Bridget I don’t disagree with your points generally and typically the “he who has the most kids wins the catholic prize” game is gross to me but his comment read, to me, more in the vein of “this reads like the best parents are the ones without children” kind of meme. In other words, are you speaking from a place of any experience or are…
Bridget I don’t disagree with your points generally and typically the “he who has the most kids wins the catholic prize” game is gross to me but his comment read, to me, more in the vein of “this reads like the best parents are the ones without children” kind of meme. In other words, are you speaking from a place of any experience or are you telling people living the realities of poor ccd programs and over expensive and unorthodox catholic schools how it “should be” when you yourself don’t live the reality of catechesis in the modern American church.
Division into tribes in the comments is not much use (although it is human nature, I think, even without provocation from the enemy).
I would recommend (to the audience in general) instead a letter writing campaign: not to the offending bishop, but to one's own bishop; not to complain or to persuade, but to express gratitude and filial affection. Bishops get mostly angry mail and they really appreciate a surprise note of thanks. (e.g. when I am mad at my bishop for moving a priest I liked, instead I write to thank him for the years in which this priest was with us, and in the note I mention some specific good quality of this priest.) In this case I would thank my bishop for not being the guy we are mad at, but I would phrase it in positive terms: e.g. thank you for your (small o) orthodoxy, for being someone we can rely on to lead us to Christ according to the teachings of holy mother Church, for fostering a spirit of unity in the diocese among people of different backgrounds, or whatever I can truthfully say. I would say also that I thank God for giving us this bishop and that I pray for him daily (if I do not pray for him daily then I will honestly state that I intend to start.)
If it is difficult to compose a letter then I would do it in front of the Blessed Sacrament and then it will take 5 minutes tops I think. It doesn't need to be long and can go in a greeting card. If we all did this what would happen? I don't know: it would be fun to find out.
As someone who lives in ADW I’m not sure many of those sentiments could be in my letter but you know what? Cardinal Gregory has been doing a homeschool mass for us at the basilica for a couple of years and I’m truly so grateful for it. We didnt have one this year I’m not sure why but it was very generous previously and I always meant to thank him
Bridget I don’t disagree with your points generally and typically the “he who has the most kids wins the catholic prize” game is gross to me but his comment read, to me, more in the vein of “this reads like the best parents are the ones without children” kind of meme. In other words, are you speaking from a place of any experience or are you telling people living the realities of poor ccd programs and over expensive and unorthodox catholic schools how it “should be” when you yourself don’t live the reality of catechesis in the modern American church.
True, it's a very difficult reality.
Division into tribes in the comments is not much use (although it is human nature, I think, even without provocation from the enemy).
I would recommend (to the audience in general) instead a letter writing campaign: not to the offending bishop, but to one's own bishop; not to complain or to persuade, but to express gratitude and filial affection. Bishops get mostly angry mail and they really appreciate a surprise note of thanks. (e.g. when I am mad at my bishop for moving a priest I liked, instead I write to thank him for the years in which this priest was with us, and in the note I mention some specific good quality of this priest.) In this case I would thank my bishop for not being the guy we are mad at, but I would phrase it in positive terms: e.g. thank you for your (small o) orthodoxy, for being someone we can rely on to lead us to Christ according to the teachings of holy mother Church, for fostering a spirit of unity in the diocese among people of different backgrounds, or whatever I can truthfully say. I would say also that I thank God for giving us this bishop and that I pray for him daily (if I do not pray for him daily then I will honestly state that I intend to start.)
If it is difficult to compose a letter then I would do it in front of the Blessed Sacrament and then it will take 5 minutes tops I think. It doesn't need to be long and can go in a greeting card. If we all did this what would happen? I don't know: it would be fun to find out.
As someone who lives in ADW I’m not sure many of those sentiments could be in my letter but you know what? Cardinal Gregory has been doing a homeschool mass for us at the basilica for a couple of years and I’m truly so grateful for it. We didnt have one this year I’m not sure why but it was very generous previously and I always meant to thank him