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Pop Culture Heros Help Recruit Priests
The Washington Times ^ | August 11, 2005 | Julia Duin

Posted on 08/13/2005 6:16:13 AM PDT by BulldogCatholic

Pop culture heroes help recruit priests By Julia Duin THE WASHINGTON TIMES August 11, 2005 An edgy poster showing a somber Catholic priest in full black cassock and sunglasses posed like "The Matrix" star Keanu Reeves is proving so popular that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has snapped up 5,000 of them. They'll be distributed starting Monday to the thousands of young people attending World Youth Day in Cologne, Germany, not only as guests of Pope Benedict XVI, but as targets for some gentle recruiting. The poster's creator, the Rev. Jonathan Meyer, 28, associate director of youth ministries for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, says pop culture is the key to attracting young men to an occupation that has gotten bad press.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...


TOPICS: Catholic; Current Events; Ecumenism; Religion & Culture
KEYWORDS: popculture; priests; wyd05
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Is this what the Novus Ordo church has resorted to, putting out posters as such?

New Candidates for the Novus Ordo Seminaries are being taught that If You Want to Be a Pop Star, the Vatican II Church Wants You! In Desperation to Attract Anybody to Be Novus Ordo Seminarians

Traditional Catholics Say: "Garbage In, Garbage Out" What does a "modernist" organization like the Vatican II church do when it can't get seminarians? Why, create a new ad campaign, of course! It is well known that "vocations" to the New Order presbyterate are virtually non-existent. What man in his right mind could have a "vocation" to "preside over the assembly" and sit in a big chair idle while lay ministresses deliver the "eucharist" and "perform" the sacraments?

The best figure predicting the demise of Vatican II church is that of seminarians. In the United States, before Vatican II always a vigorous source for new priests, the number of seminarians fell from 48,992 at its peak just before the Vatican II changes changes started going into effect, to 4,522 in 2003. That is a drop of some 90% in less than fifty years!

What we know is that, as far as vocations are concerned, it is the traditional Catholic Faith enshrined with Latin and Gregorian chant that attracts vocations to traditional seminaries and journeyman-priests.

But the Vatican II church, is going to the cheap ploy. It seems that to attract Novus Ordo "vocations," the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has commissioned an "edgy" poster showing a somber presbyter in full black cassock and sunglasses posed like The Matrix star Keanu Reeves. [Washington Times]

Following the "saintly" leadership of JPII to sell to "pop" culture, 5,000 posters will be passed out at Benedict-Ratzinger's Woodstock Youth Day in Cologne later this month. Dioceses are borrowing from Tinseltown to compare the Newchurch presbyterate to the heroes of Lord of the Rings, Gladiator, Men in Black, Spider-Man, and Star Wars.

Supposedly, potential post Vatican II seminarians are inspired by cartoon characters, not Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Paul, let alone Christ!

According to the adage, "Garbage in, garbage out." One can only imagine what kind of presbyters the Vatican II church is going to have, if any. If these men ever make it through the "pink curtain," you will hear fatuous "homilies" praising Luke Skywalker and Obi Wan Kenobi instead of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

1 posted on 08/13/2005 6:16:13 AM PDT by BulldogCatholic
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To: BulldogCatholic

As a member of this "Novus Ordo" Church, I agree, this is nuts.

But I think you have to watch what you are getting yourself into. There is a danger in extreme Traditionalism, I am not saying you are there, but one must be careful lest they fall into it.

Is Benedict XVI the Pope? If you are silent on the matter, I will assume assent. But one wouldn't want to fall into sedvacantism.

God Bless


2 posted on 08/13/2005 8:08:20 AM PDT by StAthanasiustheGreat (Vocatus Atque Non Vocatus Deus Aderit)
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To: BulldogCatholic

Are priests "recruited" or are they called by God?


3 posted on 08/13/2005 8:32:45 AM PDT by Cavalcabo (Sancte Michael, defende nos in proelio, contra nequitiam et insidias diaboli esto praesidium.)
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To: Cavalcabo

To momentarily go to their defense, I would hope it is not so much about recruiting priests, as pleading for openness to the call from God. I think many Catholic men might be called to the priesthood, but do not respond for various reasons. Just a thought. I am not saying using the Matrix is a good idea, it is nuts.


4 posted on 08/13/2005 8:34:08 AM PDT by StAthanasiustheGreat (Vocatus Atque Non Vocatus Deus Aderit)
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To: BulldogCatholic
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us

..."If we can get high-school youth to hang a picture of a priest in their room, that's huge in helping young men to answer the call to the priesthood..."

.. Because we want young men to know that being a priest is, like, totally awesome... and chicks dig it...

5 posted on 08/13/2005 9:06:37 AM PDT by Antioch (Flannery O'Connor: “evil is not a problem to be solved, but a mystery to be endured”)
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To: StAthanasiustheGreat

Well I think he is the Pope but a bad one at that, misguided and taught by the likes of Rahner and Kung. The same goes for JPII. Extreme Traditionalism? If you know the root meaning of the word "traditionalism" and what Tradition means, how can one ever to "to attached to our Lord" or the Apostolic teachings that were handed down? If one takes it to the level of being violent and uncharitiable (that is unprovoked), then I shall agree. But to follow the teachings of a man who opened the church to questions and uncertainty in Lumen Gentium just by adding the simple words "subsists within", it is he who under pre-Vatican II definitions would himself be heretical. If I am not mistaken was not Kung and Rahner, Ratzingers mentors not at one time Outlaws of the church, only to be their poster boys after Vatican II? Are the post Vatican II church now saying that they were in error for the first 1962 years and have now "righted the ship"? No-it is they who need to defend THEMSELVES that they are not heretical, all Traditionalists are doing is following the teachings of the church as they were for centuries

God bless you


6 posted on 08/13/2005 10:50:49 AM PDT by BulldogCatholic
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To: BulldogCatholic

By no means am I saying there were no problems with Vatican II. Indeed there were many, but sadly, it is not the sole reason for the ills of the Catholic Church (too many American Catholics or European Catholics have embraced the materialism, pick and chooseism of our society).

Neither is Tradition a bad thing. But I do not think all is over. I do see a movement, however gradual back to the Traditions of the past. I hope and pray and believe that in twenty-five years the Novus Ordo Rite will be radically different from the c--- one often gets at Mass today (if you go to that).


7 posted on 08/13/2005 12:44:45 PM PDT by StAthanasiustheGreat (Vocatus Atque Non Vocatus Deus Aderit)
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To: StAthanasiustheGreat

God bless you


8 posted on 08/13/2005 12:54:12 PM PDT by BulldogCatholic
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To: BulldogCatholic
I'm not sure who you're talking about! I know tons of zealous, orthodox young men who are answering the call to the priesthood and religious life.

It's true that the numbers aren't where they used to be ... but I recall that it was the "pre-Vatican II" Church which produced a flood of vocations during the 1950s ... most of which turned out to be the flimsy "I joined the Sisterhood because it was like the PeaceCorps" kind of "non-religious" vocation.

The upsurge in vocations going on now is authentic, and made up of people who are willing to take flak for Jesus.

Young, Orthodox, Growing:
Fathers of Mercy
Legionaries of Christ
Franciscan Friars of the Renewal
Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word
Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary -FSSP
Domincan Friars, Province of St. Joseph ***These guys in particular are great!!!***
9 posted on 08/13/2005 3:48:58 PM PDT by Lilllabettt
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To: Lilllabettt

So I guess you are talking about the same "springtime" that JPII was trying to sell before he died, like WYD (ever notice the WYD cross is not a crucifix, I guess to appease the Protestants in the name of ecumenism?), the same "springtime" John XXIII promised at V2?

The myth that is popular among certain Catholics is that things have gotten better in the last decade or so, coinciding primarily with the pontificate of John Paul II. Actually the statistics don't bear this out — in fact, the rate of decline has accelerated in some cases. Look at the number of priests.

In 1975, three years before JPII was elected, there were 58,909 priests. In 1980, two years after his election, there were 58,621, a one percent decrease from five years previously. But the pace of the decline has picked up since then — 57,317 in 1985; 53,111 in 1990; 49,947 in 1995; 45,713 in 2000; 44,874 predicted for 2005; 37,624 in 2010; and 30,992 in 2020.
• Seminarians: 17,802 in 1975; 13,226 in 1980; 11,028 in 1985; 6,233 in 1990; 5,083 in 1995; 4,719 in 2002.
• Sisters: 135,225 in 1975; 126,517 in 1980; 115,386 in 1985; 103,269 in 1990; 92,107 in 1995; 75,500 in 2002. . . .


10 posted on 08/13/2005 4:44:09 PM PDT by BulldogCatholic
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To: BulldogCatholic

Look on the bright side, he is actually wearing a cassock, as opposed to the black shirt and pants that one usually sees modern priests wearing.


11 posted on 08/13/2005 4:49:34 PM PDT by Straight Vermonter (John 6: 51-58)
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To: BulldogCatholic
I gotta tell you, THE SPRINGTIME IS NOT A MYTH. The surge in vocations produced by the pre-concilliar Church in the 1950s turned out to false. But the young Catholics I know considering religious life right now are hard-core, POD, and on fire with love for the Faith. They think there's way more good than bad in the Church today, and they're enthusiastically optimistic about the future.

Compare their outlook with that of "liberals." Catholic "liberals" or "progressives" routinely poll as more negative about the Church and pessimistic about the future. According to them, there are no good Bishops, no good Popes, and no good ideas coming from the Church hierarchy.

And they wonder why they don't get vocations?? Do people want to dedicate their lives to an organization they're told is broken, backwards, and heading towards a spiritual train wreck? What sane person wants to do that?

In my opinion, pessimism is also the Traditionalist's Achilles heel. Listening to an endless diatribe about everything that's wrong with the Church is not very attractive.


JOY on the other hand, IS, as evidenced by these orthodox religious congregations answering the Holy Father's call for the New Evangelization. They're young, and they're growing!

Dominican Sisters of Mary Mother of the Eucharist
Sister Servants of the Eternal Word
Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia
Alton Franciscans
Oblates of Mary
Sisters of Life
Carmelites of the Divine Heart of Jesus
School Sisters of Christ the King
Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration
Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal
Missionaries of Charity
12 posted on 08/13/2005 7:45:35 PM PDT by Lilllabettt
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Comment #13 Removed by Moderator

Comment #14 Removed by Moderator

To: seamole
That could be the crucial nudge that pushes a young man to think beyond the money and girls mindset that consumes most of his male peers.

True.. it's good as an attention getter, as you say, to nudge to a young man into thinking the priesthood is a great thing to give their lives to. I always get queasy when Catholicism goes down to the level of pop culture for any reason–to go along with whats hip, to get along in the world. Its a very dangerous slippery slope. Protestants are expert at adapting trends and repackaging the word into a trendy coating. Its natural when Sola Scriptura is the lodestone of Christian faith. But I shudder when I see magazines like Refuel and Revolve-thats a Christianity in Dhimmitude to materialism. Catholicism is difficult-it's going to disappoint the "Omigod-praise the Lord, that cute boy asked me out!" crowd.

Image Hosted by ImageShack.us

15 posted on 08/13/2005 10:25:38 PM PDT by Antioch (Flannery O'Connor: “evil is not a problem to be solved, but a mystery to be endured”)
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To: Antioch
I just asked my 16 YO to look at this poster and she said, while giggling, "I'm not sure I could possibly have an opinion on this... *snort*" --> my daughter

The cassock is a nice touch. Now the original Matrix movie is about a Christ-like figure (not really; but he functions that way), who comes to save those blinded by the Matrix, a pretty nasty place in that all of humanity is enslaved. I think the point those responsible for this poster are trying to make, is that people today are enslaved by sin. I would certainly agree. This might work if you can see past the "style" which is very shallow and, of course, the two movies which followed the original. : )

16 posted on 08/14/2005 3:43:26 AM PDT by Diva
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To: Lilllabettt
Amen. The constany carping, complaining and cavilling is the traditionalist version of liberal talk radio; and just as successful

. Outside of Free Republic one never runs into these kooks in real life. My Parish is huge, multi-cultural, multi-lingual, filled with converts, producing vocations and assorted ministries. Of course the springtime is here. But, it ain't noticed by those whose delight is dissent, detraction and depression.

I thought we Christians would be known for our living our lives in joy in Christ.

And, as Peter Kreeft says if you want Joy in your life, think of JOY as an acronym. Jesus. Other. Yourself.

To hear some self-described traditionalists in here one would think he was hearing Satre; Hell is other people - especially the Popes since the death of Pius XII.

17 posted on 08/14/2005 4:17:41 AM PDT by bornacatholic
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To: Diva
must. not. Photoshop. do'h!

Image Hosted by ImageShack.us

I agree with your points-Matrix did have your basic manichean good/evil elements as a modernist hook-they could have done much worse! We're lucky here in the Mordor of Liberalism (Toronto) to have a very conservative St. Philip Neri Oratory with 14 cassocked matrix priests and a sung Latin Mass :)

18 posted on 08/14/2005 4:26:24 AM PDT by Antioch (Flannery O'Connor: “evil is not a problem to be solved, but a mystery to be endured”)
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To: Diva

First off even the Novus ordo Post Vatican II church cant even get the poster right as their "priests" have not worn cassocks in over 40 years!

They are a sad group of old 1960 and 1970 radicals who are dismayed at the turn of events their expirimentation of the "flower power" years took. Only this time they took a generation of catholics with them

I would never let my children be catechised by this group of femi-nazi slack wearing "hip" nuns and Priests not to mention the laity who have taken over most of the teaching themselves as there are no priests left at the NO church and they themselves have no idea what the faith is.

My children are learning their cathechism from the 1917 Baltimore catechism taught by nuns who look like nuns.

I once asked these wonderful group of woman if they get hot and if they ever are jealous of the Novus ordo nuns who dress in "regular" clothes and do you know what their reply was? They all said that wearing the full habit and traditional garb as all past nuns have, and the black which gets very hot is only a small sacrifice to pay for the suffering our Lord went through on calvary and his mother at the foot of the cross, and getting a bit hot in the summer is nothing as compared! (and this one traditional church here in NY has already over 50 nuns, many of them teaching nuns as they have pnly been around since the late 1980's!) I was taken back as well as my wife. Amazing. The Traditional Catholicism has the Holy spirit guiding them as they are convinced what they are doing is correct as they have almost 2000 years of history and teaching to fall back on.

When you talk to a Novus Ordo supporter or pastor, all they ever can rely on, cause they despise anything that is pre-councilar is JPII "Theology of the Body" or some other vague document that has a nice mix of conservatism and liberalism all packaged up nicely. So sad


19 posted on 08/14/2005 8:08:48 AM PDT by BulldogCatholic
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To: seamole
What kind of "SPRING time" has FLURRIES?!?

The Ohio kind, lol. I believe my parents reported snow here in mid-April. :)
20 posted on 08/14/2005 11:04:20 AM PDT by Lilllabettt
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