I ♥ Pastors who understand their duty. I particularly love it when when Pastors are not all carrot but understand the value of the stick up to and including threats of excommunication.
Excommunication is used when a person commits acts so egregious that they separate themselves from the communion of the Faithful.
Excommunication is such a drastic measure it is necessary for the Church to clarify the situation by means of a formal announcement, which informs the laity that this is not a person to follow.
Obviously, a good pastor is duty bound to do all he can to help his sheep avoid any and all such sin that could require such a censure.
Case in point. The pastor, Fr. John McCartney of St. Matthew’s Church in Dix Hills NY has recently warned his parishoners in the parish bulletin about a grave but often overlooked sin through which the sinner can incur latae sententiae excommunication!
What is the sin that would require such a drastic remedy? Heresy? Schism? Worse! The sin of really, really bad taste. (See Picture to the right.)
That made me laugh! We sometimes forget that priests can be funny and that humor can be a wonderful pastoral tool. If Father happened to make some someone think twice before purchasing that monstrosity, even better.
May 27, 2008 at 3:29 am
A Catholic who impersonates a priest publicly, particularly in administrating the sacraments, can be barred from ordination. That’s about the worst that could come of this.
And even that’s a stretch. Me, I’m sticking with the “bad taste” angle.
May 27, 2008 at 3:36 am
If anyone would actually purchase this for their child’s baptism, excommunication seems a proportionate response. If not excommunication, then public flogging!
May 27, 2008 at 4:04 am
Very funny!
Can we excommunicate the parents whose daughters show their belly buttons in Church too?
May 27, 2008 at 4:21 am
Its A Outrage!
May 27, 2008 at 7:03 am
Serves ’em right. Doesn’t even come with red shoes.
May 27, 2008 at 12:03 pm
It’s too early in the morning and not even a cup of coffee can help me get this one.
May 27, 2008 at 1:58 pm
That’s hilarious. Who would buy such a thing?
May 27, 2008 at 3:35 pm
If we start excommunicating the tasteless, where will all the liturgical musicians go?
May 27, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Response to Alex – to answer your question, read the MyCustomizedCatholic.com post.
May 27, 2008 at 7:27 pm
Not that I would have my kid baptized in it, but perhaps some people out there are just hoping their son grows up to be pope!
May 28, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Good for Fr. McCartney, who is probably acutely sensitive to matters of taste, given the unfortunate architecture that surrounds him.
May 29, 2008 at 3:35 am
An exact replica of Pope Benedict’s vesture? Errm, not quite.
May 29, 2008 at 10:22 am
here’s a priest who has no time for those who have no taste
what a conceited and un-pastoral guy!
May 29, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Felix,
It is a joke! You know, haha?
May 29, 2008 at 6:37 pm
No surprise that the trend of baptism “suits” for little boys (in place of the traditional baptism gown) has wound up here.