Reaction to the St Stephen's Walkout: Which One Is The Catholic?

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The StarTribune received two letters commenting on columnist Nick Coleman's tirade about the situation over at St Stephen's that we reported on last week in Stella Borealis. Which letter was received from a Catholic?

Back to the Dark Ages Strib March 6 Electronic edition only

Nick Coleman's March 2 column reveals the troubling tightening of the archdiocesan belt in the Twin Cities.

Catholics must choose to either adhere to every letter of the law (rubrics), with no exception, or go elsewhere. It does not matter if it takes the life out of the liturgy. At least it conforms, and that's what counts, according to spokespeople at the chancery.

On a global scale, Vatican II's "involvement of the people" has unilaterally been thrown out by current hierarchy. Catholic faithful are told to not speak in public, nor in church. Every male pronoun is now back in the liturgy. Every layperson is now back in the pews. Priests will make every decision -- not parish councils -- and everyone must do as they are told.

As a member of St. Stephen's for the past 20 years, I am saddened and must choose. But my choice will be to follow God, not an archbishop.

St. Stephen's has been a place where one is challenged 24/7 to live the Gospel. It is a tough place. The people there must accept their personal relationship with God and the call to be followers of Christ in daily living. Much of this challenge has come from lay preachers. Silencing those voices will adversely affect the poor, the underprivileged, the oppressed, the homeless, the abused.

ANN MARIE MCINTIRE, HUDSON, WIS.;
VICE CHAIR, ST. STEPHEN'S PARISH COUNCIL

Can't pick and choose Strib March 6 Electronic and Print editions

I commend the archdiocese of Minnesota for finally bringing St. Stephen's Catholic Church into conformity with the standards set out in the General Instruction on the Roman Missal ("The push for conformity shoves away parishioners," March 2). People go to church to pray, not to party. Part of the way in which Catholics act to carry out "the message of the Gospels" is by following the "rubrics." Otherwise they are merely social workers.

It has never been "OK" for Catholics to refer to God as "Our Father and Mother." Nor has it been acceptable to dance in the church aisles like a bunch of swingin' Maenads. Rubrics are formulated very precisely and put in place because they express the fundamentals of Catholic theology. One calls to mind the longstanding principle of Catholic worship, "lex orandi, lex credendi": Let the law of prayer be governed by the law of belief. Catholics worship in accordance with what they believe.

St. Stephen's and its band of merry rebels are free to pray the way they "think is right." They are also free to join another religion.

ANTHONY WILSON, MINNEAPOLIS