Free Republic

[Catholic Caucus] The dangers of proliferating Communion services The cancellation of the public celebration of the Mass in dioceses across the US and the world—beginning in Rome—has established dangerous precedents. In addition to the breathtaking surrender to secular authorities with no public pushback on the part of Catholic bishops, chanceries have introduced the innovation of abbreviated Communion services (with ten or fewer people). The early response by parishioners has been favorable, and in some instances, exuberant. But without vigilance, could the practice become a Trojan horse of confusion and even schism? Unfortunately, it has become too easy to dismiss the...

Diocesan Survey Finds Catholics’ Needs Unmet (Special to The Wanderer) CLEVELAND — The Diocese of Cleveland on April 17 released the "preliminary aggregate results" of a parish survey involving 129 participating parishes and 46,271 area Catholics. The results of the survey, available on the Diocese of Cleveland’s web site (www.dioceseofcleve land.org), presents a glaring disconnect between what parishioners expect to be done well, and what is done well. For example, in the category "how important to me," the number one issue for Cleveland-area Catholics was "Masses that are prayerful, reverent, and spiritually moving." But "how well done" are Masses in...