Update: I should have known better.
Deacon Sandy has followed up again on Facebook and I have been weighing what to do.
Let me print his comment and then relay my thoughts.
Hi – Deacon Sandy here again. I wish to thank you Creative Minority for responding. I welcome the opportunity to dialogue.
I think if we continue to we will learn that we have more in common than not. I reference for reflection Mt. 18: 15-17a “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church” I wish you had come directly to me first.
It is specifically because of your feedback that our leadership team gathered yesterday and, after prayer, asking for God to guide us, we revisited our video and found several things that we admit should not have been included.
For example, we did not explain that our Assisting Priests are key in this Parish Director model. We did not say it was unleavened bread that we use. We did not give the history of the kneelers. There was also a “tone” issue that I will deal with in my next confession – it is not appropriate for me to go any farther here. There are other aspects of it that we are still praying over and reflecting on.
We continue to ask you to take down this video which we are admitting here should not have been posted. I think we both wish to be in closer relationship with God, to follow the example of Jesus Christ, and to achieve salvation for ourselves and our parishes. Pax.
As for coming to him first, I reply simply that this was no private sin to be handled privately. The video amounted to a public boast and I feel it very proper to highlight it as such.
That said, I will comply with the request to remove the video since they now admit there are things in there that are embarrassing, over emphasizing non-essentials, and the like.
Deacon Sandy has personally assured me that the “bread” contains nothing other than wheat flour and water even though it was not clear in the video and has been checked for compliance with the diocese. We are still following up with the Diocese, but I take him at his word.
As for the rest of it, I think it is indicative of a mindset that has been terribly destructive for the Church. But if they are no longer willing to stand by it as representative of their views, I am compelled in fairness to remove it.
It is my sincere hope that this week of embarrassment leads to real reconsideration of their approach rather than just leading them to be more circumspect about talking about it.
I thank everyone for their attention to this matter, I hope it made a difference. Only time will tell.
February 25, 2014 at 8:17 pm
Very Christian of you!
I agree, hopefully this won't lead to just Hiding what they are doing wrong but a genuine reflection on the whole matter.
I suspect the letters to the Bishop helped as well!
February 25, 2014 at 8:20 pm
After reflection he now realizes he shouldn't have so publicly boasted about and revealed what was happening at his parish. This does not change one iota of what is actually happening there.
February 25, 2014 at 8:22 pm
Well, in my heart, I do not believe him. Sorry. But, I think that you, Patrick, do the right thing in removing such stupid video.
February 25, 2014 at 8:23 pm
I find it hard to believe that a church built in 1957 does not have kneelers. Something is clearly wrong here, and it looks as though the emperor has finally realized that he's not wearing any clothes.
February 25, 2014 at 8:41 pm
"As for the rest of it, I think it is indicative of a mindset that has been terribly destructive for the Church."
The mindset that is destructive to the Church is yours–the one in which you publicly bully a deacon.
February 25, 2014 at 9:01 pm
Thom
You win funniest comment of the day. They put out a video, I link it with the barest of commentary. They now admit that they were wrong and I am a bully.
Well done. Bully for you.
February 25, 2014 at 9:03 pm
"Limited commentary" + posting your Facebook messages + allowing the cesspool that is your comment section to go crazy with it
Yeah, you're a paragon of virtue.
February 25, 2014 at 9:15 pm
They post a video that amount to them jumping up and down saying "look at us, we are unique!!!" I say "Hey look at them" and I am the bad guy? Get real.
February 25, 2014 at 9:18 pm
Thom, Patrick did them a favor. Sunshine is the best disinfectant. When exposed to the light of day, they were forced to admit they were wrong. One hopes and prays that their prayer and reflection produces positive results.
February 25, 2014 at 9:34 pm
I say we give Deacon Sandy the benefit of the doubt at this point. Every man is a man of his time. I'd like to see a follow-up in a couple of months. In the meantime, let's knit kneeler cushions (hassocks) for him. Or raise money to buy some. http://www.churchcushion.co.uk/ I'm not kidding. Let's do this. I'd be happy to research it.
February 25, 2014 at 9:40 pm
Thank You, Jesus!
February 25, 2014 at 10:01 pm
Okay, I've just found a place in the UK which does individual kneelers for £5 each. Obviously we'd want to find a supplier in the US but the point is, this is a project which is affordable. If Deacon Sandy is into it, we could crowd-source across the tradosphere and get kneelers for his whole flock. Who's with me? This is an opportunity to show the world how generous trads, or even people who just care about rubrics, can be. It's hot coal time.
February 25, 2014 at 10:41 pm
Kelly Groen thinks it's a great idea. Right Kelly?
February 25, 2014 at 11:49 pm
Fr. Z has it now and someone else has another link to it as well. It went pretty viral…
February 25, 2014 at 11:49 pm
Good for you, Deacon Sandy.
@Thom, what are Catholics allowed to debate?
The weather? Sports? Farming techniques in early modern Europe?
What? This is what an engaged people who care deeply about their faith should do but have failed to do in large enough numbers for too long.
As far as this being a cesspool, I didn't notice a smell till you showed up. nyuk, nyuk.
February 26, 2014 at 12:02 am
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February 26, 2014 at 12:03 am
Magdelene, beachcomber, are you with me? Let's get DeaSa some kneelers already!
February 26, 2014 at 2:11 am
I think the bullying comment is valid. The lack of charity here is stunning. Yes, this deserves correcting, but under what authority do you have the right to publicly accuse, judge, and shame him? Was this really the best way to handle the situation? Are you telling me the scripture he quotes is invalid for public declarations? If so, under what authority do you make this claim?
No, the right thing would have been to indeed reach out to him in private, and if he wasn't receptive enlist someone else to again reach out with you in private. And if that didn't help you should have brought it to the attention of his bishop.
Let me be clear — I'm not defending him. And the Church needs to be defended. But that defense should come with love and charity, not from the outrage of a modern day pharasee.
February 26, 2014 at 2:30 am
They are embarassed that their hereterodox practices are exposed for the world to see.
February 26, 2014 at 3:00 am
I think we need to charitably take it as a step in the right direction. We should always appreciate a show of humility. Hopefully, it will encourage some extra processing. I will admit that it had a touch of 1960s "fighting the man" to it. There is great beauty in our church, and it should not be denigrated over personal taste.
If that were so, I would rapidly ban guitar and tambourines at Mass. They make me want to vomit! 😉