Disgusting--visiting the sins and omissions of the parents upon the innocent children.
This is all about money, anyway. Since the priest sex scandals began, revenues have been decreasing every week in most parishes.
These strong-arm tactics will only result in the families leaving the parish of this tyrant and joining another parish, or leaving the RCC altogether. There are many Evangelical churches waiting to welcome these people with open arms--and no hand in their pocket.
Some priests just don't get it.
I agree. This priest doesn't get it. The kids should stay in the classess. This is where they learn about the obligation to attend mass. I am not making excuses for the parents, but to penalize the children and to prevent them from religious education just doesn't make sense.
We had a priest near us that would not verify parish membership for admission to Catholic Schools unless the parents were contributing large amounts of money. He actually sent out letters telling the parents that they have no business paying for their kids to go to Catholic school if they do not contribute enough. People just changed to another parish.
Maybe, maybe not. I know of some that are absolutely vehement about tithing. It may depend on the pastor more than the denomination. Every church has to walk a fine line between meeting its financial needs, and driving away members who are disgusted by the hard-sell.
-ccm
Obviously, you're not Catholic...or you're CINO.
This is not about money, it's about their faith and their souls. How can the parents take religion seriously unless they realize how serious it is?
You know last year at St. Patrick's Cathedral I took my 74 RCIA brothers and sisters to see the Cardinal (required).
(By the way, we don't charge)
My friends heard them calling names from the book of the elect forever (that's a lot for a parish). So a sister I know in RCIA in another parish in the Bronx was so excited, 'Oh so many, your parish is on fire'. I said 'It's not the quantity, it's the quality...let's see how many will be serving in the church and coming to Mass next year'.
As far as the hundreds of First Communion kids, we dig out of our pockets for everything, unless the Knights of Columbus or other groups help us out, rosaries made by the Legion of Mary, scapulars from the Carmelite third order, dresses donated for those who don't have the funds...and that's hundreds of kids...but God provides.
I guess if I were full of pride or selfish...or both, I would think of money first...who cares about money, none of our catechists get paid...and don't want to. It's about spreading the word, helping someone else...not all about me.
This is all about money, anyway. Since the priest sex scandals began, revenues have been decreasing every week in most parishes.
These strong-arm tactics will only result in the families leaving the parish of this tyrant and joining another parish, or leaving the RCC altogether. There are many Evangelical churches waiting to welcome these people with open arms--and no hand in their pocket. Some priests just don't get it.
What's disgusting is the rank hypocrisy of parents who expect their children to live Catholic lives but refuse to fulfill the most basic requirement of spending one hour a week out of their busy lives to give worship to God. The Church is awash in "parishioners" who hang around long enough to fulfill all the family obligations of having baptisms and a church wedding while holding up a middle finger to Rome. If it's become evidently clear that these families are not interested in actually raising the kids in the faith, but avoiding their own personal scandal of Johnny not having a First Holy Communion like his friends and cousins, then it's a farce.
This is an act of spiritual mercy toward the parents. Maybe some will realize that their souls are in jepoardy. Maybe some will decide whether or not they really want their kids to be raised Catholic, and will find it in themselves to come to mass. If they really want that, and if they really love their children, they'll be role models, not orchestraters.