No I didn't. I criticized his method. I didn't attack him.
Next, you told me what I worry about. That is something you made up. You have no way of knowing. That's how it's not true. That is the insult, not your opinions about things you THINK I might not want to hear. Please withdraw it.
Next, neither you, nor the Pastor, knows if all these people are hypocrites, much less not attending Mass. His method of finding out was flawed and arrogant. His approach to fixing the problem was ill-thought out and addresses the wrong people.
If you saw the importance of living a Catholic life in essence and not just appearance, you would understand Jesus' blistering attacks on the Pharisees.
I understand plenty. And your example in not analogous. And your idea of living a "Catholic" life, is not one I necessarily share. Although I don't think it's harmful and probably beneficial to some. I prefer to focus on the Christian life.
Was Christ wrong for pointing out hypocrisy like the priest is wrong?
I never said the priest was wrong for pointing out hypocricy. You made that up.
Now tell me about how Jesus taught to turn the children away because of the parents' unfaithfulness.
He SPECIFICALLY told others to allow the children to come to him and not interfere. Pray about that.
And please stop making things up about me. You want to know something? Ask. It's simple,,,and Christian.
How would you address the problem of apathetic parents expecting the Church to educate their children and adminster Sacraments with no committment to follow through with Mass attendence?
He SPECIFICALLY told others to allow the children to come to him and not interfere.
Do you think the pastor did this in order to drive children away?
SD
Are you Catholic?
His method of finding out was flawed and arrogant
Who's passing judgment again?
Next, neither you, nor the Pastor, knows if all these people are hypocrites
If they're not attending mass, and the expectation of Catholic children is to attend mass, then they are hypocrites for not doing what the - by definition of being Catholic - are to expect of their children.
Now tell me about how Jesus taught to turn the children away because of the parents' unfaithfulness.
The children are not coming in contact with Christ. They're coming in contact with a religious ed. teacher. On the day of their First Holy Communion, they would be coming in contact with Christ, but if they are not going to be raised as Catholics, the sacrament is reduced to an excuse for a family cookout.
God entrusts children to their parents. The Church expects parents to join them in educating their children in the faith. If they refuse to fulfill their obligations as Catholics, there's not much point in going forward until either the parents agree to fulfill their obligations, or the children reach an age of reason whereby they can decide for themselves to live an independent Catholic life. In either case, the judgment of God falls not on the children, but on the party that is not fulfilling its end of the deal - the parents. It would be sacrilege to assume that God will have abandoned these children because they are not enrolled in First (and maybe Only) Holy Communion. The priest has the primary obligation of correcting the parents and bringing to attention the gravity of their spiritual neglect.
The recipe is simple. If a parent wishes their children to be enrolled to receive First Holy Communion, there needs to be evidence that they will be raised in the faith. By receiving Communion, each child is attesting that they are in Communion with the faith. This involves going to church every Sunday. If they are not going to be at Church on Sundays - whether it's their fault or not - they won't be living the faith. If they are not living the faith, they are not in communion with the Church, and therefore, it would be sacrilege to receive the sacrament under false pretense.