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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Priests	Susy	Saturday, March 10, 2018
Question: My question: Is it wrong to ever point out to a priest that he is in the wrong especially when he doesn't conduct any Eucharistic adoration and when he does not take any effort to make our parish grow spiritually. If we bring this to his notice, the following Sunday mass homily will be a lesson for us where we are put in bad light. Is it true that they can curse us if we offend them and that their curses work. I know they are representatives of Christ but if they chase the sheeps away, can't we do anything if the Bishop does nothing.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), LTh, DD Dear Suzy: Canon Law informs us that we can express our concerns (in a respectful and loving way) to our sacred pastors (bold is my emphasis): Canon 212 §1. Conscious of their own responsibility, the Christian faithful are bound to follow with Christian obedience those things which the sacred pastors, inasmuch as they represent Christ, declare as teachers of the faith or establish as rulers of the Church. §2. The Christian faithful are free to make known to the pastors of the Church their needs, especially spiritual ones, and their desires. §3. According to the knowledge, competence, and prestige which they possess, they have the right and even at times the duty to manifest to the sacred pastors their opinion on matters which pertain to the good of the Church and to make their opinion known to the rest of the Christian faithful, without prejudice to the integrity of faith and morals, with reverence toward their pastors, and attentive to common advantage and the dignity of persons. Thus, you may express your concerns to your paster, but it must be with respect and love, and not in a complaining or accusatory spirit. It is improper for the priest to disparage anyone expressing their concerns in their homilies. That is a problem, which I cannot speak to since I have not heard your pastor's homilies in which he has done this. As to cursing, it is not true that a priest is to curse anyone. That is sinful behavior. No one is to curse anyone. Such behavior is inspired by the devil. We must remember that there is a difference between what a pastor must do, and what he has discretion in doing. Eucharistic Adoration is within his discretion. He is not required to offer this. Even if the Blessed Sacrament is not exposed in a monstrance for adoration, you can still adore our Lord in the Tabernacle. In any event, if you concerns are not addressed by the Paster, you can write a business-like and respectful letter to the bishop. If the bishop takes no action, then you need to offer it up to our Lord and let it go. Causing division, or holding resentments, are sins. We will be in prayer for your pastor and for you. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Priests

Susy

Saturday, March 10, 2018

Question:

My question: Is it wrong to ever point out to a priest that he is in the wrong especially when he doesn't conduct any Eucharistic adoration and when he does not take any effort to make our parish grow spiritually. If we bring this to his notice, the following Sunday mass homily will be a lesson for us where we are put in bad light. Is it true that they can curse us if we offend them and that their curses work. I know they are representatives of Christ but if they chase the sheeps away, can't we do anything if the Bishop does nothing.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), LTh, DD

Dear Suzy:

Canon Law informs us that we can express our concerns (in a respectful and loving way) to our sacred pastors (bold is my emphasis):

Canon 212 §1. Conscious of their own responsibility, the Christian faithful are bound to follow with Christian obedience those things which the sacred pastors, inasmuch as they represent Christ, declare as teachers of the faith or establish as rulers of the Church.

§2. The Christian faithful are free to make known to the pastors of the Church their needs, especially spiritual ones, and their desires.

§3. According to the knowledge, competence, and prestige which they possess, they have the right and even at times the duty to manifest to the sacred pastors their opinion on matters which pertain to the good of the Church and to make their opinion known to the rest of the Christian faithful, without prejudice to the integrity of faith and morals, with reverence toward their pastors, and attentive to common advantage and the dignity of persons.

Thus, you may express your concerns to your paster, but it must be with respect and love, and not in a complaining or accusatory spirit.

It is improper for the priest to disparage anyone expressing their concerns in their homilies. That is a problem, which I cannot speak to since I have not heard your pastor's homilies in which he has done this.

As to cursing, it is not true that a priest is to curse anyone. That is sinful behavior. No one is to curse anyone. Such behavior is inspired by the devil.

We must remember that there is a difference between what a pastor must do, and what he has discretion in doing. Eucharistic Adoration is within his discretion. He is not required to offer this. Even if the Blessed Sacrament is not exposed in a monstrance for adoration, you can still adore our Lord in the Tabernacle.

In any event, if you concerns are not addressed by the Paster, you can write a business-like and respectful letter to the bishop. If the bishop takes no action, then you need to offer it up to our Lord and let it go. Causing division, or holding resentments, are sins.

We will be in prayer for your pastor and for you.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum