Posted on 08/14/2005 9:17:15 AM PDT by Chi-townChief
I'll apologize in advance for this vanity post but I need to get this off my chest:
At our 10:30 a.m. mass this morning, our pastor was the celebrant. Today's Gospel was the story of Christ's meeting with the Canaanite woman and the eventual healing of her daughter. Our pastor then followed with his homily where he first related the plight of the Canaanite woman with a woman he knew who called him requesting prayers for an illness in her family which we could relate to since my wife and I are both contending with (minor, we hope) health issues.
The nest thing we know, the pastor is relating this to the "lady camped out in Texas asking for healing AND ACCOUNTABILITY" (the emphasis is my own). We sat there and listened through the sermon as he returned to the Sheehan story a few more times asking us to imagine an Iraqi woman who lost children in the same position.
Thankfully, it was pretty short and we stood for the Creed but then, immediately before the intercessions, the pastor returned to the topic.
This was too much for us so we turned and left, commenting to those around that we don't come to church to hear politics. I handed the usher my offering as we exited.
This is the first time something like this has happened in this church we have attended for the past twenty years or so and I feel pretty horrible about the whole thing.
I always know something is wrong when the person addressing me thinks fairness is a vice and not a virtue. If we can't even agree that fairness is a virtue, the chance of any intelligent conversation is about nil.
Thanks for the links. Will look for his own response to these statements, too. I pray for him as he has an opportunity to encourage so many people in their relationship to Jesus Christ. May the Lord protect him from being deceived and form being led astray from God's perfect will and purpose. May he be granted spiritual wisdom, understanding and discernment and always lead him to Truth in the person of Jesus Christ. May the Holy Spirit illuminate the Word to him so he may not sin against God.
Hmm. I disagree with the pastor's homily. I would have walked out too. The pastor is free to speak from his pulpit, IMHO. And parishioners are free to speak their own mind. Time for a vestry meeting, IMHO...
He is insulted by the priest, and hmmm...interesting.. you think he should have continued to honor the service with his presence.
Do you think Episcopalians and Anglicans leaving the Gay Church should just stay too? Or would that be "dishonoring" the service? lol.
Chi-townChief did no such thing as you suggest
You have my support, chief. In a similar situation I would have done the same. And have.
If these pontifcating priests (on both sides of the politics) were risking anything (like a bullet in the head, as many have) that is one thing. I could respect that.
The other thing is this bunch of effete, American priests, who spend way too much time watching television, instead of fasting and praying, and then bringing such spew into their homilies.
Again - I am talking both sides of the political divide.
This was too much for us so we turned and left, commenting to those around that. I handed the usher my offering as we exited.
You should have written on the envelop or on a piece of paper instead of putting money: “We we don't come to church to hear politics”
But, by all means you did well. :-)
Agreed.
Hmmmm perhaps you're not Catholic, but there is a difference between a Mass and a service. In a Mass you are in the Real Presence presence of God in the Holy Eucharist and that fact puts a special type of onus on the mass-goer. Let's just say you don't idly walk out on Christ and leave it at that. So, no, I'm not that overly concerned about honoring the "service", but I do disagree with an action that I think may put too much emphasis on what a priest says in his homily - which in the larger scheme of things is not the focus of the Mass.
It's my experience - and this is a huge generalization, so don't send me counter-examples because I know of several - that in general, the best priests now are either the very old who came up before Vatican II or the very young who came up during the reign of JP the Great; but it's the ones in-between that are most likely to cause you trouble.
"as long as they are legal and habla ingles."
I couldn't agree more! Our pastor also noted that God loves the terrorists--a tough statement, but a true one, I am sure. It's us on earth that need to deal with them, let God love 'em later!
Goodness! What brought that on?
I happen to prefer to consider Roman C's as bro's and sis unless and until proven otherwise.
I also tend to assume that they are robust enough as persons to handle folks who have views that aren't in lock-step with the Vatican.
My mother might well have done so.
Sorry - I just remember you as a hot poster on religion threads. So, you will play nice?
He called on us to reject racism and predjudice (fine so far), then likened the Canaanite woman to muslims whom "we feel free to search anytime, anywhere."
What's with the Canaanite woman comparisons? Are the priests all using the same book, or what? (it's not the Word, that's for sure) I don't see any connection between the Canaanite woman & Cindy Sheehan.
Fortunately we had 3 baptisms today, so the Eucharist, and the baptisms were center stage today.
Just curious, did you all celebrate the assumption of Mary today, or are you honoring it on its holy day?
I noticed we had an option in our missalette this morning.
check this out!
Interesting. One of my buddies was telling me about her hairdresser last night. While cutting her hair, the stylist shared her testimony of moving from going to the Catholic to Church of Christ to Charismatic church. I would love the opportunity to hear the basis of her theology.
Pausatio, indeed we do.
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