[Coleus]

Years ago, most parents and their children attended mass every Sunday, no excuses.

[CitizenM]

I don't know about going this far. Seems to me like that old phrase: "Punishing the child for the sins of the father." I just don't feel it is very Christ-like. Jesus said "Suffer the little children to come unto me." I don't recall Him adding..."only if the parents come too."

Sure the parents are commiting sins in the eyes of the Church. Sure they should be held accountable in some way for their own irresponsability. But I just don't think the children should be deprived. I think it will turn a whole bunch of them against their faith, and more will be lost. JMHO

Prayers for the proper resolution of this problem.

[Born to Conserve]

Bar coded envelopes? Respecting God's authority is one thing, but this catholic government thing . . . . I would never by choice give any authority to a bunch of . . . . I think I'll stop now.

[Kirkwood]

I know some families where the kids go to school in one parish and they attend church at another. Probably doesn't explain the cases here, but it does happen, especially where the schools vary in quality.

[4.1O dana super trac pak]

Everybody can spare 1 hour a week, IMHO.

[NYer]

Parents are the first teachers. If they can't set the example by attending Mass then what message are they sending to their children?

Catholic Ping
Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list

[TC Rider]

Years ago, most parents and their children attended mass every Sunday, no excuses.

Don't forget 'First Fridays' and all the other Holy Days of obligation.

[SaltyJoe]

I'm not conflicted about the Church stressing parental involvement. My sister has had to deal with children that don't want to learn about their Faith. Some parents look at their child's Sacramental Life as "ticket punching".

I do have a concern for envelopes. If I'm going to give alms, I don't want the help to know how much I drop in the basket. Thus, I don't give a furry rats backside about empty envelopes. Let the help wonder how much my salary is and how much I donate.

http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/matthew/matthew6.htm
Matthew 6: 3-4

3
But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,
4
so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

[Sonar5]

This is wrong,

The Catechism of the Catholic Church says it is the Pastor's and the Parents responsibility to jointly teach their children.


Ok Found it, it's Number right form the USCCB Site.

Also, The Catechism of The Catholic Church states:
"1417
The Church warmly recommends that the faithful receive Holy Communion when they participate in the celebration of the Eucharist; she obliges them to do so at least once a year."

Throw that one back at the Pastor, demand from the Bishop of the Dioces that he require the Church to reenter these children of God.

The Pastor is now ignoring the Catechism of The Catholic Church and these parents should form up, and make a complaint first starting at the Parochial Vicar for the Diocese, before submitting it to Rome.

It's Pastors like these that IMHO, are attempting to drive People form the Church rather than embracing us all as sinners. we're sinners, and when we act like it, sometimes these Religious want to take the Laws of the Church in their own hands.

Send this pastor a message, and stop all donations to that parish, until this is rectified, write letters to the editor of the newspapers, and give interviews to TV if you have to. Get those kids back in there.

Regards,
Joe

[tiki]

I don't think this is the answer though I bet he's making a point. I would venture to say that MOST of the kids in our Catechism class don't attend Mass with their families. It is very sad and we talk to the kids and encourage them to ask their parents to come to Mass. But if their parents aren't coming to Mass, how are these kids supposed to learn about God? "Let the children come unto me"

[mountainfolk]

Well, we seem to have a very frustrated priest trying to get through to parents the moral obligation to take church teachings seriously. Perhaps he has exhaused all other forms of getting their attention, i.e. letters, individual discussions etc. His approach to this quandary is to cut off their children from the one source they may ever have to learn about the Catholic church and possibly an inclination to become involved with any Christian church. I believe that this priest is dead wrong in cutting these children adrift from being influenced, however minimally, by the knowledge of Christ which will help to shape their moral standards. The non-Catholic buses are making their rounds every Sunday to pick up the unchurched, uncommitted, children regardless of the denominational affiliation of their parents. The old Jesuits would have been appalled at the missed opportunity of reaching young minds to instill in them the teaching of the Catholic church. Forget about the envelopes and tracking mass attendance. Be grateful that the parents have at least a vestige of allegiance to the church that makes them want to send their children to religion classes. Also, from the remarks of one parent, these classes are not free so I doubt they are used for free child care. And I certainly hope that there is no charge for those unable, or unwilling, to pay for the materials used in class. I am sure some of the parishioners would be happy to provide assistance to parents who are trying to provide their children with a knowledge of the Catholic Church even if they themselves are distanced from their Catholic faith.

[show me state]

ping

[Conservative til I die]

"It's hurtful," said Joseph LoPizzo, 38,

Heavens no, the ultimate crime in today's sissified culture.

Grow some balls, Joseph.

[AliVeritas]

He's exactly right. Some say you can't refuse anyone the sacraments, yet if you know the children will not be reared in the faith...not only is the priest to account for the souls under his watch, but the parents will also have to answer to God.

First off, I should tell you my parish is in the Bronx, NY. As a catechist, I have seen what they call the factory lines...you have a couple that wants two drug-dealers for godparents (money) and they don't get the concept of what a parent's or godparent's responsibility is. You teach them of the seriousness of the sacraments and how they are charged to practice their faith and to make sure their children are taught about their faith.
4 weeks later, baptism, they've got family (despite several requests not to), running all over the sanctuary. They're more concerned about the big party after and the family that comes has no idea when to stand, kneel, pray and they run to get in line for communion (in spite of several talks beforehand on this also). Then you never see them again.

In the RCIA, where you have adults who either: haven't been back since first communion or confirmation, converts, just want to get married...you name it. You catechize them as well as you can... I'm not judging...it does make you wonder why you do it. It doesn't help when you have a pastor that doesn't genuflect (before the tabernacle or during/after the consecration. A sister that teaches 'You can say Our Mother instead of Our Father' (no lie...after 4 years of prayer...she's gone, to spread heresy with Benzinger, maker of a catechetical series...even worse). You would howl with laughter at the face she'd make at the mere mention of EWTN.

I told the head of CCD last year, when she requested help (she must have been in a real spot to ask me, to help the kids with the readings for first communions (we have five Sundays...five masses each Sunday with three languages...yeah, exactly). I noticed not ONE parent was there for either rehearsal...one guy even dropped a six-year old off and turned to leave...I asked him where he was going, he was supposed to stay...his response 'her mother told me to drop her off...I don't have anything to do with that'...Is it me? I told the CCD director (after I asked if she sent letters home for the parents to be at the rehearsals), she needed to get their teachers right now...get them on the cell phones and call every parent...Tell them if they didn't get there right now, their child would not receive the sacraments. That just doesn't make sense...especially in a dangerous place like the Bronx. Some parents use religious classes like babysitters...Don't get me wrong, I have seen nine year olds come to Mass by themselves (praise God), not dropped off...walked to Mass by themselves. A year later, their parents start coming...sometimes it takes the children to bring the parents back.

[Happygal]

The pastor said he suspended kids from the 2005-2006 after-school program because Mass is an "essential" component of the Catholic faith.

The celebration of the Mass is THE essential component of the Catholic faith.
I was at the annual Mass yesterday for my musical Society, where a priest (and friend of mine) who celebrated spoke about the events that had happened since the last annual Mass. He said the most significant event was probably the passing of Pope John Paul II.

He said...'Many people have spoken of Pope John Paul II, and many column inches have speculated on his greatest achievement, his most important moment. His most important moment and greatest achievement was he celebrated Mass'.

I thought that was a very saliant point.

[brityank]

"Suffer the little children ..."

-- Jesus Christ to the adults.

"Screw you, and your little kids too!"

-- Michael Cichon

[mlmr]

It's about time. Parents need to be the foundation makers of their children's faith and someone is finally couragous enough to hold them responsible.

[iconoclast]

I'm in total sympathy with the pastor's intent.

However I never thought of the offering envelopes as a form of attendance keeping.

I often only put the envelope in the basket once a month or so (adjusting the donation appropriately).

But, parent's who are "dropping the kids off" are unlikely to be providing a Christian home (IMHO) and THAT is the pastor's concern. The donation is not any part of the issue.

[Scarchin]

This will backfire. It plays right into the hands of those who label the RCC as Neanderthal and inflexible.

The priest's actions are also inconsistent with Christ's teachings.

[Old Professer]

It's cheaper to go to a rock concert most days.

[InvisibleChurch]

"They should be more welcoming and sensitive."

tuff to be welcoming when there is no one to welcome