Where Are The Men?

True Manhood ^ | 5/15/2010 | Dave DiNuzzo

[markomalley]

Tonight, we went to Mass at a local parish we had never been to.  I’ve been wanting to go to a Mass there because I know several people who are parishioners at the parish who really like it.  After tonight, I’m confused as to why.  Besides the typical architectural disaster that this building was, the misplacement of the tabernacle and the lack of Catholic art (good statues, stained glass, etc.), the sense of what was about to happen was not Mass… it wasn’t sacred… it wasn’t important… it was just a thing.  That’s what I got when I first walked in.

As Mass started, I was highly disappointed in what was taking place… a jazz concert masked by the appearance of a worship service.  Between the really obnoxious singers (all mic’d up individually, ouch!) and the electronic drum set, I couldn’t figure out what was happening… was it about the music group? or about the Mass?  In my mind, the music was winning, although it didn’t have much of a following in the congregation.  As Mass continued, I realized what the problem was.  It was shouting at me loud and clear…

There were virtually NO MEN in servant-leadership roles!  The vast majority of the servant-leaders were women, which has almost nothing to do with the women, and everything to do with the men.  When men don’t actively serve in parish life, specifically in the Mass, a parish is going to suffer.  Here’s the scenario at this parish; these numbers are typical for most parishes around the country.

• When we walked in, three women greeted us, no men were to be found. 0-3.

• There were 3 altar servers, 2 were young girls.  1-5.
• In the rockin’ jazz/pop/r&b, happy happy clap clap band there was 1 man, 7 women.  2-12.
• There were 4 ushers… all women!  2-16.  (Men weren’t even ushering, ahhh!!!)
• Out of the excessive 9 Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, 2 were men.  4-23.

• The ‘commentator’, lectors and cantor were all women.  4-27.
• Oh yeah, the priest was a man.  5-27.

So, out of 32 servant-leadership positions, (31 really, when you remove the priest from the list) only 4 were filled by men!  And one of those 4 was a 12 year-old boy altar server!  This is despicable.  Again, this has nothing to do with the women, and everything to do with the men!  I’ll explain myself in more detail, in the next post… you’ve got to come back!

[Northern Yankee]

There's a clip from You Tube titled, Interview with Father Larry Richards on his new book, "Be A Man"

This will get you started.

[Quix]

I mostly agree.

However, it SEEMS LIKE

that the more

ORGANIZED

RELIGION

becomes, the more disobedient to God the individuals within it become.

Tooooooooooo often,

organization emphasizes the flesh, pride, !!!!CONTROL!!!! FREAQUE, power-mongering aspects of humans and their relating to one another.

[Quix]

Great. I’m sure others would appreciate the links, too.

[Quix]

THANKS THANKS.

HAVE A BLESSED WEEK.

[Quix]

I’ll try and look it up when I get up for good later this morning.

Heading back to bed shortly.

[Northern Yankee]

Just listened to the interview.

It's a start to what he told us at the conference.

God Bless!

[firebrand]

Has anybody read this one: Dare to Be a Man? I read it a while ago. I remember I didn't agree totally with everything in it but found it strong and basically true.

[Gamecock]

***REAL MEN DON’T EAT SPIRITUAL QUICHE.***

ROTFLOL! I love that!

[ArrogantBustard]

Every time I visit family in that area, Mass is a trial. Sometimes I’m not sure if I’m really at Mass ...

[mlizzy]

After each Mass he kept the men inside the church and sent everyone else out. He then had them say the Rosary, and then leveled them with how disgraceful their inactions were to not only God but also to their families. --That's because Father is very big on Confession, and the bulk of those in attendance are women!! [*smiles* -- I made that up, but maybe it's true] -- Anyway, while looking for info/videos on Father, I found his organization and he has a page on "Sins that need to be confessed" (in English and Spanish!) -- always handy to have: Link.

Here's Father's foundation: The Reason For Our Hope.

Thanks for the info and the ping Northern Yankee!

[sillsfan]

I have found I enjoy and get a lot more out of a Latin mass. I would suggest that. Don’t give up on the mass, just find a Latin one! The Catholic mass in America has really lost it’s way, but Pope Benedict is trying to re-introduce good music again. Also, a more faithful Roman Missal is getting ready to be implemented, so there is still hope.

http://www.usccb.org/romanmissal/

Hopefully, there is a church by you that has a Latin mass that you can attend.

Here’s two sources that will help:

http://web2.airmail.net/carlsch/MaterDei/churches.htm

http://www.latinmasstimes.com/

[roamer_1]

MAN! <= See, look there. it's a pun :D

What an essay...

I have little to add except this:

It is often funny how God does things... Feminists rail at not having power - claiming that women are just as capable...

But I think the reason why God put man in charge is so that he would HAVE to DO. It is a part of man that if a woman will do it, he will let her.

And so, environments that LET a woman assume power, in great effect cause men to remove themselves from the work. Women are efficient organizers and spendthrifts, and therefore, it seems that they even do the work better.

But in doing so, one vital thing is removed. The masculine sense: Men are justice, women are mercy. Men are law, women are rules. Men are camaraderie, women are community. Men are merit, women are fairness.

It goes on and on.

[Iscool]

Additionally, my Diocese is consolidating Parishes all over and closing their churches, yet weekly we are taking up special collections for our new, $6M Church building, the financing of which includes hefty loans from the Diocese.

After you pay back the Diocese for your church, doesn't the Diocese own the church anyway???

[RedRightReturn]

Why yes, yes they do.

[RedRightReturn]

The nearest TLM is almost an hour away from me.

[Our man in washington]

Thanks!

[roamer_1]

BTW, it is interesting to note that ALL denominations are represented here - including RC - ALL are having the same problem of liberalization/feminization.

[Iscool]

the Roman Catholic church is the only true scriptual church on earth.....after all, they wrote, in book form, the gospels, epistles Old testament books, acts, etc etc etc....they preserved them, meticulously transcribed them, protected them so now you protestants have a book from which you can remove portions, quote out of context

You're in good company...The muzlims make the same false claim as well as the Mormons...

I have some of those Catholic bibles laying around just so I can see how you guys perverted them to try to get God to line up with your religion...

Other than that, I have no use for a Catholic bible...

[PapaBear3625]

1. While some women want to provide good leadership, women with grievances about organized religion worm their way into leadership positions. The problem is that honorable women sometimes have a problem telling other women that certain ideas are unworkable. Furthermore, men will often not want to get involved in a dispute between two women. It’s just human nature.

A lot of women like "consensus-based" decision making, which inevitably turns into a "dictatorship of the most obstinate".

And you're right about men not liking to get into disputes with women. Faced with one or more women who like to just keep arguing until they get their way, men tend to just leave.

[JoeFromSidney]

After more than 50 years as a loyal son of the Church I find it harder and harder to even bother to go to Mass anymore. Instead of nourishing my soul I feel as though the Priest and lay leaders are poisoning it.

I know the feeling. We drive 40 miles each way on Sunday to attend a Latin Mass. On weekdays, we walk about half a mile to our local parish for a Novus Ordo Mass. My wife has been very discouraged by the Mass at our Parish. I had been taking it in stride. It wasn't inspiring, but it was valid.

However, we have a new pastor and new assistant. Things have changed. The bells are back. Six candles at each Mass. The celebrant no longer sits on a throne behind the "table," but off to one side, allowing the tabernacle to be seen. The sermons are orthodox and inspiring.

Unless gas prices go out of sight, I'll still go to the Latin Mass on Sundays. But things are looking up at our parish, and I can't wait for the new translation.

There is hope.