As a follow up to my tongue in cheek apology, I note that Owen the Ochlophobist has picked up on the recent Roman Catholic liturgical horror show (brought to you courtesy of Cardinal Mahony). His comments as usual are both insightful and right on the mark. Caution; ecumenically minded Orthodox (and Catholics) are not likely to appreciate some of his observations. For the record I fully agree with them.
As almost anyone reading a blog online must be aware, there has been a terrible terrorist attack in Moscow. Many people have been killed and injured. Please keep our brothers and sisters in Russia in your prayers as they deal with this disaster.
Finally we are now into Holy Week and blogging is going to start winding down. After today (barring something really urgent or time sensitive) there will be no blogging until Bright Monday at the earliest. I wish everyone a blessed Holy Week and the joy of the Resurrection.
The Infant God
8 hours ago
6 comments:
I'm a Latin Rite Catholic, and I wasn't offended at all. I agree totally. It enrages me that these people haven't been excommunicated.
Honestly, the liturgy looks like a standard Novus Ordo service with a heavy dose of American evangelicalism. It is not animism. It is not pagan. It is not incomprehensible. It is adopted from a particular form of American Christianity. I'd rather they hadn't adopted it, but it does constitute a particular cultural expression of worship.
And while I don't disagree with the observation that this isn't quite what we should be doing liturgically, I think the lack of charity I read on Orthodox blogs regarding non-Orthodox Christians is appalling. You communicate that you value a specific narrow range of cultural expressions of Christianity over all others, as if the gospel were untranslatable. On top of that, to drag this out and use it to criticize the Western churches serves no purpose but to calcify your lack of charity toward the West.
You should be ashamed. All of you.
Anonymous, if you think that is a legitimate form of worshiping Almighty God, then may God forgive you.
-orthodox Roman Catholic
Anonymous, ditto Alex. I've been to wiccan ceremonies and they looked and sounded just like that. EVERYTHING in that clip is wholly inappropriate and in ANY other time all of those people and people like you would've been anathematized. Since when does "The One True Faith" emulate protestant heresy anyway? Pope Paul VI was right, "The smoke of Satan has entered the Church."
It's clear that you wouldn't know authentic Christian worship if you saw it. Also if you had ever read the Book of Ezekiel you know that "charity" is admonishing sinners and calling them to repentance.
"So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, O wicked man, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand.But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way; he shall die in his iniquity, but you will have saved your life.
--Ezekiel 33: 7-9"
Consider this your warning. Repent or Perish!
OK. I think we need to tone the comments down. Ad Hominem attacks are a no no here. Which is to say debate vigorously but not personally. Please read the guidelines linked in the sidebar if you have any questions.
Thanks...
John
Seeing a clip like the one we've seen can be most upsetting. Thank God, there is more to the Catholic Church than this. Clips like these can hit so many nerves, and sometimes it seems like this is all there is. But there is more, much more. Not to make light of it, but sometimes humor helps. Turn down the volume on the video, and employ Cheech and Chong or Cypress Hill music, the Jim Carroll Band, or something. Again, not to make light of a serious matter, but laughter does help.
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