What are you going to do about the postcards next week?

[rug]

http://www.nchla.org/docdisplay.asp?ID=209

Method One - In the Pews

The postcards can be distributed while your pastor, other celebrant, or
designated lay person is addressing the congregation about the project
(see “Talking Points” below).

In addition, place a few inexpensive pens (not pencils) in each pew.
Special Instructions to Parishioners

1) Ask parishioners to print their name and address on the back of the postcards
and sign them where indicated. Urge them to complete the cards while in
church. If they take the cards home, they may lose them or, despite their best
intentions, forget to sign them.

2) This project costs money. Ask each adult parishioner to donate $1.00.
Explain that the money will be used to buy stamps and defray other costs
associated with the project.

3) Ushers should collect the signed postcards. Donations can be collected at the
same time.

http://www.nchla.org/docdisplay.asp?ID=209

This is an extreme attempt to use the Church during the liturgy to steer civil legislation.

I expect to take the postcards, fill them out, cross out all the printed text, and write "Stay out of my church. Matthew 21:12-13" on them.

I will then place them in the weekly envelope instead of cash.

I will then leave.

[47of74]

1. Probably call in sick

I think I'll call in sick this week.

[rug]

2. I'll probably leave sick.

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

3. I've gone rogue.

When I go to Mass, I go to either the local shrine or the nunnery. I won't go to the parish churches in the area anymore. At least I'm safe there.

[rug]

4. That's not a bad plan.

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

6. I like the nuns. They're quite affable.

Of course being Trappist they don't talk much. But they make great chocolate.

[shrike]

8. I'm considering the same strategy

There's a Carmelite House in town. Their grounds are lovely and the priests are very nice.

There's also a wonderful Catholic college in town, doing terrific social justic outreach. I'd go there, but they only have mass Monday-Friday.

The Church is doing so many wonderful things, especially when you check into what's going on elsewhere in the world. Unfortunately, those things don't seem to be happening at the parish level anymore.

[Matilda]

5. Oh, my!

This is terribly wrong; I wonder why the hierarchy can't see it?

It reminds me of a time in the eighties, when a petition against Abortion
Law Reform, then being debated in the Federal Parliament, was passed
around the church during Mass. Not only did I think this was an abuse
against the Sacrament of the Mass, of course it also put pressure on
those who didn't wish to sign, because all around them would be watching.
I took a deep breath, just passed it on to the person next to me, and
kept my eyes front.

I respect the Church's right to make its own views clear to all, but I
demand the same respect for my personal views, and don't like being
bullied by the Church authorities, especially not during the Mass.

[rug]

7. Amen.

And bullied is exactly the right word.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

9. At my parish, more than half of us just left them unsigned in the pews.