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June 01, 2006
The Dioces Of Orange Clarifies
(Jimmy Akin)
The Diocese of Orange has issued a clarification regarding Fr. Martin Tran's apparent statement that kneeling after the Agnus Dei contrary to the norm in his diocese constitutes a "mortal sin."
HERE'S THE DOCUMENT ON THE DIOCESAN WEB SITE.
(CHT to the reader who emailed.)
And here's the money quote:
Fr. Tran regrets any concern or hurt caused by the misuse of the term "mortal sin" in this context. The Diocese concurs with Fr. Tran's clarification.
The context in question is the passage from the parish bulletin where Fr. Tran threatened with mortal sin those parishioners "disregarding the permission of the local Bishop or despising the authority of the local Bishop" by "setting their own norms" in the liturgy.
So Fr. Tran and the diocese are refusing to endorse the claim that kneeling after the Agnus Dei is a mortal sin, which is a good thing, because as I pointed out before, that claim is totally absolutely 100% crazy.
So the clarification is good.
Unfortunately, the statement on the diocesan web site (which is unsigned) appears to have a couple of notable drafting problems.
Immediately after the above quotation, the statement goes on to say:
The bulletin article by Fr. Tran was never about "kneeling" or "standing" during Mass, it was about respect for the liturgical practices of the Church as approved by the Pope.
This is not plausible, for reasons discussed before. To those reasons might be added the fact that Fr. Tran explicitly referred to the authority and the permissions granted or not granted by the diocesan bishop, which focuses attention on the actions of the diocesan bishop, and the only norm established by the diocesan bishop that the parishioners seem to have been accused of violating was the norm of standing after the Agnus Dei (which, it must be pointed out, is within the competence of the local bishop according to the U.S. edition of the GIRM).
Still, the key point--that it is not a mortal sin to kneel after the Agnus Dei in those places where standing is the norm--has been acknowledged, so this difficulty need not detain us further.
A second drafting problem with the statement is found in its first sentence:
The LA TIMES, Sunday, May 28, 2006, story about the liturgical practices at St. Mary's by the Sea stated that the determination of some parishioners to kneel during the Agnus Dei at Mass was a 'mortal sin' because it violated the liturgical norm (to stand) of the province of the USCCB Region XI (CA, Hawaii and Nevada)
Although Region XI does not seem to have its own web site, and although there is precious little about Region XI on the web, I happen to live in Region XI, and it is not the practice in my diocese to stand after the Agnus Dei.
Further, the American GIRM does not empower a region to establish a norm on this question. It is the local bishop that is empowered to do so.
Unless there is a norm that I am not aware of, there is no Region XI norm for standing after the Agnus Dei.
Hopefully this statement will not cause needless consternation or confusion on the part of others in Region XI whose dioceses follow the practice of kneeling after the Agnus Dei.
THE L.A. TIMES ALSO HAS A GOOD EDITORIAL PIECE ON THIS CONTROVERSY.
Posted by Jimmy Akin in Liturgy | Permalink
Comments
Good people of Orange,
You have an opportunity here. Will you put it to use, or will it go to waste?
Will you act like winners? Because I am conting on you not to act like a bunch of losers.
Smart people who are winners in life know how to discipline themselves and behave with decorum and with respect. That is how you go on to get what you want.
Remember the scene in The Godfather where Don Corleone was complaining to his visitor, "You never called on me; you never invited me into your home. Now you're asking me to do you this favor. Where is the respect?"
Even mafiosi understand and know how to treat and to be treated with respect. Are you not as smart as they are?
I'm not talking about stand-kneel-sit. I am talking about behaving respectfully. I am talking about being gracious.
It's just smart politics. It helps you to get what you want.
Even street thugs understand this. Do you?
Just think about that. Please.
Posted by: Marion | Jun 1, 2006 9:57:55 AM
The USCCB has regions? For what purpose? We already have a bishop. Sounds like another level of beaurocracy.
Posted by: Barbara | Jun 1, 2006 10:07:12 AM
It seems as if the prayers of the faithful have brought a small victory.
Be sure to offer up a prayer of thanks.
Posted by: Tim J. | Jun 1, 2006 10:29:09 AM
The fact that the diocese issued a "clarifying" statement doesn't obscure the fact that, throughout this whole matter, Brown and Tran have acted like petty tyrants. Why? Because that's what they are. That's what the the Church has trained them to become. For centuries, priests and bishops have demanded blind deference. Now they're helpless in the face of educated faithful.
Believing that Brown and Tran are genuinely humble servants of God means believing in the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy and the Kansas City Royals' chances of winning the World Series this year.
How long will some of you sleep? How long will you refuse to realize that the Catholic episcopacy, at least in the United States, is incorrigibly and infernally corrupt? How long will it take before you realize that the only things the bishops care about are power, prestige, secular influence and their own comfort? How long will it be until you realize that a holy, righteous God will judge and condemn these false shepherds, just as He condemned the Israelites' false shepherds through the Assyrian and Babylonian captivities -- and that He may do it in our lifetimes? Indeed, He may well be doing it now.
Posted by: Joseph D'Hippolito | Jun 1, 2006 10:33:19 AM
Joseph,
Our Lord promised us that there would always be tares among the wheat, but he also promised that he would supply us with shepherd after his own heart. There are good shepherds out there, both episcopal and presbyteral and to deny this is to deny reality. Yes, we can become discouraged, but that doesn't justify blatant over-generalization. True reformers like Francis and Catherine are always building up the Church in their words and actions, not simply tearing down and complaining like Korah and the other Israelites in the wilderness. To use your scriptural example, any self-righteous Jew interpreting the actions of Assyria and Babylon as being in response not to the sins of the ENTIRE people, but of only a select few Levitical officials would miss the prophetic critique entirely. Be very careful in how you see the existance of sin (including scandal, detraction, and pride) only in others.
Yes, there are tares among the clergy, but no less among the laity. As a layman, I can say that among the Catholic clergy and laity that I have met, there is a far more prevalent trend of forsaking one's call to holiness and personal vocation among the laity. How are you living out your baptismal promises? What about your personal vocation? Are you really free from the desires of power, prestige, secular influence and your own comfort? Or have you, like the rich young man, gone away sad because you had many possessions? Perhaps his sadness became anger. I have read many words of yours attacking and tearing down (which is sometimes needed when inspired by God), but I have never read words of yours building up the Kingdom of God or nourishing his people. That is the mark of a false prophet. The true prophet calls people to God; the false prophet inspires malice and calls for the destruction of others with delight. Perhaps you do hope and pray for the conversion of all those who reject their vocations, but this has not been expressed. And perhaps you have done and written much to build up the Kingdom of God. But given the relative ubiquitousness of your postings and articles, this seems quite unlikely.
In any event, do not see the Church with the eyes of Medea (of whom you are a part by profession), but with the eyes of Christ.
Posted by: Jay E. Adrian | Jun 1, 2006 11:17:53 AM
I live on the south shore of Lake Tahoe and it is not the norm on either the Nevada or California side of the state line to stand after the Agnus Dei.
Posted by: Louis | Jun 1, 2006 11:19:15 AM
Joseph D'Hippolito,
Some suggested
reading.
Take care and God bless,
Inocencio
J+M+J
Posted by: Inocencio | Jun 1, 2006 11:35:59 AM
I think that this clarifying statement is a sham. It's insensitive and rather smug. In its wording it only vaguely attempts to correct the situation caused by Fr. Tran in all its gravity.
This vagueness - though we're told that "mortal sin" does not refer to "standing or kneeling" - prevents us from understanding whether it was was meant that "mortal sin" may actually be applied to some other instance within "liturgical practices of the Church as approved by the Pope", as the statement puts it.
The possible indication that another instance in this area of "liturgical practices" according to the diocese may be labeled as a mortal sin does very little to clarify the situation. The vagueness does little justice to the gravity of the fiasco which has been caused by Fr. Tran's words and his support from the diocese, and the people who wrote this statement know this. That's what makes this statement insensitive and smug - OR - not very "pastoral" - as they say.
Posted by: Balinda | Jun 1, 2006 11:49:24 AM
I hope this all means that the diocese will not demand and force people to stand at St. Mary's by the Sea. Fr. Tran lies when he says that he never meant that kneeling was a mortal sin. Ask the older couple who asked him personally, and received the response that "yes, you are in mortal sin if you kneel", from him. They wrote a letter to Rome. At least the diocese will back down and cease the gestapo measures. But seriously, how can the faithful put this behind them, when their pastor is shown to be a liar, and when diocesan theology changes with media pressure. What's next?
Posted by: Dean | Jun 1, 2006 12:16:13 PM
Jay, the fact that I can improve in personal holiness does not relieve me of the responsibility -- a responsibility incumbent upon all Christians -- to proclaim truth. The truth is self-evident to anybody who wants to see it, who hasn't been blinded by distorted notions of "obedience." What is that truth? That Brown is a petty tyrant and that Tran is his boot-licking toady. That the American episcopacy is so self-absorbed that it has forgotten its pastoral identity and responsibility. That only a concerned effort by the faithful will turn the tide.
With all due respect, Jay, you are engaging in that time-honored tradition of Catholic guilt: Focus exclusively on your own foibles and problems so you can't offer legitimate criticism. That's straight out of Satan's playbook. Of course, everyone can improve in personal holiness. But if we waited for "perfect" people to do things, then nothing would get done. Besides, Christ made us "perfect" in His and His Father's sight through His blood.
All the diocese is doing is covering its own ample posterior. That has been the episcopal modus operandi throughout the nation, if not the world; we saw that in the clerical sex-abuse crisis. How many more lessons must Catholics learn before they see the obvious?
Posted by: Joseph D'Hippolito | Jun 1, 2006 12:29:21 PM
That's straight out of Satan's playbook
No but your pride is...
Take care and God bless,
Inocencio
J+M+J
Posted by: Inocencio | Jun 1, 2006 12:40:05 PM
So what exactly do you suggest should be done, Joseph, in your infinite wisdom?
Posted by: Margaret | Jun 1, 2006 12:55:04 PM
So what exactly do you suggest should be done, Joseph, in your infinite wisdom?
An ecclesiastical form of civil disobedience. Every parishoner at St. Mary's By The Sea -- as well as every Catholic at every diocesan-controlled church in Orange County (as opposed to churches controlled by orders, like the Norbertines or the Servites) -- should kneel when receiving the Eucharist. The pastors and the bishop can't throw everybody out of church, can they?
Rome will not help. Rome is too self-absorbed and isolated from the legitimate concerns of the faithful. Only a dramatic action such as the one decribed above will get Rome's attention.
As far as my "pride" goes, Inocencio, God created us in His free image. The Church Establishment, however, has worked for centuries to obscure that fact by demanding blind deference even in the face of immorality. No Christian should be forced to acquiece to episcopal immorality or malfeasance.
God did not create us to be servile toadies to men, like Tran. He created us to be free to follow Him and to grow in Him and His Son. If you cannot or refuse to see that as a Catholic, then I must seriously question your knowledge of your faith.
Posted by: Joseph D'Hippolito | Jun 1, 2006 1:02:53 PM
God created us in His free image
What translation are your reading?
"And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross." Philippians 2:8
Take care and God bless,
Inocencio
J+M+J
Posted by: Inocencio | Jun 1, 2006 1:29:35 PM
The Church Establishment
You must mean the "Church He established" which He promised would not fail and He would be with until the end of time.
Take care and God bless,
Inocencio
J+M+J
Posted by: Inocencio | Jun 1, 2006 1:31:40 PM
Joseph,
To proclaim truth? Yes, indeed. As it stands, however, your statements are not true. Unless you have the ability to judge hearts that belongs to God, your personal judgments are gravely presumptous.. indeed blasphemous.
The problem with your distorted parody of the Christian's duty to proclaim truth is that you are unable to provide constructive models of what should be done in any particular situation. Rather, you hurl epithets in a manner beyond any useful hyperbole.
I don't think that an awareness of our personal faults should prevent us offering legitimate criticism. I think that an awareness of our personal faults is the only way to inform a legitimate criticism.
I'm not defending the actions of Brown, Tran or the diocesan PR staff at all. I am saying that repeatedly shouting that ALL the bishops in the States (with the episcopacy the world over implicitly accused) are evil and corrupt. Do you really have the information to make that judgment? Are you really comfortable pretending that you could possibly cognize the happenings across the continent (let alone gain the knowledge to begin with)? Rather you sort through lists of problems and scandals filtered out of the real world and pasted on electronic databases.
"But if we waited for 'perfect' people to do things, then nothing would get done. Besides, Christ made us 'perfect' in His and His Father's sight through His blood."
These words of yours ring true, if not in the way that you mean. The successors of the apostles that we have today as a whole are no worse than the ones we have had through the centuries to the apostles themselves. Peter made some pretty huge pastoral mistakes, not to mention his and the other apostles' track record during the earthly ministry of Jesus. Did Paul respond by hurling epithets and bemoaning Peter's filling of his position with a vagueness that allows no constructive suggestions? By no means! Rather, he addressed the issue at hand with authentic theological understanding and worked to build up the Church in the midst of the HUGE mistake that Peter knew better about and could easily have been avoided.
I'm not asking you to stop your critique or refrain from pointing out mistakes (except those that have already been pointed out countless time in the discussion at hand). Rather, I'm asking you to address the issues at hand instead of conjuring up adjectives that properly apply to God's people throughout history and pretending that any particular part of Christ's body (we are all incorporated, remember..) has a monopoly on sin. Put your mind to work at offering real suggestions for what should be done in particular cases or ones like them. Build up the Church. It may be presumptive, but tell us what bishops would do if the Church were your chessboard. Get up from your throne of judgment for a moment and put on the pallium of universal pastor. We can very clearly see what doesn't work ourselves; we don't need you for that. Rather, give us a peek into your scroll and enlighten us as to what would.
At least it would beat the racket you've been stuck in for some time now..
Posted by: Jay E. Adrian | Jun 1, 2006 1:34:58 PM
According to (the American adaptation of) GIRM 43, "The faithful kneel after the Agnus Dei unless the Diocesan Bishop determines otherwise."
Almost certainly "determines" here does not mean personal preference. It seems to have something to do with GIRM 20 (not 387, which deals with other matters than posture), which says in part that "the utmost care must be taken to choose and to arrange those forms and elements set forth by the Church that, in view of the circumstances of the people and the place, will more effectively foster active and full participation and more properly respond to the spiritual needs of the faithful". In other words, in "determining" the Diocesan Bishop considers his flock, not himself.
Moreover, since according to GIRM 22, "The Bishop should . . . be determined that the priests, the deacons, and the lay Christian faithful grasp ever more deeply the genuine meaning of the rites and liturgical texts and thereby be led to an active and fruitful celebration of the Eucharist," a determination departing from the stated norm should be introduced pastorally, by providing the faithful with proper catechesis on the reasons for the differing norm and whether this norm is (to use Cardinal Arinze's oft-quoted words) intended "to regulate posture rigidly" or "to ensure within broad limits a certain uniformity of posture."
An arbitrary or unexplained determination would therefore unlawful (I am not judging the present case). There is also the matter of application. A determination may be lawful but if its administration is inconsistent, then its application is unjust -- inequitable. For example, if a norm is for the entire diocese, punishment for violating the norm must not be limited to parishioners of one parish -- that would be inconsistent and unjust (again, I am not judging the present case). Instead, in the words of Canon 1752, "canonical equity is to be observed." Canon 1752 concludes the entire Code of Canon Law by stating, "the salvation of souls, which must always be the supreme law in the Church, is to be kept before one’s eyes." This supreme law guides every Diocesan Bishop's determinations.
Posted by: Leo Wong | Jun 1, 2006 1:54:08 PM
Whoa whoa whoa...
There's a big inconsistency here. Having just graduated with a degree in Hippolyitian, er Hippolitian Theology, I know that we are created in God's free image and are not to be "toadies." It is the imperial model forced on the Church by Constantine that brought all the hierarchal understanding and feudal systems into play. Obedience and deference are ploys of controlling people by guilt.
How then can the venerable founder of the Hippolitian School recommend that an entire parish, nay, diocese begin kneeling while receiving communion? Doesn't this perpetuate the toady system? Why should an educated layperson kneel to receive communion from the hands of a corrupt and otherwise evil cleric (since we have established that they are all corrupt and otherwise evil)? Hmm, it seems to our School that the educated layperson should receive communion in the same way as the cleric. We should process to the altar and auto-communicate. Priesthood of all believers, you know.
Also, it seems that the educated laity have come to a consensus (at least by vast majority) that artificial contraception is not only morally acceptable, but morally obligated in many circumstances. The educated laity freed from blind obedience and Catholic guilt have determined this of their own free will after much investigation. The same is true of the procedure known as abortion. Therefore the Hippolitian School proposes that Catholics in all parishes begin these practices immediately, so as to get Rome's attention.
But what to make of the venerable Hippolito's order of medieval piety in the Diocese of Orange? Well, it's a matter of distinguishing means and end. You see, the words of our distinguished scholar are clear that the scopos of receiving communion in this way is "to get Rome's attention." The true end (telos), however, is disobedience itself. Reception of Jesus in the liturgy of the Eucharist is a means ordered to this end.
So lets stand up proudly (but kneel when the liturgy doesn't call for kneeling) as Citizens of the Republic of Heaven and practice our ecclesial disobedience until us educated laity can truly wrest power from the absurd Constantinian Imperial hierarchal system and reform the Church into our own Body by the almighty power of the Vote, the Check, and the Cyber-Rant.
Stick it to the God-Man!
Posted by: Jay E. Adrian | Jun 1, 2006 2:00:07 PM
it is interesting to note that Bishop Brown has been careful, to this point, to allow only spokespeople to speak for him and share the diocesan position.
He has had two parish administrators implement changes that he directed. He ordered it done, but has been careful to have these administrators say that they are making the changes.
He meets with Fr. Tran weekly and has been in close communication with him over this issue. Fr. Tran has let parishioners know this.
The invitation to leave the parish and the diocese was done with Bishop Brown's blessing. Fr. Tran explicitly states this, and the diocese has gone on record as "standing behind Fr. Tran". (Still, never from Bishop Brown's own moth, though.)
Bishop Brown has also (through his intermediaries) been careful to enumerate any number of bodies from the Holy See, to the USCCB/NCCB, to of the province of the USCCB Region XI (CA, Hawaii and Nevada).
he has carefully avoided the fact that he, alone, has instigated these changes. He has picked this fight with these people in this little parish. He wants to erase traditional Catholicism in all its forms from the Diocese of Orange, and he is essentially throwing all of his weight on this little parish in order to accomplish that end.
He could relax and adopt a live and let live attitude at any time, but he has pushed these people against a wall because he wants no corner of the diocese to reflect anything that resembles traditional Catholicism.
He has been careful to try and make it look like forcing people to stand comes from Rome, the USCCB/NCCB, to of the province of the USCCB Region XI (CA, Hawaii and Nevada), anybody but himself, alone.
Yet that is the truth of the matter. This whole crisis for these poor people begins and ends with Bishop Tod Brown.
Posted by: john chrysostom | Jun 1, 2006 2:01:10 PM
OK. My $0.02 as a layperson of the Diocese of Orange.
As Leo stated earlier: According to (the American adaptation of) GIRM 43, "The faithful kneel after the Agnus Dei unless the Diocesan Bishop determines otherwise."
The rule to stand during the Agnus Dei was implemented a couple of years ago and is diocesan-wide. At our parish (St. Columban, Garden Grove) no one was very happy about it, but we complied.
Bishop Brown, for whatever reason, is hostile to the use of Latin in the liturgy. There is a little bit here and there, but nothing to speak of.
This whole mess started with the retirement of Fr. Johnson (I think) and Bishop Brown's decision to suppress the TLM with father's retirement. Rather than accept the decision or find alternate sources, a group of parishioners started a campaign of open dissent. Both the parishioners and Fr Tran (and by extension Bishop Brown) have behaved badly - the parishioners by their open dissent, and Fr Tran by his lack of charity in dealing with the parishioners.
What started as a squabble has spiralled out of control with no one looking good at the moment.
Everyone, please pray for diocese.
Posted by: Brian Day | Jun 1, 2006 2:34:57 PM
Here's an interesting take on the situation in Orange County: Straight up, no chaser... and no bull!
Posted by: john chrysostom | Jun 1, 2006 2:49:38 PM
Thank you, Brian. Your post has shed some very helpful light.
I feel these parishoners' pain, but they seem bound and determined to run off the cliff.
It's too bad, because their concerns really are legitimate, from what I have seen the couple of times I have visited there.
If only there were sound, practical methods that they could undertake to resolve this. I know of one, for starters.
I will pray for the diocese.
Posted by: Marion (Mael Muire) | Jun 1, 2006 2:53:31 PM
My husband and I aren't fooled by the Orange Diocese statement. Bishop Brown forces people to do alot of things like sign a secret oath to keep secret an evil "lifestyle" of a priest who was head of Liturgy for the Orange Diocese! We know it to be fact!! because my husband and I are the ones forced into signing the secret oath to keep secret the evil "lifestyle" of my husband cousin the priest former head of Liturgy for the Diocese of Orange. (Read Los Angeles LAy Catholic Mission newspaper article July 2002 issue " AllThat Perception Stuff" by Robert Krumpel.)
Posted by: Susan Teissere | Jun 1, 2006 4:05:00 PM
Susan Teissere,
May I ask what type of force the bishop used to make you sign a secret oath?
I could not find the article do you have a link?
Take care and God bless,
Inocencio
J+M+J
Posted by: Inocencio | Jun 1, 2006 4:21:57 PM
Marion,
Thanks for your prayers. Thanks to everyone else too. The Catholics of St. Mary's by the Sea parish are praying too.
The people who kneel aren't making a scene. Honest. They just kneel. Some people pass out fliers after Mass. There is no yelling. They don't shout insults. They don't stage sit-ins. They never disrupt any liturgies at all. Ever. They simply kneel. Some, a minority, pass out fliers. Over fifty five families have agreed to have their names on the fliers. An Open Letter To Bishop Brown was written to inform people about many issues, not just the kneeling, as well as to connect the dots as to what is at the root of these issues, including the issue about kneeling at St. Mary's and the other liturgical reforms foisted on the parish, while other parishes who stand through the consecration are left alone.
Catholics at St. Mary’s by the Sea are within their canonical rights to question the actions of Bishop Brown and Fr. Tran in accordance with Canon 212 of the Code of Canon Law.
Canon 212 states:
§1. Conscious of their own responsibility, the Christian faithful are bound to follow with Christian obedience those things which the sacred pastors, inasmuch as they represent Christ, declare as teachers of the faith or establish as rulers of the Church.§2. The Christian faithful are free to make known to the pastors of the Church their needs, especially spiritual ones, and their desires.
§3. According to the knowledge, competence, and prestige which they possess, they have the right and even at times the duty to manifest to the sacred pastors their opinion on matters which pertain to the good of the Church and to make their opinion known to the rest of the Christian faithful, without prejudice to the integrity of faith and morals, with reverence toward their pastors, and attentive to common advantage and the dignity of persons.
Although strong language has been used by some of these Catholics, none have written anything (or said anything, to my knowledge) that demeans the human dignity of Bishop Brown or Fr. Tran. I know most of these families personally, and I can assure you that they do have authentic charity for Bishop Brown and Fr. Tran.
They just keep kneeling at Mass and have been honest with others about their reasons for doing it outside of Mass by means of their literature. Why is that so wrong?
Posted by: john chrysostom | Jun 1, 2006 4:23:38 PM
Susan,
Ok found the article July 2004.
Take care and God bless,
Inocencio
J+M+J
Posted by: Inocencio | Jun 1, 2006 4:24:06 PM
Inocencio,
Here is a link to the article:
All That Perceptions Stuff — Ex-priest Rod Stephens Still Works in Orange Diocese, Los Angeles Lay Catholic Mission, July/August 2004
Posted by: john chrysostom | Jun 1, 2006 4:26:23 PM
I don't think the clergy is handling this well and don't agree with requiring everyone to stand, but don't you think it would be better for the parishioners to suck it up and stand, and complain to the appropriate people later on rather than kneel in anger and protest during Mass? What's next, the wearing of rainbow kneepads on Pentecost?
Obedience is easy when you already want to do what is asked of you. It becomes a more telling test of virtue when it's difficult.
Posted by: John E | Jun 1, 2006 4:28:04 PM
Dear Susan,
Are you the Susan Teissere who is listed as one of the signers of the Open Letter to Bishop Brown, dated April 19, 2006?
The article you reference (actually July 2004; link in "Open Letter"), indicates that you had to sign some sort of confidentiality or non-disclosure to have further discussions about this preist personnel matter with Bp. Brown.
Why do you think this is so unusual? Many business meetings and legal meeting also require that participants sign non-disclosure or confidentiality agreements. This is especially common in personnel and procurement meetings in the business world. Some things need to be kept confidential for the sake of all parties involved.
Why did you, obviously, break this "oath" you made to the Bishop? It appears that the matter just includes adult homosexual relationships between you husband's cousin and his adult partner. Why is this so much your business?
Are you on a campaign against gay priests now?
Or is it about kneeling?
I'm confused.
Posted by: Old Zhou | Jun 1, 2006 4:29:32 PM
Food for thought...
Jesus warns priests & bishops:
You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. (Matthew 5:13)Jesus said to his disciples: “Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come." Then Peter said, "Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?" And the Lord replied, "Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute the food allowance at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so. Truly, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property. But if that servant says to himself, ´My master is delayed in coming,´ and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, to eat and drink and get drunk, then that servant´s master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish him severely and assign him a place with the unfaithful. That servant who knew his master´s will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely; and the servant who was ignorant of his master´s will but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating shall be beaten only lightly. Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.” (Luke 12:39-48)
Posted by: john chrysostom | Jun 1, 2006 4:37:45 PM
Susan,
"He wouldn't even talk with us unless we would sign an oath first. Our attorney didn't know anything about canon law, so he just told us to sign it. Father Cook wouldn't even tell us what the oath was, only that we had to sign it. It was scribbled on a legal pad and was illegible. Finally, we signed it.
If you could clarify what force the bishop used. The article never used that word and the bishop wasn't at the meeting when, with the advise of your attorney, you signed the oath.
Take care and God bless,
Inocencio
J+M+J
Posted by: Inocencio | Jun 1, 2006 4:38:26 PM
john chrysostom,
Exactly! God will hold them accountable but that does not free us from our obedience to them as the Catechism of Trent stated and you agreed with.
Take care and God bless,
Inocencio
J+M+J
Posted by: Inocencio | Jun 1, 2006 4:41:42 PM
I am obedient, as are the people who kneel. So what is your criticism, Inocencio?
Posted by: john chrysostom | Jun 1, 2006 4:46:18 PM
So what is your criticism
Huh? If you are obedient to your pastors authority than that is a great way to end the discussion.
Take care and God bless,
Inocencio
J+M+J
Posted by: Inocencio | Jun 1, 2006 4:50:06 PM
Everyone who kneels at St. Mary's by the Sea is obedient to their pastor's authority. That's why they're able to kneel.
Posted by: john chrysostom | Jun 1, 2006 4:51:31 PM
Dear John Chrysostom,
And who is "thier pastor" at who authorizes their kneeling?
(A) Fr. Tran
(B) Bp. Brown
(C) [write in] ?
Posted by: Old Zhou | Jun 1, 2006 4:53:35 PM
Old Zhou,
The correct answer is: (C)
Francis Cardinal Arinze, Prefect of Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, here and here.
Because of Cardinal Arinze's assertion that people have a right to kneel, and he states that posture, "for the various parts of the celebration of the Holy Mass" and that the Holy See intends that pastors (bishops, priests, liturgists, lay people, whoever you want to claim has authority) should "not regulate posture rigidly in such a way that those who wish to kneel or sit would no longer be free" means that Catholics have a right to kneel and their kneeling isn't disobedience.
Since the Cardinal was expressing the mind of the Church on the intention of the rubrics that are being utilized to decide on the norms for posture, I think its safe to say that Bishop Brown and Fr. Tran have the authority to ask people to stand, but have no power to demand it, and since kneeling is a right of the faithful, doing so can't be termed disobedience.
By the way, Old Zhou, since you are such a fan of obedience, why do you all stand for the consecration, in violation of Universal Church norms over at Sts. Simon & Jude?
Posted by: john chrysostom | Jun 1, 2006 5:09:06 PM
Dear John Chrysostom,
May I ask who taught you that you can
(1) disobey the Priest who is your Pastor or Administrator, designated by your Bishop;
(2) disobey your Bishop,
(3) and count some remote Cardinal as your "pastor" to whom you are "obedient"?
In regard to standing through the entire eucharistic prayer, see the diocesan guidelines," (PDF) especially footnote 1.
You need to obey the person in front of you, your pastor.
You need to obey your actual territorial ordinary, your bishop.
Don't think you can be "spiritual" and obey some distant cardinal and call that obedience if you are disobeying (1) and (2).
You might as well say you are obeying Jesus or the Holy Spirit.
It is spiritualistic nonsense, not obedience.
Posted by: Old Zhou | Jun 1, 2006 5:18:06 PM
Old Zhou, Yes we are the same Teissere's that signed the "Open letter". This was not a "buisness" meeting Old Zhou. It was a SECRETE OATH! Coverup! meeting! Did you read the article? Bishop Brown after our first meeting with him begged for a second meeting, because the first one didn't go his way, in fact it got totally heated with his priest secretary Fr Michael Mckierran expressing a violent movement towards me, and Bishop Tod Brown had to hold him back with his arm stretched out. That was n't reported in the article. The Second Meeting that Bishop Brown begged and demanded we have with him was during Holy Week 2002, resulting in same displeasure of the outcome for Bishop Brown, instead this meeting Fr. McKierran wasn't present, but along with Bishop Brown , his cannon lawyer Fr. Douglas Cook. A note of information for all , Bishop Brown didn't allow for my husband and I to have our civil attorneys present at those meetings or even a cannon lawyer to represent us. Since the second meeting didn't go Bishop Tod Browns way, he made sure there will be a third meeting. However our civil attorneys who represented us for protection reasons only. See they are not cannon lawyers , they are just very good catholic laymen, who at the time diidn't realized the corruption in the diocese of Orange. Our Attorneys were so upset by what happened to my husband and I during the first two meetings. In fact I have copies of the correspondences between our attorneys and Bishop Tod Brown to prove all this took place. Our attorneys said no! Bishop Tod Brown , the third meeting will take place in our office this time around. I bet you can guess Bishop Brown didn't show up! yep! He didn't show up! He sent his cannon lawyer Fr. Douglas Cook to do his "dirty work" for him. See Bishop Brown doesn't like being told what to do. My husband and I know that, because during our meetings with him he pounded his fists on the table we were sitting at and said Michael and Susan I don't like being told what to do! So on that awful day I will always remember Fr. Douglas Cook said we first must sign a secret oath , then we could talk again to Bishop Tod Brown about the serious situation of my husbands cousin Fr. Rod Stephens. The previous two meetings we didn't have to sign a secret oath to talk ,infact we talked for at least 4hours total in those previous meetings with Bishop Tod Brown. It was a trick they wanted to use "obedience" against us. After signing the Secret oath, we were told what we signed was to keep quite that Bishop Brown was allowing Fr. Rod Stephens to spend days at the joint residence in Irvine,Calif. with his male "partner", Bishop Brown was allowing Fr.Rod Stephens to vacation with his male "partner" Bishop Brown was allowing Fr. Rod Stephens attend family functions with his male "partner" and We were not allowed to tell anyone this fact! We couldn't even tell The Holy Father! After that third meeting My husband and I were so disgusted! Our poor attorneys were tricked. My husband and I new it was a trick and said no! , but our attorneys pleaded for us to sign it so we could hear what the Bishop was going to say and it wasn't going to hold up in any court of law. And in no way we ever thought what we were going to sign was going to be that! After several hours of our attorneys arguing with Fr. Douglas Cook , Bishop Browns representative. My husband and I just sat there with much anger and sadness and hardly said a word. We couldn't believe that the secret oath we signed was a yellow piece of paper with scribbled words we couldn't even read. You would think it being "offical" document it would have been on a legal Church letterhead. Nope! just yellow tablet paper. We got spiritual direction from a priest that we are not under obedience to keep secret, The Secret Oath. He said secret oaths to hide evil are invalid!!!! Old Zhou you asked why it is our buisness, because he is a Roman Catholic priest! Not just some ordinary priests he was head of Liturgy, Evangelization , Catechesis for the Dioceses of Orange! His "lifestyle" was the best kept open secret in the Diocese of Orange. He was teaching false doctrines to my husbands family , being open with his "partner" with the family which gives grave scandal to the family! He has led astray my husbands parents, brothers, sisters , nieces , newphews , cousins , uncles and aunts! You try watching that happen before your eyes and feel helpless. My husband and I prayed for seven years before we even attempted to approach my husbands cousin Fr. Rod Stephens about this scandal which he was causing. We Love Fr. Rod Stephens. We Love Bishop Tod Brown , We Love All the Faithful in the Diocese, We love my husbands family , We Love Jesus Christ and His Church. That is, why it is OUR BUISNESS!!! It better be the Buisness of every Faithfaul Catholic! We have all contributed to the corruption in the Church , by our silent"obedience". We reap what we sow! So don't you complain about this and that abuse... unless you are going to put yourself out there on the line to defend against the destruction of the Faith. Pray , Fast, publically "stand up" against the destruction. All done in Love,Charity, and Truth, for The Love of Jesus Christ and His Church.
Posted by: Susan Teissere | Jun 1, 2006 5:49:03 PM
Okay, Old Zhou. You are right. It's perfectly fine for the people at Sts. Simon & Jude to stand through the entire Eucharistic prayer, because the church has never had kneelers, and kneeling would be too much of a hassle.
Who cares about those nasty old liturgical norms from the GIRM written by the Holy See.
And of course, you all follow every other liturgical norm over there, too. Right?
That whole reputation of being the most liberal parish in the diocese is just bad press, right?
As I recall, there are lots of liturgical innovations over there, including: lay people giving homilies; changing the readings, frequent Masses on the lawn instead of the church, ritual texts that are not approved which are read in the place of approved texts, unblesed tap water is used as holy water, sand was frequently placed in the holy water fonts throughout Lent, people gathering around behind the priest around the altar during the Eucharistic prayer, vessels not in conformity with Church norms are used for the Blessed Sacrament, and the list goes on and on.
I used to be a parishioner at Sts. Simon & Jude and still go there in a pinch if I can't get to Mass at other times.
I am thrilled that you guys at Sts. Simon & Jude are big on obedience.
Actions speak louder than words, Old Zhou.
Perhaps people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones?
Or maybe it's better to say "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone?"
(But you don't use masculine pronouns at Sts. Simon & Jude, right?)
How about this one:
Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, `Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. (Matthew 7:3-5)
It's very nice and neat that Bishop Brown has carved out a nice, loose, liturgical loophole for you to wriggle through, while ensuring that no such loophole exists in his norms (which reflect his personal preferences) for Catholics who want to kneel and adore God.
Talk about straining the gnat and swallowing the camel!
How about this one, Old Zhou: I kneel because I'm following my conscience.
Posted by: john chrysostom | Jun 1, 2006 5:51:09 PM
Old Zhou, what is your real name? WE are open about ours! what do you have got to hide , you seem so confident in putting down me and my husband and people who kneel. I am saying this with Love and Charity!
Posted by: Susan Teissere | Jun 1, 2006 5:52:06 PM
Yeah, Susan, I see all your love and charity in that open letter to your bishop. I think I'll pass.
And John Chrysostom, the last time I was at Ss. Simon and Jude was before the Diocese of Orange existed. Why do you keep assuming I'm a priest or parishioner there?
Posted by: Old Zhou | Jun 1, 2006 6:00:20 PM
I was interested in discussing the issues of kneeling and traditional liturgical worship in the diocese of Orange, I know something about the topic from first-hand experience; I visit the area from time to time, shared their concern, and hoped to contribute one or two small ideas that might help.
Now I find that one or more folks from this parish have moved the discussion onto another, completely different topic, one which is potentially seriously damaging to people's reputations. This is an entirely different story, and one in which I am neither part of the problem, nor can I be part of the solution. Therefore I have no business being a further part of the discussion, as I don't want to risk committing the sin of detraction.
For that reason, I'll sign off. Good-bye and God bless you all.
Posted by: Marion (Mael Muire) | Jun 1, 2006 6:19:51 PM
The problem ... is that you are unable to provide constructive models of what should be done in any particular situation...
I have asserted that the faithful at St. Mary's By The Sea and at other parishes controlled by the Diocese of Orange kneel during communion to protect Brown's tyrrany. They can also get together, seek canonical legal advice and file a class action suit against the bishop.
I am saying that repeatedly shouting that ALL the bishops in the States (with the episcopacy the world over implicitly accused) are evil and corrupt. Do you really have the information to make that judgment?
Jay, have you been reading the papers the past four years concering the clerical sex-abuse crisis? Do the names Roger Mahony and Bernard Law (among others) mean anything to you?
Peter made some pretty huge pastoral mistakes, not to mention his and the other apostles' track record during the earthly ministry of Jesus.
This is the excuse Catholic episcopophiles always use to defend the misfeasance of bishops. You conveniently forget one thing, my dear Jay: PETER REPENTED! Has Brown repented? Has Mahony repented?
Get up from your throne of judgment for a moment and put on the pallium of universal pastor.
Men like Brown, Mahony, Law, et al would be hauled before public canonical courts in Rome. If convicted, they would be stripped of all episcopal authority and replaced with coadjutors until new bishops could be appointed.
Posted by: Joseph D'Hippolito | Jun 1, 2006 6:24:41 PM
Now, Jay, to your last rant...
How then can the venerable founder of the Hippolitian School recommend that an entire parish, nay, diocese begin kneeling while receiving communion? Doesn't this perpetuate the toady system?
No, Jay. God deserves such respect and honor. God requires such respect and honor. The toadies are those (like Tran) who would sacrifice their consciences to placate and appease corrupt tyrants. Think Tariq Aziz with Saddam Hussein.
Also, it seems that the educated laity have come to a consensus (at least by vast majority) that artificial contraception is not only morally acceptable, but morally obligated in many circumstances...the same is true with abortion.
Those are non sequiturs, Jay. People like you use them as excuses to prevent challenges to the illegitimate use of episcopal authority. Besides, if these bishops did their jobs and educated Catholics effectively, the problems you cite would not exist.
So lets stand up proudly (but kneel when the liturgy doesn't call for kneeling) as Citizens of the Republic of Heaven...
I realize this is foreign to your medievalist mind but all Christians are destined to be citizens of Heaven. Not subjects. Citizens. Christians have blessings and privledges resulting from their redemption (foremost among them being the Holy Spirit), and God is no respecter of persons. We are also called to rule with Christ. Yes, Jay, rule. Not submit to corrupt, tyrannical authority.
One more to come....
Posted by: Joseph D'Hippolito | Jun 1, 2006 6:37:45 PM
Jay, you deliberately forget that Brown has no canonical standing to demand legalistically and rigorously that people stand instead of kneel while receiving the Eucharist. You also forget that Tran's insistence that refusing to follow such a legalistic demand constitutes "mortal sin" is abuse of his pastoral position. What is the laity to do under such circumstances? To submit to such tyrannical authority silently is to submit to Satan. It is to excuse episcopal malfeasance for the sake of "obedience."
In another time and in another place, other people practiced such "obedience" because they were culturally trained to do so. They were Germans and the object of their "obedience" was Hitler and his Nazis.
Now, certainly, Brown and Tran are not Nazis by any stretch of the imagination. They are, however, tyrants. They seek to misuse their respective positions to promote their own agendas, which might or might not have anything to do with Christ.
And Catholics should take this lying down?
Posted by: Joseph D'Hippolito | Jun 1, 2006 6:43:12 PM
Would it not be true to say that the Diocese of Orange would not have made its clarification about "the misuse of the term 'mortal sin'" if the matter had not been reported by the secular press?
". . . though, historically speaking, the 4th century is the age of doctors, illustrated, as it was by the saints Athanasius, Hilary, the two Gregories, Basil, Chrysostom, Ambrose, Jerome, and Augustine, all these saints bishops also, except one, nevertheless in that very day the divine tradition committed to the infallible Church was proclaimed and maintained far more by the faithful than by the Episcopate. . . . I mean . . . that in that time of immense confusion the divine dogma of our Lord's divinity was proclaimed, enforced, maintained, and (humanly speaking) preserved, far more by the 'Ecclesia docta' than by the 'Ecclesia docens;' that the body of the episcopate was unfaithful to its commission, while the body of the laity was faithful to its baptism; that at one time the Pope, at other times the patriarchal, metropolitan, and other great sees, at other times general councils, said what they should not have said, or did what obscured and compromised revealed truth; while, on the other hand, it was the Christian people who, under Providence, were the ecclesiastical strength of Athanasius, Hilary, Eusebius of Vercellae, and other great solitary confessors, who would have failed without them."
Posted by: Leo Wong | Jun 1, 2006 6:57:31 PM
Excellent point, Leo!
Posted by: john chrysostom | Jun 1, 2006 7:05:59 PM
"So lets stand up proudly (but kneel when the liturgy doesn't call for kneeling). . ."
The liturgy does call for kneeling, though the Diocesan Bishop may determine otherwise.
The question whether the norm of the Diocese of Orange is intended "to regulate posture rigidly" or "to ensure within broad limits a certain uniformity of posture" has still, so far as I know, not been answered. Mr. Brian Day, what has been the catechesis on this norm in the Diocese of Orange?
Posted by: Leo Wong | Jun 1, 2006 7:07:09 PM
I find the stream of criticism of Ss. Simon and Jude parish from these commentors at St. Mary's by the Sea to be rather sad.
Ss. Simon and Jude started, in 1905, as St Mary's Church, an output at the beach of St. Joseph in Santa Ana, with Mass said at a department store on Main Street. In 1908 they bought a Protestant Church at the current site of St. Mary's by the Sea, and in 1921 took the name of Ss. Simon and Jude, and built their own building in 1923. The Franciscans came in 1964. In 1965, the northwest corner of the parish was divided to form another parish, St. Bonaventure. In 1966, the land for the new, larger Ss. Simon & Jude was purchased, and construction began. From this time, in 1967, the old church building in downtown was a "mission" staffed by the Friars at Ss. Simon & Jude. They had English mass in 1964; guitar mass in 1968. Lay lectors in 1969. Laypersons distributing communion in 1971. The modern parish church was dedicated, after several years of Mass in the school buildings, in 1974.
In 1976, just after the Diocese was erected, St. Mary by the Sea was named one of the first new parishes of the new Diocese by Bp. William Johnson.
That is how the parish started. Unfortunately, the first pastor the new parish of St. Mary's by the Sea, Fr. L., had a taste for boys, which he continued to enjoy further down the OC coast.
The place was then kind of a broken community, and there was consideration of just closing it down.
Fr. Daniel Johnson was sent there, as a place of exile, in 1978/79, and in the 1990's received an indult for the Tridentine mass from the second Bishop.
--
St. Mary's by the Sea WAS Ss. Simon & Jude from 1905 to 1967. It was a mission of Ss. Simon & Jude until 1977. It was a child parish of Ss. Simon and Jude form 1977 to 1979.
Where did all this animosity come from that is evident in the comments from parisioners at St. Mary's by the Sea? Animosity not only toward the community of Ss. Simon and Jude, but toward the larger Diocese?
I can only conclude that this is the fruit of Fr. Johnson's work. He might have built up a community that loved the Tridentine liturgy. Unfortunately, they do not seem to love their brothers and sisters right next door in Orange County. Very sad.
Posted by: Old Zhou | Jun 1, 2006 7:19:55 PM
