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Hi, Ed —
You said:
Several weeks ago, the rector at the Co-Cathedral here in Charleston, West Virginia,
told me Adoration and Church theology were in conflict.
The only way that statement could possibly be close to true is if, pastorally,
Adoration was being promoted more than the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
As Catholics we believe that the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is the supreme
and sole form of public worship to Jesus Christ, Our Lord and God.
Eucharistic Adoration does not undermine, but supplements and compliments
it.
It is our personal worship of Jesus in the Eucharist.
Take a look at our "Pastor approved" [PDF] Eucharist
Adoration Mission statement.
If your pastor has problems with this, more than likely, the problem is
with your pastor, seeing our Cardinal, Cardinal Sean
O'Malley, has always supported our Perpetual Adoration ministry here in the Natick, Massachusetts area.
You said:
Since then, I have been active
in drawing more people into daily Adoration, though the rector has become very
uneasy. His words to me came about the same time the Bishop in St. Petersburg
banned Adoration in his diocese. I wrote my Bishop to get some guidance on this
"theology thing". My Bishop responded and avoided any mention of the matter, then
last Sunday, the rector devoted a portion of his sermon condemning those parishioners
(me) who go to the Bishop seeking guidance. He said his background was sufficient
to answer any questions relating to the faith.
It sounds like you weren't the only one to write to the bishop. The issue
at question is whether your pastor is meeting your spiritual
needs, as he is required to do according to Vatican II. Obviously, he is not. You have a duty and a responsibility, as a Catholic, to make your
spiritual needs known to your pastor and to tell him when he is not meeting your spiritual needs.
I usually say, "Father, In the spirit
of Vatican II," then I quote "Canon 212 § 2:
| § 2 Christ's faithful are at liberty to make known their needs,
especially their spiritual needs, and their wishes to the Pastors of
the Church. |
Warning: Quoting canon law to a priest or pastor usually will not make his day,
but it is important because canon law exists to protect the lay Catholics
from, what I would say are, poor priests or priests that need prayers.
I believe this is Jesus' way of protecting the spiritual needs of its
members!
The following is from the Church's Code of Canon Law, Canon 212:
Title I: The Obligations and Rights Of All Christ's Faithful
Canon 212 §1 Christ's faithful, conscious of their own responsibility,
are bound to show Christian obedience to what the sacred Pastors, who
represent Christ, declare as teachers of the faith and prescribe as rulers
of the Church.
§2 Christ's faithful are at liberty to make known their needs,
especially their spiritual needs, and their wishes to the Pastors of
the Church.
§3 They have the right, indeed at times the duty, in keeping with
their knowledge, competence and position, to manifest to the sacred Pastors
their views on matters which concern the good of the Church. They have
the right also to make their views known to others of Christ's faithful,
but in doing so they must always respect the integrity of faith and morals,
show due reverence to the Pastors and take into account both the common
good and the dignity of individuals. |
You said:
- Keeping in mind he told me face-to-face,
that Adoration and Church theology were in conflict, where do I go from here?
I'm in charge of Adoration and would hate to step aside, however ...
If he has not told you to step aside, don't. I believe, you will get many
graces for what you are doing. In cases like these, I would always start from the bottom and work up. If your pastor is not meeting your spiritual needs, write to your bishop, telling him the results of any conversation with your pastor. (He will probably ask if you have already talked to the pastor on the issue.)
If the local bishop is not meeting your spiritual needs
as well, either write to a nearby Cardinal in your area or write
to the Vatican Pro-Nuncio in Washington, D.C.
His Excellency Archbishop Christophe Pierre
U.S. Apostolic Nunciature
3339 Massachusetts Ave. N.W.
Washington D.C. 20008
If you are having a hard time resolving an issue with a bishop, sending a letter to these addresses wouldn't hurt either:
His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI
Apostolic Palace
VATICAN CITY |
Archbishop William Levada
Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine Faith
Piazza del S. Uffizio 11
00193 Rome, Italy |
Giovanni Battista Re
Sacred Congregation for Bishops
Piazza Pio XII 10
00193 Rome, Italy |
Francis Cardinal Arinze
Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship
Piazza Pio XII 10
00193 Rome, Italy |
These are the prelates responsible within the Church as of this e-mail. For current prelates of the Catholic Church these websites and web pages should help:
Hope this helps,
Your brother in prayer, your brother in Christ,
Mike Humphrey |
