Catholics drawn to lay group in Wellesley

The Boston Globe ^ | 5/1/2002 | Michael Paulson, Globe Staff

[american colleen]

You hit on a very good point. It's the same here on radio stations and even among most people I know... I'm amazed and saddened at the lack of knowledge that most Catholics have regarding the Catholic faith. And it isn't just the younger generation.

I wish we could direct them to a few of the threads here on FR, it sure helped me learn more about my faith "listening" to some of the posters.

[sinkspur]

"Who cares who the priests sleep with?" I heard one woman say. (That one still leaves me dumbstruck)

Well, as in the political arena, most of these people don't care about ANYTHING, and wouldn't come to a meeting of lay Catholics unless beer was involved.

I went to a couple of IBM stockholder meetings back in the early 90's when the company was losing money, and there were some angry people there who just wanted to have their say.

That's what I think is going on here. If Law had any guts, he'd have a townhall meeting and just let people vent. There'd be fewer people showing up at these VOTF meetings, although I don't think they're a bad thing at all. As with all groups, as time goes on, people lose interest until only the diehards are left, and they can be managed or marginalized.

[ventana]

Well, it is a great battle. In the end, some American Catholics will Dowdify the church, others will come to embrace the moderation Father Fessio discusses: restore certain aspects of the ancient mass Vatican Two left whole; restore a proper catechism, to instruct the faithful. The problem is, only a minority of laity may demand the immediate aforementioned. The majority may want to opt for Dowdification. V's wife.

[St.Chuck]

"Dowdify" is an excellent term.:o)

[american colleen]

In the absence of some ACTION by the American bishops or the Vatican, Americans, being people of action, rush to fill the void.

I also think you could say "In the absence of some ACTION by the American bishops or the Vatican, Americans, being a people of instant gratification, rush to fill the void."

The most important action has taken place, most, if not all of the homosexual priests that are violating children, have been removed. What remains, is how to deal with the victims, the vile priests and how to make sure that those type of priests are no longer permitted within our ranks. That doesn't require "changing the church", IMO.

[ventana]

:).

[american colleen]

If Law had any guts, he'd have a townhall meeting and just let people vent.

You are so right on this. He had a "listening" (barf alert, I'm as sick of that phrase as I am of "let the healing begin", etc.) session a few months ago but only the pastoral council of parishes were invited. I think there were a couple of thousand people there. But things have gotten so much worse - he needs to do something. I wish I had the minutes of that meeting, I think I threw them out. Anyway, most of the people who spoke were advocating changes in the church (modernization) that did not address the problems, IMO.

[St.Chuck]

You've hit the nail on the head. The Dowdifiers are taking advantage of this scandal to promote their agendas. To me, more involvement by the laity would include daily mass, weekly confession, the divine office, etc. But to the secularized church, more involvement means meetings, it means gaining control, it means augmenting change. The word " change" will forever remind me of Clinton's '92 campaign. A very negative conitation, in which change for its own sake resembles something virtuous. I doubt most Catholics are very knowlegable about what they propose to change. Yes, the American way is to react, take action, to immediately satisfy any need and dispel any discomfort. THe church, however, is much more patient and much more prudent. There will always be conflict when opposing paradigms engage one another.

[american colleen]

To me, more involvement by the laity would include daily mass, weekly confession, the divine office, etc. But to the secularized church, more involvement means meetings, it means gaining control, it means augmenting change.

It is definitely a control issue. When do we ever hear the word "obedience" anymore?

My priest is kind of liberal. During a homily he gave a few months ago, he addressed the mounting opposition and calls for resignation of Bernard Cardinal Law. I could see it pained him, but he told us that he took a vow of obedience to his Cardinal, and he wasn't going to break it and add to the cacophony of voices.

That said, I do know that he wrote the Cardinal and outlined some of the concerns of the parishioners.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

Paul Shanley has been arrested in California.

[Aquinasfan]

It is definitely a control issue. When do we ever hear the word "obedience" anymore?

Absolutely true. It's not like the tube-tied, vasectomied, indifferent-to-abortion, porn-watching laity isn't getting the hierarchy it deserves. Both the priests and laity need a wake-up call.