priest will only let us have it if we build a nice big new church with an adoration chapel!)

[dsc]

That cartoon ought to get the Pulitzer.

[dsc]

According to Fr. B, once a year'll do 'ya.

[B Knotts]

I like all your suggestions, but I find this one especially outstanding:

2)How are the so called Catholic colleges going to be made to fall in line with Church teaching? Don't let them call themselves Catholic when they're not.

It's high time something was done about this. Our "Catholic" universities are an embarassment.

[fortunecookie]

Yeah, that's the requirement. Of course, if one does commit a serious sin, it's best to go as soon as one can, keeping in mind the once a year requirement.

[samiam1972]

I've read a lot of excellent questions here already. Mine seems so minor yet effects me weekly(more often when I am able!).

What happened to being able to attend a Catholic Church anywhere in the country and knowing what to expect? I can't even go to a different Mass at my own church because they change the kneeling/standing positions at every Mass! And why is there a woman giving homilies at my church? How can something like this go on without being corrected?

Thank you for attending this meeting and speaking for a lot of us that wish we could be there!

God bless you!

[TotusTuus]

***4)Why are children not being taught in the Catholic schools that they should go to weekly confession? their Catholic Faith?