Female Pastoral Ministers Replace Catholic Priests

Rochester Democrat & Chronicle ^ | October 22, 2002 | Doug Mandelaro

[Tantumergo]

"Eliminate the Diaconate?"

They aren't so unsubtle as to openly eliminate it, but there are many who would like to see it wither on the vine. The sentiment is "What can deacons do that lay people can't do?", or "Deacons will deprive lay people of their rightful ministeries in the Church."

I know these sentiments are held by several "curial officials" in the UK, and some of the popular Catholic press have followed this line.

I would imagine that some of the more repulsive dioceses in the US will have similar policies - especially the homosexually dominated ones.

[Desdemona]

The sentiment is "What can deacons do that lay people can't do?", or "Deacons will deprive lay people of their rightful ministeries in the Church."

These people have too much time on their hands. There's plenty of lay ministry. It's not glamorous, but there's plenty of it.

That's the one thing that drives me crazy about some of the "volunteers" on the liturgy committee, etc. They like the glamorous stuff, but would they pick pine needles out of the carpet after decorating for Christmas? Nope. They're long gone before it gets to that point.

Christ's work is not always pretty. Working in the nurseries where crack babies need to be put to sleep and the wards where AIDS patients need to be bathed and comforted is just as important. Regardless of what you think of the people, they are still God's children.

[Catholicguy]

<> If one spends their entire time in the bathroom after one sick Prelate has just befouled it, one might be tempted to condemn the entire house, I guess

However, I am out in the living room and it is quite nice where I am :)<>

[Catholicguy]

The robes look good on male or female..:)

<> Same goes foo sackcloth and ashes.<>

Whosoever revolteth and continueth not in the doctrine of Christ hath not God. He that continueth in the doctrine, the same hath both the Father and the Son.( 2 John 9)

[Catholicguy]

. We must avoid despair as it is a grave sin.

<> True, but that is not the bailiwick of the freeper...one keeps one's head plunged in the sewer while shouting "I don't see any Springtime down here."

The Devil is delighted with darkness and despair<>

[victim soul]

When the seminaries are overflowing with feminist and postmenopausal women -- why bother if you want to be a priest?

[ninenot]

There are Canon Law restrictions on the use of the term 'pastoral,' particularly with regard to non-ordained individuals of EITHER persuasion.

The key element in the plan for the revolution is the mandate that 'no priest may celebrate more than 3 [Sunday] Masses.' At one time, the Milwaukee Archdiocese had a similar policy--further, the Archdiocese had restricted the number of All Souls' Day Masses to be celebrated, as well--WAY down from the old 3 Masses/priest on All Souls'.

[ninenot]

Regardless if his successor is 'liberal' or otherwise, doctrine and dogma will NOT change. Female "priests" will NOT be authorized--that's a dogmatic matter related to the 'in persona Christi' Who was a male.

Marriage may be up for grabs, but I don't think that's something which will be easily changed--and actually, the "vocations crisis" is confined almost exclusively to the West...

[ninenot]

Dunno about a 'shortage' in Africa. We have a number of African priests in SE WIsconsin, some of whom are parish administrators/curates. SOMEBODY has to be authorizing them to come here...

[american colleen]

Why do women named Barbara always have that haircut?

It's one of those weird things...

About 20 years ago I worked in an engineering firm in Boston. This was a few years after "they" let the nuns loose... out of habit, go make a living on your own. My department got one who was certifiably looney and trained her as a file clerk. I honestly believe she was schitzo. She caused unending problems and was pretty useless at work. Her name? Barbara.

A few weeks ago, we had this visiting nun give a "retreat" in my parish. She taught centering prayer, has written a book on enneagrams and had rather crazy eyes but a melodious, soothing voice. Her name? Barbara.

Since both of the above Barbara's are Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, I did a search on their website. Lo and behold, all the nuns have e-mail addresses and you can look up names by first name or last name. Honest to God, I typed in "Barbara" and about a dozen of them came up! Just for kicks, I used Mary, Clare and Ann and far fewer (one or two) showed. So our suspicions are confirmed through my careful research and your knack for ferreting out truth and justice. Where do we go with our evidence? ;-)

BTW, I challenge anyone to prove that their diocese has more militant nuns than my diocese. They are legion here. I used to say that the reasons there were hardly any nuns in the Catholic schools was because they are out working and being socially correct --- now I say I am glad they aren't in the schools anymore to corrupt the young. It is so sad.

[Desdemona]

I used to say that the reasons there were hardly any nuns in the Catholic schools was because they are out working and being socially correct --- now I say I am glad they aren't in the schools anymore to corrupt the young.

You've got that right.

[ninenot]

Willie Wonka RULES!!!

Actually, the author of the book has WONDERFUL stuff--my suspicion is that he's a conservative Catholic or Episcopalian. There are a lot more excellent works under his name for your children to read...

Even used his poetry for middle-school forensics pieces--the one about 'books vs. television' is terrific for two kids, and got one of my daughters a State championship trophy.

[american colleen]

The key element in the plan for the revolution is the mandate that 'no priest may celebrate more than 3 [Sunday] Masses.' At one time, the Milwaukee Archdiocese had a similar policy--further, the Archdiocese had restricted the number of All Souls' Day Masses to be celebrated, as well--WAY down from the old 3 Masses/priest on All Souls'.

Can you point me to a link where I can read this mandate?

Do you think the mandate is so priests don't suffer from "burnout" or say Mass so often it becomes rote?

[Desdemona]

There are a lot more excellent works under his name for your children to read...

My children? Right now they're mythical. But, I'll keep it in mind if that happy day ever comes.

[Tantumergo]

"Christ's work is not always pretty. Working in the nurseries where crack babies need to be put to sleep and the wards where AIDS patients need to be bathed and comforted is just as important. Regardless of what you think of the people, they are still God's children."

Amen to that.

Unfortunately too many Catholics think that the only place where "the real work" happens is on the sanctuary. In some respects we are a far more clerical Church now than before VII - its just that the "clerics" are the whole congregation.

[Tantumergo]

"Can you point me to a link where I can read this mandate?"

Its in the Code of Canon Law which is online somewhere. A priest is only allowed to say 2 Masses of obligation on a Sunday, but may ask his bishop for a dispensation to say three.

The ideal in the Code is that there should be only one Mass for each parish community on each Sunday or Holy Day.

[ThomasMore]

"What can deacons do that lay people can't do?"

They bring to bear on their threefold ministry of Word, Sacrament and Charity the GRACE of Holy Orders! That should be enough of an explanation. However, way too many Catholics have NO idea what this statement means. And for 40 years, those with a modernist/liberal/feminist/protestant agenda, clergy and lay alike, have done all they could to keep the masses in the dark.

[ELS]

The ideal in the Code is that there should be only one Mass for each parish community on each Sunday or Holy Day.

Really?! Many parishes around here used to have several Masses on Sunday. What did the Code say to do when the parish church became too small to accomodate all of the parish community at one time?

[BlackElk]

Now that John Meyers has become Archbishop of Newark, we may trust that Catholicism is returning to New Jersey and that the outposts of the internal enemy will be dwindling in yet another state. He may even cause the appointment of other Catholics as bishops of the other New Jersey Dioceses. Doesn't Camden have one who has recently banned VOTF? Our conspiracy proceedeth. The obituaries carry the good news each day of the dwindling of the faithless who have posed as Catholic all too long while worshipping the novelties of the left.

[ELS]

Do you think the mandate is so priests don't suffer from "burnout" or say Mass so often it becomes rote?

In a word, no. Celebrating Mass and administering the Sacrament of Penance are the main duties/vocation of the priest that no one else can do. In a sense, they live for this (the devout and holy ones, at least). Think of the Cure of Ars or St. Pio of Pietrelcina.