www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Every Priest Should Read!!!

We would have listened [seattlearch.org]

The letter speaks for itself.

My heart sinks...Lord...

Dear Friends,
Christ is among us!
Indeed it is true that every priest should preach on these life subjects of contraception in a variety of unnatural ways. Just as he should preach on abortion, euthanasia, physician assisted suicide, et.al.But sadly many do not because of the massive negative reaction that they receive from their parishioners! I know this from first hand experience, and although I continue to bring these subjects into the pulpit and merely give Orthodox teaching in this area, many of our parishioners have left over the issue.

I will leave you to think about who the people of the parish blame! And who they call the Bishop about!

Perhaps those who support the truth should be more encouraging to the priests who risk bringing these subjects to the for.

Once bitten, twice shy,
Fr. Vladimir

One obvious reason for avoiding this and similar topics in Sunday sermons is the inevitable presence of young children in the congregation, whom the priest does not wish to scandalize.

Incognitus

Hmmm,

I've never heard this spoken from the pulpit either, but here we are with 8 children, 7 who are living. 6 were born before I began diaconal studies.

It's easy to blame priests (or deacons)...

I think Fr Vladimir's post must be emphasised above all else's thats said. As the letter of St James says that the teachers are judged more harshly than the rest and not merely in the world to come. We expect our priest's to be dragonslayers, supermen, impenetrable and impervious to any attack but in truth they're just as human as the rest of us.

The cassock can give off the appearance of invincibility and indeed the clergy have been given the grace of the sacrament of Holy Orders to buttress them. But in the same breath we have been all baptised, confirmed and commune regularly and yet very few of us shine like St Anthony of the Desert. If he were alive today could St Athanasius make us examples as he did the matyrs and virgins of old in 'De Incarnatione'?

The Logos did not destroy the human nature he assumed nor subsume it but he took it on truly and totally. There is something very human about the mystical body particularly its priests. For us they are teachers, guides, leaders... Fathers . Yet if we are not children to them, children who listen, who offer words of support even when we dont quite understand whats wrong, children who make little gifts to offer them so that they will smile should we not expect them to feel isolated and out on their own.

Its easy to condemn and I admit I did condemn when I first read this report but sitting back and thinking of how my Mum responds when I disrepsect her I think I get it...yes we have lots of heretical priests (I will not use the word liberal for modernist suffices). However, I've come to believe this vocal minority does not speak for the sleeping majority who would like to say something but often feel afraid and unsupported. Rome is not next door for many priests its a country, a continent, an ocean away. Knowing that your Bishop is going to denounce you if you upset the wallet waving parishoners or modernist forces of your local church is not going to embolden you to speak out. Even Peter who had confessed so boldly that Jesus was Christ, Son of the living God, in private amongst the apostles denied being his follower to a simple servant girl.

They need our help. They need to know that we are with them, that we support them. A friendly letter promising prayers, a note of congratulations for a good homily, a word of support encase the going gets rough. For this reason a little woman like St Catherine of Siena could become counsellor of Gregory XI and Urban VI. For to those Popes St Catherine was a daughter to support them when they were struggling to find their feet, to hold them up when they stumbled, to look to them for guidance and to offer prayers and words of consolation and exhortation in return.

All priests need a St Catherine not just the Popes. Someone with whom to correspond, someone to encourage them in the right and to offer support to them for doing so. In the absence of great saints like St Catherine it falls upon our heads to take up her mantle in these times and show love to our priests. Let us remember them in our prayers, in our letters if it be needed and in our hearts.

St Catherine of Siena
Pray for us

Dear Myles,

That was truly a lovely and beautiful post.

May all who read it, also heed it.

Priests are as human as we are and just as we need support from each other, so, they too need our support.

In Christ,
Alice

Fantastic post, Myles !

Let us all encoruage our priests as well as pray for them !

-- John

I agree 100%!

We are all too blame. Some times the priest need to be reminded that the people look to them for guidance. With out the priest were would the people turn?

On behalf of parishoners everywhere, to you Father Vladimir and to all the priests who have been shouted down, complained about to the bishops, and have been slandered and calumniated by our fellow parishoners, I offer my apology for these unseemly acts.

I encourage you bishops, priests, and deacons to speak the truth in season and out of season. WOE unto us if we fail to heed your words. You deserve better and we deserve better. I pray that the Lord will give us sheperds after His own heart. I pray that we will be the good sheep and not the goats who go their own way.

Please bishops, fathers, and deacons speak up for we are listening.

In Christ,
Dr. Eric

PS My wife and I have been listening, we have 4 children in 5 years of marriage.

I live in the Diocese of Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA. I believe it was in spring of 2004 that the Diocese hosted a Theology of the Body Conference attended by more than 1,000 people (and this doesn't even count the Father, Son and Holy Spirit). That was encouraging. Tapes of the dozen or so speakers - among them Dr. Janet Smith, Mr. Christopher West, Dr. Helen Alvare', Fr. John Horgan, Mr. George Weigel - were made available within minutes of the completion of each presentation.

Irenaeus

"Every Priest Should Read
As I read this bad memories came back to me. The memories of me 25-30 years ago going to several different priests trying to get some sage advise about this and other problems and question in my life at that time. No I was not looking for someone to tell me what I wanted to hear -- I wanted to hear someone tell me to stop. What I got was much of "follow your conscience". What I needed was the priest to grab me by the throat - slap me upside my head and tell me to get a grip. That these are rules, regulations, and commandments of my religion not suggestions. Unfortunately I followed my conscience and most unfortunately it was not my conscience it was the guy downstairs -way way downstairs who I followed. It's not that I did horrible things it was that my life could have been much happier had it been more spiritually based than secular based. I realized my mistakes long ago - but there is still a longing for a chance to do it all over again. Now to the real point for this post -- Priests do not worry about the presence of small children - They are concerned about offending the parrish members who lead the church. If they tell it like it is - people will not come to church. Who wants to be told that they are sinners? I did ! I finally admitted it to myself.
I apoligize for ranting - I am a very avid lurker but I only post when upset.

I recall listening to the Dean of the ROCOR here in Australia who was sharing how confession takes place in his Church. He spoke of the need for the people to go to confession and that this applies to him as well as them. He said is was important to remind them that he too is a sinner and like them also goes to confession just like they do, or should. I think being reminded we are all sinners and that 'all' also includes our clergy makes it easier and also puts the idea of sin into a proper perspective and being a Christian is a process.

ICXC
NIKA