Monday, December 19, 2005

Service as usual for St. Stanislaus

The Sunday service at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church drew a regular crowd of more than 100 parishioners and included the usual prayers and psalms - in English and in Polish - with little hint that anything was amiss.
...
This, apparently, is what excommunication looks like at the embattled and defiant church: business as usual.
Even the media sees the defiance.
Comments from 'parishioners' are telling:
"Our feeling is we didn't do anything wrong."

"It's difficult to understand how people, who have done horrific things to children, are still part of the church. . .they haven't been excommunicated."

"I just can't believe this is happening to us"

"I don't feel like I'm committing a mortal sin. I feel good. My conscience is clear."

"Christmas Eve Mass is going to be crowded this year."
"My conscience is clear"...One person says, in effect, that Satan has convinced him what to think and do and that he believes in his own will rather than that of our Lord...How sad!

If one can claim that his conscience is clear and that attending a schismatic church and receiving Communion from a schismatic priest is NOT a mortal sin despite what Archbishop Burke has told us, then we are witnessing an example of a truly malformed conscience. It's worse though, especially when one relies on 'feelings' to determine what is right and wrong. I may never understand how one can feel "good" about committing mortal sin...Perhaps, if it be God's will, Fr. Bozek may yet return to his bishop in obedience and repentance.

Article link is here.

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