tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3421048675188238799.post4657045799306565744..comments2023-06-28T04:21:47.815-04:00Comments on DOR Catholic: DOR Mass Attendance Free Fall ContinuesMike Sheahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152225895101756147noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3421048675188238799.post-51743038778716174032009-03-11T23:12:00.000-04:002009-03-11T23:12:00.000-04:00Nerina,I haven't been to any of the events but I d...Nerina,<BR/><BR/>I haven't been to any of the events but I did watch the bishop's retreat on dor.org and remember being singularly unimpressed.<BR/><BR/>I just went back and watched the <A HREF="http://www.rochesterspiritalive.org/DVDRetreat.htm" REL="nofollow">first video</A> again to refresh my memory. Throughout the entire thing the bishop never mentions the words "sin" or "repent" once.<BR/><BR/>Towards the end he does say, "If you learn anything from Christ it is that he came to transform our total humanity and invites us to join in the transformation of the world." <BR/><BR/>Well, I suppose that's true, but Jesus himself tells us to "repent and believe the good news" and "I have come to call sinners."<BR/><BR/>The bishop seems to want us to believe that this transformation of our humanity can be done without any recognition on our part of our sinfulness and our constant need for repentance, for conversion.<BR/><BR/>This is a lot closer to lukewarm Protestantism than authentic Catholic teaching or, as you said, "more of the same navel-gazing that we've come to expect from our diocese."<BR/><BR/>No wonder it's having no effect.Mike Sheahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05152225895101756147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3421048675188238799.post-90452450908390922642009-03-11T15:48:00.000-04:002009-03-11T15:48:00.000-04:00And as far as the "Spirit Alive" initiative is con...And as far as the "Spirit Alive" initiative is concerned, has anyone attended the events? I took all of my kids to the kick-off video presentations in our church and I must say they were very poorly done. Forgive me, but Bishop Clark is not very charismatic (at least not via video) and my kids were bored to tears. They said it would be geared to "all ages." It was not and it was more of the same navel-gazing that we've come to expect from our diocese.Nerinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04140098415634466763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3421048675188238799.post-70999447258627067012009-03-09T21:31:00.000-04:002009-03-09T21:31:00.000-04:00Dr. K,You are absolutely right about the effect of...Dr. K,<BR/><BR/>You are absolutely right about the effect of Ecumenism (when not properly understood). If it weren't for the Eucharist, it would be hard to differentiate my church from the non-Catholic churches in my area.Nerinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04140098415634466763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3421048675188238799.post-24929875533189678082009-03-04T17:54:00.000-05:002009-03-04T17:54:00.000-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3421048675188238799.post-14537068900998213472009-03-04T16:30:00.000-05:002009-03-04T16:30:00.000-05:00My guess for the decline is:1) Clustering. Parishi...My guess for the decline is:<BR/>1) Clustering. Parishioners feel that they have no say in the future of their church/school buildings.<BR/>2) Pastoral leaders that question the church hierarchy on every issue and promote their dissent in word or in action.<BR/>3) We have done a poor job in teaching/practicing the faith.Interstate Catholichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14023096109924795677noreply@blogger.com