www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West Dr Mary Kay Clark - she is Ruthenian? (yet nobody knows this)

This summer I attended Holy Family In Exile & Holy Innocents Melkite Chapel inside the Human Life International Building in Front Royal, Virginia. I was priviledged to meet Dr. Mary Kay Clark for the first time. Though we did not talk long I noticed that her whole family was Ruthenian. She told me that they joined the Ruthenian Church because of post-Vatican II abuses within the Latin Church. Their being Ruthenian appears to have had something to do with this Melkite Chapel being open in Front Royal. Since it is open her family (she has 7 sons with at least 4 sisters-in-law) can more easily attend the Eastern liturgies regularly without driving 75 miles to a Melkite parish in Annandale or Mclean, VA.

The question I have here is one that I have not yet asked Mrs. Clark, but I realize I should ask her it too and I will do this tomorrow if possible.

I realize this is a question that could create gossip. Please limit your responses to not be too speculative.

Here is the question. How many "closet" Eastern Catholics are there in the Catholic Church Communion?

Another example which reminds me of Mrs Clark is Mr. Paul Weyrich sub deacon at Holy Transfiguration in McClean. Few people know he is Melkite to my knowledge. To my knowledge, neither Mrs. Clark or Mr. Weyrich have so far publicly acknowledged their status as Eastern Catholics. Hopefully I am wrong and they have acknowledged it at some point, but do they make an effort to avoid talking about it?

In any of the 3 or 4 appearances that Mrs Clark has had on EWTN has she ever mentioned that she is Ruthenian? It would be an ideal situation to show how loyal holy Eastern Catholics can co-exist with Western Catholics and learn from each other if only more would have the courage to talk about it.

That is the perception I have. The Eastern Churches need all the advertising they can get, even if God is in charge of them.

I hope my comments have not offended anyone or spoken any falsehoods. If they have I am sincerely sorry. Thank you for reading my question and comments.

O God, our God, Creator and Maker of all things who ordained that all men should be saved and should come to the knowledge of truth, look upon your servants the catechumens and wash them from their past errors and from the wiles of the adversary. Call them to eternal life, enlightening their souls and bodies, and number them among your spiritual flock over which your holy name is invoked.

That with us they too may Glorify your most noble and magnificent name, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever.

Amen +

Who is Mary Kay Clark? Just a brief note on her please.

http://www.setonhome.org/
http://www.catholiccitizens.org/press/contentview.asp?c=41014

Dr. Clark was introduced at the Awards Dinner by Father Frank Papa, who is a member of the Board of Directors of Seton Home Study School and chaplain at Human Life International. Fr. Papa noted that Seton Home Study School is the 3rd largest Catholic school in the United States, surpassed in enrollment only by DePaul University in Illinois and St. John�s University in New York. Fr. Papa continued, �Though we cannot say that Dr. Clark alone is responsible for the amazing growth and achievements of Seton Home Study School, it could not have been done without her.�

I'll leave you to investigate who she is, needless to say, she has a "presence" in the "scene".

Could she be Ukrainian?

I don't know anything of Dr Clark. Paul Weyrich, however, who is a Protodeacon (not a subdeacon) of the Eparchy of Newton of the Melkites, has acknowledged that he is a Melkite Greek-Catholic on myriad occasions - in print and other media.


The logic here eludes me. The reason for the Melkite Chapel there seems likely related to the involvement of Melkite Archimandrite Constantine Belisauris with Seton.

Many years,

Neil

She was born Irish Catholic. Here's a bio:

http://www.dailycatholic.org/issue/archives/1999Aug/161aug26,vol.10,no.161txt/aug26top.htm

Seems to me years ago, as my youngest is now 23, that I read in first her book on homeschooling, she made reference to it. However, wherever it is, it is not hidden.

So it really isn't any new revelation. There is also an Archmandrite on the staff of the Seaton, as he reviewed the plan I was using for the ECCD with homeschool for my kids.

????

Does sort of make one wonder though (as a Seton curriculum using home schooler) why there aren't more Eastern Catholic options to their curriculum and more inclusion of Eastern Rite parishes (photos in the texts are nearly always large Roman Rite Cathedrals) and more use of icons.

That's one reason why we chose not to use their program. We use a Well-Trained Mind classical curriculum and add in some Eastern Christian Publications "Domestic Church" books, the "God with Us" series, some Bible reading, etc.

And now I plug the Eastern Christian homeschooling group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ec-home/