According to the parish website, Father Rooney (the welcoming and inviting new inclusive Franciscan associate pastor at St. Rose) can be reached at rose114@adelphia.net .
I read the entire article (for once) and respond with a hearty, HUH? Whats the problem with what Petratos was doing?
It depends on the content of the letter.
If the letter reflected poorly on the new pastor, the bishop, or anyone else in the hierarchy, whether one agrees with its contents or not, it is a bit of bad form. Coming into a pastor's church and distributing a written document critical of him or his boss is certainly a reasonable reason to be asked to leave.
Even if the letter doesn't reflect poorly on the new pastor, or any of the hierarchy, one should obtain the permission of the pastor before passing out literature in church. I belong to my parish's Knights of Columbus Council, and we often pass stuff out after Mass. With the full and enthusiastic support of our wonderful pastor! However, we would never pass anything out without first running it by the pastor.
To do otherwise would be very rude.
bump for later
Dear Fellow Parishioners and Friends of St. Rose
It is with a broken heart and much regret that we write this letter to all of you. By now you have noticed the sad and rapid decline of our beloved parish since the forced removal of our pastor and especially since the new "pastoral" team has taken over. We are being quickly and systematically stripped of our customs, traditions and, more importantly, our sensitivities and spirituality. Our spirituality here at our precious St. Rose, has grown and developed naturally over a period of many decades, not a few years. It is a strong and vibrant spiritualiy deeply rooted in the ancient practices of our Church. We have nurtured beautiful liturgies, richly representing our faith and always in the light of the traditions of our forefathers. The addition of the Tridentine Mass was the culmination of decades of Spirit led, naturally evolving formation NOT a novelty. This addition was barely noticeable because our Novus Ordo (the "new" mass), was celebrated correctly, so very reverently, at times with chant and Latin and other customs maintained from our precious Roman Rite. When you add all that to the beautiful, insightful, intelligent and educational sermons given by Fr. Viall, the experience was truly moving and uplifting. Anyone who experienced the illicit travesties of this past Holy Week knows how obviously this is no longer the case.
This "pastoral" team, with no knowledge of whom and what we are, has set about to force their own brand of spirituality upon us. They certainly have every right to, and a place for their spirituality. It's called the Friary. We ALSO have a right to our own spirituality IN OUR OWN PARISH without being told that if we don't like it we can leave.
So many of us expressed such grief and frustration at being overlooked and dictated to , thinking there is absolutely nothing we can do. This is NOT the case. We are entitled to speak out even when not asked! We are entitled to be who we are even if it is not liked! We have built up this parish with our blood sweat and many tears and prayers. Thay have not. We have contributed to the financial upkeep and beautiful spirtiuality of St. Rose parish. They have not.
What they have done is hurt and offend many by letting people go without warning. Order the removal of Fr. Viall's name from the bulletin (contrary to custom and our wishes), and pass along decrees without any sort of dialogue whatsoever. You must have noticed the irony (or hypocrisy) of a "pastoral" team that supposedly lives "in community" and call each other "brother", dictating to us loly commoners from lofty thrones far out of state.
If you have been saddened and hurt by all this, if you are offended by the callous disregard for who and what we are, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not fund these actions with your precious very hard earned monies. I ask all of you to consider making the painful decision some of us have made and respectfully withhold your financial donations until these concerns can be addressed by the diocese and all of us here at St. Rose. If you feel the need, please return your evelope (without the monies) as a sign of our belief in a resolution.
We ask for your help in building a dialogue among all concerned parishioners with any time or suggestions in rectifying this situation. If you love St. Rose as much as I do, contact me, your fellow parishioner Robert, by e-mail or, if absolutely necessary by phone so we can begin the process of moving forward.
With love, respect and prayer,
Robert Petratos
exspressed@aol.com (intentionally misspelled)
So, he did what he should have, and the priest did what he should have. Now, the parishioner should continue organizing as best he can, but from off the parish property.
Some may protest that he should ask the priest before distributing literature on the parish grounds, but I know of no Church law to that effect, and the story does not tell us that the priest had issued some prior command to that effect, so I see no reason that the distribution of the literature was wrong. Maybe it contravenes the social mores of some, but that hardly makes it wrong.
patent
You can't pass out stuff on church grounds.
It gives the impression that the church has sponsored the pamphlets.
This would include political, social or even papers asking for contributions.
Simple politeness says you stop when asked to stop. I'm not sure why the cops were called. Sounds like overreach. However, Mr. Petratos should accept arrest meekly and pay his fine, and offer his suffering to the Sacred Heart in reparation for all the sins of blasphemy.
FYI: Once I objected to playing the organ for a hymn that lauded us "in our diversity"...the way I read it was that it was supporting homosexuality. So I walked out.
To this day I'm not sure it was right to make a fuss. Looking back, I should have pulled the "I can't play it...it's too hard" which is how I got around other stupid hymns... (e.g. gather us in, City of God, etc)
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Anthing new?
Hey my dad was called to tell you to leave twice my dad is a police officer. Your story of this man is a little in contrast. No offence I am sure this Petratos is a very holy person, but calling Father Rooney, A man who has devoted his life to the work of Almighty God, Father Dragqueen, was very out of line and disrespectful I am surprised my dad did not arrest him for disorderly conduct. I feel sorry for you that you do not have your way. The latin mass was very special but it is not up to you, I beleive that was only said by the other preists with special permission. May God Bless you, and please be nicer to people who give their lives to God they really do deserve to be respected a little,