Something to ponder...

Presently, in my Theology class, we are learning the 7th commandment. In our notes today was the statement, "The rights of all people must come before the rights of one." It was, of course, referring to material objects, but it started me thinking on a broader scale. For example, what if one person needed to die in order to save many people? Should the one person be sacrificed? It seems that a lot of people would choose the 'easy' answer: Kill the one to save the many. My opinion, on the other hand, is that the involved parties should collaborate(if they aren't already) to find a way of saving both the person and the many. There is always a way, and we shouldn't give up hope. In my opinion, this applies to anything, not just that particular circumstance.

Just something to think about...

Response to Comments

When I get around to it, I will always respond to comments in a separate post, simply because I think things are easier that way.

By post;

"Hello"

First of all, thank you, everybody, for the warm welcome to the blogosphere.

Also, in response to the comment by 'In the choir loft' ("Keep posting about what non-orthodox happens you run into at Aquinas and Mother of Sorrows too."): It seems that you misunderstand the purpose of this blog. This blog is not in existence to insult and complain about Aquinas and Our Mother of Sorrows. It exists instead to notice anywhere where orthodoxy is lacking and to point them out and speculate how we can fix the Diocese of Rochester's flaws from the inside. We are not called to run away from unorthodox parishes and schools but to try to change them to become more orthodox.

"Is it the time for drastic action?..."

In response to the comment by 'Sonja' (You should interrupt that woman during the very next class you have and challenge her to explain her false statement regarding intercessory prayer.): As much as I would love to, that is very forward and also very late. If she had mentioned it within the previous three classes from now, I would do just that. However, presently it has been weeks since she said such an atrocious thing, and if I were to argue my point now, she would ask why I hadn't said something sooner, take me for a fool, and make me less than inclined to change her opinion in any way, shape, or form. However, if she brings up the issue again, I will not hesitate to interrupt her spiel and "pummel her with questions," though less loudly and violently than the quote implies.

Also, thank you to the people who wished me a happy Thanksgiving. I do hope that yours was full of family and fun.

Is this the time for drastic action? It looks like it.

A few weeks ago, I stopped merely being disappointed at the education as far as Theology goes at Aquinas and started being furious.

This happened one day at the beginning of class, where the teacher always starts with a prayer. In the middle of the prayer, she decided to explain intercessory prayer. Everything was fine until she said, "Intercessory prayer doesn't actually do anything. It's just to make you feel good." Words cannot describe how furious I was at this statement. I was at a loss for words. I would have started an argument- oh, excuse me, debate- right then and there, but it was in the middle of a prayer. I'm starting to think she planned it like that just so that there wouldn't be any objections, because the students who care enough about that to argue are also the ones who respect prayer.

Ever since that class, I've been wondering what ever made her think that. We are surrounded by evidence that intercessory prayer does in fact work. For that matter, why wouldn't it? That statement almost seems like denying that God is there listening to our prayers. A THEOLOGY TEACHER saying this. It is simply abominable.

It is a shame that good teachers of theology are in such short supply, especially when they must have the credentials that Aquinas requires.

After mass, I feel as if I must now go to confession.

This Saturday was the 'Family Mass' at Our Mother Of Sorrows Parish, which I am a member of. It was nothing short of an abomination. The opening hymn was the song, "Awesome God," which I have always associated with Protestants, ever since I first heard it in third grade. I absolutely detest that song. It is irreverent, loud, and uses improper grammar. It has the word 'ain't' in it! Not only did they begin the mass with that awful song, but they also had children standing on the altar making hand gestures. Flowy, slow, ritualistic hand gestures. On the altar. If that doesn't detract from Jesus and the mass, then I don't know what does.

The mass from there up until the communion hymn went normally, that is to say, not properly, but at least normally for the parish and most parishes. I do fervently dislike the holding hands during the Our Father, but to be quite honest, that's not the largest of our problems right now.

The communion hymn was that awful 'Spirit Alive' song, the one that screams, 'We're so great, we're giving people money!" It's not about God, it's about us. I hate it.

After, the closing hymn was something called 'Celebrate Youth,' another thing about people, not God. It was awful. I was just happy that the children were too busy leaving the mass to stand up on the altar and make little hand motions.

Also, somewhere in that mass(maybe the preparation-for-the-eucharist hymn?) they had the children making the little hand motions again. It was awful. It distracted everyone from the Eucharisitc Prayer, which happens to be the most important part of the mass.

This mass left me torn between continuing to attempt to change MOS from the inside and instead leaving and going to a more orthodox parish. I understand that MOS needs inside influence, but in order for that to happen we need to actually DO SOMETHING. 

The Diocese of Rochester has fallen on hard times indeed. It seems all we can do is pray and wait for a new bishop.

Hello

Hello, person who has chosen to read the first post of this blog! This blog, like some others, exists to comment on and discuss the state of Catholic churches and the Diocese of Rochester. Wherever you got the link to this blog from, I thank you for taking the time to read it.