Charlotte Hall priest evicts congregation before funeral service
- Thread starter jazz lady
- Start date
I gave up the Church for Lent in 1975, have not been a Catholic since (left Christianity entirely later that year).
LightRoasted
If I may ...
LightRoasted
If I may ...
If I may...
I'm with you. Gave it all up after turning 18 after having forcefully, mandatorily, grown up in it. Been trying to un-program myself ever since.
I'm with you. Gave it all up after turning 18 after having forcefully, mandatorily, grown up in it. Been trying to un-program myself ever since.
The structure of the catholic church gives fewer opportunities for self-segregation. While people may drive to get to a congregation they find more welcoming, typically you have one catholic church in each community and that's where people go regardless of skin color. While there are a few 100% black catholic parishes, they are mostly in urban locations where they reflect the makeup of the surrounding community.
I was 18 that year, tipping point was the Jesuit priest who was our guest instructor for CCD the evening of 16 March 1975. His topics, revealed after he chased out our regular instructors so we would not feel inhibited by their presence, reincarnation (including past life recall) and human auras/energy fields (how to feel and direct them). My thoughts, here's an intellectual storm trooper of Holy Mother Church teaching us stuff not in the Catechism...hmmm. what else is the Church not telling me?
That. Plenty of my black neighbors are Catholic down here in 2nd and 9th district.
zigg72md
Member
I know this will not be popular; However as a non-practicing Catholic, my first question is: What was anyone, let alone a child doing anywhere near the alter. When I was a child I was scared as hell to go anywhere near it.(Pun intended) If I did, I was VERY careful.(Because I feared the wrath of GOD). We don't know what happened right before this. How respectful is it for the family to be in such a sacred area?
Yep. I've lived here most of my life, went to Catholic school & of course church. Many, many black members.
This. I wish there was more of a response from the Church or the priest in question. I find it very hard to believe that such a response (if fully accurate), was brought on without any cause. Too many times I've seen situations where people clutch their pearls when someone else corrects them or calls them out for unacceptable behavior. Nowadays, you only seem to see the reaction/response and not what led to it. Add to this the mob mentality where if one of them is wrong, all their friends simply align and support their friend without fully understanding (or even being aware) of the original issue. And then it's simply a landslide.
I mean, what if these people were loud and all over the place in the church (kids running around), etc? What if someone politely tried to correct their behavior? What if following all this, something else happened that caused this guy to react the way he did? I am not buying this guy flipped simply because he was having a bad day. Not to say he may have overreacted but I am guessing something at least triggered and warranted his response.
SoMD is probably one of the areas with the largest native black catholic populations in the US. There are not that many historically catholic states that had a southern economy.
LightRoasted
If I may ...
If I may ...
Well, looks like we made international headlines ..... with video too! 'Get this thing the hell out of my church!'
Well, looks like we made international headlines ..... with video too! 'Get this thing the hell out of my church!'
Dakota
~~~~~~~
The entire thing was unacceptable from what I think was a drunken priest. I know one of the young ladies there at the funeral very well. She got an up close and center stage ear shot of the drama that unfolded.
I believe everything she told me.
I couldn't imagine being tossed out the church and told I have to leave my loved one behind. Thankfully, the funeral home made the best of a terrible situation. It was an accident and if the stupid cup was so important, perhaps it should have been put away.
Like Officeguy and Potomac already mentioned, blacks are a huge part of the catholic church in this area. I used to be catholic but now I pretty much hate the catholic church.
I believe everything she told me.
I couldn't imagine being tossed out the church and told I have to leave my loved one behind. Thankfully, the funeral home made the best of a terrible situation. It was an accident and if the stupid cup was so important, perhaps it should have been put away.
Like Officeguy and Potomac already mentioned, blacks are a huge part of the catholic church in this area. I used to be catholic but now I pretty much hate the catholic church.
kom526
They call me ... Sarcasmo
Pretty sure it’s called a chalice and when empty and before Mass it sits on a table at the back of the church to br brought up with the gifts. The table is usually out of the way of passers by but possibly it got crowded back there.
Hijinx
Well-Known Member
Well a few quiet questions about it being a black incident in the forums, but when it hit the media there was no quiet mention of it.
They wrote it right in the headline. That's the media . I suppose they could be right, I just doubt it had anything to do with race.
More to do with anger management, and other issues the priest has.
Reading the article the man seems to make a lot of effort but man he sure screwed the pooch on this one.
William Shakspeare, Julius Ceaser: The evil men do lives after them, the good is often interred with their bones.
LightRoasted
If I may ...
If I may ...
If his defense, though not there, I'm pretty sure he was referring to the casket, and not the woman, when he said "Get this thing the hell out of my church!'"
P.S. I stand corrected to not many black folk being, or attending, Catholic, churches.
If his defense, though not there, I'm pretty sure he was referring to the casket, and not the woman, when he said "Get this thing the hell out of my church!'"
P.S. I stand corrected to not many black folk being, or attending, Catholic, churches.
flowerlover
Active Member
FYI: This was in the Maryland Independent newspaper yesterday, in the Letters section: (sorry I don't know how to link it better)
http://www.somdnews.com/independent...cle_05777715-1092-5ee9-8bd9-26b4d0fc5a6b.html
Instead of lifting people up, I let them down
• LETTER TO THE EDITOR by the Rev. Michael Briese, Charlotte Hall
• 11 hrs ago
Two minutes can change a life. In an emergency medical situation, two minutes can save a life. But can two minutes erase a quarter-century of a person’s life and commitment to serving and caring for his community and those entrusted to his care? I hope not.
I am a Catholic priest and the pastor at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Newport in Charlotte Hall, and as reported elsewhere in this newspaper and on its website, I lost my temper at a moment when anger was the most inappropriate response to those people entrusted to my care at that moment of ministry.
Before the start of a funeral Mass on Wednesday, June 27, one of the guests in the church damaged a sacred chalice used for the Mass. The sight of that accident made my frustration boil over. My anger spilled out in a torrent. I uttered words I never use, and treated people I have lived with and committed my life to serve in an unacceptable manner. Instead of care and compassion for the grieving family and friends, my focus turned to anger.
The man who canceled this family’s funeral and dispatched them in anger, is not the man who hours before worked to minister to their needs in a time of grief. Instead of lifting them up, I let them down. For the anger and embarrassment I caused to that family, I am profoundly sorry.
My vocation as a Catholic priest is not merely a job or a career. My calling to Catholic priesthood is but the summit of a life lived in service to those in need, who feel lost or are abandoned, those who are vulnerable. For more than 25 years, I have lived to offer my hand to countless men, women and children who could not speak for themselves. I have sought to serve as an advocate, a voice on behalf of others. I remain a person whose deep desire to serve others is firmly rooted in my heartfelt desire to serve our Lord.
Some might dismiss these words, given the tenor of the words I uttered before the funeral that was to take place on Wednesday. That is a just part of the consequence I will bear for my behavior. Like all human beings, I, too, am broken in nature, make mistakes and, yes, I fail. My life has been, is now, and prayerfully will always be, a life in which my daily words and deeds exemplify the Gospel message. My most recent actions do not reflect who I am as a priest. I have spent much of my life working to lessen the challenges and ease the burden of people whose lives are heavy with struggles. I understand that my recent actions have now added a burden to their lives — a sad consequence that I must confront and for which I take responsibility.
My recent actions and words were not borne of kindness, but a failure of my vow to serve the Lord and those entrusted to my care as a person and as priest. I am profoundly sorry for my words and actions. I pray for all in this community every day, and I can only ask that you pray for me, but also for other priests and ministers, and all who seek to serve those who suffer and struggle as we strive to build up the kingdom of God.
http://www.somdnews.com/independent...cle_05777715-1092-5ee9-8bd9-26b4d0fc5a6b.html
Instead of lifting people up, I let them down
• LETTER TO THE EDITOR by the Rev. Michael Briese, Charlotte Hall
• 11 hrs ago
Two minutes can change a life. In an emergency medical situation, two minutes can save a life. But can two minutes erase a quarter-century of a person’s life and commitment to serving and caring for his community and those entrusted to his care? I hope not.
I am a Catholic priest and the pastor at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Newport in Charlotte Hall, and as reported elsewhere in this newspaper and on its website, I lost my temper at a moment when anger was the most inappropriate response to those people entrusted to my care at that moment of ministry.
Before the start of a funeral Mass on Wednesday, June 27, one of the guests in the church damaged a sacred chalice used for the Mass. The sight of that accident made my frustration boil over. My anger spilled out in a torrent. I uttered words I never use, and treated people I have lived with and committed my life to serve in an unacceptable manner. Instead of care and compassion for the grieving family and friends, my focus turned to anger.
The man who canceled this family’s funeral and dispatched them in anger, is not the man who hours before worked to minister to their needs in a time of grief. Instead of lifting them up, I let them down. For the anger and embarrassment I caused to that family, I am profoundly sorry.
My vocation as a Catholic priest is not merely a job or a career. My calling to Catholic priesthood is but the summit of a life lived in service to those in need, who feel lost or are abandoned, those who are vulnerable. For more than 25 years, I have lived to offer my hand to countless men, women and children who could not speak for themselves. I have sought to serve as an advocate, a voice on behalf of others. I remain a person whose deep desire to serve others is firmly rooted in my heartfelt desire to serve our Lord.
Some might dismiss these words, given the tenor of the words I uttered before the funeral that was to take place on Wednesday. That is a just part of the consequence I will bear for my behavior. Like all human beings, I, too, am broken in nature, make mistakes and, yes, I fail. My life has been, is now, and prayerfully will always be, a life in which my daily words and deeds exemplify the Gospel message. My most recent actions do not reflect who I am as a priest. I have spent much of my life working to lessen the challenges and ease the burden of people whose lives are heavy with struggles. I understand that my recent actions have now added a burden to their lives — a sad consequence that I must confront and for which I take responsibility.
My recent actions and words were not borne of kindness, but a failure of my vow to serve the Lord and those entrusted to my care as a person and as priest. I am profoundly sorry for my words and actions. I pray for all in this community every day, and I can only ask that you pray for me, but also for other priests and ministers, and all who seek to serve those who suffer and struggle as we strive to build up the kingdom of God.
Priest who booted funeral from church placed on leave
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/07/03/priest-who-booted-funeral-from-church-placed-on-leave.html
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/07/03/priest-who-booted-funeral-from-church-placed-on-leave.html
steppinthrax
Active Member
Seems like he spent time putting emphasis on how this chalice was the "cause and effect" as to his anger. As if it "could" be justifiable. He does seem to apologize etc, but goes into the whole "I'm am broken by nature, make mistake etc.." Which is something I've always heard time and time again when these super religious people are caught doing some horrible ####.
How much was this chalice, jesus I can get one here for $129.00. Unless it was the holy grail or somethin. The church has insurance right?
http://www.catholicsupply.com/churchs/chalice.html