BIG DOIN’S IN BIG D

(is "holiness" on the agenda?)

With the bishops about to convene in Dallas this upcoming week to discuss ways of handling the "crisis in the Church," I’ve been exposed to some pretty interesting perspectives on what the "crisis" actually is all about.

"What?" you may exclaim incredulously. "It’s about sexual abuse by priests!" you may assert confidently, having religiously read your Boston Globe and New York Times.

Nope. Not from what I’ve been hearing, reading, and seeing.

And from a rather unlikely source: the "Voice of the Faithful" web-site.

This you’ve gotta see, folks. Not so much the home page...check it out, of course, but it’s pretty much the VOTF "Church R Us" stuff. (Which, since the Wellesley, Massachusetts folk are shelling out the bucks for the pricey site, makes sense.)

But I highly recommend the groups "Message Board" area. It’s worth the trip. You have to register to post, but not to read. Registration is free and doesn’t require any commitment, so (the operative word for me being "free") I’ve registered and have posted.

What’s been a revelation to me simply this: the message boards, sponsored by a group that claims it "owns" the Church, are liberally peppered with thoughtful, orthodox Catholic commentary. It’s pretty terrific (albeit perhaps not quite so comfortable for the poor VOTF folk who got stuck with the hapless jobs of "Board Monitors.")

I’ve read posts from people who are concerned with issues such as liturgical abuse, disrespect for human life, priests who tend to thumb their noses at the magisterium, and more.

And from my own mailbag...

Hey, I never believed writing this column would win me any popularity contests among those Who Would Take Back Their Church. So, it’s hardly surprising to get mail suggesting precisely what I can do with my column. (Suffice to say, these suggestions seem pretty darn uncomfortable, if not physically impossible, if you get my meaning.)

But I was rather surprised to hear from people who are far more concerned with what they view as a "lack of holiness" in their own parishes, and throughout the Catholic Church.

Some snippets from other folks in The Pews:

“My daughter and I went to Mass at [parish reference deleted] on our way to Minnesota last summer. It was like a protestant service. The, uh...pardon the expression, priest, who was carefully coifed and very full of himself, left out the Gloria AND the Creed.”

And:

“The Globe piece today seems to indicate all they're [the bishops] going to discuss is the scandal. The lack of holiness in the Church today is their failure and a root cause of the scandal. If all they'll do is throw out the abusers, which they should do, they'll simply be arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.”

I’ve heard from people ­ in the Archdiocese of Boston, mind you ­ who tell me about priests "making up" the Eucharistic Prayers. "Confirmation Coordinators" who are pro-choice and have no qualms about preaching their message. Young children receiving The Most Precious Blood carelessly and with little concern about spillage because it "makes them feel a part of the whole thing."

Sheesh.

But the Numero Uno overriding concern I’ve heard in the past few weeks boils down to this:

"Father Doesn’t Want to Offend Anybody."

It seems a mortal fear grips the hearts of many a parish priest these days. Fear of the eternal fires of Hell? No. Fear of Sin? Uh-uh. Fear of offending Almighty God? Nah.

Fear of offending The Laity? As we say in the Catholic Church: BINGO!

Let’s take a peak at the Voice of the Faithful "Healing Mass" Model. Keep in mind that this Mass was celebrated in their Wellesley parish church during the Easter Season:

I quote:

"As you enter the church, you are invited to be signed with ashes. As a sign of our unity in sorrow. As a sign of our unity in faith."

From the same liturgy, after the Prayers of the Faithful:

"[Name] goes to altar, retrieves folded altar cloth, and drapes it over the cross as is done on Good Friday."

Huh? I’m no liturgist, but ashes and a draped cross during Easter? What were the concelebrants thinking of?

"But, but...the laity, they’re ticked, we can’t get ‘em madder..."

Sure ya can, Padre!

Hey, I understand that popularity is a nice thing. But you know what’s an even nicer thing?

Helping your flock gain Eternal Salvation...it beats popularity any day.

I don’t particularly need my pastors to make me "feel good." I might act as if I do. That’s because I’m a horrible, wretched, miserable, prideful sinner. Your assignment, if you choose to accept it and it looks pretty much as if you have, is to separate me, as best as you can, from my sinful ways.

This does not require you to allow me to re-write the liturgy. This does not require you to look the other way when I show up at Mass to proclaim the Word of God dressed in short and a halter top.

This does not require you to "adlib" the Canon, so that I feel somehow "included."

"What is required?"

Well, again, I’m a sinner, but since you ask? It requires first of all, a complete dedication to holiness...your own and mine.

When I venture into sinful waters, at least tell me about it! Don’t sit there fidgeting, scared to death I might "take offense" at your, well, your pastoral concern. Just show the bleepin’ pastoral concern!

Are you afraid I might withhold money from the collection plate? Well, gee. On that Big Day we all look forward to, fearfully, I’m thinking probably Jesus won’t ask for a parish financial balance sheet. And I doubt He’ll seek letters of recommendation from your parish council members.

Here’s a suggestion from the Lady in the Pew:

While the bishops are pow-wowing in Big D, why not instruct your flock to pray. One intention blasts into mind right about now...how about praying for the gift of holiness?

Holiness. Seems like a great start to me. And I sure hope it’s on the bishop’s agenda.