http://kstp.com/article/stories/S4458.html?cat=1

-- Roddy Pudding (roddy.pudding@hotmail.com), November 25, 2004

Answers

No, vandalism of Church property is not ok. Neither is vigilante Catholicism. The Church has authority to take action against Church members who give public scandal and bring disgrace upon the Church. Individual members of the Church have no such authority. Now it is these self-righteous, self-appointed vigilantes who have given public scandal and brought disgrace upon the Church. Hopefully they will be required to make restitution for their unwarranted, uncharitable and illegal actions. At the very least they should be required to pay for the cleanup of the damage caused by their activities. It would be more appropriate to make them clean it up themselves. Of course the vandalism is not the main problem here, but it is the physical manifestation of the problem. Their overt hatred of other Catholics who happen to be involved in a form of sin different from their own sin is the real problem, and is more difficult to address directly. Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), November 25, 2004.

I'd say you were right there. I can't figure out how it costs several thousand to clean up some oil and salt but that is beside the point. They should be made to clean it up themselves. Since they are such good Catholics they will want to confess this sin at which point the Priest should let them have it like they were naughty school children and tell them to get out there and clean it up. Shame it doesn't work like that I guess. It is a very pretty building which makes it even more of a shame I guess.

-- Roddy Pudding (roddy.pudding@hotmail.com), November 25, 2004.

ridiculous, ridiculous, ridiculous.

does NO ONE involved in that situation know what an excorcism entails? the oil and salt represents an attempt at purification, yes, but NOT excorcism. FURTHERMORE, salt is NOT needed for the blessing of Holy Water. im not saying the story didnt happen, but the apparent lack of knowledge on the part of those questioned lends a discredibility to the notion that we're recieving the whole story.

-- paul h (dontSendMeMail@notAnAddress.com), November 25, 2004.

Is this OK?

No -the rainbow sash 'movement' is an abomination.

-- Daniel Hawkenberry (dlm@catholic.org), November 25, 2004.

Daniel, care to expand on your point?

Do you support the actions of Ushers of the Eucharist, or the alleged actions of Catholics Against Sacrilege and if so on what basis?

-- Roddy Pudding (roddy.pudding@hotmail.com), November 26, 2004.

Hey Roddy. You must be in sales.

That's a standard Either/Or close.

-- Emerald (em@cox.nett), November 26, 2004.

Emrald, you got me :) I'm not sales but I am aware of the technique and use it intentionally some times, this was unplanned, quite worrying actually.

Let me try again: Do you support the actions of Ushers of the Eucharist and if so why Do you support the actions of Catholics Against Sacrilege and if so on what basis?

I liked the bit in Paul M's answer that went "Their overt hatred of other Catholics who happen to be involved in a form of sin different from their own sin is the real problem, and is more difficult to address directly. Let him who is without sin cast the first stone."

-- Roddy Pudding (roddy.pudding@hotmail.com), November 26, 2004.

Scandal? I see TWO issues of SCANDAL here. When you have a group of people whose avowed sinful lifestyle is made public by them and they have made it an issue to present themselves for Communion, THIS is scandal. When you have a second group of people who have taken it upon themselves to PREmpt the offices of the clergy, THIS is scandal.

The Church either has a definition of MORTAL sin or it does not. My goodness..To have a group of avowed homosexuals say, in essence, "We live an openly homeosexual lifestyle, are proud of it, here we are, give us the Holy Eucharist." is indeed a sacrilege.

What if a group of divorced and re-married Catholics showed up with ribbons tied around their middles, calling themselves the "Recycled Spouses and Proud of it." and marched up demanding Communion?

How about a group of folks who are avowed pro-abortion folks? "Had abortions and you should too?" Give US Communion NOW.

The Catholic clergy needs to have the gumption to say NO. NO. NO. NO. THIS IS CONTRARY TO OUR FAITH. IF YOU TURN FROM THIS BELIEF AND ARE WILLING TO CONFESS THIS SIN AND TO PUT IT AWAY FROM YOU, then you may receive the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. I'll be happy to see you after mass and we can talk about it then.

Better to have offended people than to have mocked Christ.

The other group who took it upon themselves to indulge in secrecy and false rituals are just as guilty of sin.

-- Lesley (martchas@hotmail.com), November 26, 2004.

Daniel, care to expand on your point?

Roddy,

Why expand -I see no need to? If you want to juxtapose two actions and debate in a morally relative sense their merits or demerits you may do it alone.

-- Daniel Hawkenberry (dlm@catholic.org), November 26, 2004.