Saturday, July 31, 2010

The Catholic Church, blogging, and hurtful judgmental language

I was annoyed to read a recent statement made by Auxiliary Bishop Gabino Zavala of Los Angeles at some webinar the USCCB conducted on communications.
"We are particularly concerned about blogs that engage in attacks and hurtful judgmental language. We are very troubled by blogs and other elements of media that assume the role of magisterium and judge others in the church."
First, I think such events are a complete waste of time, effort, and money.  In today's world, it seems folks just can't get enough of meetings, conventions, and conferences - none of which provide anything of real value, other than a time for folks to socialize.  

One of the reasons I quit blogging exclusively about "Catholic matters" was due to the constant carping on some of the Catholic sites.  In most cases, the carping was completely justified and folks were only stating Catholic teaching, but the constant onslaught was really starting to affect my spiritual life.  The only choice was to rely on the Serenity Prayer for guidance.

I can't do anything about bongos and banjos wailing away during a Mass.  Oh sure, I can complain, which will get me absolutely nowhere (except on the pastors sh*t list.)  I can't "fix" a priest who deviates from true Catholic teaching.  Just as we Catholics love to accuse protestants of "church shopping", there has never been a time in the Church's history that Catholics haven't "priest shopped."  Want to use birth control?  Need an annulment?  Keep looking and you will find a priest who will lend, perhaps tacitly, a way for you to circumvent doctrine. 

When it comes to all things Church, both hubby and I have gone the route of "removing ourselves from the annoyance" since we cannot change it and are unwilling to accept it.  Others in the laity have chosen a different path.  That is their right, and I applaud their efforts.  What I don't need is to hear a Church bishop  spew "New Age" nonsense such as " hurtful judgmental language" because, well - I find that hurtful and judgmental.  See how stupid that sounds?

What started this little mini-rant?  My friend Robert Kumpel, a true warrior for the Church, posted a fine article Days of Whining and Neurosis, that does a fine job of summing up the problem with that silly statement made by the bishop. 
As long as there are forces in the Church denying the truth, there will be Catholics speaking out against their lies. This is the age of the internet, so our bishops should not be surprised to see Catholics using it. 
Robert's article is a fine read for anyone, as it addresses the issue of truth, something that is applicable to our present day politics, your church of choice, or your personal life.  Take time to read his entire article.  It's excellent...

As to the path each of you should take?  Here are your choices...
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.

Now, isn't that simple?

19 comments:

Elizabeth Mahlou said...

I never saw the second part of the serenity prayer -- or is that your own prayer?

Adoro said...

Yup, I'm with you. The "constant carping" started to drive me crazy and affect me spiritually, too. It also clouded my judgment with regards to other Catholics in my work....blood pressure always up about this or that "cafeteria Catholic". I can't work in an atmosphere where I'm brining the carping of the fringe blogosphere with me. I have to be able to respond to people, with what they need, and lead them to Christ in a way that works for THEM...and not some rad-trad with a big mouth and a blog.

For the most part, I don't even write about liturgical matters anymore, unless describing something or relating an experience. And I tend to delete people who try to start something in the combox.

Life is too short and souls are too valuable to be in a constant state of outrage.

Ken & Carol said...

Every time I see the word 'judgmental' it looks like it ought to have an 'e' after the 'g' but the dictionary doesn't agree with me. Does it look odd to others?

Mark D. said...

Amen!

You know, I've shifted away from blogging about Catholic stuff too. I still blog about religious stories and I do post on particularly Catholic topics from time to time (I've got a post scheduled for Sunday that discusses the epistle reading for Mass, for example), but for the most part, I've moved to blogging about cultural and political and legal topics. And for mostly the reasons you state. I can't really fix what's broken, I can just do my best to tell the truth as I know it and understand it.

Keep up the good work!

Adrienne said...

Elizabeth - that is the second half of the prayer which really makes it much more complete (theologically)

Adrienne said...

Adoro - Life is too short and souls are too valuable to be in a constant state of outrage

Exactly!!

Adrienne said...

Adoro - and I hate to say this (but I will anyway) the rad-trad types seem to have more than their fair share of the angst...

Adrienne said...

K & C - You made me go look that up. I guess they are both correct. I went with the no "e" cause that's the way it was in the bishop's quote (and spell-check or my hubby didn't flag it, either - heh)

Adrienne said...

Mark - it all got old very,very fast. When we started leaving Mass and complaining all the way home about one thing or another, due in part to my deep study of the liturgy and fueled by unhappy Catholic sites, we knew it was time to head to another church.

Between the NO at St. Stan's and the EF at St. Joan of Arc, we don't have much to complain about so we could get back to being good Catholics by making fun of the other pew-potatoes! Heh...

Mark D. said...

Finding a good parish is key -- and then getting down to the real business of being a Catholic. The business of prayer and works of charity, practicing the cardinal & theological virtues, attending Mass and receiving the sacraments. I used to study theology a great bit, read the "big writers," and thought about fairly obscure theological topics quite a bit (and wrote on them too, on my blog!).

But then I got to thinking one day about my grandmother, who was the person who taught me to pray and who, in her suffering in her later years, showed me how to endure trials in faith and hope and love (a lesson proving particularly helpful to me now). Anyway, my grandmother never read a theological book in her life. To the best of my knowledge, she couldn't have told Thomas Aquinas apart from Thomas Edison.

And she lived a deeply Catholic life, praying the rosary and receiving the sacraments, offering up her sufferings and working in her garden to bring forth beauty in the world. She was a far better Catholic, I dare say, than I have been, and she understood Catholicism far better than I did even when I was reading all that high-falutin' theology.

Catholicism is really pretty simple, and it comes down to actually living the faith, not just talking about it or complaining about it or thinking about it. It comes down to knowing Jesus, and following Him. No knowing Greek, or Latin, or being well-read in the Catholic classics (although it is wonderful to have all those things). It is about knowing Jesus, and following Him.

Subvet said...

I've heard the short version of the prayer is, "Oh f*** it!"

The wife hears me use that one a lot.

As for the bishop's comments, did he get some cheese with all that whine?

Joe of St. Thérèse said...

Amen,

I'm in Postulancy for the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy, Liturgical Purgatory I'm leaving, I have nothing to complain about

Adrienne said...

Mark - so well said...

Adrienne said...

Sub - my version is "who gives a sh*t" Hubby hears that often...

Adrienne said...

Joe - that is such exciting news!!!

Sarah Oldham said...

Ha ha ha! I have to agree with both shortened versions of the serenity prayer as I oft use both!!! Terrible of me, in'it? ;)

Pablo the Mexican said...

Our Holy Rosary Prayers and penances are enough to change things.

Here's a video on a message from the Holy Mother you might consider:

http://vimeo.com/13791347

Please comment on this video.

I value your opinion.

*

Pablo the Mexican said...

Mark in Spokane has one of the best comments I have ever read on the Internet.

May God hold your Grandma forever in His glory Mr. Mark.

At the time of our grandparents inculcation of the Faith, Priests would teach from the Magisterium of Holy Mother Church, the Church Doctors and the Saints during their Sermons.

It was a very nurishing time for souls.

It is our constant prayer that we be once again fed Catholicism during our time at Mass. I guess bringing the True Mass back everywhere comes first.

For your consideration:

http://www.chrysostompress.org/selected-gospel-commentaries

This is what our Priests would base their sermons on; perhaps if someone is sick and tired of being sick and tired this would make good reading.

Sometimes on the road to Heaven, people need to pull over and catch a breather.

*

Fr. John Mary, ISJ said...

I hope the good bishops take a look at National Catholic Reporter web site with all its vitriol, constant criticism, and anti-Catholic rants that rival any "Jack Chick" comics, fundamentalist rants, etc.
And the rad-trad schtick is just as vomitous...
Criticism based in charity and truth is something that must always be present; St. Thomas of Aquinas clearly spells this out; but the evil rantings of those who hate Holy Mother Church in any guise should be dealt with accordingly (now, who, exactly determines this is another question altogether!!)