Posted on 09/23/2003 7:50:20 AM PDT by presidio9
No dancing in the aisles or applause in church, please, we're Catholic. And we'd prefer altar boys to altar girls.
Those are some of the warnings contained in the draft of a document the Vatican (news - web sites) is preparing to crack down on what it considers "liturgical abuses" of the mass, the focus of Roman Catholic worship.
According to the authoritative Italian Roman Catholic monthly magazine "Jesus," a draft document urges the faithful to notify their bishop or the Vatican to report suspected abuses.
The magazine released an advance text of the article which will feature in its October edition.
If issued in its draft form, the document, known as a directive, could have wide-ranging ramifications on some worship practices that have come into common use in many developed countries, particularly the United States and in western Europe.
According to the magazine, the draft says the use of girl altar servers should be avoided "unless there is a just pastoral cause" and that "priests should never feel obliged to seek girls for this function."
The Vatican in 1994 gave individual bishops the power to decide whether to allow altar girls in their dioceses. But some conservative Catholics are against altar girls, saying their presence has eroded a traditional recruiting ground for priests.
Traditionalists have also seen altar girls as a foot in the door to a female priesthood, which the church bans.
Italian media reported that the initial reaction to the draft, circulated to the world's bishops, has been negative and the document may have to be at least partially modified.
The draft document also discourages applause during masses and "dances inside the sacred building."
Ironically, Pope John Paul (news - web sites)'s sermons during masses, even those in St Peter's Basilica, are often interrupted by applause.
Some of the pope's masses in Rome and around the world have included dancing, particularly those celebrations marking Asian, African or Latin American events.
The document, drafted by two Vatican departments which oversee doctrine and liturgy, was ordered by the pope who will eventually have to approve a final version.
The draft also warns against the use of non-Biblical language during the mass, such as readings from poets.
It discourages the practice where the faithful receive the wafer and wine at communion.
Catholics believe Christ is present in the wafer and wine but the document says it is preferable just to receive the wafer.
"Self-service" communion is also frowned upon. This appeared to be a reference to the faithful taking the consecrated host directly from the chalice instead of receiving it on their tongue from the hand of a priest.
Correcting a misstatement isn't putting someone down, it's correcting a misstatement.
You, for example, seem to think that the male Priesthood is evidence of sexism in the Church. I think it is God's Will, in accord with the way in which He created us male and female.
That's not putting you down, nor is it refusing to hear you. It is disagreeing with you.
Yes, it is "just a building."
Do you then not favor laws against the desecration of churches?
No. Vandalism is unlawful, period.
Is burning down a crack house the moral or legal equivalent of burning down a church?
Well, if arson is the reason, then the law treats them equally. But you and I know that a church and a crackhouse are in no way the same.
Make all of the assumptions you like. But praise is praise.
Is He not worthy of being praised?
Wow! Great story.
If you were a woman, how would you feel hearing that over and over? No matter what the rationale behind it all, it makes me feel bad and not as good as the men and I do not believe I am alone in feeling that way.
In Hoc Signo Vinces...('In This Sign You will Conquer'...Constantine's shield)
Traditional apologetics based on early Councils and Encyclicals.
Many, including me, have explained exactly what type of applause we are talking about. Why is it difficult to understand?
SD
That is not a Biblical teaching. According to God's Word, men and women are absolutely equal. He has assigned different tasks; but one is no more noble or important than the other.
No that's what the "are you saved?" people think. If you just "accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior" you're in.
I think that a male prieshood where they think and act like they are superior to women is not God's will. They aren't really supposed to associate with women like me. How am I aupposed to take that?
No, actually there are special laws against desecrating churches that do not apply to crack houses. Some of us in society do distingush one building from another.
But you and I know that a church and a crackhouse are in no way the same.
You just said they were. "A building is just a building."
Either a structure dedicated for the use of God's people in worship and other ways is different, or it is not. Which is it?
SD
Besides that, it's not victimless. A priest who is filling his mind and soul with pornography is probably unable to give the congregation entrusted to him by Our Lord the sort of spiritual direction they deserve.
It is also the school motto of Holy Cross College.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.