As we mentioned before, Ms. Deni Mack, the Pastoral Associate of Church of the Assumption in Fairport, will be leading a “Roman Catholic Liturgy of the Word” for Dignity-Integrity Rochester. Dignity-Integrity is a dissident GLBT (Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transexual) group that advocates for a change in the Church’s teachings concerning homosexuality and homosexual acts (see also this link for further explanation about this group’s dissent). The liturgy will take place Sunday, March 14th at 5 PM for those who wish to attend. If you do go, be sure to send Cleansing Fire an e-mail. According to the D-I Web site, these services are held at St. Luke & St. Simon Cyrene Episcopal church in downtown Rochester.
Once again, Dignity-Integrity describes these Roman Catholic services as follows:
“Second Sundays
On the second Sunday, our Liturgy of the Word is in the Roman Catholic tradition, and it is led by a layperson who has studied theology or has other suitable qualifications. The service has many of the elements of a Mass, with a few extra features thrown in, but no communion. Nevertheless, it does fulfill your Sunday obligation [NO, it absolutely does not, and it’s a lie to say that it does], and it’s based on the Roman Catholic guidelines for Sunday celebrations in the absence of a priest [Which is not allowed without Bishop Clark’s approval…]. The presiders and homilists are people who would undoubtedly make great priests if the Roman Catholic church was fully open to the gifts of women and married men [Outrageous, “Spiritus Christi”-style statement of dissent]. Following the service, there is a coffee hour social starting around 6:15 PM.
For a sample of this Liturgy of the Word (including our prophetic “Liturgy of the Stones” [Dissenting made-up prayers pertaining to homosexuality]), visit the liturgical resource site STICKS & STONES / FLESH & BLOOD: Liturgical images and movements that speak to experience at www.mjnicosia.webs.com.”
We received an email recently informing us that Diocese of Rochester priests are not permitted to say Mass for Dignity-Integrity, and have not been for over a decade. If this is true, and I have no reason to doubt that it is, how come these makeshift Liturgy of the Word services are permitted by the diocese? Is this an attempt by the diocese to “be creative”? Is such a service supposed to not illicit complaints to the Vatican because they aren’t Masses and are occurring off site and out of sight?
The bottom line is, these services are wholly inappropriate given the nature of Dignity-Integrity and their dissent from Church teaching on homosexuality. Countless dioceses do not even permit Dignity USA groups to use Church property (they even admit to this on their Web site!), yet in the DoR, we have special services for them going on quietly. This is not right. We’re not talking about praying with homosexual persons, we’re talking about praying with a group that does not respect the Church’s teachings.
Tags: Bishop Clark, Church of the Assumption, Homosexuality, Progressive Drivel
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I hope Ms. Mack has a gay old time.
The diocese needs to put a stop to these services. Allowing a Pastoral Associate to lead allegedly "Catholic" services for D-I is no different than were she to offer services for Spiritus Christi. This event is a source of great scandal.
It is true that priests cannot lead service there any more. I wonder where they get their consecrated hosts for communion service?
Sara
They do not have Communion at these services, at least according to the Dignity Web site.
~Dr. K
Our Liturgy of the Word is in the Roman Catholic tradition… led by a layperson… (Ms. XXXX XXXX, the Pastoral Associate of Church of the Assumption in Fairport)… it does fulfill your Sunday obligation.
This person should be reported to the Holy See and fired today.
Deni Mack is the match, and Dignity-Integrity is the gasoline. Mix the two together, and there is the potential for big problems.
You can't have a Women's Ordination Conference spokesperson leading liturgical services for a group that sees her presence as "she would make a good priest if she could be ordained." Couple that with Dignity's views on gay marriage, and it's clear that this organization shouldn't be having these services.
This group is not under the direction or control of the Roman Catholic Church. The Church has no authority to tell this group to do anything. No one can stop any group of people from conducting a Liturgy of the Word or a mass for that matter. It is not an illegal activity.
We're not talking legal action here – we're aiming at dissent within the Church. By "She has no right," we don't mean under the Constitution of the United States. We mean, rather, the Magisterium of the Church.
"No one can stop any group of people from conducting a Liturgy of the Word or a mass for that matter. It is not an illegal activity."
I'm sorry, I really can't come up with a polite way to say "you couldn't be more wrong." Don't you remember in 1998/9 that Corpus Christi's supplemental services brought about their excommunication?
~Dr. K
Deni should go join Spiritus Christi. Then she can lead all the services she wants.
Yea but she is obviously giving scandal. If any of us , who would be identified as Catholic in leadership positions, were to participate in a contraversial meeting or service, we would be taken to the carpet.
But this bishop gives lip service to the majesterial teachings and because he most likely agrees with the ideology of Denise Mack, he is more than welcome to let her participate.
It's all part of the diocesan schizophrenia. Say 1 thing and do or support the exact opposite.