Tag Archives: holy orders

Delayed Reaction

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This morning someone commented on an entry I posted July 31.

“Dude, you were raised lutheran, you were an agnostic and now you think you’re like, what, the pope’s right hand man? Take it from this cradle catholic and quit judging people. Don’t think you can just crash the party and start playing the records that you want. I was an altar girl when I was in school and now they’re saying that women have to know their place? Excuse me, but I don’t have to agree to that.

You so funny. Ooh, heresy! Let’s burn ’em at the stake! Sorry, dude, but we left the inquisition behind. Why don’t you warm up with a little social justice work instead?”

– Deb

What was I writing about that could rile Deb so?

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Break From Politics

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I’ve had far too much about politics here of late, so here’s something Church-related.

A yet-to-be released report to the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC) has found that 55% of priests in Australia believe that optional, rather than obligatory celibacy would be appropriate for priests in the Catholic Church. A further 16% of priests said that obligatory celibacy has had a negative impact.

….

The finding that 71% of respondents have a negative view of the obligation of celibacy is in accord with recently released work from overseas. Last week in the United States, a 53 diocese study revealed that 67%

I’m not opposed to a married order of priests, but I wouldn’t want celibacy made optional across the board. I count priests among the “eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven” in Matthew 19:12.

How do you folks feel about this? Do you agree/disagree with the respondents? Why?

It’s Official

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The Anglican Church has jumped the shark.

Anglican Church agrees to reality-TV program ‘Priest Idol’

The Anglican Church in England has jumped into the fray of reality TV in the hopes of reviving a dying church.

The Church of St. Mary Magdalene, Lundwood in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, has a congregation of only nine, mainly aging, regular worshippers. It hopes that by participating in a new reality TV program on Channel 4, called Priest Idol, it will be able to attract a new vicar who can fill up the church pews.

Real Men

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A New Breed of Priest; My Kind of Priest

In general, … the “John Paul priests” are less supportive than older colleagues of optional celibacy, women priests, the democratic elections of bishops and greater lay leadership, according to numerous surveys. They show less tolerance for dissent against church teachings. And they are more apt to favor greater use of Latin prayers, special vestments, bells and other traditional touches to restore a sense of sacredness to the liturgy ….

Pray that more good young men like these join the priesthood.

Idiot Box

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Churches Go Commercial To Spread Their Message
TV Campaigns Bring Denominations to Homes
By Alan Cooperman, Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, July 11, 2004; Page A01

"What burst into the Cleveland marketing executive's head that night in January 2002, however, was not a message from the Almighty. It was a slogan for a television advertising campaign. Beginning this fall, the United Church of Christ plans to spend $30 million to promote itself using the line that came to Buford in his sleep — 'God is still speaking' — to reflect its willingness to reinterpret the Bible and embrace such innovations as same-sex marriage and openly gay ministers."

I just love this:

The Episcopal Church, for example, has faced an insurrection by conservative parishes since its ordination of a gay bishop in New Hampshire last year. But marketers see an opportunity.

"Among 20- to 30-year-olds, everybody's heard of the gay bishop. And in focus groups, the words that keep coming up are that we are a 'progressive,' 'open' and 'nonjudgmental' church," said Daniel B. England, the church's director of communication.

Progress requires a goal to be meaningful. An open mind is like an open trap – it's only useful when it closes on something. Nonjudgemental, in this context, really means unwilling to discriminate between right and wrong.