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As a postscript, I mention something that might be categorized as an abuse by the laity: parish-hopping. The Code of Canon Law provides that "The precept of participating in the Mass is satisfied by assistance at a Mass which is celebrated anywhere in a Catholic rite either on the holy day or on the evening of the preceding day" (1248, para. 1). Consequently, you can fulfill your Sunday obligation by going to a Mass anywhere. While your legal membership still remains in your local parish, the only times you are required to check in there are when you want to receive a special sacrament (e.g., marriage, confirmation) for which the priest needs the jurisdiction to administer. Nevertheless, if you flee your home parish when things get ugly, you are in a sense not living up to your responsibility as a lay person.

Pardon me? Liturgical abuses aside, sometimes you have to do it for spiritual survival. In the parish where I grew up, there is currently quite a bit of turmoil not due to liturgical abuse or scandal, but some really unjust stuff that's gone on, and there are people attending Mass at other parishes. Frankly, after hearing about all that's gone on - again, having nothing to do with liturgy or abuses - I'm shocked some of these people are still technically members of that parish.

We have a new pastor after 20 some years with the old pastor. It takes some getting used to—so far—not good. This priest begins every homily with a joke. I am very offended that he feels the need to tell a joke every single mass. I think I should just change parishes.

Pardon me? Liturgical abuses aside, sometimes you have to do it for spiritual survival.

You could try living where I do. I live very nearly between two parishes and was not entirely sure which parish ended where, and so did not know which I belonged to. I called each parish and talked to the secretaries and they both seemed amazed that there was such a thing as a geographical boundary to a parish. I was told to pick whichever I liked and go there. I then called the bishop's office and was told that there were no parish lines in this diocese because the Church no longer taught such a thing. I should pick a parish I liked and go there. So much for canons regarding marriage and so on.

Yup, we drive around 25 miles one way to go to our parish. Of course, we’ve been going there for 25 years now. Besides baptism, all my sacraments were made there, same with hubby. And our kids have been baptised there and will start with first communion this year.

Even though it’s in a different diocese, it’s our parish. And it was necesary for our spiritual protection.