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| "special Masses" For "special Groups" | |
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| Topic Started: Monday, 19. February 2007, 02:26 (258 Views) | |
| Rose of York | Monday, 19. February 2007, 02:26 Post #1 |
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On another thread, also in the Lower House, there has been some discussion about "Mass for Homosexuals". I was all for those Masses until I received a private message from a fellow member asking me how I, married to a man who has some disabilities, feel about "Masses for the Disabled and Housebound". That private message led me to change my mind. Why should any group be selected for a special Mass? Every Mass is for all. We all gain something from every Mass, and if things are done right we all have the opportunity to contribute to our parish. Our community is where we live, not in some church a hundred or miles away. We could have "Mass for Former Prisoners", "Mass for the Mentally Ill", "Mass for Women who Regret Having Abortions". |
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| Rose of York | Monday, 19. February 2007, 02:57 Post #2 |
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My own view is: If I had no legs I would attend Mass locally and do my best to get actively involved. If I were hom osex ual I would attend Mass in my local church and do my best to get actively involved, and (hopefully) I would fight temptation (with the help of God). If I were housebound I would not be at any Mass, because people who are able to travel by car are not housebound. If I was considered to be a member of any minority group I would take the attitude "So what? We are all different in one way or another." So why do they have SPECIAL MASSES FOR.......................anybody? |
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| Angus Toanimo | Monday, 19. February 2007, 03:11 Post #3 |
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It's what is known as 'positive discrimination', isn't it? On the one hand, the Cardinal says that the Catholic Church condemns discrimination of homosexuals but then invites them to a Mass provided by his Diocese, which positively discriminates against the hom osex ual. I really do think this has been released - a knee-jerk reactioin to the controversy of the Catholic Adoptions Agencies row and the SORs legislation. "We accept the fact you're gay and can have access to the sacraments. But, we have laid on a special Mass for you, so that you don't have to put up with heterosexuals sitting in the pews with you. Because none of you good Catholic homosexuals would even dream of adopting a Catholic child, there will be no Childrens Liturgy of the Word at these Masses."
We could have a Mass for kleptomaniacs - but instead of the collection plate starting off empty, it would start loaded with money... :D |
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| Angus Toanimo | Monday, 19. February 2007, 03:23 Post #4 |
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Seriously, I am all for 'Polish Masses' but Masses laid on specifically for sections of society - such as homosexuals, disabled people, and so on, I feel is counterproductive. Would a hom osex ual really feel comfortable at a Mass 'specially for him/her' as part of Westminster's program of 'outreach' to the Catholic gay community? Likewise, would a disabled person feel happy in the knowledge that his/her bishop has set aside time for them to have a 'Mass for the disabled'? I don't think so. Or would these people be far better off knowing that they can attend their local parish church without labels being pinned to them before they even get there? Whilst the Cardinal is providing Masses for homosexuals, Churches are closing due to a shortage of priests. |
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| Angus Toanimo | Monday, 19. February 2007, 03:49 Post #5 |
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Not... Attending a special Mass for homosexuals in a designated Church, getting involved, and (eventually) succumbing to temptation (with the help of the Cardinal). How about: 'SPECIAL MASS FOR UNMARRIED HETEROSEXUALS'. Well, they have to fight temptation. Who better to hear their confessions, than a heterosexual priest who fights temptation? He knows what they go through. ![]() Next up.... 'SPECIAL MASS FOR CO-HABITING COUPLES Though Heterosexual, don't want to get married, but live together and have normal sexual relationships. We dont want them to feel excluded, so they will be given a special Mass.' Lord, please grant me the strength and courage to resist the temptation of carrying on with this. |
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| Rose of York | Monday, 19. February 2007, 14:10 Post #6 |
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Special time, or as is usual, special time and special place. I think the idea of Special Masses for any supposedly "disadvantaged groups" is ghastly. There is no need for them. |
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| Gerry2 | Tuesday, 20. February 2007, 14:10 Post #7 |
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Patrick - I hear what you're saying, but I remember in my parish in Glasgow in the 70's the SVDP would have a Mass for the sick and housebound once a year, where all the stops were pulled out to have people who usually couldn't get to Mass brought in - favours called in, consciences tweaked, arms twisted, etc. The Sacrament of the Sick was given during the Mass, and there was tea for everybody who wanted it afterwards. Sometimes it was the only time in a year when some folk would see the folks they grew up with. I think it was a good thing. Gerry2 |
| Love is as strong as death (Songs 8:6) | |
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| Deacon Robert | Tuesday, 20. February 2007, 17:16 Post #8 |
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We have Masses during the year to honor or support certain "groups". Around St Valentines day there is a Mass for newlyweds and those with significant anniversaries (including widows and widowers, who wish to be added), on the feast of OL of Guadalupe we ask all women who are expecting to come foreward for a blessing. We regularly have a triduum for cancer patients and survivors where they recieve sacramental annointing and a blessing using a relic from St. Peregrine. |
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The burden of life is from ourselves, its lightness from the grace of Christ and the love of God. - William Bernard Ullanthorne | |
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| Rose of York | Tuesday, 20. February 2007, 17:34 Post #9 |
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Gerry, in the seventies it was a good thing, to make a special effort to help people get to Mass occasionally. Buildings were not fully accessible and hardly anybody had a car. Times have changed. Most of us now have cars, so any parishioner who is unable to drive, should be able to get a lift, Sunday after Sunday. Therefore, nowadays, few who are not terminally ill, are housebound. A person who is physically able to get to a Special Mass for Housebound, would not be able to get there if they were housebound. As for disabled people, gone are the days when people were unable to enter buildings because they were faced with six steps. Nowadays, surely they should be able to enter their parish churches whenever they feel like it, and have the opportunity to play a full active part in parish life. Indoors we should have whatever facilities are needed. Yes, I consider that Mass for the Disabled and Housebound is unnecessary and patronising. Most physically disabled people drive their own cars nowadays.
Copied from another thread. For want of a chair a man has to stay away from Mass. |
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| Rose of York | Tuesday, 20. February 2007, 17:42 Post #10 |
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That sounds good. They are special Masses to celebrate special occasions, or give support in difficult circumstances. They do not marginalise or exclude, because the attendees are able to be regular Mass goers in their own parishes. I would like to see an annual Diocesan Mass for couples who have been married for 50 years or more, and include widows and widowers who were married for half a century. Those people give a fine witness to youngsters, that with the grace of God, and human effort, marriages can survive a lifetime. |
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| Rose of York | Tuesday, 20. February 2007, 21:41 Post #11 |
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We can pick and mix from Neocatechumenates' Mass, at which the bread consecrated was made in the home of a member, who sang a psalm whilst preparing the dough, Mass for a Charismatic Renewal Day, with lots of "joy", Tridentine Mass offered for members of Latin Mass Society, or we can get up on Sunday morning and just toddle off to "Mass." The choice is ours. |
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Keep the Faith! | |
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| Eve | Friday, 20. April 2007, 20:41 Post #12 |
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| Howdy Folks. Has anybody seen my husband lately? | |
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| Derekap | Friday, 20. April 2007, 21:26 Post #13 |
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I can understand there are people, including Catholics, who have strong homosex ual feelings. We should as far as possible be as sociable with them as with those who have no such feelings. We should avoid making fun of them or making uncharitable remarks. Obviously the priests will need to react carefully during their Confessions. However, in these days of pro-hom osex ual propaganda and encouragement as a normal way of life the idea of a public Holy Mass for such people is in danger of giving the signal that The Catholic Church approves. They obviously need special prayers and our prayers to support them in their problems and they should be assured of the Church's and our support. Perhaps an occasional speech to an appropriate meeting which is published or a statement to the media when the discussion arises may help. It is a subject which has to treat sufferers with consideration but which must not be confused with disapproving and condemning open pro-homosexuality activity. (The system seems to be preventing me from correcting the h word spacing!) |
| Derekap | |
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3:49 PM Jul 11