Who’s the Boss Tony? Here’s a hint…. Its Not You!
It could have been a funeral-home scene out of a “Sopranos” episode. At the wake for crime author Philip Carlo, Tony Danza angrily interrupted the priest, claiming he was talking too much about God and not enough about the best-selling biographer of mass murderers, including Richard Kuklinski and Richard Ramirez, during his eulogy.
A source at Thursday’s wake at Peter C. La Bella Funeral Home in Bensonhurst said the priest — “who said he was a substitute priest from a federal prison, which made some people smirk — started to ramble on and on about religion, quoting the Bible and making mourners uncomfortable.
“Tony, who was one of Carlo’s closest friends, walked right up to the priest and said angrily, ‘Excuse me, but this is not about you. It’s supposed to be about my friend, and if you can’t do that, maybe you should let someone else speak!’
“People were stunned, while the priest was visibly shaken. He tried talking about Carlo before quickly wrapping things up. Danza took over and eulogized Carlo with memories from their younger days.
“When someone then heckled Tony, he said, ‘Will you give me a break? Will you stop and let me talk?’ “
All that talk about God at a wake made mourners uncomfortable? Good!
According to Wiki, Danza is “a Roman Catholic and parishioner at St. Monica Catholic Church in Santa Monica, Danza is also an Ordained Minister with the Universal Life Church. He performed a marriage on his talk show.”
The Universal Life Church is an online church that advertises that anyone can become a minister.
But on the upside, more people watched Tony at the wake then watched his ill fated talk show.
November 17, 2010 at 3:15 pm
How rude he was! I hope his own priest took him to the woodshed!
November 17, 2010 at 3:22 pm
It is awful when a priest gives an eulogy and they really don't know the person. This happened at my mother's memorial mass. Mr. Danza should have just waited and then gave his own words.
November 17, 2010 at 3:23 pm
Its A Outrage!
November 17, 2010 at 3:27 pm
By accepting "ordination" by Universal Life Church, hasn't Mr Danza publicly defected from the Catholic Church?
November 17, 2010 at 3:53 pm
A lot of celebs and cafeteria Catholics attend St. Monica in Santa Monica. I live in Southern California and from what I hear it is not an orthodox parish (not meaning Eastern Orthodox, but in line with church teaching.)
November 17, 2010 at 3:54 pm
According to the new rite of funerals, eulogies are prohibited at the funeral Mass anyway, and the priest is required to preach on the Resurrection. Eulogies, however, could be offered at the grave side or at the vigil in the funeral home.
November 17, 2010 at 4:06 pm
"By accepting "ordination" by Universal Life Church, hasn't Mr Danza publicly defected from the Catholic Church?"
Yes.
November 17, 2010 at 4:16 pm
I'll second that St. Monica's in the People's Republic of Santa Monica is a dissident parish.
November 17, 2010 at 4:28 pm
@lisag said…
It is awful when a priest gives an eulogy and they really don't know the person.
LisaG, priests are not supposed to eulogize the deceased at Mass. There is no eulogy as part of Mass. Mass is not about the deceased or about me or about you. Mass is about Jesus Christ.
It's MASS!
-Tim-
November 17, 2010 at 4:31 pm
Dudes
This was a wake.
November 17, 2010 at 5:05 pm
Danza is either an ordained minister of the universal church or he is a Catholic but he isn't both. From the looks of this, he has moved so far away from the Church, he isn't "Roman Catholic" at all. It we consider him a Catholic, it's only by a thread in which he can hang on. Danza was wrong on quite a few levels.
November 17, 2010 at 6:26 pm
Don't you want to weep and pray for all these cultural/cafeteria Catholics? I understand he was grieving for a friend but yelling at a priest…? Wonder why they couldn't find a priest who knew the deceased?
BTW, does Danza expect to be buried from the Roman Catholic Church? Not if Mahoney's successor follows Burke's advice.
November 17, 2010 at 6:35 pm
I am so disappointed with Mr. Danza. I always liked him. Not only did he disrupt a Priest as he was preaching – and all directions mention that a hiomily at a funeral is not a eulogy. Let others do the eulogizing, not the Priest. As far as his being an ordained minister in another religion that violates many canons of the Code. He is excommunicated. Unfortunately most shepherds today don't have the guts to deal with this. I take it this would be in Los Angeles… Likewise, a Catholic cannot be performing weddings for anyone else, Catholic or not. This is pretending to be a sacrament, which is likewise punishable by excommunication. So, I hope Mr. Danza will get to confession ASAP onall counts and apoligize to the poor Priest in question. Simply, he is/was wrong on all counts. May God enlighten him.
November 17, 2010 at 6:36 pm
Does this "source" have a name? Are these comments not directed at an unnamed and, thus, unknown source? Just as a funeral mass – as any Christian funeral rite – is all about Christ and the Resurrection, this whole feed is about demonizing Tony Danza according to "a source".
What an incredible waste … and shame.
November 17, 2010 at 6:37 pm
Ever since encountering Sister Mary Tarantula and her dreaded RULER OF DEATH, I've believed that "once a Catholic, always a Catholic", the worst you could do would become an apostate but then you'd be a "fallen away Catholic". Still part of the Church (like it or not) and likely bound for Hell, but the way back could always be found with more ease & speed than for someone converting.
Following that line of thought, Danza will always be "Catholic". His adherence to Church teaching only determines his loyalty and probable eternal fate.
November 17, 2010 at 6:46 pm
A Catholic is always a Catholic in essence as the Sacrament of Baptism (as well as Confirmation and Holy orders) confers an indelible character. However, once a Catholic has cut him/herself off from the Communion he is regarded as fallen away. This does not lessen their responsibility, hence the very likely possibility of Hell…, but they are no longer "bona fide" members of the flock. Repentance, Confession and a firm purpose of amendment, can change all that. Such is the mercy and justice of God. So to all so-called "cafeteria Catholics" (to quote the Venerable John Paul II), I offer the Church's continual invitation to come home where you belong. St. Bernadette Soubirous, the visionary of Lourdes, once said that if people knew the reality of Eternity and of Hell, they would never sin again. Think about this…
November 17, 2010 at 6:57 pm
Crap, I walk past La Bella's when I get off the el. Wow, the neighbor's changed. This would not have happened back in the day.
November 17, 2010 at 7:17 pm
Michael: Did you read what the widow said?
"We all agreed that the priest had to go and leavve it to Phil's friends to come to the rescue?"
"Danza's rep said he was out of town and declined comment."
The source was wrong and Danza's rep doesn't decline comment!
You'll be pleased to know Danza's show on A&E will not have a second season. Maybe that's why he was in a bad mood and let loose.
November 17, 2010 at 8:20 pm
FYI, a priest does not give a eulogy at a Wake service or Funeral Mass. People should not expect him to. Those who do, have expectations from TV shows and soap operas. The priest gives a homily on scripture and the hope of eternal life. A few things about the deceased are usually said. Family are welcome to give a eulogy after the wake service. However, be it a Wake or Funeral Mass, its about Jesus Christ. It is not about you… How fitting they call it a You-logy.
November 17, 2010 at 9:08 pm
If they didn't want to hear about God and the Bible, why did they ask a priest to talk at the wake?
I wonder what they consider to be "rambling on"…more than 5 minutes?
If the priest truly was rambling, Danza could have politely interrupted the priest instead of using the reported rudeness.