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.
Perhaps but I still am a parishioner and plan to continue as one unless I find this to be more than an isolated incidence or lapse. And, who knows, maybe I'll be asked to leave.
Just one more point; the Canaanite women came to Jesus alone, not with a lynch mob as Sheehan is doing with this "Impeachment Tour."
Good point! I add mine: Nor did you disrupt those at Mass when you departed.
Small world - we attended Calvin Christian Reformed Church at 101st and Central when we lived in Chicago.
I almost did the same thing yesterday! Our pastor is on vacation so a retired priest who is a former pastor of our Parrish said, and I use the term "said" rather than "prayed" intentionally, the mass. He used his homily as an occasion to advance the notions of: woman priests, Christ unaware of His true nature until late in His life, Christ, like you and I, changes His mind, universalism and some swipes at the U.S. because we are an "unfriendly, unwelcoming nation". This priest also has a bad habit of tossing the Eucharist on to the patton after consecration like it's nothing more than a Ritz cracker. Ugh.
You are right to have walked out, a sad day indeed when "pastors" resort to this level to promote their personal political agendas.
From what I can tell, it is at most Catholic Churches in the Archdiocese.
Anyone know of an exception?
Yikes... sometimes I forget how good I've got it. The celebrant of the mass I usually attend is Philip Hannan, former Archbishop of New Orleans. He is 90+ years of age, but is in remarkably good health (doesn't even wear reading glasses). His length of service and extraordinary experiences (he was Chaplain to the 82nd Airborne Division, making a number of parachute jumps into Normandy, Holland, etc.) make his homilies interesting and educational.
This past Sunday, his homily was not a strained comparison of the Gospel reading with Cindy Sheehan's twisted crusade... it was about the conversion of Bruno Cornacchiola, an Italian communist who had been vehemently outspoken against the Church. The Archbishop's voice had a definite tinge of contempt as he spoke about the communists and atheists that had seized power in many of Italy's cities just after the war.
Like I said, I feel very fortunate.
Your freepmail to me was deleted unopened. After searching for your screenname I discovered you've made no posts on FR. My mom taught me never to freepmail with strangers.
If you have something to say to me, I suggest you do it on the message boards. Otherwise, freepmail away to your hearts content but know that I'm not reading a word.
You did better than I would have.
The first time the pastor mentioned Cindy Sheehan, I'd have hucked a pistachio at him.
The second time he mentioned her, I'd have hucked a shoe at him. (And I wear pointy-toed shoes with heels that you could put an eye out with.)
The third time, I'd stand up, say loudly, "Oh, for the love of Pete, this is CHURCH, not a debate," and make all kinds of noise departing.
Damn. I would find another church.
I would have stood up, held my nose while looking at the pastor and continued holding my nose all the way out the door.
That was not only politics, but down right vapid on that pastor's part.
Bro! Get some stones!
You should have stood and said loudly, "You have got to be kidding me! Where is the Gospel?"
It goes a long way since most everybody thought you were headed out to eliminate some earlier coffee.
Cletus - The Orthodox Lutheran who don't take no crap nomore.
I see this thread made the trash heap at the DUmpster, but I'm not going to link it here because their responses make me sick.
you should have stayed to the end and met your priest at the door with your objections. he was out of line........
sorry about the different email, it's kind of like a bush event here, where anyone not of the same ilk is screened out and banned from participating.
"(liberal democrats are domestic terrorists)"
and you're waiting for ME to say something intelligent?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!
Tony
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