“Religion is the opiate of the people.”

Karl Marx, 1844

“...a dysfunctional leadership has engendered a dysfunctional laity. The two are co-dependent addicts.”

Anthony Massimini, a few days ago

“VOICE OF THE FAITHFUL” GURU EQUATES DISAGREEMENT WITH HYSTERIA”

(which I kinda think is pretty hysterical)

The Lady in the Pew: September 27, 2002

Anthony Massimini, the darling of the beautiful people who want to change the Catholic Church, has a rather interesting take on people who, apparently Against All Reason, have problems with the group’s leadership, activities, and philosophy.

We’re bonkers.

In a e-mail to VOTF members commenting on recent criticism directed toward the group, the ex-priest wrote:

“ My experience as a psychotherapist reveals that we are dealing with an outburst of hysteria. Another way of looking at it is that a dysfunctional leadership has engendered a dysfunctional laity. The two are co-dependent addicts. The smallest hint of normalcy throws them all into a panic.”

Co-dependent addicts. Gee, maybe that explains why I feel deprived if I don’t receive Holy Communion every day! I’m addicted to Christ!

Consider Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan of Vietnam, who died early last week. Father Van Thuan spent thirteen years in a communist prison — nine of them in solitary confinement — simply because he was a Catholic priest.

Remarkably, Father Van Thuan celebrated Mass every day while imprisoned, using small bits of bread and wine smuggled in by sympathetic (and eventually converted) guards.

I guess to Massimini and his crowd, Cardinal Van Thuan’s behavior exemplifies that of an extreme addict...and is about as far removed from “normalcy” as one can get! And what would they call the converted guards: “enablers?”

(As you can see, I’m as up on my psychobabble as the next guy!)

But don’t worry, fellow addicts: there’s hope for us yet!

As the ex-padre explains:

“VOTF is actually developing a contemporary spirituality — of an adult and mature, prayerful and discerning relationship with God, and of spiritually informed and energized prophetic action within the church and society.”

Now if you’re anything like me, your immediate reaction to the above paragraph can be summed up in one word:

“Huh?”

Ah, but, have some patience, o’ panicky pals!

The guru continues:

“This may be contrasted to the devotional piety that the bishops preach and that most of the laity practice, e.g., the rosary and other devotions to Mary, devotions to the saints, Masses for Reconciliation, etc. These, of course, are all good, but they can keep the laity immature and passive. An immature and passive laity can easily be frightened and even panicked by VOTF's mature, active spirituality.”

And there you have it, my cracked companions!

Massimini deems, in his infinite wisdom (to say nothing of his maturity!) that the Rosary is okay, but it, alas, keeps us “immature.”

Amazing. I’ve know for years, of course, that maturity wasn’t exactly my strong suit. But who knew that praying the Rosary was the culprit all along? And how about those “devotions to the saints?” You priests who insist on praying the Roman Canon had better take heed! According to the gospel of Massimini, naming all those saints might very well be stunting your congregation’s growth!

This, by the way, might explain why you never see images or even the mention of the Blessed Mother (who happens to bear the title “Mother of the Church,” for pete’s sake) or of the saints on any VOTF output. God forbid they should allow these people to infect them with that accursed “immaturity!”

The proffered Massimini solution: (insert drum roll here):

“I suggest that Voice organize a group of theologians and canon lawyers, e.g., from Boston College and elsewhere, and have them write short, easy to read papers on various topics that pertain to Voice's mission. These could be put on the web site for the information and education of all Voice members.”

Perfect! Get some B.C. “experts” to write little primers, preferably using one or two syllable words so the maturity-challenged among us (and apparently among the VOTF clan) can actually read them.

I can see it now: “See Jane Get Ordained.” “Father Dick Gets Hitched.” “Horton Hears The Holy Spirit.”

And of course, the soon-to-be-classic: “The Grinches in the Hierarchy,” and “The Cat in The Cardinal’s Hat.”

Sheesh.

Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us!

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 so 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.

“The Lady in the Pew” column is updated every Friday, God willing.