"All Animals Are Created Equal...
But some animals are more equal than others" -- George Orwell's Animal Farm
The fracturing of Catholicism marches on. That bastard child of the Spirit of Vatican II better known as inculturation continues to take the sledgehammer to the already broken bones of The Church.
Enough, already!
I've posted enough on the Hula Mass, the Polka Mass, the Animal Sacrifice Mass, etc, etc. But now we have a further splintering with "ministries" based solely along racial lines.
Hmmm... based on race, isn't that by definition, racist?
The Archdiocese of San Francisco has their own "Vicar for Spanish Speaking" Catholics". Wow, Vicar status, not bad, huh?
The Archdiocese of New York has a separate 'ministry' to both Hispanics and Blacks.
Not to be outdone by anyone, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles has an all encompassing 'Ethnic Ministry' office for "Asian Pacific, Native American Indians, Arab Catholics, and European groups". I guess if you're Australian (aboriginal or otherwise) in the Archdiocese of La-La Land, it sucks to be you.
Even in the quiet little diocese I live in, there is a 'ministry' that is purely race based.
As if things weren't already bad enough... do we HAVE to divide ourselves up?
Years ago I was told by a former pastor that he wouldn't allow a Tridentine Latin Mass because of the "divisive nature and separating effect" a Latin Mass would have on the parish. But he had no problem with various 'ministries' and liturgies based upon ethnic and racial lines.
In the immortal words of Dr. Evil - "riiiiight".
_____________________________________
REAL Catholic Multi-Culturalism;
St. Charles Lwanga, pray for us
St. Paul Miki, pray for us
St. Rose of Lima, pray for us
St. Monica, pray for us
St. Patrick, pray for us
'Nuff said.
But some animals are more equal than others" -- George Orwell's Animal Farm
The fracturing of Catholicism marches on. That bastard child of the Spirit of Vatican II better known as inculturation continues to take the sledgehammer to the already broken bones of The Church.
Enough, already!
I've posted enough on the Hula Mass, the Polka Mass, the Animal Sacrifice Mass, etc, etc. But now we have a further splintering with "ministries" based solely along racial lines.
Hmmm... based on race, isn't that by definition, racist?
The Archdiocese of San Francisco has their own "Vicar for Spanish Speaking" Catholics". Wow, Vicar status, not bad, huh?
The Archdiocese of New York has a separate 'ministry' to both Hispanics and Blacks.
Not to be outdone by anyone, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles has an all encompassing 'Ethnic Ministry' office for "Asian Pacific, Native American Indians, Arab Catholics, and European groups". I guess if you're Australian (aboriginal or otherwise) in the Archdiocese of La-La Land, it sucks to be you.
Even in the quiet little diocese I live in, there is a 'ministry' that is purely race based.
As if things weren't already bad enough... do we HAVE to divide ourselves up?
Years ago I was told by a former pastor that he wouldn't allow a Tridentine Latin Mass because of the "divisive nature and separating effect" a Latin Mass would have on the parish. But he had no problem with various 'ministries' and liturgies based upon ethnic and racial lines.
In the immortal words of Dr. Evil - "riiiiight".
REAL Catholic Multi-Culturalism;
St. Charles Lwanga, pray for us
St. Paul Miki, pray for us
St. Rose of Lima, pray for us
St. Monica, pray for us
St. Patrick, pray for us
'Nuff said.
posted by Kevin Whiteman at
8:49 AM
13 Comments:
Nothing new here, really...in the old days, the Irish or German ordinary of a large diocese would have a Polish/Italian/other well-represented group auxiliary working with him. This auxiliary may not have had an ethnic-specific title, but it was understood that his primary apostolate was towards Catholics of that particular group. Milwaukee had such an arrangement: an Irish or German Ordinary, and a Polish Auxiliary.
(As it was, when Samuel Stritch, an Irish-American, was appointed Archbishop here, the Germans thought it was the end of the world!)
Also, if the Ordinary had no auxiliary who was familiar with that group, he would invite a bishop from elsewhere to come in and help. That's why, in accounts of some parishes' church dedications, Confirmations, and so forth, you'll see the names of bishops other than the Ordinary of the diocese.
Lastly, the Church has never had a problem with vicariates or other provisions for ethnic groups outside of their native lands. Even if we returned to the Latin Mass, you would still have to provide for catechesis, preaching, other Sacraments, and a group's particular customs, all done in their own language.
Was it to the extent that we have present day, with de-facto quasi-diocese within a diocese? I think not.
Catechising in the native tounge is all well and fine. Ensuring that liturgy is based on current language and culture is exactly what that fat-assed SOB martin luther wanted... or was it the "spirit of Vatican II" crowd. I forget.
So much for that part in Galatians about all of us being one in Christ.
Was it to the extent that we have present day, with de-facto quasi-diocese within a diocese? I think not.
In some cases, it was like that. Your Polish, Italian, or Bohemian parish was a world apart from the "mainstream" Irish or German parish. Religious priests or specially invited secular priests staffed the parish; they had their own devotions and customs; and if they were large enough to maintain a school, the sisters came from orders dedicated to serving particular groups. All of this had to be done with the consent of the Ordinary, but most were content to let them do their own thing. It was only with the WWII generation that these parishes really entered into the American Catholic "mainstream".
As far as liturgy goes, even the Old Mass was not immune to cultural influence, especially if you belonged to a German or Central European parish. High Mass with orchestra (something which would not have flown with the liturgically-minimalist Irish-Americans, some of who distrusted even chant), Low Mass with hymns, and, of course the sermon, delivered in the native language. Granted, if you couldn't understand it, you could pull out your Rosary or prayerbook, but you couldn't help but realize you were in another world entirely...
Re your 1st paragraph --
This is where there's a disconnect, Dave. Unfortunantly, there has been segregation amongst Catholics. The Bohemians and the Irish... the Poles and the Italians... the Germans and the Maxicans, etc, etc. Bottom line, it was wrong then, it's wrong now.
Re your 2d para--
Thank God for the Council of Trent! And yes, there were anomalies even back then... but that's all they were, anomalies.
At my church the Hispanic community is totally separate. They have their own priest, their own CCD, and thier own RCIA. The church shouldn't be in the segregation business.
This is where there's a disconnect, Dave. Unfortunantly, there has been segregation amongst Catholics. The Bohemians and the Irish... the Poles and the Italians... the Germans and the Maxicans, etc, etc. Bottom line, it was wrong then, it's wrong now.
I disagree. The Church's first priority is the salvation of souls. At that time, it was best to have different groups worship in parishes with their own legitimate customs, and with confessions and catechesis their own language. Efforts to "Americanize" (press everybody into the Irish-American mold) led to discord and even schism.
Also, this real diversity gave us a lot of customs which found their way into the "mainstream" Church. The Germans gave us the Advent Wreath and the St. Blase Blessing. From the Italians we have the Christmas Creche. The Easter Foods blessing comes from the Poles, and the Bohemians blessed us with the Infant of Prague. And think of the architecture and art: German and Central European Baroque, Italian Romanesque, and Classical. Lastly, the favorite saints of each group, and their devotion to Our Lady. Not just St. Patrick, but the Black Madonna of Czestachowa, the many saints of the Sicilians, the German devotion to the Fourteen Holy Helpers, and countless others.
All of these wonderful things would have gone for good had everyone folowed an "American" model imposed by Irish prelates who wanted to be mini-popes, such as Archbishop Ireland. The real American Church came from all these cultures blending together into something ever ancient, ever new...
On a personal note, I grew up in a small Croatian parish. I wouldn't trade in their customs, their hymns, and all their quirks for anything this world could offer me...
Dymphna:
No, the Anglophones and the Latinos shouldn't be kept completely separate. That being said, the Church has always recognized their right to have catechesis (which includes preaching) and the Sacraments in their own language, along with all of their authentic traditions and devotions (yes on Our Lady of Guadalupe and some particular Holy Week Devotions, no on dressing up as Aztec priests). I'd rather meet them like this than neglect them and leave them to the Pentecostals and Mormons.
Last comment...I promise...
...yes, there were anomalies even back then... but that's all they were, anomalies.
Anomalies which enrich the worship at St. Agnes in St. Paul, MN, and St. John Cantius in Chicago...
The examples you gave were all for the betterment of Catholicism as a whole. All your examples focused on a Catholicism that was for ALL Catholics. What we have present day is something much, much different... A Catholicism that is fractured. You said something about how "molding" everyone led to schism and discord? The only schism and discourse I see is the Lutheranesque "diversity" garbage being fiosted on us, one and all.
You also mentioned That being said, the Church has always recognized their right to have catechesis (which includes preaching) and the Sacraments in their own language...
That's a recently new phenomena. Who was it again that pushed so hard for 'inculturation' a few hundred years ago? We all see what a wonderful success that's been.
And speaking of "enriching"... possibly Aztec dress-up and the animal sacrifice Mass "enriches" other peoples worship. Gosh, where does it end?
OK, another reply:
The examples you gave were all for the betterment of Catholicism as a whole. All your examples focused on a Catholicism that was for ALL Catholics.
Agreed. But the customs started with specific ethnic groups, and adapted by others later.
. You said something about how "molding" everyone led to schism and discord? The only schism and discourse I see is the Lutheranesque "diversity" garbage being fiosted on us, one and all.
We're talking two extremes here. Archbishop Ireland and some others wanted a purely "American" Church, with nothing left from the immigrants' homelands. His approach to matters triggered one schism, and a lot of unhappiness elsewhere.
I'm with you on false diversity, which would have a whitebread suburban congregation singing in Spanish, Vietnamese, and Swahili, but never Latin; or engage in some ersatz Four Directions Ritual. But if a custom or tradition helps the faithful, then it should be encouraged by all means, whatever its ethnic source.
One clarification: when I speak of the Sacraments in one's own language, I mean Confession and Matrimony. It goes without saying that it's easier to confess in one's own native tongue to a prist who will understand, and the Traditonal Rite of Marriage (not the Nuptial Mass) is performed in the vernacular.
Dave, I have no problem with honoring a certain culture via things such as a St Patrick's Day Dinner/Dance... or a fesitval to Honor St Charles Lwanga and the Ugandan Martyrs, etc, etc.
It's inculturation that simply smacks of Protestantism
It goes without saying that it's easier to confess in one's own native tongue to a prist who will understand, and the Traditonal Rite of Marriage (not the Nuptial Mass) is performed in the vernacular.
Actually, it's tons easier to confess to a priest who doesn't understand a word you're saying.
Tons easier.
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home