The Pope reprimands Catholic Nuns in U.S.

[glatt]

St. Ann's in the article is right in my neighborhood. Over the last 15 years, I've pruned their trees that have branches sticking out over the sidewalk. Fuckers just let them grow and block the sidewalk. I used to occasionally stick the bypass pruners in the basket of our baby stroller, so when we were walking past, I could just pull them out and cut branches off their trees and drop them in their parking lot. Somebody else is doing it too, but they just snap the branches and let them dangle. These days, when I notice the branches are getting out of control, I'll just walk home and get the pruners and come back to work on the trees.

Also, if you happen to be going by at 5:25 on a Saturday afternoon, be careful. Those Catholics come zooming in at the last minute and they are almost late, so they aren't so careful about pedestrians. Nobody gets hurt, but it's a little annoying.

I don't totally hate St. Ann's. I know a couple families who go there and they are really good friends. Good people. You would like them. Wonder what they think of these loyalty oaths.

Oh, one last thing about St. Ann's. They had this old run down house on their property that they used for AA meetings and stuff. They decided to remove the building, so they let the fire department spend a couple days setting it on fire and practice putting it out. That was fun to watch.

[Griff]

I wouldn't expect their care-taking to get better as their numbers decrease. There is an assumption that the people who stay with the Church will be the "better" Catholics more engaged better tithers etc... but I don't buy it completely. The choirs I remember were full of Vatican II types the CCD teachers a mixed lot the folks that showed up to work festivals were mixed some just neighbors not Catholics. A lot of the work that got done at our Church was just in the name of community not religion. I think the Bishops have so many yes men around them that they think the core of the Church are hard right true believers. We talked about leaving the Church a long time before we did it. The final straw was Lil' Griff's Confirmation. The Bishop decided it was time for a full-fledged wide ranging Cellar style abortion/small family rant instead of a coming of age conversation. I finally realized how unwelcome I was in a parish that was founded by my own Great great grandfather.

[Sundae]

Originally Posted by glatt

Also, if you happen to be going by at 5:25 on a Saturday afternoon, be careful. Those Catholics come zooming in at the last minute and they are almost late, so they aren't so careful about pedestrians. Nobody gets hurt, but it's a little annoying.

Same round here, children being dropped off late at St Louis school. Residential area (the convent and school were there first), narrow roads, parked cars and - obviously! - children about.

The cars take the sharp turn up the school drive at what I guess is nearly 40mph, without indicating and sometimes even talking on their mobile phones. And they have the temerity to have Child On Board signs in their cars?!

I'm not claiming it's a Catholic thing though. My C of E school comes with similar parents, to the extent we had to have a PSCO (police community support officer) outside of the school for a week, issuing tickets to dissuade people from dangerous driving/ parking/ abandoning their cars where they fancied. The driving changed temporarily, but bad habits are creeping back...

[glatt]

It is a Catholic thing.

The idea is that you have Holy Days of Obligation. You are obligated to make an appearance. But you aren't obligated to stick around afterwards for coffee hour. So they zoom in at the last minute, and roar out as soon as it's over. I know, I used to be one.

[Trilby]

Originally Posted by glatt

It is a Catholic thing.

The idea is that you have Holy Days of Obligation. You are obligated to make an appearance. But you aren't obligated to stick around afterwards for coffee hour. So they zoom in at the last minute, and roar out as soon as it's over. I know, I used to be one.

I used to be one, too.

Then I woke up.

Pope Shnope. Fuck em all.

[wolf]

Originally Posted by glatt

It is a Catholic thing.

The idea is that you have Holy Days of Obligation. You are obligated to make an appearance. But you aren't obligated to stick around afterwards for coffee hour. So they zoom in at the last minute, and roar out as soon as it's over. I know, I used to be one.

You're a Lutheran, aren't you. Lutherans have coffee hour. Catholics have breakfast a a diner, since they've had to starve themselves for at least an hour before mass started so they can take Communion (It's like swimming). So, actually, they are rushing out to be first in line.

[Griff]

I actually had a short frank talk with Dad about this a few minutes ago. The regular priest was out yesterday and the replacement from the diocese gave them a talk on the evils of cafeteria Catholicism.

[Lamplighter]

... with holy fire in their eyes



Here's a NY Times with a bit of history and an update.

The women of the 60's are now grey-haired, but still on the movement.

[Griff]

Nice voice! Will these old nuns outlive Rome?

[xoxoxoBruce]

Possibly the pope will learn why you shouldn't piss off the people that choose whether or not to starch your underwear.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Sister Sherman fights back.

When Kathy Sherman was in college during the final years of the Vietnam War, she played the guitar with friends in her dorm room and sang folk and protest songs over bowls of popcorn. They sang Peter, Paul and Mary and Joan Baez, and some friends said her voice reminded them of Judy Collins.

Ms. Sherman graduated and joined an order of Roman Catholic nuns, the Sisters of St. Joseph of La Grange, but she never stopped making music. Last spring, when the Vatican issued a harsh assessment of the group representing a majority of American nuns accusing them of “serious doctrinal problems,” Sister Sherman, 60, said she responded the way she always does when she feels something deeply. She wrote a song.