My letter to my modernist RCIA class

[JesusLovesOurLady]

Is Christ present in the tabernacle?

Like I said, today, I was able to ignore all the abuses and the irreverent atmosphere, and focus on Christ. But I'm better off at a parish where the atmosphere is reverent, and I can truly focus and meditate on God.

 

[PeaceB]

Like I said, today, I was able to ignore all the abuses and the irreverent atmosphere, and focus on Christ. But I'm better off at a parish where the atmosphere is reverent, and I can truly focus and meditate on God.

That's cool. I would just say, be careful to guard against falling into a form of spiritual gluttony.

Good luck.

Peace

 

[JesusLovesOurLady]

Thank you.

 

[JesusLovesOurLady]

Here's what I've got so far, of my letter to my parish priest. I've got a concern about the Panentheism part, The Catechism does a good job explaining the basic of the relationship between the Creator and Creation. But I'm concerned that the modernists might bend them to fit their view. Should I still cite them? Or does anyone have any better ideas for authoritative sources I should cite?

"Dear Father [real name here],

I am deeply grateful to be a member of the Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church. However, I am deeply disturbed by what was said and showed in my RCIA class, and I want to express these concerns. There have been many errors taught or implied in my RCIA class, these include but are not limited to:


-Flip-flops on absolutism vs relativism

Contrary to the Catholic doctrine of absolute Truth found in: CCC 27, CCC 144, CCC 214-217, CCC 1951, CCC 1954 etc.


-Panentheism

Contrary to the Catholic doctrine of Trinitarian Monotheism found in:

Romans 1:25,


-Flip-flops on divorce and remarriage



-An acceptance on Contraception



-Encouragements to not "tow the party line" and implications that such people who do, should be looked down on



-Discouragements of taking the faith rationally and encouragements of believing the faith the way you want it to be


There were many other error in my RCIA class, but I believe these will suffice for now Father.


I also want to say, that I felt very unwelcome there. The atmosphere there was very toxic, there was lot of scorn and scoffing there, and I felt very uncomfortable, even scared! The class just struck me as very mean-spirited and self-righteous, and I’m certain that, unless it changes, others will also feel unwelcome there. Also at RCIA, there was some gossiping and backbiting involving certain groups and individuals in the parish, which is also of concern to me Father, and adds to the negative atmosphere.


I plead, Father, that you can address and correct these concerns of mine regarding RCIA, for the good of the Church. And to ensure that the Church becomes more welcoming to young individuals like, that we feel embraced by Holy Mother Church.


Glory to God

and

Hail Mary!


[real name here]"

Please feel free to point out any typos, and make suggestions.

I'm hoping to have this done, and sent in on the 30th, the day before my Marian Consecration (on the Feast of the Visitation) I also intend to send by letter, shown above, to my classmate at RCIA, in an attempt to correct my cowardly silence there.

 

[PeaceB]

Here's what I've got so far, of my letter to my parish priest. I've got a concern about the Panentheism part, The Catechism does a good job explaining the basic of the relationship between the Creator and Creation. But I'm concerned that the modernists might bend them to fit their view. Should I still cite them? Or does anyone have any better ideas for authoritative sources I should cite?

"Dear Father [real name here],

I am deeply grateful to be a member of the Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church. However, I am deeply disturbed by what was said and showed in my RCIA class, and I want to express these concerns. There have been many errors taught or implied in my RCIA class, these include but are not limited to:


-Flip-flops on absolutism vs relativism

Contrary to the Catholic doctrine of absolute Truth found in: CCC 27, CCC 144, CCC 214-217, CCC 1951, CCC 1954 etc.


-Panentheism

Contrary to the Catholic doctrine of Trinitarian Monotheism found in:

Romans 1:25,


-Flip-flops on divorce and remarriage



-An acceptance on Contraception



-Encouragements to not "tow the party line" and implications that such people who do, should be looked down on



-Discouragements of taking the faith rationally and encouragements of believing the faith the way you want it to be


There were many other error in my RCIA class, but I believe these will suffice for now Father.


I also want to say, that I felt very welcome there. The atmosphere there was very toxic, there was lot of scorn and scoffing there, and I felt very uncomfortable, even scared! The class just struck me as very mean-spirited and self-righteous, and I’m certain that, unless it changes, others will also feel unwelcome there. Also at RCIA, there was some gossiping and backbiting involving certain groups and individuals in the parish, which is also of concern to me Father, and adds to the negative atmosphere.


I plead, Father, that you can address and correct these concerns of mine regarding RCIA, for the good of the Church. And to ensure that the Church becomes more welcoming to young individuals like, that we feel embraced by Holy Mother Church.


Glory to God

and

Hail Mary!


[real name here]"

Please feel free to point out any typos, and make suggestions.

I'm hoping to have this done, and sent in on the 30th, the day before my Marian Consecration (on the Feast of the Visitation) I also intend to send by letter, shown above, to my classmate at RCIA, in an attempt to correct my cowardly silence there.

Pretty much everybody in this thread has suggested that you might want to chill with the letter. Do you think it is possible that any of us could be on to something?

 

[JesusLovesOurLady]

Pretty much everybody in this thread has suggested that you might want to chill with the letter. Do you think it is possible that any of us could be on to something?

You all suggested, that I write a letter to the parish priest, informing him on what's happening in RCIA. It's important that the priest know, and I need to give him the benefit of a doubt for my own sake. If there is a chance that this evil can be stopped, I need to take that chance. And, as I've said before, I want to repair the damage I've done by my cowardly silence, it's the second, most, if not, the most shameful thing, I have ever done in my life!

 

[PeaceB]

You all suggested, that I write a letter to the parish priest, informing him on what's happening in RCIA. It's important that the priest know, and I need to give him the benefit of a doubt for my own sake. If there is a chance that this evil can be stopped, I need to take that chance. And, as I've said before, I want to repair the damage I've done by my cowardly silence, it's the second, most, if not, the most shameful thing, I have ever done in my life!

Good luck.

I would still consider a face to face convo first.

 

[Stabat Mater dolorosa]

There are more to Catholicism than legalism and registering irreverent worship of others and sending official complaints in east and west.
I do come across things I don't like in my parish too, but I'm trying to cope by focusing on myself.

As long as I'm doing my best then I'm at peace cause I cannot control every Catholic in church.
What plagues me is my shortcomings more than the ones of Mr and Mrs Doe.

Pray at mass instead of this neurotic obsession with what others may or may not do.
Peace is found by following the example of Christ. Try spending time on the poor and marginalized, think Francis of Assisi instead of law, law, law and rules, rules, rules.

I pray that you once again see the path and rediscover the true path in the faith.

 

[Anhelyna]

JLOL

Your letter should only be along the lines of

Father.......

Now I have completed RCIA and had time to absorb all the teaching/guidance I was given, there are some areas of it which give me cause for concern.

I would be most grateful if you would arrange to meet with me at your convenience to discuss these.

Yours in Christ

.......

As it stands at present your letter is full of errors - Look at this paragraph again

<<I also want to say, that I felt very welcome there. The atmosphere there was very toxic, there was lot of scorn and scoffing there, and I felt very uncomfortable, even scared! The class just struck me as very mean-spirited and self-righteous, and I’m certain that, unless it changes, others will also feel unwelcome there. Also at RCIA, there was some gossiping and backbiting involving certain groups and individuals in the parish, which is also of concern to me Father, and adds to the negative atmosphere. >>

You tell us you didn't feel welcome and yet you say there you felt welcome ??

Please reconsider this action

 

[pdudgeon]

Pretty much everybody in this thread has suggested that you might want to chill with the letter. Do you think it is possible that any of us could be on to something?

the only thing that attitude of "just chill" would produce would be to endorse by default what is happening in class. If the RCIA class is being taught demonstrable error as cited in the Catechism, the parish will end up being lukewarm spiritually. And when that happens error creeps in without any opposition.

Yes, the correct action is to point out what is in error, why it is in error, and leave the correction up to the presiding priest to deal with. Thus the need for the letter, because as good as they are, priests can't be everywhere.

 

[Anhelyna]

My fear - and that's from having submitted things to priests and other folk in authority in the past - is that a long email/letter containing a long list of points to be considered , will find its way to the 'circular filing cabinet ' and there will be no response.

A face-to-face meeting - and making sure that there are 2 copies of the list of problems with him - [one to be left with the priest and one for himself with notes on it as to the discussion of each topic] is probably the best way forward. This way he will also have some evidence of the action he has taken / has tried to take, in case it has to be taken up the line.

 

[Stabat Mater dolorosa]

the only thing that attitude of "just chill" would produce would be to endorse by default what is happening in class. If the RCIA class is being taught demonstrable error as cited in the Catechism, the parish will end up being lukewarm spiritually. And when that happens error creeps in without any opposition.

Yes, the correct action is to point out what is in error, why it is in error, and leave the correction up to the presiding priest to deal with. Thus the need for the letter, because as good as they are, priests can't be everywhere.

Perhaps it's not a job for newly converted parishioner.
If this are to be a case in the parish I find it wiser to get a person who's been Catholic for longer involved and make him or her the person to advertise the issue.

Again neophytes teaching cradles are very annoying...
Step carefully is my advice, holding a degree in theology doesn't make any real difference either in my experience...

 

[PeaceB]

the only thing that attitude of "just chill" would produce would be to endorse by default what is happening in class. If the RCIA class is being taught demonstrable error as cited in the Catechism, the parish will end up being lukewarm spiritually. And when that happens error creeps in without any opposition.

Yes, the correct action is to point out what is in error, why it is in error, and leave the correction up to the presiding priest to deal with. Thus the need for the letter, because as good as they are, priests can't be everywhere.

If he must write a letter then I would suggest that he write a letter along the lines that Anhelyna provided. I have yet to find one parish where a priest could not find any time at all to sit down and discuss the concerns of a parishoner. Have you?

But ultimately it is up to him. I don't think that his letter will be fruitful, but I suppose we shall see.

 

[JesusLovesOurLady]

How's this?

"Dear Father [real name here],

I’m deeply grateful to be a member of the of the Catholic Church. I have deep concerns regarding certain things that were said or done, I wish to speak to you about them. Can you please schedule an appointment for me to see you, and we discuss my concerns? I know you are going on a retreat, so our appointment will have to be sometime next month, you let me know father, what time works best, but I prefer Saturdays or Sundays. Please let me know father, I’m really concerned about what was said and shown at RCIA, I really need to speak to you about these problems.

Glory to God
and
Hail Mary!

[real name here]"

 

[PeaceB]

How's this?

"Dear Father [real name here],

I’m deeply grateful to be a member of the of the Catholic Church. I have deep concerns regarding certain things that were said or done, I wish to speak to you about them. Can you please schedule an appointment for me to see you, and we discuss my concerns? I know you are going on a retreat, so our appointment will have to be sometime next month, you let me know father, what time works best, but I prefer Saturdays or Sundays. Please let me know father, I’m really concerned about what was said and shown at RCIA, I really need to speak to you about these problems.

Glory to God
and
Hail Mary!

[real name here]"

A big improvement, in my humble opinion.

As an alternative, you might also consider calling the parish, ask to speak to the pastor, tell him that you have some general concerns about RCIA, and would like a chance to sit down and speak with him for a few minutes about it. See how that goes.

And if you do have the meeting, I would keep a humble, charitable tone. The idea is to discuss and make your concerns known, not to accuse.

Just my two cents.

 

[Anhelyna]

That's a great improvement JLOL

I'd suggest a few slight changes - shown below

<<"Dear Father [real name here],

I’m deeply grateful to be a member of the of the Catholic Church. I have some concerns regarding certain things that were said or done during RCIA sessions, and I would like to speak with you about them. Would you please schedule an appointment for me to see you, so we can discuss my concerns?

I know you are going on a retreat, so our appointment will have to be sometime next month, would you please let me know Father, what date/time works best for you, but I prefer Saturdays or Sundays. Please let me know Father, I’m really concerned about what was said and shown at RCIA, I feel I really need to speak with you about these problems. >>

 

[JesusLovesOurLady]

Should I still make a case? Or just submit the problems as they are, and talk to him about them?

 

[Anhelyna]

Don't mention them in the letter asking for a meeting - you have indicated that you wish to talk WITH him [ not talk to ]-' talk to' indicates that you are doing the talking and there is less emphasis on it being a 2 way process - talking WITH indicates it's a discussion.

 

[JesusLovesOurLady]

Don't mention them in the letter asking for a meeting - you have indicated that you wish to talk WITH him [ not talk to ]-' talk to' indicates that you are doing the talking and there is less emphasis on it being a 2 way process - talking WITH indicates it's a discussion.

Don't worry I'm not. But when I see him should I just submit the list of problems like this:

-Flip-flops on absolutism vs relativism.


-Panentheism.


-Flip-flops on divorce and remarriage.


-An acceptance on Contraception.


-Encouragements to not "tow the party line" and implications that such people who do, should be looked down on.


-Discouragements of taking the faith rationally, and encouragements of believing the faith the way you want it to be.


-Outdated, and erroneous teaching material, such as, doctrine about Christ’s nature that sounded Nestorian. There was even a history lesson, that appeared to distorted the Nestorian crisis.


-Material that contradicted the class’s own view point, such as, material that sneered at reverence in liturgy, when the class actually showed some warmth to reverence in the liturgy


-A toxic environment, a lot of scoffing and self-righteousness, that made me feel unwelcome.


-Gossiping and back-biting, against certain groups and individuals within the parish.

Or should I add, citations, that prove the authentic teachings of the Catholic Church?

 

[Anhelyna]

I'd go about it in this way

Father , I'm a bit puzzled about ......... I had always understood it as ........ but during the classes I got the impression that we were being told ...... Could you help me sort that out - am I misunderstanding what I was told ?

Always talk about yourself and your understanding, rather than say that what the instructor/s were telling you was wrong. Also do NOT quote paragraph numbers from the CCC - that indicates you have been going through things with a fine toothcomb as if looking for faults - not a good idea to appear as a know-it-all