A supercilious Deacon

Can it be? Can contempt exceed arrogance? Can arrogance exceed ignorance? Many years ago, I was contacted by a group of people in their early twenties. They were couples-engaged couples- attending Engaged Encounter. It was their weekend. Their time. They needed to get to know each other better as friends and as future spouses.

It was also time to learn the Truth. What was does the Church teach? What is expected of each spouse? Of husband? Of wife? Of friendship? Of sin? Of life? Of babies? Of families? How do couples honor each other and the Truth as well and live faithfully? This is a genuine place to learn, that is Engaged Encounter. At this particular session a particular Deacon was in charge. These couples told me this Deacon's modus was irreverant, his dress was sloppy, his words were rank, his attitude arrogant, and his modus permissive. He allowed engaged couples to be together in the same room at night at the Church retreat center in Boise. They were deeply scandalized. Deeply. They reported the scandal to the appropriate person at the Diocese.

In time, would such disdain for the Church, Her teaching, and such poor example change. It appears not? Most recently, particularly on Sunday, 14 January 2007, it repeated itself. No, this was not another Engaged Encounter. Far from that. The same attitude showed itself at Mass. The Deacon gave a homily. He said that Vatican II gave a a certain primacy of the laity over the heirarchy, in effect that there was no real difference between the ministerial priesthood and the priesthood of the believers.

The dear Deacon blasted "Rome" for stating that the laity could no longer purify the Communion vessels used at Mass--warning us that so many little things will add up to big things.

His message sent shards of pain into the minds, hearts, and souls of many of the faithful in attendance. Scandal wound its way. In the end, he genuflected to the congregation. stating they were made in the image of God. Yes, the lay people and myself included are made in His image. Genuflect? Not right. This is not a democracy. The lay people are integral to the Church. The heirarchy as well. We don't genuflect to each other or to the bishops, but to the Real Presence. His gesture was quite audacious.

He warned many to read the documents of Vatican II. That my dear Deacon, many, many people have done. The "spirit" of Vatican II and the silliness that followed in the 1960s and 1970s is dying away, and with this coming generation the ideas of dissent will wane as well. So, the new generation is coming where a new springtime in the Catholic Church will arise, the faith will spread, and the politics of dissent, divide, and dismantle will set aside.

So with the scandal behind us, with the hope of Heaven ahead of us, we move on to the next day, pray for the Faith of this supercilious Deacon, and pray that the Faithful will remain always so to Him.

In closing, if there be a new reformation, it will likely be based on this Deacon's obervations, that Rome just doesn't get it and because it just doesn't get it, and in accord with that conclusion, there will be a new church--a new reformation. Umpteen million have said this and done this--old story, new version. This justification for a new reformation will come from lesseer minds as there will be little intellect behind it and certainly no soul as well.

I pray that whatever happens, that that all souls may turn to God, seek repentence, and find the way of Truth in charity.