In Catholic church today ....?

Question

I am not Catholic, but occasionally attend with my family for the benefit of the children. Today, the homily was about the danger of alienating people who are important to you. The sermon ended with a 40 minute lecture about dressing better for church, not taking communion if not married in the church, talking, leaving early, tithing issues, etc and etc. Doesn't this seem a little ironic considering the message of the homily? In the day when the Catholic church needs members, why alienate your existing members with a lecture (whether valid or not)?

I'm not suggesting that the rules should be thrown out, just that one chide after another didn't seem to fit with the message of the homily.

Answer 1

Why do people think the Church is any different today than yesterday? As long as the Church has existed on earth, there has never been a time when it's theology was not under attack. There has never been a time when Christians were being martyred for their beliefs somewhere in the world. There has never been a time when the Church was not confronting a heresy. Consider, after 2,000 of this, the Church has not only survived, it continues to thrive?

The Church of today may not be going as strong in the decadent Western World, but it is exploding in popularity in places like South American, Africa, even India.


As far as the homily you heard is concerned, what's the problem?


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There is a danger of people alienating those closest to us. If anything is a hypocrisy, perhaps it's the very real idea that those we love the most are the ones we take for granted most often. This is what gives rise to the popular axiom, "You never realize how much someone/something means to you until it's gone." If people didn't take their loved ones for granted so much, this axiom would have little or no meaning.

The length of a lecture is irrelevant. I, for one, don't mind the longer sermons, lectures, whatever you want to call it. There's this one priest at my parish who always delivers a prolific serom. If there is anything wrong with it, it's the berevity of it!


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If you were going to visit an important person's home, would you not dress appropriately for the occassion? Of course you would. At Catholic Mass, we are literally in the physical presence of Jesus Christ. We are in God's house, as His invited guests. This is God, the Creator of all things "seen and unseen." Why would we dress up for another person's benefit, but not for the Almighty?

Officially, the Church does not have a dress code. Those who attend mass will see jeans/t-shirts/sneakers to full suits and everything in between. We don't have to formal-up for a mass, but it is right to dress respectably.


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A civil court union does not constitute a marriage in the eyes of God. Only the Holy Sacrament of Matrimony suffices. Couples cohabitating are "living in sin" and thus, are not supposed to receive Holy Communion at mass.


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Social time comes after mass. During mass, we devout our attention, and our speech, to praising God. Personal conversation is both disrespectful to God during mass, and distracting for other parishioners trying to focus on the mass.


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Some Catholics have developed the bad habit of heading right out the door upon receiving Communion, rather than returning to their pews for a few more minutes of prayer. Immediately after receiving Communion, it is right to return to the pews and kneel in quiet meditative prayer. Following this is the final rite of the mass. Sunday, the Lord's Day, is a day of rest. Is it really necessary for so many parishioners to "beat the traffic" at Church?


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"Tithing" is not a practice of the Catholic Church. Real tithing constitutes the donation of 10% of one's income. Donations are supposed to be charitable. If a specific amount is required of us, the donation can hardly be considered an act of charity. People should donate what they can afford, without breaking the bank of course.

The Church relies on these donations, so it is not wrong to appeal to parishioners to dig deeper into their pockets, especially to fund a worthy cause. "God loves a cheerful giver."


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The examples you brought up are nothing out of the ordinary. in fact, they are typical issues addressed by every Catholic clergyman to his flock at some point.

Perhaps things would not seem to ironic if you understood that the Catholic Church is a hospital for sinners, not a house of saints. Catholics want to hear from their priest how they can better themselves as Christians. Any priest who goes about telling his flock that "everything is fine" is being negligent

We're not all fine. We're all sinners - and we need to be constantly reminded on this. Perhaps if society did not so widely embrace the idols of moral relativism, political correctness, and social "enlightenment", the Church would not be short on members in the First World. Notice how I mentioned that the Church is growing by leaps and bounds in places where the social/political isms I just mentioned are not so prevalent in society.

Answer 2

Doctrinally it's the identical, so I particularly do not fully grasp what you're speakme approximately. The Catholic Church is an inanimate institution, no longer equipped of conceitedness or wickedness. It is the induviduals that declare to symbolize the Church that do those matters. Saying the Catholic Church is depraved considering that of unhealthy bishops within the Middle a while is like pronouncing the US is unhealthy considering that of Andrew Jackson and the Trail of Tears or whatever. It simply does not make any experience. And incidentally, why is it that most effective the unhealthy bishops of the Middle Ages are "the Catholic Church" in your kind of folks? Why no longer Mother Teresa, or Saint Francis, or Saint Thomas Beckett? Edit: "No the Catholic church bought indulgences (paid passes from purgatory) which at present do not even exist anymore" You had been lied to. Firstly, indulgences have been on no account formally bought. Selling them is heresy and constantly has been. The factor with Luther will have to had been taken up with the neighborhood bishop. Secondly, indulgences and purgatory "nonetheless exist". Indulgences are temporal remission of confessed sins. I would get an indulgence for serving to out at a Church soup kitchen, or praying the Rosary with my parish, or journeying a situation of pilgrimmage. Your notion that an indulgence is solely "cough cash up for the gigantic unhealthy priest to get to Heaven" is whole fabrication. Edit: "They exceptionally do not do exorcisms to any extent further" We do exorcisms. Each and each diocese has a minimum of one exorcist. What made you suppose we do not do them anymore?

Answer 3

My pastor gives these homilies often and I love it when he does. The reason is that he’s trying to inspire a greater respect for the Mass. Personally, I go to Mass dressed up. I think it sets a good example for others and I want to be in God’s presence looking my best. I see others who walk in wearing flip-flops, cut-off shorts, ragged t-shirts; for me, that’s appalling. I do not voice my opinion because how they dress is between them and God. I worry about what I do.

I also don’t like it when people leave right after receiving communion or before the priest leaves. I think it’s disrespectful.

People need to shape-up and get with it. We are in the presence of God when we go to Church. Why show up with a low-cut blouse or short skirt? Where’s the consideration for others that your chosen attire might be distracting or even stumbling for someone else?

Answer 4

*slaps her hand against her forehead* I am not one to put a time limit on the mass, but 40 minutes is way way WAY too long for a homily. Not only that, the purpose of the homily is instructional, but is supposed to be based on the Gospel.

I agree with you - while what the priest had to say about "etiquette" might have been important (in fact, it was quite important and I hope that somehow the message got through) he needs to work on homiletics; that sounds to me like a VERY scatted homily.

Answer 5

i'm surprised as today is the feast of Corpus Christi but.... then again, it's about being reverent in G od's house.

dressing better doesn't mean going out and buying fancy clothing - it means putting effort forth - you are coming to see Jesus Christ. some people spend more time worrying about what to wear to a movie then coming in to visit God.

not taking Communion is true - if you are notliving a Christian / CAtholic life, you are have not prepared your heart & body for the Eucharist. You have to be in full communion with Christ. living in sin (marriage not blessed in the Church) is ne.

talking in church and leaving early - that is just plan old common sense. you are at mass to commune with God and Jesus - not each other. Leaving early is rude

while the Catholic Church "needs membership" they need members who fully participate. they are not here to "boost their membership" for the sake of numbers but rather for the sake of souls.

if truth alienates people, then they aren't willing to understand and listen. what your priest said was valid and true. too many people see religion as an easy way out. Accepting Christ IS easy but walking the road He put us upon is not always easy.

Answer 6

Seems like the priest at the parish you visited has the right idea, unlike so many others who are afraid to offend someone. When you are in the house of God, you should act like you are in the house of God, and not at a casual "get-together." As for dressing for church, this is a VERY important issue, especially for women. When a woman wears tight and reveiling clothing they are causing others to sin - when men see this their minds detract from adoration of God to adoration of the woman's form, and causing someone else to sin is a sin in itself. About recieving Holy Communion, this is the most important part of Christian life and should ONLY be for those who are in communion with the Catholic Church. Look at the word "communion," the root word is "community." If you are not a part of the community, which means submitting to the authority of the Holy Church and total adherence to her doctrine, then recieving Holy Communion is out of the question. But, the Church will give Communion to whomever comes up for it, but if you recieve unworthily you eat and drink judgement upon yourself (just read 1 Corinthians 11:23-32, it states this plain as day). About tithing, this again is about being part of the community and Body of Christ. We all must do our part to build up the Church, and tithing is one of the many ways to accomplish this. Talking in Mass and leaving early are just outright disrespectful to the Lord and to the other people in Mass who are trying to focus on Him. It seems to me if this so called "lecture" bothered you then you don't have respect for the Holy Mass, the Holy Church and the people within - not to mention the most important - lack of respect for Almighty God.

Answer 7

It is called integrity.

Yes, the catholic Church could attract more members by throwing all the rules and laws (includig the 10 commandments) out the window, but the Church would not be true to Jesus Christ, which is what attracts some people.

Answer 8

I am not catholic, nor do I know much about it. What I do know is that everyone should be welcome in any house of God, regardless of their appearance. The bible says for us to not worry about our clothes, so why would God? God doesn't see us for what we look like to other people. God sees what's inside - our spirit - so what is worn to church should not even be a factor. However, we feel it is respectful to dress nice for church, and we should, if we have the means. If someone can't afford nice clothing for church, they should still be welcomed with open arms. I know there was more to your question, but this part really got to me.