This is pretty awful. You’ve got a Catholic Church adorned with soccer balls, everyone (including the priest) dressed in orange in preparation for the World Cup final, and the priest smiling and as Al Kresta said “mugging for the camera while DISTRIBUTING THE EUCHARIST.”
This is truly cringeworthy.
HT Al Kresta
July 14, 2010 at 2:39 am
So we only praise God because we have soccer? I'm actually really sorry I saw that.
July 14, 2010 at 2:40 am
The link to Mr. Kresta's site is not working…
July 14, 2010 at 3:10 am
My teenage son said that Mass was the reason why they lost!
July 14, 2010 at 3:48 am
Silly Dutch! Even on Superbowl Sunday, we American Catholics know it's Mass FIRST … then football!
July 14, 2010 at 4:55 am
"Soccrelegious". Excellent!!
This Mass deserves Yellow, Red AND Green cards!
July 14, 2010 at 4:57 am
Let's put this into perspective here: the more roucus aspect of this video happened BEFORE the liturgy. This was most likely a prayer session/support rally followed by a very tame mass of special intention (these are pretty common in Europe). While campy, I didn't see anything particularly wrong with it other than the communion in the hand, which most likely happens every given Sunday (as it does in the US).
One thing I think Americans aren't too familiar with is that churches in Europe have always been used for secular gatherings (concerts, theater, study groups) as well as the divine liturgy. This is how it has always been, since often they were the only structures which could accommodate larger groups. Also, the line between church and state was traditionally and historically nonexistant throughout Europe up till very recently, so civic, cultural and of course religious activity centered around the church.
Anyway, cringe away. I've seen much much worse. This one didn't even register.
July 14, 2010 at 7:28 am
AAAAAAHHH!
Liturgical abuse aside, the decorations and attire alone are truly cringeworthy
July 14, 2010 at 10:14 am
I left The Episcopal Church for this!
July 14, 2010 at 2:05 pm
Oh Mommy, make the bad people stop!
July 14, 2010 at 2:51 pm
I cringed just reading the description and wasn't even going to watch the video. After watching it though….I don't know. I don't speak a lot of Dutch so I don't know if they were praying to the soccer ball or what. If the Mass was a real Mass then good for them. The priest did say that their prayers were for "team spirit" not even that the team would win.
I do think it is in poor taste, but then again you have to know the Dutch. Their nationalism is something they wear like clothes. You wouldn't want the to come to church naked would you?
If some primitive tribe from the Rurutanian jungles went to Mass wearing thongs, masks and bones through their nose and praying that their Woojoo celebration would go well, we might be saying, "Good for these primitives. They've found God." To me the very idea that the Dutch would go to church at all is astonishing. So if that's what it takes to get them in there…
(Kicking the soccer ball down the aisle is over the top and perhaps even disrespectful. But I don't know what is in their hearts.)
So maybe the real question is Woojoo? My answer is, "No I woo'd not." But don't mind if they joo. (sorry for that one.)
July 14, 2010 at 3:20 pm
Viva España Católica.
July 14, 2010 at 6:07 pm
Dreadful – but don't go thinking that all of us who live in the Low Countries approve of this. I hope the priest is disciplined – assuming that he has a Catholic and orthodox bishop. I don't know which diocese he comes from.
a religious.
July 14, 2010 at 8:03 pm
Would someone remind me again please – what is the correct liturgical season for orange vestments?
July 14, 2010 at 8:33 pm
Ugh… I couldn't even finish watching it!
July 14, 2010 at 11:55 pm
The orange vestments and altar cloth alone are contrary to the spirit of the liturgy. They really ought to know better. Appalling.
July 15, 2010 at 1:41 pm
Can we rise above the standard of attendance…puhleease?
July 15, 2010 at 6:21 pm
Today the priest was suspended for this, his latest sacriledge.
July 16, 2010 at 6:23 pm
What I find sad about this is it will get far more attention than say Father Roderick (another dutch Priest) who is faithful to the magisterium and who works tirelessly to spread the word in the right way.
That's not to say that liturgical abuses shouldn't be pointed out and corrected. They need to be remedied, and now.
July 19, 2010 at 11:58 pm
Looks like the priest was eventually suspended [Catholic Culture]…