Our parish is being assigned a new priest and we deperately need answers to this question. The bishop is fairly old school Catholic, and my parish is more modern.
2007-07-12 15:48:59 · 7 answers · asked by cranberry1030 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
dont have a clue!
2007-07-12 15:52:30 · answer #1 · answered by didnotknow123 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some dioceses have a Personnel Board of priests which advises the bishop on assignments, but not all -- and in any case the decision is entirely the bishop's. It's not a matter of whether the parish laity have a "right" to choose a new priest, but who has the responsibility and authority to do so. You can certainly pray with others in your parish that the Holy Spirit will guide the bishop in his selection of exactly the right priest for your parish at this particular time -- whether he is "old school" or not.
2007-07-12 16:27:39 · answer #2 · answered by Clare † 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When it comes right down to it, parishioners do not have a choice.
You have to remember that the Catholic Church is the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. That is to say, it is a monarchy, not a democracy.
The sheep do not choose their own Sheppard's. Jesus Christ, the Kingdom and Church's High Priest and King chooses the Sheppard's for the sheep.
Bishops assign priests to parishes within their Diocese. If your parish has a preference for a particular priest, or type of priest, you can make an appeal to he Bishop - but don't get your hopes up.
Quite frankly, I am wary of parishes that consider themselves "modern". It is precisely those kinds of parishes that need an "old school" priest.
As Catholics, we are supposed to conform to the Ways of the Church, not try to conform the Church to humanistic ways.
2007-07-16 04:21:11 · answer #3 · answered by Daver 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God chooses men to be priests and bishops. The laypeople have no say in it. If you have a problem with the priest that is assigned to your parish, you can complain to the bishop, but the bishop has the authority in the diocese.
The catholic Church is not a democracy. Jesus was not elected.
2007-07-12 15:54:25 · answer #4 · answered by Sldgman 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think you should receive this man as from the hand of God and any corrections that he makes as a rudder to your ship. If he steers a bit too much toward the opposite shore than you were previously headed trust God that He will right things over time. Typically the truth is more in the midstream of Christianity.
I wish I know what you meant by "Old School" and "Modern". If you mean that he is trying to get the focus more on the teachings of Rome, this is from God and should not be thwarted. If it is just a matter of Liturgical music preference, or something along those lines, I bet he will see results if less of the faithful attend the older or dryer services.
2007-07-14 09:37:08 · answer #5 · answered by Makemeaspark 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
*Is Catholic*
Canon Law grants no rights to the parish on this topic, to my knowledge.
Your parish board may however ask to have a discussion with your Bishop to air any concerns that you might have over who he might assign. I am sure that he will welcome your imput. The Bishop is not a dictator but the spiritual father of the diocese. It is his duty and obligation from Christ to make sure that your parish is safeguarded and instructed in the whole of the Catholic faith. He will answer to Christ directly for what occurs.
May I suggest however that this "old school" VS. "modern" language be dropped? It is highly antagonistic and suggests schism. There is one Catholic faith but multiple forms of expression. You are entitled to legitimate forms of expression but not entitled to anything that is not of the Faith, whether it be "modern" or "old school".
2007-07-13 10:51:45 · answer #6 · answered by Liet Kynes 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
None. It would be cool, though, if there were some sort of clergy-laity match-up system. I'm an old school Catholic with a more modern bishop. Wanna swap?
2007-07-12 15:55:53 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋