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I had a conversation with our pastor a few days ago. I expressed concern over the “progressive” changes I've been seeing in the parish.

The petitions for the faithful have become blatantly liberal. “That our leaders may enact programs to further social justice... That the health needs of all people will be met... That our leaders will pass laws to combat climate change...” etc... I'm not kidding. No mention of our military men and women. No mention of the unborn.

There are now guitars and drums in mass, and amateur composers trying out songs they've written on an unwilling audience. They play at all First Communion masses, all Confirmation masses. There is no music schedule in the bulletin, so you can't avoid them.

There are Obama stickers in the parking lot. During last year's CYO soccer game, the sideline parents had a great time ripping apart Sarah Palin, and making excuses to support the trendy candidate.

We talked for about 20 minutes. His line was “I'm very traditional, too, and I know where you're coming from. But I have to meet the needs of all church members. Social justice is what Jesus taught. We should be good stewards of the environment. I can't tell people who to vote for.”

He was very patronizing. I explained that I understood he couldn't tell members who to vote for, and that the Obama stickers are just a symptom of what the church is becoming. Parishioners should be embarrassed to have an Obama sticker on their car, but they aren't. In a parish of 7,000+, we can't even fill a single bus for the annual DC March for Life, less than 2 hours away. The weekend before the 2008 election, we didn't get a sermon about supporting representatives who respect for life, we got the priest of our sister parish begging for money.

Mass used to be a source of strength and solace for me, a harbor from the crazy world. Now I leave mass angry. I'm not sure what my next step will be. Maybe the parish council. Maybe I'll try to find a different parish.

Suggestion: become intimately familiar with the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church (also available in hardcover from most Catholic bookstores)

Make sure when you discuss social justice issues, use the language of the Church. Quoting popes is sometimes effective (not always, but it can influence fence-sitters).

Find others who are like-minded and volunteer for positions teaching RCIA, parish council, PRE (Catechism classes), adult education....and form a prayer group for your parish.

That prayer group is THE most important.

It will take time....but God will change your parish. ;-)

We have two new pastors in my parish (and I’m in the Diocese of Scranton, btw). They’re making changes for the worse, I’m afraid. A new “social justice” committee, as well as folk choir for a specific Mass once a month. My daughter has literally been forced into helping with the folk choir, even though all I see are flashbacks to the 70’s hippy-dippy guitar “kumbaya” Masses.

Those prayers, what can I say? I never respond or pray for them, quietly praying to myself that they are not answered. The cafeterias have been upset with Bishop Martino, all because he follows church teachings. I’ve seen them storm out of Mass in anger, because of the pro-life speeches he wrote that were read to parishoners at certain times.

Pope Benedict was right - the church must get smaller in order for it to grow. Get rid of these people, including the pastors, and things will improve. Until then, we have to continue to fight the good fight against their lunacy.