Write A Letter To Fr Makebeleevy About Liturgical Abuses...

[dUSt]

I'm opening up a new section on phatmass in an attempt to help eliminate liturgical abuses, one parish at a time. This section will contain pre-written letters that you can print, sign, and deliver. So, I need some help writing those letters.

Each letter will focus on one specific liturgical abuse. It should be short, concise, to-the-point. It should be very respectful and non-accusatory.

So, lets use this thread to write some letters.

Format it like this:

[quote]
Dear Fr Makebeleevy,

...

Respectfully,
John Smith
Parishioner[/quote]

This will be "phase one". In "phase two" we'll focus on letters to bishops.

Tell me if this idea is wack.

[Nihil Obstat]

I think it's a lovely idea, but I also imagine that many priests would feel very annoyed at having people who aren't his parishioners writing to him about things in his parish. I would think about skipping straight to bishops.

[Chamomile]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' timestamp='1296079351' post='2204737']
I think it's a lovely idea, but I also imagine that many priests would feel very annoyed at having people who aren't his parishioners writing to him about things in his parish. I would think about skipping straight to bishops.
[/quote]

I think maybe he means it will just be like a template, us substituting Fr. Makebeleevy with the name of the priest at our parish (or one we visit regularly while on vacation perhaps.... ?).

So there would be a pre-written letter for certain common abuses that you could edit and give to your priest.

I think it's usually recommended to try to talk to the priest first, right? And then if nothing happens, you go to the bishop with a copy of the original letter, then to the Vatican with your copies if that doesn't produce a change.

However, I have visited a parish where I'm pretty sure there wouldn't be much success in talking to the priest, so I would start with the bishop there.

Anyways, I like the idea but can't help right now...

[Nihil Obstat]

I may have misunderstood, in which case I have nothing to add.

Edited January 26, 2011 by Nihil Obstat

[dUSt]

[quote name='Chamomile' timestamp='1296079865' post='2204739']
I think maybe he means it will just be like a template, us substituting Fr. Makebeleevy with the name of the priest at our parish (or one we visit regularly while on vacation perhaps.... ?).

So there would be a pre-written letter for certain common abuses that you could edit and give to your priest.

I think it's usually recommended to try to talk to the priest first, right? And then if nothing happens, you go to the bishop with a copy of the original letter, then to the Vatican with your copies if that doesn't produce a change.

However, I have visited a parish where I'm pretty sure there wouldn't be much success in talking to the priest, so I would start with the bishop there.

Anyways, I like the idea but can't help right now...
[/quote]
Better explanation of what I wrote.

[franciscanheart]

Love this!

[Mark of the Cross]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' timestamp='1296079351' post='2204737']
I think it's a lovely idea, but I also imagine that many priests would feel very annoyed at having people who aren't his parishioners writing to him about things in his parish. I would think about skipping straight to bishops.
[/quote]

Even your own can! I mentioned to our PP that RCIA candidates needed to be given a good and thorough explanation of why they can't take communion and He went thermal. I thought he was going to contact upstairs for an additional 1000years in Purgatory

[dUSt]

Well, I want to structure this in a format that was kinda outlined by Cardinal Francis Arinze in something I either watched or read by him. He said basically that you should first go to your local priest, and if that doesn't work, the bishop, and if that doesn't work, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

So, I think we'll have 3 separate letters for each abuse. Step 1, Step 2 and Step 3. I think it's just respectful to local priests and bishops to go in that order--and also, steps 2 and 3 would be more effective if you can show the actions you have taken in the previous steps.

[homeschoolmom]

Can I make a suggestion? If you are going to take a letter from here and send it to your priest, it would be very nice if you would, rather than print it and sign it, *handwrite it out*.... I know, that takes longer, but if the content is not going to be your original work, it should at least be in your original handwriting. If you really care enough to send a letter, at least put some effort into it.

[dUSt]

[quote name='homeschoolmom' timestamp='1296087042' post='2204785']
Can I make a suggestion? If you are going to take a letter from here and send it to your priest, it would be very nice if you would, rather than print it and sign it, *handwrite it out*.... I know, that takes longer, but if the content is not going to be your original work, it should at least be in your original handwriting. If you really care enough to send a letter, at least put some effort into it.
[/quote]
This is America. We are lazy. But yeah, that would be good.

If nothing else, the letters will give people a good reference. A lot of people may not even know where to start.

[IcePrincessKRS]

If nothing else they could at least serve as a sample or reference (kind of like a sample resume or something... only better because it's about fixing problems within our parishes).

[Maximilianus]

Just use this format:


Dear Fr. Makebeleevy,

Were coming.

Yours Truly,
The Inquisition.


...if that doesn't work then write a real letter, then go up the chain of command...but that should do it.


[size="1"]edited for bad spelling, grammar and over all typing[/size]

Edited January 27, 2011 by Maximilianus

[fides quarens intellectum]

i think this is a great idea, and yes, i agree we should hand-write it out if we can.

i will try to come up with one when i have a little more time.

[Sarah147]

I think more Priests than not are stubborn and stuck in their ways. But I think it would be good if a few people did this and we paid attention to how it worked out for them. If it's a success for anyone, then it's totally work a try. At least it will get them thinking.


Reverence, Silence & Respect In Parishes [color="#717171"]
[color="#717171"][/color][size="2"]Restoring this in Parishes. How is your Parish?[/size][/color][size="2"] [/size]
[url="http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/index.php?showtopic=107172"]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/index.php?showtopic=107172[/url]

Edited January 27, 2011 by JoyfulLife

[fides quarens intellectum]

[quote name='JoyfulLife' timestamp='1296095912' post='2204853']
I think more Priests than not are stubborn and stuck in their ways.
[/quote]

I would tend to want to give them the benefit of the doubt. They may not even realize that something going on in their parish is against what is the normative, and someone writing them a letter may be the first to bring it to their attention.