http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=48589 I thought this was a great insight from someone who read the article about a priest who was excommunicated for promoting women priests...: "xyz...if anyone is sending the message to women that they are "not good enough ", it is being sent by those promoters of ordination for women! Do you mean to tell me that just because I cannot be a priest I'm of less value in the eyes of God? Sounds weird, but I entered the Catholic Church from the Assembly of Wicca, ultimate of feminine practices. Yet even their women clergy call themselves priestesses, not priests! I never heard a Wiccan Priestess complain because they couldn't be a priest! Bizarre how these Catholic Sisters whine over the one thing that they can't have, like children denied candy before dinner. Maryknoll is always recruiting for work in foreign missions. Oh, but wait, they don't want to "serve ". They want the title. By their aggressive nature they give proof of the lack of humility demanded of the priesthood. And, for the record, I have never been treated as a lesser person by anyone in the church, nor do I think of myself as one!"
I would agree with what is written above. I cannot understand Catholic woman who promote this. Where I go to Mass, there seems to be a few women who have attached themselves very strong to the Church Council, who promote the removal of all words which (they view) as gender biased. So, the Creed, for example, is recited without the word “men”, in case these women are offended. The rest of us of course, include the word very loudly…we are Irish after all. I find the whole ethos of women who demand such nonsense to be rather pathetic, to be honest. They always seem to me to be so unhappy in their own gender that the rest of us women, who are not, should pay. The writer above is correct though – there is such a lack of humility in their stance that it is the first thing noticed. Somewhere I read a post from another poster asking for prayers for a nun she knew, who was really on the wrong track. I have been praying for that nun, but reading the above, I think I will have to pray for a lot more of them.
I notice in Clonard Monastery that the Liturgy is subtly altered. I am unsure if it is the Minsiters of the Word who are out with the scissors or if it is the clergy themselves. Its frightening. I think really only God can save us, its got so bad. The level of Rebellion ow is everywhere even among people we would normally think of as, 'Good' Catholics. It's true at root its lack of humility, of the obedience that bows the head to proper authority. So many have become their own Popes..and proud and arrogant, intolerant Popes at that...
I have copied the below comment from a Catholic blog, I would have been very shocked a few years ago but having heard that recently retired Irish bishop, Willie Walsh, felt unsure that there is an afterlife, not much shocks me now. "I heard this story from a very holy Catholic monk a few years ago. He used to attend mass every day in his parish in Belfast. One day the parish priest asked him ,after mass, if he would like to come back to the Parish House for a cup of tea as there was a question he wanted to ask. When they were settled the Parish Priest said, ‘Frank you look like an intelligent man, I wanted to ask you if you believed in God?’ Frank was, naturally shocked and asked the priest if he did not believe.The Parish Priest shook his head.‘No I haven’t believed in many years , I can’t imagine how anyone with any sense could believe in it, it is complete nonsense , like believing in fairies. So when I see you at mass every day I was curious about it’. Frank asked his priest how he could continue in his vocation. The priest replied that he considered himself a kind of social worker doing what good he could. He went on to point out that he got a good living out of it and was unsure what he would do if he left the priesthood at his age? In another case I heard from a young man who was thinking about becoming a priest. The Vocations Director told him, ‘When you become a priest you will need two books, the bible and your bank book’, (meaning there can be a lot of money .in being a priest). This the priest in question would have known since he had inherited three farms from different parishioners who died." I have personally read the account of a relative of a Catholic priest who, the relative said, became a priest only because it gave him the opportunity to change people's attitude to social matters and that he had absolutely no belief in the spiritual world. The wolves are definitely in the sheepfold,we need to watch out for these 'pretend priests'.
PS I have just noticed that it was Padraig who posted this on the blog I quoted!! A small world (excuse me for editing the spelling, Padraig!)
I know things have gotten bad within our church with priests and such. The sad stories of priests above just reinforces this. But...soon enough men who were inspired by Pope John Paul to become priests will be coming of age...these are the good, strong shepherds who will help lead the flock through the coming events. these are the men who signed on to be priests after all the scandals...they knew what they are signing up for will be very difficult and yet they answered God's call. So let's pray for all of them!
Padraig, This seems to be happening in my local Church too. I cannot understand why they keep trying to change the words of the Mass. I am not sure though who is responsible. Anyway, when I feel I need to be centered again, I take myself off down to Harrington Street church for the 10.30 a.m. Mass on Sunday. they follow the Novo Ordo (I hope that is right), but the Mass is in Latin. The Priest speaks from the Pulpit. the number of young Priests who officiate at the Mass is staggering. Their command of Latin is staggering. Of course, the Mass is packed to the rafters. Its a joy to be there. Everyone takes Communion kneeling on the tongue. There are no Ministers of the Eucharist or Ministers of the Word....it is all Priests - and young ones at that. I have to say that I personally like Ministers of the Eucharist - I think they do a great job. The only criticism I have of them (in my usual Church), is that they do not genuflect before the Tabernacle. A slight nod of the head seems to be the norm - and I find that irritating.
SteveD. This board is certainly changing me for the better. When I read your post above, the old me reacted immediately - I simply wanted to smack the Priest who saw himself as a social worker. How could he lead People to God if he didn't believe God existed. Then the new me took over and I realised that that Priest could be having a severe crisis of faith and may be trying to find his Faith again. It is Priests like him that I think now Our Lady keeps asking us to pray for.
"During the First Ecumenical Council of Nicea (AD 325), Arius was called upon to defend his position on the inferiority of Christ. Saint Nicholas just couldn't listen to all of Arius' nonsense and so he stood up and laid in to Arius with his fist." (Perhaps it's possible to be too patient! But prayer is probably to be preferred) http://cantuar.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/video-when-st-nicholas-punched-out.html
I think we must let ourselves be led bu the Holy Spirit as each situation presents itself. When we were young we got a very good religious education in school ( I mean primary school..what the Americans call grade school). One of the things we were taught was a little about Evangelisation). A little on how to approach people who do not believe. But more and more I realsie we cna do nothing, nothing, nothing at all without the Holy SPirit askig us and leading us to do it. It would be wonderful if everyone had ears to hear but many don't. Have you ever noticed how sometimes people can be covertly or overtly hostile to you for no apparent reason@ I think this is often because a bad spirit within recognises the good spirit within ourselves. I notice this again and again in talking to priests . THere can sometimes be the most bizarre unexpected reactions ; for instance a sudden change from freindliness to overt or covert hostility. It is as if something is crouching staring out at you from right behind their eyes. It is the more unexpected because a lot of these people like to pose as Liberal, enlightened , compassionate, sympathetic, open minded etc, etc etc and have the glad hand , the friendly smile , the understanding attitude to one and all. SO when this winks off and the scowl winks on it is a bit of a shocker. Evrything is fine until they realise that the eprson they are tlaking to will not be led by the nose. But it is more than that. We one of us stupid ; there is no such thing as a stupid person. So much is true. But there is more to it than that. What is inside them recognises what is inside you..and often doesn't like it. Strange and spookey indeed.
By mentioning priests in this context I don't wan to seem negative. Most priests are good and very holy, thank God. But may, many are not, ..and some are ,frankly working for the other side. I merely mention priests because when we discover the ones who are like this it can come as a gret shocker because in our innocense we jsut don't expect it. But lay people to ocan be, 'inhabited', like this. Of course they can. To illustrate this. There is a supervisor at work a lady I will call , 'Ruth'. Ruth behaviour is errattic and unpredicatable, One minute smiling and the next furious. She has a real reptutaion for beeing very, very nasty, right out of the blue. She is one of my supervisors in work. I have tried as much as I can to stay out of her road and keep my head down around her. However about three months ago I was talking to her and without thinkig I said, 'God bless you' on leaving her. Well it was like she had been shot with a gun. She kind of shot upright and siad, in a fury,, 'Don't you ever say, 'God bless to me!. I want nothing to do with your God!' Well as you imagine my stomach sank. I knew I had stirre dher up, or rather whatever was inside her and so it happened. She turned vicious and very nasty towards me, going out of ehr way to provke and hurt , to intimidate and bully and harass me, for no apparent reason. but of course I knew the reaosn. I had said , 'God bless you', and that which is inside her was in a rage. It ended on a high point. One day she threatend me. She said outright, 'I iam going to get you,,wait and see'. Well I ended up reporting her to the big boss for threatening me and she nearly got in big trouble. For the last couple of onths she has been quiet but onoy thorugh fear. But she , or whats inside her is waiting, waiting for a chance.. Jesus metnions all this when He said, 'be you innocent as doves, but subtle as the serpent'..and again when He said, 'Spem demons are only driven out by fasting and prayer'..and again when He siad, 'Cast not your pearls before swine'. Many Christians are really child like in their attitude to dealing with others. But after eyars in prayer we sould see with St Paul that we are, Ephesians 6:12 New International Version (NIV) 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ....and that we must get the neccessary tools to do the job right: Eph 6:10-17 (NIV) ...Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled round your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Padraig - keep a record of all incidents and threats - put a time and date on it in a little notebook. Even better if she sees you doing it. But I am serious - there are strong laws now against this kind of harassment but you need to be able to produce the evidence. It would also be good if others would do it as well. But prayer is the best weapon
So true. It's the 'right on' 'everybody's friend' type priest who seem most uncomfortable to be faced with someone who shows signs of actual belief in the supernatural world. Ask a priest to bless a Rosary or medal and you will see from their reaction what type of priest they are. Some almost seem to squirm with discomfort, say a hurried blessing and can't wait to get away from you; the best smile broadly, hold the object with reverence and pronounce a beautiful blessing. A friend of mine was standing behind a young priest in a queue at Dublin airport and thought that he would ask for a blessing as they were both standing there doing nothing. He asked and then knelt down, the priest looked horrified, bent down and whispered in his ear, 'PLEASE don't do this to me'! Not a candidate for martyrdom if the need ever arises.
I used to work with a woman who made it quite clear that it was me or her (I had been promoted to be her supervisor and she didn't like it). I used to put holy water in her coffee behind her back! One day, I was asked to pass on some instructions to her which I did, perfectly pleasantly. She went to management and accused me of shouting at her and making excessive demands on her time and mocking her etc. I was called in and it seemed to me that they believed her. She spent several days smirking at me to indicate that this was just the start. Then a miracle! A manager from another department had been working behind a screen near us during the conversation that she had complained about (neither of was aware of this at the time). This woman heard about the accusation and contacted me and asked if I would mind if she reported what she had heard (me trying to be very pleasant to the accuser while passing on instructions). I said that I didn't mind at all, my accuser was called in 'read the riot act', emerged in tears and walked out, never to return! She was obviously a deeply unhappy woman and I pray for her.
You know th exacy same thing happened to me few years ago witha new lady who camedown to our Depatment. Her behavior turned irrational she badgered and tormented me unceasingly . Again I was reported for, 'Shouting' at her. I could have been in trouble but on night shift a couple of days later when no one was about I covered the floors of theplace with blessed salt and put a St Benedict medal under her hcair. She went of sick for three months a couple of days later. Like many others she was very deceptive, smiling very outgoing with a certin harisma. But when you listened carefully to her she was constantly gossiping , giving negative comments tearing people and things down. Erratic moods swings . asimmering anger, a restlessness, I could see certin people whom I respected where avoiding her or uncomfortable in her company. Prayer is our armour and sacramentals are our sword. Its seems tom e that being attacked in this way is the normal natural lot of the Christain. Our proper place is to hang on the Cross. If this were not so I suspect its then that we should worry. But sadly many Christians are not aware of this hidden realitiy and when they come across it are simply baffled and defenseless wondering unhappily what is happening.
I think sacramental and prayer must be our defense. The last line being fasting for stronger stuff. I bought a CHinese spy pen with camera and audio to record evidence. But got rebuked in prayer for lack of trust. It never worked. Prayer and sacramentals work just fine. Hoever if it had been a group...then I would have had mass said....
