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Cantor Joe:

For the record, I find it hard to accept as a role model one who is "abusive and sometimes down-right cruel" -- these are not what I would want in a priest. And, yet, at times Jesus was both of these. I don't have a beard and have never felt any pressure to wear one. In fact, the pressure is from my wife who has stated flatly that she doesn't like facial hair.

At the same time, I'm Melkite and cannot speak to the experience of a priest in the Ruthenian Church.

I still think that rather than attack, it is better to raise issues in a way that allows for dialog. Polemics rarely accomplish anything except to polarize.

My experience with Fr. Michael has taught me that he is a passionate yet reasonable man. He is not always right, and he is willing to admit when he is wrong.

All I was suggesting is that a soft word turns aside wrath.

Edward, deacon and sinner

Father, bless!

I've enjoyed the "Light of the East" programs on EWTN. Certainly, Eastern tradition is not defined by beards. I was wondering what you had reference to when you said:

What sort of things are you referring to? What sort of things should we not change to look more like the Orthodox churches? Also, are there some things that we should change?

David Ignatius DTBrown@aol.com

Unfortunately, they all hang out on the Internet!

Father Michael, as a Latin who has only the foggiest idea what you're talking about, I nonetheless heartily agree.

One of the things that stops me from becoming Eastern Catholic is this More-Orthodox-Than-Thou attitude I so often encounter, especially over the Internet--yet rarely from Cradle ECs, oddly enough.

As an "outsider" to Eastern Catholicism (yet a fellow Catholic, which should be a bond of unity, one would think!) I am sometimes put off by the seeming obsession with Getting the Tiniest Minute Detail of Eastern Liturgical Rubrics Precisely Correct (lest one be accused of the Dread Latinization, that fate worse than death:)).

Sometimes people on and on about this or that custom or practice--which I'm sure is beautiful and wonderful and meaningful, but it comes across as, well, almost as if the particular practice (in its Eastern purism) is more important than Jesus Christ Himself...more important than the worship of God which liturgy is supposed to be all about.

I'm expressing this badly. But anyhoo, it all reminds me of a VERY High Church Anglican guy I once knew. One time he went on and on and on about a jewel-encrusted Monstrance used by an Anglo-Catholic church he'd been involved with. I got the distinct impression that this Monstrance was almost more important to this guy than the Blessed Sacrament itself.

I'm sure I'm being unfair--both to my EC brethren and to this Anglo-Catholic guy. I'm only saying how it comes across when people put so much emphasis on things like the length of beards, the correct way to turn before an altar, or the number of jewels in a Monstrance.

Blessings,

ZT

Dear Anastasios,

I'll take you over Tim Cuprisin any day!

For me, you'll always be the quintessential "Orthodox Catholic Christian" - nomatter which jurisdiction you end up with.

Alex

Father Michael,

I hope you will respond to those who have responded to you. I second David's question. I've never heard or read anyone criticize a BC priest for not wearing a beard. I like beards on priests but I don't know your reference. What exactly was the criticism? Or were you just tired and a bit frustrated when you posted?

Pray for me, Father,

Dan Lauffer

Dear Professor Dan,

I think the Reverend Father was making a statement on general pressures exerted on clergy by "BC Lay Eastern Police" as I"ll call them and as I've come to know them in my Church.

Their criticisms are heard in whispers and get back to priests via gossip and other exchanges to hurt their feelings.

The "Eastern Party" in our Church, or at least aspects of it, seem to have made Easternization into a popular fad or even a "club" in some ways with beards, three-bar crosses and the like as the outward badges of membership in it.

That is what I think Father Michael was saying and I also think that the attitudes exhibited by some here in response to Father Michael, and I'm not talking about you, Sir, were disrespectful toward a Priest of Christ.

One may disagree, but RESPECT MUST be maintained toward the Priest and the Bishop AT ALL TIMES.

On this there can be NO ARGUMENT and if we don't like it, TOUGH!

Alex

On your own message board, it seems that you have already become 100% convinced of the truth of The Orthodoxy and are just waiting to resolve some "family issues" before you make it official. I assume by "family issues" you don't mean with the Byzantine Catholic family. Nevertheless, it sounds here as if you want Byzantine Catholics to beg you to stay. We're not desperate for souls who don't really want us--so your mention of "Oh how many Rusyns I have met who are now Roman Catholic because it is the 'regular' Catholic Church to use the expression I hear so often" really doesn't move me one bit. It's too bad that there are such people, and it's our own fault for the most part that they're gone. But if that's the way they really feel about being "Catholic" then if the B.C. Church were the way you want it to be (rather than what Father Michael is saying), do you really think that these "regular Catholic" Rusyns are going to come back? No way!

So I reiterate, rejoice wherever it is you end up if it's where you need/want to be, and we'll rejoice with & for you. But if that place isn't with us, do us a favor and don't be nasty to us on your way out.

Dear All:

These are just some general comments with regard to the role of the "liturgical police." Each Catholic has the right to expect that the liturgy will be celebrated according to the rubrics for the appropriate Church. Liturgy is not something that is made up on the spur of the moment. It's been a long time since the priest was allowed "to pray as best he can" for the anaphora. We have ritual prayers that are to be said. Improvisation does not belong in liturgy.

If improvisation is happening, then the people have a right to complain, first to the priest and then, if he is unresponsive, to the bishop. However, the right to demand a beard (and that has never happened to me) does not exist since there is no requirement for a beard. Yes, beards are traditional (lower case "t") but they are not required.

Each member of the clergy should be focused on his role, making everything he does an aid to bringing the hearts and minds of the people to god in prayer. It is in the Liturgy that heaven and earth touch, and it is there that we are most vulnerable. So it follows that it is there that we must all, lay and cleric alike, seek to be as involved in the liturgy as possible.

Edward, deacon and sinner

Dear Friends,

And let's remember these words from Psalm 133:

Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

It is like the precious oil upon the head

Running down on the beard,

The beard of Aaron,

Running down on the edge of his garments.

It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion,

For there the Lord commanded the blessing -

Life forevermore!

It's good that we understand each other, Reverend Father Deacon!

God bless you always!

Alex

Lemko,

I am pretty convinced of Orthodoxy but I note that I could of course be wrong and I don't see anyone trying to stop me (except Zoe Theodora who is a Latin!)

I have not been nasty on the way out--you have been nasty.

I am satisfied that since you do not know me I do not owe you an account of my dealings.

The family issue involved is with my Byzantine Catholic family--namely my wife--and with my parish which I love and do not want to leave.

anastasios

Anastasios,

Please remember there are those of us who do not want to see you go. I hope you decide to stay Byzantine Catholic. There is much good you could do and there is plenty of work to go round.

In Christ,
Subdeacon Lance

Thank you for your kind words, soon to be deacon Lance. I have wrestled with this issue for four years. It is killing me. Rest assured, should I become Orthodox I will not forsake my love for our Byzantine Catholic Church, and all the blessings she has given me. In any way I can I will help out my parish as well.

Now I think that is enough about silly ol' me!

In Christ,

Anastasios

Dear Anastasios,

I think you already ARE Orthodox!

The fact you are in communion with Rome simply means you are that much more faithful to the Orthodoxy of the first millennium, no?

And ultimately, when East and West finally reunite, the two will continue to call each other "Catholic" and "Orthodox."

So don't go!

We all love you!!

Just snap out of it, will you?!

Alex

Funny you should pick that verse. It's the only one I know in Latin by heart. ("Ecce quam bonum et quam incundum habitare fratres in unum" is what it says in the Vulgate, but I remember it as "Ecce quam bonum et quam incundum congregare"/"Behold how good and how pleasant to gather together"). ???

Anastasios,

I, of course, are among those here who wish you to stay inside the Catholic Communion. Regardless of this, one can NEVER act against where he percieves the Most High is calling him. Where one is being called and where one percieves he is being called are two different things, but he must always follow his heart. Faith isn't a head thing, it's a heart thing. Following our consciences, and accompanied by God's limitless mercy, will hopefully bring us into the Heavenly Kingdom.

Logos Teen