Fr. Bob's Corner

Don Luigi, Mille Grazie e Arrivederci!

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There are a few other YouTube presentations on priests’ retreats. Some of you might be interested so I am posting the links. If I find any more, I will add to the list.

1) Diocese of Orange:

2) International Ars Retreat

I was reviewing the links on the parish website (bvmparish.com) when an article on John Allen’s widget caught my eye. The title read: “In Brazil, one catholic mass you will never forget.” Intrigued, I clicked for the full article which described in great detail a Mass celebrated in an old factory by a Padre Marcelo Rossi. After reading the article, I googled the the good Padre and confirmed that he was a household name across Brazil with super-star status and rock star events. And, indeed, every age group(male and female) was responding, as the article stated.

I’m posting some links on Padre Rossi so that you can see what is happening in Brazil. I suspect you will have mixed reactions as did the readers of John Allen’s article which I post here for you to read also. Here is one video of many that you can view to sense the flavor, and here is another link to several videos. If you want more just google. Before you watch anything, I suggest you read about John Allen’s experience.

What do I think you may ask? Well, I too have mixed reactions, and I am still pondering the great human need that bursts forth periodically in the church for moments of great spiritual emotion and celebration. Does it change lives? Like everything else it really depends on the individual. Is this the way to go? Personally, I think I’ve been there and done that in other ways, today I’m in a different place. Where are you , and what do you think?

Just Google Sister Louise Akers and see the uproar. Sister is a believer in women’s ordination in the Catholic Church, as many men and women are in this time of complex, ongoing, fast paced change. I guess there is one way of dealing with these confusing and difficult times, and that is forbidding and punishing people who disagree with you. It doesn’t usually seem the responsible and compassionate way, and it is likely to result in backlash and demoralization. There are no easy answers when one is in leadership, but when one is confronted with one of the key issues in our modern church, it would appear that this method should only be used as a last resort for very serious situations. I really don’t think this situation qualifies, and if it does, I think millions of Catholics at nearly every level of leadership in the Church would need to be banned, removed, silenced. Here are the headlines in Lebanon Ohio’s  Western Star:

How do you reward a Catholic sister for nearly 40 years of service to the cause of peace and justice?

If you’re the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, you tell her to shut up.

This is what the Archbishop actually said:

“It is a bishop’s responsibility to provide authentic and orthodox Catholic teaching in his diocese. Persons who are not in accord with the teaching of the church should not expect to be allowed to teach catechetical leaders or others in the name of the church.”

“We don’t hire people to teach only infallible doctrine; we hire people to teach what’s in the Catechism of the Catholic Church,” he explained. “As a result, Sister Louise may not teach in the name of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati or at any venue for which the archdiocese is responsible.” (Catholic Telegraph)

I’m glad I’m not a bishop, it is challenging enough being a parish priest in this day and age when so many issues are being debated – and opinions abound. But, I wonder at the action of Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk who barred Sister Akers from teaching catechetical leaders and others in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. Maybe, this is the way he felt in conscience he had to deal with it, but I am left wondering and thinking in my own conscience that there has to be a better way. In the long run I believe an action like this does far more harm than it does good. People learn to fear and whisper when this type of reprimand take place – nothing really gets resolved, feelings get hurt, people of faith become scandalized, some shut-up, others get louder, the debate continues, etc…! And, let us remember, this is not an infallible doctrine of the church, as the archbishop has pointed out in his above comment.

Thomas Merton the Monk who was called by some the Conscience of the Peace and Civil Rights Movements in the 60′s, died in Asia while studying East-West relations, and the religions of the east. He was one of the great Catholic Spiritual writers of his day, and his books are still found on the shelves of many modern bookstores. I mention him in the context of what is happening in Quebec and the new compulsory religious education program. One parent commenting on the recent court decision to forbid parents opting out said, “As a parent, I have a duty and say in what my young child/grandchild learns about religion; that they be taught their own faith and not be confused by other religions. I am a Christian because I believe my faith to be true. I agree with the mother who did not see why her 7 year old son had to study Islam.” (Catholic Register)

Thomas Merton and Vatican II fostered inter-religious dialogue and study, and I support the concept for many reasons, but mainly as an avenue to understanding The God who created all, and the need for all of us to respect the dignity of all. Fostering understanding and acceptance seems to be a role government should play in an effort to promote peace, but is this what is going on in Quebec? The Quebec Bishop’s seem to have adopted a wait and see attitude by declaring a three year moratorium on any position. Cardinal Marc Ouellet is not so sure, and has spoken out against the compulsory nature of the curriculum.

The Quebec courts are siding with the government’s religion course, and it now appears that the case is heading for the Supreme Court. Loyola High School parents have petitioned the courts to exempt them from teaching the curriculum because they are are a private, not a public school. It appears they will probably loose their case, if the recent court decision is reflective of the court’s leanings. Strangely enough the Catholic Register has identified a priest, Fr. Gilles Routhier, as one of the main expert witnesses for the Quebec Religion Course: 

“The decision relied heavily on the testimony of Fr. Gilles Routhier, who teaches theology at Laval University in Quebec, and who was called as an expert witness by the school board.
In an interview Sept. 1, Routhier said he testified according to texts of the Magisterium of the Catholic Church. He told the court the course did not violate religious freedom because it does not pressure students to believe in convictions they do not share.”

Personally, I find it difficult to understand how the Province of Quebec seems to have given up its Catholic roots, and is now imposing a government run religious ed. program. I wonder how comfortable most people are with the situation, or do they really care. If anyone knows, be sure to comment.

A Couple in the US (Jill and Kevin) along with a wedding party danced their way to the Altar this summer.
Chris brown is happy because they played his music. You Tube is delighted because 12 million people viewed the dance on the internet. NBC is happy because it became a big human interest story. The couple is happy because of all the publicity and they even made some money (it seems) from all the exposure. Everyone seems happy except (I suspect) Pastors who are being asked by young couples to allow similar dances to the Altar. I haven’t been asked, and I don’t think I will be,  but if anyone is thinking of posing the question, please be kind and forget about it. Anyway you might as well view this spectacle – just continue reading. I’ve posted the Video.

A Canadian delegation from Development and Peace, the Canadian Bishops, and The Catholic Women’s League Of Canada are determined to put AFRICA ON THE MAP. For too long Africa has been ignored and they are determined to do something about it. For more information visit: Here