Posted by CeCe Light on September 27, 19100 at 17:50:39:
In Reply to: Socially moronic priest posted by Philip St. Romain on September 27, 19100 at 17:49:09:
: My guess is that your pastor had no record of active support for the Church, and so assumed there was no commitment to belonging to the life of the Church and parish community.
I know exactly what my parish pastor "assumed" Phil and from which perspective he functioned.
And don't get me wrong, as I understand the (political) needs of the church to continue its operation, and I can respect this as anything else, TO a certain degree.
But know you can also attribute this pastor's not finding that "monetary commitment" in his records as a result of poor mangagement on the part of his secretarial team in his own administration - which was the case here, not to say I go to church "religiously" if you don't mind the pun, nor do I donate on a steady basis either because I don't, nor do I feel compelled in obligation to as well - for it is only through sincerity and heart that I do, when I do it.
For my idea of church and society's idea of church is quite different.
The receiving of the sacraments as a Christian in society's view is but a "formality" to me - not neccessarily the NEED to instill in me and mine, the "Spirit" of the (sacrament) per se, for through my experience with the Spirit, such manifests all on its own, but I engage in the "festivites" only for means of having take part in the honoring of the sacrament manifested.
They are very, very, very, and might I say one more, VERY, beautiful rites of passage to humanhood, not just for Christians as I have no doubt you understand.
So I really couln't give a flying shit if I or others donated or not to the church, participate or not in the church - for it is immaterial in the knowledge of what both "THE CHURCH" and the Sacraments truely represent which is OUR, as "HUNAN BEINGS" coming to Our Maker in Will" --
(not fucking Hindu's, or fucking Christians, or fucking Gays, or fucking Murderers, or fucking thieves, or fucking coveter's, or even fucking people like me, who don't always donate and don't "religiously" go to church every sunday - dot...dot...dot)
Those are but waste of time labels people place upon each other to divide, not unite, and I dispise them!
So is the word "Saint!"
This is why I took issue with it, for it does not take one to belong to any Religious Sect in that they reach the level of Sainthood for all are entitled to this state in their surrender to God.
:People who don't go to Church frequently want to have their kids baptized, and that makes no sense either.
It makes plenty sense to me! For the Church THROUGH what it represents, which is Acceptance, Understanding, Compassion through Empathy, Forgiveness through REAL LOVE and REAL GOD should offer their fruits to ALL regardless of WHO or WHAT they have been "labeled" to "BE" by society.
That's what has "Changed" Phil - the balance has shifted to a high degree serving politics more than God.
: But, you surely must know that this personal experience of a man with moronic social skills doesn't warrant judgement against the doctrines of an entire Tradition.
Good God no! Good God no!
Pray that his burden is lifted - the doctrines of the Cathoic Church are a thing of beauty and always will be.
That's kind of like saying one's experience with a cranky clerk at Walmart means that Walmart is an incompetent institution, and you'll never go there again, no matter what the sales.
Well, quite frankly, I am not at all thrilled with their new policy of the "quarter for a wagon"
deal here where I live, as it is quite an inconvenience, but I do however understand the "mentality" behind it.
: Anyway, again: we've gone as far as we can go with all this. I've suggested elsewhere that some of these topics be broken up and discussed as separate threads.
Can't predict what will inspire me, so on this note, I will do as others, and play it by ear.
God Bless,
Love CeCe