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THE WINTER OF OUR DISSIDENCE (I’ve got something in my eye, darn it!) by Kelly Clark — the lady in the pew — April 11, 2003 Bear with me if this article seems a little blurred, will you? There’s something in my eye that doesn’t seem to want to go away. Anyway, here goes nothing. Ahem. Like you, my prayers are with the troops and civilians in the war zones our little planet seems to be peppered with, and like you, I’m praying for peace. But ya know? When it comes to “weapons of Mass destruction,” all I’ve got to do is look around my little corner of the world known as Boston, USA. “Mass” destruction? Well, yeah. Or at least, attempts to do so. Check out “Voice of the Faithful’s™” Mass Guidelines, for example, and you might wonder whether you’re reading liturgical suggestions or a really bad remake of “Saturday Night Fever.” Then there’s what seems to be the invalidation of the Blessed Sacrament by the Priest of the Beautiful People out in the oh-so-tony Newton. They have a “bread making ministry,” you know — look out, Dunkin’ Donuts™! Speaking of sacraments, I understand my friends in Waltham, Massachusetts enjoy a “new” way to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. You just write your sins on a piece of paper, which a priest may or may not read. Then you simply toss the paper in a conveniently placed bonfire, and — as my British uncle twice removed might say — “Bob’s y’er uncle!” Gee. I’d write more along this same vein, but , you know what? My eye’s tearing up again. Maybe we can take a look at: Mass Dissension Dissension, disobedience, whatever you want to call it, it’s alive and well and living not just here in the People’s Republic of Boston, but across the fruited plain, according to my fellow pew denizens. A few Orwellian moments have included:
I’d cite further examples, but, again, something’s making it hard for me to see very well. Still, maybe we can focus a bit on: “Catholic” Charities (or what part of “no” is incomprehensible?) Apparently not learning much of a lesson by narrowly getting away with (and I’m so tempted to say “literally”) murder last year when it was revealed that a Big Shot at Boston’s “Catholic” Charities moonlighted as an abortion facilitator, this week the agency thumbed its nose at Bishop Lennon, selling out for a pittance: $35 grand from a very determined “Voice of the Faithful™.” My friend Deal Hudson of Crisis Magazine opines that this action on the part of “Catholic” Charities helped “legitimize” the dissident group. I dunno. I’m thinking that the action might’ve “de-legitimized,” still further, the supposed “Catholic” agency. Who’s to say who’s right? Maybe it doesn’t matter. But the whole episode did bring out some interesting comments: From the agency’s vice chairman, Peter Meade, regarding Bishop Lennon’s directive not to accept money from the trademarked dissident group: “This isn’t about power or politics, but about feeding the hungry and clothing the naked.” C’mon, Peter! The whole dog-and-pony-show had everything to do with power and politics — the power sought by the “Voice of the Faithful™” leadership, and their political maneuverings to obtain it. You know it, I know it, all God’s children, “faithful” and otherwise know it, so could be please kindly cut the flapdoodle? From Jim Post, resident “Voice of the Faithful™” bigwig: [The bishop’s directive to refuse the $35 grand] “violates the Lenten imperative of almsgiving.” Gee, Jim, you couldn’t have perverted the “Lenten imperative” any more effectively if you’d tried! From the Gospel I presume you heard on Ash Wednesday (and for my friends in Newton, Wellesley, and other posh suburban Boston environs, “Ash Wednesday” marks the beginning of the season we call “Lent”): “When you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret.” You guys known darn well that you could’ve easily donated to Catholic Charities or any other organization, worthwhile or not, by simply doing it as individuals — without all the attendant trumpet blowing and self-congratulatory hooey. Sheesh, if you faithful folk pat your collective backs any harder, I fear for your shoulder sockets. And, an understandably troubled head of “Catholic” Charities, Doctor Joseph Doolin, requests: “Please pray for unity in our seriously fractured local Church.” You know? I’d like to accede to Doctor Doolin’s specific — and I believe altogether sincere — request. But I’m kinda wondering: What price “unity?” If “unity” means that we all join hands and “accept” each other’s “differences of opinion,” then I’m not sure that’s an appropriate gift to ask the Almighty. While I understand that Jesus wants us to love each other as brothers and sisters, nothing I’ve read or heard about our Savior indicates that He’s a cream puff! On the contrary. The reading that keeps running through my mind comes from 10 Matthew 34-37: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-on-law against her mother-in-law; and one’s enemies will be those of his household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” So, while “unity” might be a noble aspiration, it seems to me we should consider what kind of “unity” we’re contemplating here. I’d like to dwell on this knotty issue a bit more, but gee, this crazy thing in my eye is driving me, well, crazy! “Uh, Kelly? Maybe some Visine™ might help?” Thanks, but I don’t think so. See, the thing I’ve got in my eye turns out to be the proverbial plank. You know, as in: “Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, `let me remove that splinter from your eye,’ while the wooden beam is in your eye? You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.” (7 Matthew 3-5) So there you have it. As Holy Week quickly approaches, my loving Lord has been gracious enough to bop me over my often times judgmental head with a beam almost as big as the one in my eye! God willing, I’ll use this precious time He has given me to take a good, long, look at my sins, and, even more important, repent of them, receiving His blessed absolution. Because then, and only then, will I obtain the graces necessary to see the specks in the eyes of my brothers in Christ. With my own eyes unhindered by the planks of sin. Thank you for taking the time to read this humble missive. May these Holy Days fill you with God’s peace, remove all your pain and anxiety, and restore you, and me, and the entire Body of Christ to complete health in mind, body, and soul. In the Triumph of the Cross, and in His Resurrection,
Kelly Clark And now for the fine print: Kelly Clark is your basic nobody. She serves on no parish councils, belongs to none of the myriad of designer-chic "Catholic" groups, or any Catholic group, for that matter, other than the Roman Catholic Church. Holding no theology degrees, she has no desire to see herself or any of her sex wearing a clerical collar. She figures Jesus knew what He was doing when He established His Church, and also figures that it’s His Church, not hers, and not yours. She’s an ordinary parishioner of Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Boston. Use the links on the left to e-mail Kelly, to visit her parish, read past columns, and check out other cool stuff. (If you don’t see any links on the left, you’ve probably been directed here by a search engine. Just point your browser to http://www.pewlady.com to get to the main site.) Copyright: Kelly Clark, 2003. I don’t care if you share this stuff with others. In fact, I hope you do! Only I’d appreciate it if you’d link me, or print it off as it is. In other words, don’t change anything. Thanks. “The Lady in the Pew” column is updated regularly, God willing. To be notified of updates, please e-mail me. The link’s on the left. “Mary, Queen of Peace, pray for us. Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us.”
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