Controversial Issues

Dream · Jan 31, 2005

How often does your Priest talk about controversial issues? Think to yourself, have you ever heard your Priest mention any of these topics:

-Abortion
-Contraceptives
-Just War Doctrine
-Euthanasia
-Gay Marriage
-Homosexuality
-The Death Penalty
-Fornication
-Pornography
-Divorce

And how about non-political issues:
-Hell
-Sin
-Damnation
-Sunday Obligation
-Holy Days of Obligation
-Purgatory

Honestly, I can not think of any time in which my previous Priest covered any of this stuff. He is a great man and I respect him, but sometimes it's necessary to expose the Truth no matter how much it hurts or no matter how controversial it may be.

The Priest at the parish I attend now attacks some of these issues, but really doesn't go into much depth.

No, I"m not saying that Homilies should only be about invoking fear into the parishoners, teaching about how everybody is going to Hell. I just think we need to spend some of our energy discussing some issues that really do matter. Religion is about exposing the Truth, not about making you feel good about yourself. If you simply want a fuzzy warm speech on why you are a great person, go see a shrink. They have flexible hours.

Dominus Fidelis · Jan 31, 2005

Very, very rarely.

Miss Shelby · Jan 31, 2005

My priest is not used car salesman or a politician and he speaks like it. He might focus quite a bit on new life, grace and love, but he doesn't avoid truth.

Michelle

Skripper · Jan 31, 2005

I attend two separate parishes (long story). One is very orthodox, the other . . . isn't.

At the more orthodox parish the priest frequently touches upon "controversial" topics. The other one . . . doesn't. In fact, I can remember only once when the word "sin" was even mentioned at the one parish. But this one time, the priest actually devoted the entire homily to it. People were literally sqirming in their seats, as though the topic itself was foreign to them and making them uncomfortable. I made a point of briefly talking with the priest after Mass, complimenting him on a good homily (which it was) and trying to encourage him, since he seems somewhat reluctant to touch upon certain topics. I could tell he appreciated it. But apparently he's still reluctant as I've never heard him deliver another similar homily.

Metanoia02 · Jan 31, 2005

-Abortion - Never
-Contraceptives - Never
-Just War Doctrine - Never
-Euthanasia- Never
-Gay Marriage - Too much
-Homosexuality - Way too much
-The Death Penalty - Occasionally
-Fornication - Never
-Pornography - Never
-Divorce - Never

And how about non-political issues:
-Hell - Never
-Sin - Briefly
-Damnation - Never
-Sunday Obligation - Never
-Holy Days of Obligation - Never
-Purgatory - Never

Is it any wonder he gave the maximum personal contribution to the Kerry campaign?

Miss Shelby · Jan 31, 2005

Skripper said:
I attend two separate parishes (long story). One is very orthodox, the other . . . isn't.

I did that for a while too. Because the ccd classes at another parish is on Sundays and I found it much easier than putting them in CCD on Wed nights due to schedules we all have, and so on Sunday they go to CCD and we go to Mass right afterwards.

Michelle

DivineFiliation · Jan 31, 2005

DreamTheater said:
How often does your Priest talk about controversial issues? Think to yourself, have you ever heard your Priest mention any of these topics:

-Abortion
-Contraceptives
-Just War Doctrine
-Euthanasia
-Gay Marriage
-Homosexuality
-The Death Penalty
-Fornication
-Pornography
-Divorce

And how about non-political issues:
-Hell
-Sin
-Damnation
-Sunday Obligation
-Holy Days of Obligation
-Purgatory

Honestly, I can not think of any time in which my previous Priest covered any of this stuff. He is a great man and I respect him, but sometimes it's necessary to expose the Truth no matter how much it hurts or no matter how controversial it may be.

The Priest at the parish I attend now attacks some of these issues, but really doesn't go into much depth.

Three priests ago was when 9-11 happened. He was totally anti-war and really made people think about what war meant... tried to get you to empathize with a civilian Iraqi. Also, this was a man who was extremely liberal in his beliefs and said that he wished the church allowed marriage because he wanted to be married.

Two priests ago, we had priest that was a retired military chaplain/priest. We prayed for our troops all the time. He spoke often about people's inner demons and spoke a lot about going to confession and the graces one received from confession. I deeply enjoyed his homilies as they hit home quite often and he made me think about my place in this world and what God wants from me.

The priest we have now is another wonderful man. He speaks often about all the issues you listed up there. He isn't afraid to talk about specifically about what the Church says about those things and how we can apply them to our daily lives.

All three have been great priests, in one way or another... they all have made me think in terms of personally and globally. I think God for the priests in my life and say a prayer for them now.

Wiffey · Jan 31, 2005

Our priest included an entire page of quotes against abortion from canon law and the Church Fathers in our Sunday Bulletin. It was really nice to see that yesterday. I liked that it was typed out so we could take a copy home for folks who missed Liturgy.

We should all pray that all priests everywhere will find the courage to address the tough topics. In today's messed-up world we cannot afford to be complacent about Truth.

JeffreyLloyd · Jan 31, 2005

-Abortion - A lot
-Contraceptives - Sometomes
-Just War Doctrine - Never
-Euthanasia- A lot
-Gay Marriage - enough
-Homosexuality - Hardly Ever
-The Death Penalty - Also, Occasionally
-Fornication - Never
-Pornography - Never
-Divorce - sometimes

And how about non-political issues:
-Hell - A lot
-Sin - A lot
-Damnation - Kinda, when he speaks of hell
-Sunday Obligation - A LOT!
-Holy Days of Obligation - sometimes
-Purgatory - Sometimes

We have a very good priest.

DivineFiliation · Jan 31, 2005

Wiffey said:
Our priest included an entire page of quotes against abortion from canon law and the Church Fathers in our Sunday Bulletin. It was really nice to see that yesterday. I liked that it was typed out so we could take a copy home for folks who missed Liturgy.

We should all pray that all priests everywhere will find the courage to address the tough topics. In today's messed-up world we cannot afford to be complacent about Truth.

Our priests often copies stuff and makes references to Canon Law and the Catechism in flyer inserts to the Sunday Bulletin. I appreciate them as well.

Dream · Jan 31, 2005

JeffreyLloyd said:
-Euthanasia- A lot

Wow. I've never even heard euthanasia mentioned.

JeffreyLloyd · Jan 31, 2005

We live in the Detroit area. Homeland of Dr. Jack

Dream · Jan 31, 2005

JeffreyLloyd said:
We live in the Detroit area. Homeland of Dr. Jack

Ah, ok.

Markh · Jan 31, 2005

Confession wasn't on the list and that is a sacrament so badly ignored by Catholics and only rarely mentioned, and if it is mentioned, it rarely has the word "necessary" near it.

Dream · Jan 31, 2005

Markh said:
Confession wasn't on the list and that is a sacrament so badly ignored by Catholics and only rarely mentioned, and if it is mentioned, it rarely has the word "necessary" near it.

True, I should have added it. But it kind of goes along with sin.

Markh · Jan 31, 2005

I bet the priests who talk about hell and damnation get complainers.

Metanoia02 · Jan 31, 2005

Markh said:
I bet the priests who talk about hell and damnation get complainers.

Some priests who refuse to talk about hell and damnation will recieve both!

MParedon · Jan 31, 2005

I have some really great priests in my diocese, I'm really going to miss them when I move.

-Abortion; yes, especially around election time. The bulletin also anounces Pro-Life Masses and Processions even if they are at other parishes.
-Contraceptives; as of yet I haven't heard. Although I don't think they have in a homily, I do think they teach about it in the RealLife classes given, it's something that they are leading up to.
-Just War Doctrine; We pray for both the Troops and the Iraqis, but I haven't heard them talk in a homily about Just War Doctrine.
-Euthanasia; Yes, they talk about how we are living in a culture of death, and how people see 'unproductive' life as disposable.
-Gay Marriage; Yes
-Homosexuality; No
-The Death Penalty; No
-Fornication:Yes
-Pornography; Yes, quite a few times, actually just this Sunday Msgr. tied it in to the Beatitudes and some similar verses in Corinthians about love. He said that Pornography builds up a sort of wall in our minds that distances us and gives us little patience. (well, he was more eloquant and detailed than I, but that is basically what he said)
-Divorce; I'm not sure, but one of them probably has.

And how about non-political issues:
-Hell: Yes
-Sin: Yes
-Damnation: Yes
-Sunday Obligation: I think so
-Holy Days of Obligation: Yes
-Purgatory: Yes

MParedon · Jan 31, 2005

Markh said:
I bet the priests who talk about hell and damnation get complainers.

Msgr. get's complainers about how he's too morbid and dramatic when he talks about death, etc... I think he gets quite a few complaints, but he freely shares with all the congregation what he thinks of some of those complaints (while keeping identities confindential) and he uses them as teaching lessons for us. Which I would imagine, sort of shames some of the complainers and keeps them quieter than they would otherwise would be. I think that is genius

ProCommunioneFacior · Feb 1, 2005

My pastor is an awesome priest, I am extremely blessed to know such a great priest.

-Abortion often(3 pro-life ministries have started at my parish in the past 6 years)
-Contraceptives often
-Just War Doctrine every once in a while
-Euthanasia often
-Gay Marriage often
-Homosexuality often
-The Death Penalty rarely
-Fornication often
-Pornography often
-Divorce often

And how about non-political issues:
-Hell often
-Sin often
-Damnation
-Sunday Obligation often
-Holy Days of Obligation often
-Purgatory often

Another one I would add to your list that is controversial is the state of our soul when receiving Eucharist, he often stresses the need for reconciliation. Which has not been a common theme in my experience.

When mentioning these topics he is always faithful to the teachings of the Church and is always quoting scripture, saints, magisterial documents, and especially the early church fathers (he is a devotee to patristics), and always mentions that the mercy of God can overcome all of these things if we accept Him.

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