Priest Asked Noisy Children To Leave

[Laudate_Dominum]

[quote name='homeschoolmom' date='05 October 2009 - 11:38 AM' timestamp='1254757091' post='1978208']
What I find more annoying than children making noise is adults coughing constantly throughout the whole Mass.
[/quote]



A step above that is being seated near an incessant snorter.

[StColette]

[quote name='Laudate_Dominum' date='05 October 2009 - 11:40 AM' timestamp='1254757217' post='1978209']



A step above that is being seated near an incessant snorter.
[/quote]

or snorer!

[Sojourner]

[quote name='homeschoolmom' date='05 October 2009 - 11:38 AM' timestamp='1254757091' post='1978208']
What I find more annoying than children making noise is adults coughing constantly throughout the whole Mass.
[/quote]


It's not just the sound, but also my latent hypochondria acts up.

Stay home when you're sick!!! It's an act of charity to the rest of us.

[Laudate_Dominum]

[quote name='StColette' date='05 October 2009 - 11:42 AM' timestamp='1254757324' post='1978210']
or snorer!
[/quote]
Yikes! Haven't experienced that.

Winter is almost here and there will be lots of coughing, nose blowing and snorting!

[Archaeology cat]

[quote name='homeschoolmom' date='05 October 2009 - 04:38 PM' timestamp='1254757091' post='1978208']
What I find more annoying than children making noise is adults coughing constantly throughout the whole Mass.
[/quote]
Or engaging in conversation on the way up to receive the Eucharist.

[quote name='Terra Firma' date='05 October 2009 - 04:42 PM' timestamp='1254757368' post='1978211']


It's not just the sound, but also my latent hypochondria acts up.

Stay home when you're sick!!! It's an act of charity to the rest of us.
[/quote]
Same here.

[homeschoolmom]

See, now the occational coughing, sniffing, or whatever doesn't bother me too much (Hey, I live in MN-- it's cold here and when you come in from the cold, stuff runs a little)... it's the repeated coughing or sneezing that is bothersome because, as Terra pointed out, I am constantly thinking about what's on my calendar for the upcoming week that I'm going to miss if one of us gets sick. The crybaby does not bother me because other than a little bit of noise, s/he has no impact on me whatsoever. I don't even have to look his direction. I can just put my head in my hands a little further and pray a little harder.

[Sojourner]

[quote name='aalpha1989' date='05 October 2009 - 11:30 AM' timestamp='1254756603' post='1978206']
Yes, adults know better. I didn't say that they were never disruptive, only that they shouldn't be and it's ridiculous to imply that they should be treated like pre-rationals (even if they ARE illogical). Adults misbehaving is not the same as kids misbehaving. For the adult, the only choice is to be in Church and to be attentive and not disruptive.
[/quote]
You are right that the best choice an adult can make is to be attentive and sensitive to other worshipers so he or she is not disruptive, to the best of his or her ability. That's why adult disruptions are, in my (and perhaps others') view so much more egregious than child disruptions.

When a baby cries I think a parent has the responsibility to do what he or she can to comfort the child, out of consideration for the rest of the congregation. But I don't believe it is in all cases rude and uncharitable to allow a crying baby to remain in church, particularly if a parent is making a good faith effort to quiet the child. I do believe it is in all cases rude to allow your cell phone to ring during Mass, or to answer it, or to consistently arrive late or leave early. A crying child can provide an occasion for us to appreciate one another as a family. The misbehaviors evidenced by adults are just rude.

[Sojourner]

[quote name='homeschoolmom' date='05 October 2009 - 11:50 AM' timestamp='1254757803' post='1978217']
See, now the occational coughing, sniffing, or whatever doesn't bother me too much (Hey, I live in MN-- it's cold here and when you come in from the cold, stuff runs a little)... it's the repeated coughing or sneezing that is bothersome because, as Terra pointed out, I am constantly thinking about what's on my calendar for the upcoming week that I'm going to miss if one of us gets sick. The crybaby does not bother me because other than a little bit of noise, s/he has no impact on me whatsoever. I don't even have to look his direction. I can just put my head in my hands a little further and pray a little harder.
[/quote]
Perhaps this is, in part, a result of being a parent or having grown up in a large family. You learn to concentrate despite the distractions of children.

[dominicansoul]

i don't agree with what this priest did. parents should take the children out if they are noisy, of course, but they shouldn't be singled out and the priest shouldn't interrupt the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass to tell them to leave. I was under the impression that nothing could disturb the priest from celebrating Holy Mass, not even people fainting in Mass, or if someone were to die in the congregation from a heart attack. From what I understand, the Mass must go on...(of course, the laity would take care of the emergencies...) so something as insignificant as this shouldn't have merited such an interruption from the priest. this priest obviously just let his nerves get the best of him...

i have seen this happen a few times, and it wasn't pretty. Some priests can get really ugly towards noisy families, and it just doesn't promote the alter Christus image priests possess (especially during the Mass.)

[aalpha1989]

[quote name='Terra Firma' date='05 October 2009 - 11:55 AM' timestamp='1254758103' post='1978221']
You are right that the best choice an adult can make is to be attentive and sensitive to other worshipers so he or she is not disruptive, to the best of his or her ability. That's why adult disruptions are, in my (and perhaps others') view so much more egregious than child disruptions.

When a baby cries I think a parent has the responsibility to do what he or she can to comfort the child, out of consideration for the rest of the congregation. But I don't believe it is in all cases rude and uncharitable to allow a crying baby to remain in church, particularly if a parent is making a good faith effort to quiet the child. I do believe it is in all cases rude to allow your cell phone to ring during Mass, or to answer it, or to consistently arrive late or leave early. A crying child can provide an occasion for us to appreciate one another as a family. The misbehaviors evidenced by adults are just rude.
[/quote]

I think you're right.



Speaking of children, my Mom's birthday is February 12.

[StColette]

[quote name='Terra Firma' date='05 October 2009 - 11:55 AM' timestamp='1254758103' post='1978221']
When a baby cries I think a parent has the responsibility to do what he or she can to comfort the child, out of consideration for the rest of the congregation. But I don't believe it is in all cases rude and uncharitable to allow a crying baby to remain in church, particularly if a parent is making a good faith effort to quiet the child. I do believe it is in all cases rude to allow your cell phone to ring during Mass, or to answer it, or to consistently arrive late or leave early. A crying child can provide an occasion for us to appreciate one another as a family. The misbehaviors evidenced by adults are just rude.
[/quote]



I know for my priests at my parish they're more distracted when people get up and down out of their pews. They've actually expressed that they'd rather fussy babies and their parents stay in their pews (as long as they aren't terribly loud) rather than have to get up and down multiple times.

[Sojourner]

[quote name='StColette' date='05 October 2009 - 02:06 PM' timestamp='1254766001' post='1978300']


I know for my priests at my parish they're more distracted when people get up and down out of their pews. They've actually expressed that they'd rather fussy babies and their parents stay in their pews (as long as they aren't terribly loud) rather than have to get up and down multiple times.
[/quote]
I think it's great that your priests have given it thought and let people know their wishes. This, in my view, is a far better way of handling the situation than interrupting the Mass.

We're Catholic, and we love to bring life into the world and nurture it to maturity. That's a big part of who we are. So there are going to be children in the pews, because we love life and we encourage people to have children and to bring them up in the faith. A priest should be able to anticipate that children are from time to time going to be disruptive, and provide adequate guidance for his parish so that parents know the best way to handle fussy children so that it is least distracting for the priest. I think it would be totally appropriate for a priest to direct that a small paragraph be put in the bulletin that advises parents of fussy children to stay in their pews, take them out if they become too unruly, where to take them, or whatever. Perhaps parents who are uncertain should just ask the priest what he prefers (before or after Mass, of course ).

[Winchester]

I'd a said: "Get on with preachin' Padre," and given him my war face.

[StColette]

[quote name='Terra Firma' date='05 October 2009 - 02:15 PM' timestamp='1254766539' post='1978307']
I think it would be totally appropriate for a priest to direct that a small paragraph be put in the bulletin that advises parents of fussy children to stay in their pews, take them out if they become too unruly, where to take them, or whatever. Perhaps parents who are uncertain should just ask the priest what he prefers (before or after Mass, of course ).
[/quote]

I think that's a very good approach. Some parents may not understand the protocol of what to do or where to go if their child or children become far too unruly.

[CatholicCid]

[quote name='jmjtina' date='04 October 2009 - 11:35 PM' timestamp='1254713745' post='1977897']
I'd say give the priest the benefit of the doubt.
[/quote]

I'd generally agree with this as well. At one of my old parishes, we had a lovely cry room just behind the last pew with pews, chairs, speakers of the Mass, and it was attached to the Women's restroom and a changing area. At one of the parishes I attended after that, I was surprised not to see a similar setup, but more of an open area with speakers to hear to the Mass. That seemed more like the area to bring a child if they starts having a tantrum. These areas generally exist as a benefit to all. If not, you do what you can.

As to the Priest at hand, perhaps not the most prudential judgment, or perhaps there is a history that we are unaware of and he choose his only option. At least it seems he is trying to concentrate on the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and not just going through the motion.