AmChurch and Stockholm Syndrome

Catholic Exchange ^ | July 6, 2005 | Mark Shea

[NYer]

Welcome to St. Joan of Arc's in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the quintessential "AmChurch" parish.

Aren't We Enlightened?

See Happy Pastor Rev. George Wertin profiled by an adoring parishioner on their Web site. He's a courageous rebel who "loves the cutting edge." Quotable quote: "He talked about loving Rome and his repeated visits to Italy — I asked him, 'Could you say, all roads lead to Rome?' He said, 'Yes, but not necessarily to the Vatican.'" Har har. The Old Guy in Rome is a joke, of course. He's not In Touch and Aware like Padre is.

Hear the Baby Boomer "History Begins and Ends with Us" story of Vatican II ("The excitement was tangible in those days and he says he knew he 'was witnessing history being made' during the years of John Kennedy and Pope John the twenty-third.")

See the self-congratulation: "We are 'not a parish just trying to protect ourselves and taking care of our own souls and being a holy and pious people — but a people involved and caring.'" (Being involved and caring, you see, is the opposite of holiness and piety.)

See the Enlightened Reading Selections full of Deep Insight for Thoughtful People:

- John Dominic Crossan, who informs us the body of Jesus was eaten by wild dogs.

- "The ministry of Jesus was first and only a social ministry."

- "Eisler takes us way back to the time of Goddess worship."

- "With the advent of a male god and the creation of the world's major religions we moved into a time, and continue to be in that time, of domination."

Aren't We Fabulous?

It's a beehive of activity at St. Joan's. No pro-life work, adoration, or ordinary Christian prayer, of course. But there is the neo-pagan eco-spirituality task force, the ingenious readings from Anne Morrow Lindbergh or somebody named Megan McKenna substituted for Scripture during Mass, the weekly guest homilist, the Hatha Yoga in the sanctuary, the staff bursting with gay pride, the mission statement indistinguishable from a Unitarian committee on Spelling Reform for Guatemala, the lectures asking "Is Jesus God?" with the refreshingly straightforward condescension of the apostate:

Our tradition teaches that Jesus was God come down to make up for and overcome this inaccessibility. Jesus "won back" for us that which was lost due to Original Sin. Jesus, therefore, has to be more than human...for if He is not actually God, then we are not really saved.
But the images of our childhood can no longer always work within our faith. The Roman Catholic "institutional leadership," however, continues to uphold these images.

And let's not forget the Confirmation graduates who boast that their faith is "a mix of Eastern Religion and Christianity. My beliefs and I have found a home. I am so proud that I was confirmed at SJA!'"

"So proud." Indeed, what comes through loud and clear is the clubby, suburban, back-slapping, "aren't we fabulous?" pride of the enterprise. It hits precisely the same notes as the gushy, lionizing, "Behold the Future of the Church!" puff pieces that were done on child molester Paul Shanley by his NewChurch adorers in the 1980s.

Stockholm Syndrome

But when the day comes when the parishioners are betrayed by somebody like Shanley who holds the Tradition in as much contempt as they do, they have nothing to fall back on but the clubby, suburban, back-slapping twaddle that passes for Catholic Faith in parishes like St. Joan's. And so, in a weird manifestation of Stockholm Syndrome, the victims go on parroting what they were taught by their betrayers ("Celebrate homosexuality! The Da Vinci Code is Scripture! Welcome the Goddess!") and never even know that the people who betrayed them also robbed them and sold their Catholic birthright for a pot of message. Indeed, any suggestion that the Tradition might in fact liberate the Church from the lies of those, like Shanley, who despise the Tradition is greeted with hoots by the betrayed. After all, they have Outgrown All That. Thus do the hostages make war on Jesus, their rescuer.

[NYer]

Mark Shea is Senior Content Editor for Catholic Exchange. You may visit his website at www.mark-shea.com check out his blog, Catholic and Enjoying It!, or purchase his books and tapes here.

[NYer]

Check out the web site .... These are comments from one of George's parishioners.

PARTY FOR GEORGE

Friday evening June 24, 2005 was the first event kicking off a weekend of parties at St. Joan of Arc to celebrate Father George Wertin’s 13 years as Pastor.

The man himself, Father George Wertin arrived between 7 and 7:30. I was fortunate enough to be outside when he strolled up. I got my hug and my glow when he called me “Dear Heart” which is what he usually calls me. I almost cried. I’ll miss that.

[Jaded]

Just ick.

[Romish_Papist]

Please tell me this wingnut is part of a splinter "church" or I'm going to be sick.

[american colleen]

Good morning!

Did Fr. Wertin get reassigned?

And why are the sycophants nearly always women in their 40s and 50s?

Good piece by Mark Shea, thanks for posting it.

[american colleen]

PS. Was just wondering whether these chicks are nuns?

;-)

[AnAmericanMother]

Oh, ick! That website is SO creepy.

Just looking around (from between the fingers covering my face) I noticed in one biography that one of those "ladies" was baptized at SJA but her parents left "for a less radical church". She is "so glad I found my way back to SJA." All the biographies talk about the womens' "Peace and Justice" activities . . . nothing about prayer or vocations or worship . . .

Ick. Ick. Ick.

At least old George is retiring. If the bishop knows what's good for him, he'll send this crowd somebody a little less loony.

On the other hand, maybe the bish figures that it's best to have all the loonies in one parish rather than scattered around. He can keep an eye on them at SJA, and he doesn't have to worry about them infecting others. . .

[Malacoda]

Looking at the front page of their weekly bulletin, Fr. Wertin maight be a "Friend of Dorothy."

He certainly loves his little poodle. :P

I wish the American Catholic Church would just split from Rome, and have done with it. This liberal, CINO claptrap is nauseating.

[american colleen]

Low Christology? These guys are today's gnostics.

I always wonder about poodle people. ;-)

[Malacoda]

"Debunk those [Catholic precepts]that can't be supported by intelligent reasoning?"

I hope the Pope ZOTS the ever-loving heck out of this church! Good grief!!

[Malacoda]

(Sorry for the double.)

Has their Bishop or Cardinal not seen any of this? Where's the official Holy Smackdown??

[Jaded]

I thought that in the picture of him holding a host, the host looked like pita bread.

[marshmallow]

Advent Retreat- St. Joan's Style

[marshmallow]

Fr. Wertin is as camp as a row of tents, as they say.

If he isn't a shirtlifter, I'm a Dutchman.

[TheSpottedOwl]

Idiots! It's rather odd that the parish that caused me to quit attending church, was also known as St Joan of Arc.

I've posted this before, but I'll repost the incident that caused me to quit attending church services, for the newbies ; )

The last time I attended church, Father jogged up the main aisle, and the congregation cheered, "Hi Father Bob". He hollered back at them. The service was a joke. I came to the conclusion that I had committed more blasphemy in that hour, than I would in a normal month. I actually call that church, "St Joan On Crack". Unfortunately, none of the other churches are much better, and I don't do long distance drives because of health reasons these days.

I should have known years before, when I tried to enroll my 2 eldest daughters in CCD. I reviewed the course, and was troubled by several things which I considered heresy. I spoke with a "nun" on the phone, and she accused me of being a troublemaker, and hung up. My bf is Jewish, maybe I'll convert. At least you have options with Judaism....

That pic looks like a bunch of elderly party hounds on a singles cruise. Bah!

[TheSpottedOwl]

Nice. Not. I remember trying to mimic the grownups when I went to Mass. It was in Latin, and I wasn't even tall enough to see above the pews...I had to stand on the kneelers. Then the wrecking ball known as Vatican II struck, and now we have balloons and party favors : (

[Loyalist]

What is it with parishes named St. Joan of Arc that drives them insane?

The most heterodox parish in Toronto is also St. Joan of Arc. And that's saying something!

I guess we can add another rule of thumb: never attend a parish named John XXIII or St. Joan of Arc.

[dsc]

"Ick. Ick. Ick."

Don't think I can improve on that, but it bears repeating.

[dsc]

Parn my iggernunce, but what's a "shirtlifter?"

[dsc]

"Debunk those [Catholic precepts]that can't be supported by intelligent reasoning?"
"I hope the Pope ZOTS the ever-loving heck out of this church! Good grief!!"

Some there are who presume so far on their wits that they think themselves capable of measuring the whole nature of things by their intellect, in that they esteem all things true which they see, and false which they see not. Accordingly, in order that man’s mind might be freed from this presumption, and seek the truth humbly, it was
necessary that certain things far surpassing his intellect should be proposed to man by God.

Thomas Aquinas