Author: Steve

at The View from the Core on what the “Pope” said about celebs wearing crosses. Of course the media jumps all over a statement that wasn’t even made by the Pope and the overlook the ‘Jenin Massacre’ hoax perpetrated by Arafat’s propaganda machine.

Anyone know where I can procure rosary beads with 15 decades on them without becoming a Dominican? White doesn’t have enough of a slimming look.

I see if we want to keep up with the Bloggers next door we’ll have to add comment capability to our site. I’m against it. Not only do I enjoy the email, I don’t get enough of it. I guess I don’t get enough email because everyone agrees with me! What if I start a liturgical troupe that sings and dances and wears spandex? The colors of spandex would change with the Church calendar, of course. There will be no audtions but admission will be limited to potato-shaped males only. We’ll call ourselves the Brother of Perpetual Corpulence and we will sing “Be Not Afraid” all the time. Look for us at your kid’s First Communion next year.

I did not see this mentioned in the article, but wasn’t it the OCP who was one of the first to make the words of traditional Christmas carols politically correct by removing “sexist” language?
I still remember the first time I opened it up and was checking out what carols we would sing this year, when I came across “God Rest Ye Merry, Christian Friends” That was a moment that raised the hairs on the back of my neck.
And it got worse. In “Joy to the World” we get the phrase,
“let all their songs employ”, plus there is the constant twisting of words and phrases to avoid saying “men” or “man” or using “Father” to refer to God.
To change the subject, and to refer to something you have often said – the liturgy is powerful in and of itself, yet many liturgical directors do so much to tart it up. This past Good Friday, I went to a church where they did the entire liturgy in semi-darkness. The priests processed up the aisle and then sat with the congregation, and stayed there reading prayers for almost the entire service. The Passion was read by a team of lectors (with dramatic lighting and sound effects) and I was left feeling like I had been at a performance, not a liturgy. Frankly, I was saddened by it all, and I will avoid that church next year.

I don’t know what OCP’s involvement was in the so-called “inclusive language” movement. Maybe some of our readers can comment? Here’s the problem with changing pronouns to remove someone’s idea of gender specificity. It’s insulting. The English language doesn’t express or imply that in a context like “For us men and for our salvation” that the word “men” limits it to only males of the species. To posit this is to assume that people are ignorant about the language they read and speak. That’s insulting, and I know many women who think that is insulting.

To refer to God with a word like “Mother” flies in the face of Scripture and what Jesus Himself said of God. Even to call God the Father “brother” I think is incorrect, but I’m not going to start a crusade about it.

Regarding the Good Friday Show at your church, that is truly regrettable. I have seen the Passion read in the manner you describe and I think that’s appropriate. When we have a crowd of people yelling “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” we know it is our sin that crucified our Lord. The sound effects and light show can go though. What that church needs is a traditional Good Friday liturgy with the Reproachments. I need to dig up the text of them and post them.

We did a wonderful piece called “O Mortal Man” during the Triduum this year. The liturgy director said that at her old church they changed the lyrics to “O Mortal One.” We did it as written. Maybe we can change all the words around on Inclusive Language Sunday when they add it to the Church calendar.

I just discovered your site. Considering your theme, I think you might enjoy checking out my site. I am the Catholic “Weird Al”. http://www.nickalexander.com
Also, Crisis Magazine posted my letter in response to the anti-OCP article that you’re now parading. It was printed in the March issue. http://www.crisismagazine.com/march2002/letters.htm
Have a good one!

If you read Mr. Alexander’s letter to the editor in Crisis, read also the author’s reply.