Originally posted by kirksey957
You might print off a copy of this thread and nail it to the church door. That would be pretty funny.
This little piece of humour cheered me up greatly. Thanks 🙂
This is an extract of a letter I handed him a few hours ago, which he tore up in my face:
"Until that night I had not even considered the concept of ”Stages of Faith” in a conscience manner, if only for the reason it is a sub-conscious process, however in response to your question I believe that my faith is moving between the circles of Stage 4 and Stage 5. A presumptuous claim perhaps, but whilst sometimes I get tangled up in defining my role as an individual, as a husband and as a father, I know that there a many ways to see the world and whereas there is right and wrong, there is no black or white. I appreciate the logic of science but find the unexplained mysteries a greater fascination - a paradox I know, and I will always ask questions, but no longer do I do not need to know all the answers.
Would it be a fair question to ask what stage are you at on this journey of Faith? I know little of psychology so please do not consider this a personal attack, as I have said before I admire your passion and zeal, but my impression is that your journey has stalled somewhere in Stage 4, as the inflexibility and intolerance on certain issues you have demonstrated seems to be in contrast to the general harmony of the parish, especially when it goes against your opinion. Is that the parish you are trying to create at St. ......, one that must conform to your rigid instruction and where dissent is not tolerated? I appreciate the gauntlet you have thrown down to us, and the desire for change, but I feel the evolution of parish into something more is retarded by your approach.
I firmly believe that most of the parents present at the meeting would agree that the outcome we envisage, for the parish and school community, is to improve participation in the celebration of the Eucharist and as a parent set a good example for our children to follow. Clearly there are different views on how this can be achieved and different paths that can be followed – I believe that you should take a conciliatory, less reactionary approach, whereas you believe in the Machiavellian maxim of the end justifies the means. I cannot express more emphatically that your approach disheartens me, so-much-so that the enjoyment I once felt attending Mass is no longer there. I pray that the detour from the path I am travelling which I am forced to take is short and insightful.
You also asked for suggestions as to what could be done to improve the inter-relationship of the church, the school and the parishioners:
§ One of the reasons I send my children to a Catholic School is to supplement any shortcomings I have as a parent in teaching the Catholic faith, and given your concerns about the inability of (or unwillingness of some) parents to bring their children to Mass, I suggest that a whole of school Mass be held each Friday of the school term for the children of ...... rather than a class mass once or twice a term.
§ One criticism of Mass that I have is late start to the scheduled Mass times. This is quite frustrating and annoying, especially when young children get restless quickly. Also I do not believe it is necessary for you to read out everything in the bulletin, as most people would have read it and it unduly prolongates the Mass. Given that you cannot abide by people being too busy to attend Mass, this may be a simple way of extending an olive branch.
§ Establish a Sacramental program committee made up of yourself as parish leader, the school principal and religious co-ordinator, two members of the parish with no ties to the school, and one parent representing each class (seven in total) elected by other parents from that class.
§ You should share your dream for the development of the parish and the school with the community, as some of the ideas you have suggested, such as the child care centre and parish hall sound wonderful. Has a master plan been prepared, one that could be put on display for the whole school/parish to view and offer comments on?
It concerns me that after taking the time to put my thoughts and concerns on paper in a previous letter to you, that you did not care to respond. Whilst I did not necessarily expect a detailed response, I would have thought an acknowledgement letter would have shown some mutual respect and common courtesy and therefore I hope to receive some response this time.
To denigrate the Australian character and culture as you expressed to me at the ..... Spring Fair indicated a clear lack of respect and a severe lack understanding this country’s history and its people and unfortunately only emphasises the close-minded, “my-way-is-the-only-way” approach you take. I do not necessarily disagree with your views, and perhaps it is fair criticism to label Australia as a secular nation but the most godless place under Heaven and worse than a Communist state as you suggested is taking an extreme view, one of which I cannot accept. The simple fact is: that as a rule Australians are not over-awed by the Church, even if they belong to it. It is not necessarily brought about by apathy on the part of Australian Catholics; it is more a reflection of our democratic way of life and respect for religious freedom. I can only reiterate what I wrote in my previous letter, that the parishioners of your congregation, however large or small must be at Mass of their own free will, and not because of your authoritarian command.
Does not the holiness of Christ embrace us all, all in our messy lives, all with our weaknesses and failures and does not the sacrament of that holiness, the Eucharist is given to us all, including to the disciples who betrayed him and those who deny him?
I will conclude by asking you to open your heart to understanding that there are many paths that lead to the same vision, and way of loving the world and loving Christ. Do not let your pride and arrogance barricade the road we travel and do not deny “sinners” access to the Church."