The following comes from a Dec. 17 posting in First Things.
At noon I have to be at the local Catholic school—let’s call it St. Dismas—to train altar servers. I will arrive a few minutes early, and by 12:05 most of the kids will have trickled in. We are in the Southern California, so most of the boys at St. Dismas wear short pants year-round. Students are required to attend one Mass per month with the school, but it has never occurred to anyone, not their parents, not the pastor, not the teachers, and certainly not the students, that they should wear pants to Mass. The girls wear skirts that in 1966 would have been described as “micro-minis.” When I told the boys’ parents that I expected them to wear their uniform pants to Mass when they become servers, the school principal—a genial thirty-something man who insists on the rigorous use of the title “Dr.” but often wears sweatpants and flip-flops to work—cornered me outside his office for a talk. He warned me that I might get some pushback from parents on the pants requirement. “We are only a medium-Catholic school,” he informed me. “We’re not really that Catholic.”
When we walk as a group into the nave (the church itself is almost barren of Catholic art or iconography), none of the kids bow or genuflect before the tabernacle. They are unaware that this is something they should do. They don’t know, because none of these children attend Mass on Sunday. When they do become altar servers, they will be dropped off moments before Mass begins and picked up by an idling SUV before the organ has finished the recessional. From time to time, the parents of altar servers can be seen standing outside the church, hunched over a smart phone, killing time while they wait for Mass to finish.
At this point in the school year, the first-time altar servers have developed a rudimentary understanding of what is expected of them during Mass, but when they began their training in September they needed quite a lot of attention. As I said, they attend Mass once a month with their class, but never on Sunday. Therefore, none of them are aware of the Gloria, the Credo, or the Second Reading. On the first day of training, several kids made the Sign of the Cross in the eastern fashion, and I had to take several minutes to correct them. I brought this up with a member of the school administration, and she was somewhat surprised. The kids say a morning prayer each day, she said, and they begin with the Sign of the Cross. It’s possible that no one ever corrected them. I have never seen any of the teachers at Holy Mass, so it seems likely that this sort of attention to detail isn’t a priority for them either.
The children know nothing of vestments, sacramentals, the prayers of the Church other than the Hail Mary and the Our Father, feast days, or the concept of Sanctifying Grace. None has been to confession since the first one, but all receive communion without any thought. If their parents are forced into Mass, they too will line up for Communion and receive it happily and without qualm. The teachers aren’t practicing Catholics, the parents aren’t practicing Catholics, and the parish priest would never dare suggest to the congregation that they go to confession. He correctly understands that there would be outrage among his flock.
The pastor at St. Dismas is a gay man. It is quite possible that this priest—let’s call him Fr. Dave—lives a life of celibacy. I have no reason to doubt that he does. He presents himself, however, as a traditional, American “queen.” He is a kind and gentle priest, and I think the kids genuinely like him. He does everything he can to take part in the life of the school, and he always has a warm word for parishioners, students, and parents. Fr. Dave has been my primary confessor for about six years. His style in the confessional is orthodox. He makes no attempt to psychoanalyze me, and he levies a serious penance when I deserve it. He is also quite reverent as a presider at Holy Mass. He does not improvise, and he makes it plain that he considers Mass to be a grave and solemn occasion.
Fr. Dave knows better than to suggest to his flock how to live as Catholics. He does not speak of sin. Ever. He does not discuss the saints, devotions, the rosary or prayer of any kind, marriage, death, the sacraments, Catholic family life, the Devil, the poor, the sick, the elderly, the young, mercy, forgiveness, or any other aspect of the Catholic faith that might be useful to a layperson. His homilies are the worst sort of lukewarm application of the day’s Gospel reading—shopworn sermons that sound very much like they were copied word for word from a book of Gospel reflections published in 1975. No one in the pews ever discusses his homilies as far as I can tell.
The pews are not full. The most crowded Mass is at ten-thirty on Sunday morning, when the church is usually about two-thirds full. Holy days of obligation draw almost no one. I attended the Easter Vigil last year and the Church was half empty. The crowd at a typical Sunday Mass is mixed. There are quite a few elderly parishioners who sit together and ignore the rubrics of the Mass. They refuse to kneel after Communion, they hold hands during the Our Father, they chat loudly before and after Mass, and they roam the Church greeting their friends, seemingly unaware that others might want to pray in silence. The most prayerful and reverent congregants are the handful of Filipino families. The other Mass-goers are a smattering of middle class families, stray Catholic singles, and a few Latin American die-hards. After Mass, the older people hang around and shake hands with the pastor. Everyone else drives away. I know only a small handful of my fellow parishioners, and I hesitate to bring any of this up with them. It doesn’t seem worth it.
To read the original posting, click here.
It is unfortunate that people are so ignorant, but it has become the responsibility of the Parish Priest to make certain that acceptable and modest dressing for Mass takes place.
An announcement in the Church bulletin regarding appropriate dressing, and an announcement prior to Mass from the pulpit should be made as often as necessary.
For both ladies and men – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZHECJJbzPM
Dress to meet and have Supper with the King of Kings.
Dress for God.
Do not disrespect God in His home.
Do not expect God to bow down or lower Himself to your actions.
Let us all set a good example for others.
Someone needs to get Fr. Dave (- in the article) a “Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition”.
You will be doing him a favor since upon his death he will be judged on the job he did as a Priest. Just as the rest of us will be judged on the jobs we do with our vocation in life.
There are not only sins of commission (actions), but also sins of omission (lack of actions).
CCC: 888, 939, 1411, 1464, 1516, 1530, 1536 – 1600 are some of the paragraphs that refers to Priests.
In the meantime, write this web site down on a card and hand it to him after Mass. Ask him to check it out and tell you what he thinks.
“What Catholics REALLY Believe SOURCE”
https://whatcatholicsreallybelieve.com/
I agree PETE. God bless you for your comments. Well said. You took the words out of my mouth but better!
Ask the principal to show you where “Medium Catholic” School is in the CCC or any other official documents on the Vatican web site.
Parents and others are paying tuition for a Catholic school and it sounds like they are being cheated.
Make a list and set an appointment to talk with Fr. Dave – giving him a copy of your list at the meeting.
If that does not work, report it to the Diocese Bishop.
CCC: ” 907 In accord with the knowledge, competence, and preeminence which they possess, [lay people] have the right and even at times a duty to manifest to the sacred pastors their opinion on matters which pertain to the good of the Church,
and they have a right to make their opinion known to the other Christian faithful,
with due regard to the integrity of faith and morals and reverence toward their pastors, and with consideration for the common good and the dignity of persons. “
The principal must be a bit off-kilter. They are supposed to lead by example, and apparently no one has impressed that upon them, with flip-flops and sweatpants as their normal attire. No judgement, just pointing out what might be considered short-comings, and hoping that those are corrected. The suggestion that a meeting take place, in the most humble atmosphere of “can we come to a consensus?” would likely gently break the ice, and hopefully help everyone in the process. Best wishes to you, and God bless!
When I was teaching, I was free to do many things for my junior high classes, as I was hired because the Religion program was not doing well. I put together a program that included altar serving, ecclesiastical Latin, Catholic History, field trips and (especially) increased student knowledge of the basic tenets of our Faith. The latter includes such items as in-depth knowledge of the Deadly Sins, the Theological Virtues, Transubstantiation, etc; created projects such as newspaper articles on past Church councils; and basic discussions on St. Thomas Aquinas (Quinque Viae) and St. Augustine (Confessions). I also required my 8th grade students to read a piece of fictional literature that deals with our Faith (The Keys of the Kingdom). Scores skyrocketed, the parishioners and parents were delighted at the transformation and the students actually enjoyed Religion class, with the younger students looking forward to it, as well.
The program was a huge success but, with a new principal inserted, everything reverted to its previous inadequacies. This complete reversal of everything by “decree” went even further by discouraging the wearing of crucifixes and holy medals, changing words to Catholic hymns, complaining that classrooms looked “too Catholic,” and the principal’s lack of knowledge of Catholic things, such as the Memorare, brought things to a head.
The parents and teachers complained to the pastor and the diocese. The pastor backstopped the principal and on the last day of the school year, the parents were notified by the principal that the school wouldn’t reopen for another year.
What Catholics sadly do not realize, is that there can be no viable future for our Church— without good leadership! And the responsibility for leadership is in the hands of our Pope and his prelates! If they do not do their jobs– what can we do, but watch our Church diminish and almost entirely disappear, someday, worldwide?? Reports to the local bishop, regarding churches and Catholic schools like this one— usually do no good. The Catholic schoolchildren of this parish and its school, may be its final generation! Tragically, the parents are not practicing their Catholic faith, and not teaching it to their children, at home! This is horrible! So, by the time these children are grown up– their Catholic parish church and school may be gone! A big culprit, for this situation (though the Church fails to admit to it!) — is Vatican II!
This little parish church and its school– like many others– is living on borrowed time! Tomorrow, they all may cease to exist! Wish the Pope and his prelates all would WAKE UP!!
That is NOT a bottle of holy water sitting on the pew. Food and beverages are NOT allowed in church, especially during Mass!
As always, where are the Bishops ?
Grandparents, if your grandchildren are in this situation, talk to the Parents, and purchase a Baltimore Catechism for each of your grandchildren in this order:
1, then 2, then 3. Number 1 is extremely important if they have not accurately been taught all the basics of the Faith.
https://www.ewtnreligiouscatalogue.com/shop.axd/Search?keywords=baltimore+catechism&x=0&y=0
For special occasions (as a remembrance of you) give each of your children and grandchildren a Catholic Bible. (I like the RSV-CE large print for ease of reading, and the RSV is referenced in the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition”.)
Make certain that each of your children (and adult grandchildren) have a copy of the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition” in their own homes, so they will know the truth of what the Catholic Church teaches whether they are Catholic or not. Purchase it for them.
It is available in many languages including Spanish.
In the USA all accurate editions will have a dark green cover.
https://www.ewtnreligiouscatalogue.com/shop.axd/Search?keywords=catechism&x=0&y=0&page_no=2
Pray for the salvation of their Souls daily.
“….the CATECHISM has raised throughout the world, even among non-Christians,
and confirms its purpose of being presented as a full, complete exposition of Catholic doctrine,
enabling everyone to know what the Church professes, celebrates, lives, and prays in her daily life.” – Pope John Paul II (CCC pg xiv)
…the demise of Catholicism at St. Dismas
First of all, this is a “non-Catholic” school (not “medium”). It is a shame, of course, that the children know so little, but that is the direct fault of the pastor (and bishop). No Catholic school should ever, ever, have an atmosphere, and ignorance of the Faith, like St. Dismas.
Second, how does the writer know that the pastor is “gay”. Does he say so? Is he notorious in showing a sexual side (which does not seem so, give the article). Does he talk about the “gifts” of homosexuals and identify himself among them? If any of these are true, Pastor Dave needs to retire. No overtly homosexual man should ever be a priest, nor should any man that says wonderful things about the “gifts’ of the . . . Wait, Wait!! Are you saying that Abp. Forte, Cardinal Dolan, Cardinal Wuerl, and all those who shout “bravo” at homosexual identifications should not be priests? Answer: absolutely.
Finally, the new Pastor needs to introduce people to the fact that they are Catholic. Church is not a social hall; demand respect for Christ, decorate his home appropriately. Insist on teaching about sin, repentance and salvation. After all, that is what Church is about. They can find time to chat at the local Starbucks. And, the kids need to know that, SoCal or not, they need to put away their mini-skirts and shorts and engage in something more important than kid fashion. Unfortunately, St. Dismas is very much like many, many churches experienced by Catholics today.
I was in my parish church [UK] recently and some African children entered, their deportment, genuflection and Signs of the Cross would put the majority of local kids [and adults] to shame, Clearly, they were instructed at home.
Although there must be some, I have never met a non-orthodox African priest!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts!
May God have mercy on an amoral Amerika and His Church!
Viva Cristo Rey!
Kenneth M. Fisher
This anonymous parish is almost the norm, especially at Cathedrals.
The priests provide almost no spiritual leadership, never talk about true sins (just the politically correct sins) and give Hallmark card sermons to offend no one.
This always reflects the spiritual leadership—lack thereof—of the local bishop.
We are a Catholic wasteland in California.
I think we can all stipulate that this story illustrates some of the reasons why the church is shrinking in membership. Assuming that the writer’s statements are true, and we have no reason to doubt them, we have a priest who gives poor sermons. We know that the quality of sermons is one of the main reasons that people are attracted to a particular parish. If the sermons are irrelevant, the people stay away. I’m willing to bet that the music is horrible as well, but without facts to back me up. Great music in one of the reasons people are attracted to particular parishes. If the parish is typical of those that are losing members, it likely does’t have great programs for the kids, outstanding adult formation programs. etc. But, one of the reasons for the demise of the parish is not the fact that the kids are wearing shorts. In California, especially the south, kids hardly ever wear long pants, and it is not a show of disrespect. This is an example of where the writer is placing emphasis on the wrong thing. Take the kids as they are, show them how to genuflect and why, teach them about praying in front of the tabernacle, teach them about sanctifying grace, etc. But don’t agonize about boys wearing shorts. Concentrate on the important things, the faith. Besides, when they put on their albs, no one will know if they have on shorts or short skirts.
The Servant of God Father John Hardon SJ said that it was a MORTAL SIN for parents to knowingly send their children to Catholic schools that were corrupting, distorting and omitting the teachings that should be taught to children. Yes there are the parents who do not know the faith and their culpability will be judged and there are parents who DO know the faith but who choose to look the other way while thinking something “medium” is better than nothing.
Bob One is a poster who is always in favor of promoting the lowest common denominator for Our Lord, especially when it comes to encouraging a vibrant Kumbaya party atmosphere at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Bob One has often criticized the beautiful vestments that are worn by the priests so of course respect for God shown in how one dresses at Mass is not important to Bob at all. Bob even calls the priest’s vestments unnecessary lacy tableware. If every parent listened to Bob then their young sons and daughters would grow up and wear micro minis and shorts to their first job interview at a bank or other setting that requires a basic knowledge of dressing accordingly. Bob says concentrate on the important things as if these young students are totally incapable of being taught the faith along with the proper attire. This fits right into Bob One’s comments, “It really does not matter where the Mass is said.”
“Besides, when they put on their albs, no one will know if they have on shorts or short skirts.” = OR even Halloween Superman and Chicken Costumes.
Those words sound very familiar. Please enter ‘You Tube Halloween Mass by Concerned Catholics.’ into your search bar. You will see a 7:11 in the right hand bottom corner of this particular video. This video is a prime example of why we have this story above and also the blasphemous and sacrilegious acts that are often allowed to take place. Sacrilegious acts start with allowing little things that Bob One would call unimportant. Please watch the entire video where this pastor talks about hiding his Halloween costume under his vestments. Watch this pastor joke about the devil handing out Holy Communion. Watch the costumed red headed devil hand out Holy Communion.
The Monsignor who was sent to feign a PR motivated discipline to this pastor was the very same Monsignor who belittled and humiliated an attorney who was a brand new convert because he knelt down to receive Our Lord. This is the same Monsignor who gives saccharin sounding talks about giving ICONIC respect to a Protestant built church after he has a known history of berating the faithful for wanting to show reverence and respect to Almighty God.
Shame on Bob One!
Bob One,
Judging by your comments on fashions, you must have a real problem with the messages of Our Lady of Fatima!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts!
May God have mercy on an amoral Amerika and His Church!
Viva Cristo Rey!
Kenneth M. Fisher
Kenneth, as I read the messages of Our Lady of Fatima, we are told that one should dress modestly. Although I don’t wear shorts to church, I think it is more of a generational thing. Young men, boys, wearing shorts, doesn’t seem to me to be immodest. I would rather put the emphasis on faith, and let the other stuff work itself out over time.
This quote from the old testament (I think it is accurate): ” The lukewarm I will vomit from my mouth”. There must be a lot of vomit in that parish.
How sad, but seems to be more typical than ever before and probably many of the readers are familiar to such a parish in their area. The clapping during mass is also one irreverent happening becoming more and more prominent in different parishes.
Service in a lot of parishes are becoming more and more like a Protestant event.
But there is hope, as we also see parishes that are becoming more and more Catholic with 24hr. adoration and the singing of the prayers in Latin. It all boils down to how well the parish priest performs his duties and how well the Bishop is watching over his flock.
mrpkguy,
Or how much the bishop is willing to overlook the apparent orthodoxy of the parish and its priests; or, less often, how much the bishop is willing to correct errant priests and parishes!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts!
May God have mercy on an amoral Amerika and His Church!
Viva Cristo Rey!
Kenneth M. Fisher
The quote to which you refer is actually from Revelation 3:16.
This is very discouraging and sad. Its stuff that my family and I have fought against and spoken up against often. Praise God we do not have to deal with these grave issues because we have a few holy parishes that we attend often. I pray that the locals there speak up, lets pray for them.
These issues are not new, this sort of stuff has even happened in the dark ages, even in the years where doctors of the church were made. Even before Vatican II.
I don’t recall the name of the saint but she was very displeased to found out that there was a parish with homosexual priests. While people blame Vatican II, they deny that our church has always had these issues and our beautiful faith still lives on. Like a holy priest encouraged us, he said that we must remain obedient, faithful, holy, loyal till the end. .We are not to despair nor give up. Always trusting in God.
Oh yes I know remember, here is the saint and what she spoke up against, see folks those precious saints even faced adversity back then like we do today and they remained faithful to Rome, apostolic succession:
Saint Catherine of Siena (1347-1380)
Saint Catherine, a great mystic and Doctor of the Church, lived in troubled times. The Papacy was in exile at Avignon, France. She was instrumental in bringing the Popes back to Rome. Her famous Dialogues are written as if dictated by God Himself:
“But they act in a contrary way, for they come full of impurity to this mystery, and not only of that impurity to which, through the fragility of your weak nature, you are all naturally inclined (although reason, when free will permits, can quiet the rebellion of nature), but these wretches not only do not bridle this fragility, but do worse, committing that accursed sin against nature, and as blind and fools, with the light of their intellect darkened, they do not know the stench and misery in which they are. It is not only that this sin stinks before me, who am the Supreme and Eternal Truth, it does indeed displease me so much and I hold it in such abomination that for it alone I buried five cities by a divine judgment, my divine justice being no longer able to endure it. This sin not only displeases me as I have said, but also the devils whom these wretches have made their masters.
Saint Catherine of Siena (1347-1380)
Saint Catherine, a great mystic and Doctor of the Church, lived in troubled times. The Papacy was in exile at Avignon, France. She was instrumental in bringing the Popes back to Rome. Her famous Dialogues are written as if dictated by God Himself:
“But they act in a contrary way, for they come full of impurity to this mystery, and not only of that impurity to which, through the fragility of your weak nature, you are all naturally inclined (although reason, when free will permits, can quiet the rebellion of nature), but these wretches not only do not bridle this fragility, but do worse, committing that accursed sin against nature, and as blind and fools, with the light of their intellect darkened, they do not know the stench and misery in which they are. It is not only that this sin stinks before me, who am the Supreme and Eternal Truth, it does indeed displease me so much and I hold it in such abomination that for it alone I buried five cities by a divine judgment, my divine justice being no longer able to endure it. This sin not only displeases me as I have said, but also the devils whom these wretches have made their masters. Not that the evil displeases them because they like anything good, but because their nature was originally angelic, and their angelic nature causes them to loathe the sight of the actual commission of this enormous sin.”
Tertullian (160-225)
Tertullian was a great genius and apologist of the early Church. Unfortunately, after an initial period of fervor, he succumbed to resentment and pride, left the Church and adhered to the Montanist heresy. Because of works written while still in the Church, he is considered an Ecclesiastical Writer and, as such, is commonly quoted by Popes and theologians. His treatise On Modesty is an apology of Christian chastity. He clearly shows the horror the Church has for sins against nature. After condemning adultery, he exclaims:
“But all the other frenzies of passions–impious both toward the bodies and toward the sexes–beyond the laws of nature, we banish not only from the threshold, but from all shelter of the Church, because they are not sins, but monstrosities.”
Here’s a thought. Find a new parish.
This is simply not Catholic. I don’t know what it can be called, but Catholic is not it. The era following the Second Vatican Council has seen the devil run amok. It is beyond tragic what has happened to the Bride of Christ, the Catholic Church. Those men who are entrusted with Her care have treated her with boxing gloves, She has become like a battered spouse. When Christ comes again, many will have to answer for what they have done to the Church and for the loss of faith of so many.
Well. This priest’s Gospel reflections are empty, because the Scriptures are just legends of a great moral teacher, but nothing more. We should live Jesus’ way and that’s that. We aren’t even sure they are ‘real’ accounts of actual events, as Bp. McGrath of San Jose wrote in a column a few years ago. In a few days, they will explain away the Infancy Narratives and the Magi (thank you, Raymond Brown).
A new liturgy, that has dispensed with the beliefs of a need for a perfect oblation and of a propitiatory sacrifice for the sins of the living and the dead destroys the meaning of the Novus Ordo priest’s existence and robs the people of a vital importance to attend an empty memorial meal. (see: Michael Davies).
OK i guess you used to be Catholic. For now, you are a heretic if you pretend as you seem to, that the ordinary form of the mass of the Roman Catholic Church is not the Mass.
Seems we have Another Michael McDermott (UK) posting on this board (Some would opine that One is one too many… Ahem) – who Might be confused with the ‘genuine article. – who I personally hope to meet one day. Ahem.
Anywayyy… Perhaps Michael McDermott (UK) could use MM-2 or some other distinguishing moniker, at least to avoid the moniker (excrement deleted) regularly tossed at yours truly – just a thought.
Regardless… One of the regular questions I ask of All Grades where I substitute teach is what the meaning of “BC & AD” in regard to historical dating iss?
**and correspondingly BCE & CE – as befits a non Christian usage, albeit one still dated to the Birth of Jesus, even if they don’t recognize Him as The Christ)
Most get that BC = Before Christ.
(although the actual year may be a bit off, and is still subject to some debate after Pope Emeritus Benedict’s research)
However – the answer to AD is Almost Universally = “After Death”
Which is RONG!
AD = Anno Domini = Year of the Dominion of Our Lord & Savior Jesus the Christ.
Which explains the Non Christian preference for “common era & before common era”…
But shows a Glaring Hole in the Faith Formation of Most Catholic School Children, and a whole lot of Adults.
This is Not just a matter of Faith either – as Students may encounter Both types of Dating (from the Same Birth) – but not recognize the Difference, which is the Only Difference of Actual Importance.