Category: Uncategorized

takes a long walk off a short pier into the river Styx today in his blurb about homosexuality and the Church. Under the heading “USING THE CHURCH’S CRISIS AGAINST GAY RIGHTS” Sullivan writes:

But now the Church stands almost alone in its inability to confront or even discuss the matter of homosexuality, while the broader society has changed beyond recognition. The result is the current catastrophe. Gay Catholics – priests and laity – are caught between these two worlds. One world is pushing them toward liberation, self-esteem and responsibility; the other is still infantilizing, pathologizing and marginalizing them. In such a context, human beings can lose their way – especially when the Church refuses even to articulate or discuss its own doctrines about homosexuality – or indeed any sexuality.

The Church and secular societies have almost always been at odds – this is nothing new. A government can declare something a right but that doesn’t make a divine right. Take abortion for instance. And what of gay rights? Because a state allows civil unions between homosexuals does it mean the Church must change the truths that have been revealed in Scripture and tradition?

The Church articulates it’s doctrine on sexuality very clearly in the CCC. Kicking the woman who can’t cut fabric straight off the art commitee is up for debate. As is what books are going to be used for religious education. Doctrine is not up for debate – it is doctrine. What is liberating about justifying sinfulness? Not just sinful sexual behavoir, but any kind of sin? This only makes sin more oppressive to our souls.

Regarding applause in church, Karl of Summa Contra Mundum writes:

We don’t applaud because the songs are supposed to be prayers. We don’t applaud prayers.
I am probably more churlish than you!

In response to my beef with applause in church, Michael Shirley writes:

You do realize that applause is an expression of gratitude and appreciation, a way of saying “thank you,” and that becoming angry at such an expression of thanks is quite churlish? Don’t you? How do you know that’s not God’s way of acting through others?
If I were to say to someone who thanked me or complimented me on my singing “You shouldn’t say that; I’m storing up riches in heaven and I don’t do it for the thanks,” then I’ve spent all those riches and then some.

He also adds:

When a congregation wishes to thank a choir for their efforts, applause is about the only way to do it as a group. I imagine that one of the difficulties here is that musicians, who normally receive applause in a secular context for a performance, have difficulty seeing applause for their efforts in any context other than performance. Why not interpret it as gratitude for wonderful leadership in prayer? I’m sure God would appreciate applause now and then (although probably not at the consecration).
Be grateful for their prayers too, and if applause makes you uncomfortable, ask yourself if the problem is yours, not theirs.

Michael has a point about my lack of charity. I regret using the word “cheesed” to describe my feelings. “Cheesed” isn’t even a word! Let me restate my position. I think the focus should always be on the Mass – the perpetual sacrifice of Christ and His prayer to the Father. When fifty or so adults receive the Sacrament of Confirmation they deserve an enthusiastic acknowledgment of their full initiation in the Church. The congregation instead clapped for the choir. Applause for a musician or musicians makes their participation seem like a performance rather than leading in prayer or making a musical offering. Why not interpret it as gratitude for wonderful leadership in prayer? The priest brings us the Blessed Sacrament through his prayers, do we applaud for him at Mass?

John read this and said he was more churlish than me when it comes to applause for a musical group in Church. He sang “O Holy Night” during the Preparation of the Gifts at midnight Mass one Christmas Eve. When the song ended the entire church erupted in thunderous applause. When the church was silent again the pastor said “Pray, brethern, that our sacrifice be acceptable…” John was mortified.

over at Oremus. Read it. All I can say is “yipes!” Dancing just isn’t liturgical in this country. In other cultures dancing might be associated with the sacred. And in other cultures “Madonna” refers to the Mother of God.

over at Emily Stimpson’s place is an excellent blurb on what marriage and ordination mean in terms of the Heaven and our relationship to Christ. It’s wonderful to see someone break it down so succintly.