tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6579449491523862647.post1264675442418699542..comments2023-10-09T10:19:03.087-07:00Comments on Millennial Voices: Roadblocks on the road to change: Why I am not (yet) all I could beLillian Mongeauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00790070687016344427noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6579449491523862647.post-90609502564259998172009-02-10T07:21:00.000-08:002009-02-10T07:21:00.000-08:00Dan, thanks for your reactions. I have to say, wh...Dan, thanks for your reactions. <BR/><BR/>I have to say, while I think that the changes of Vatican II definitely increased participation in the Mass, and that I think this was a hugely welcome change for so many Catholics that felt disconnected during the Mass pre-Vatican II, increasing participation in the Mass and increasing participation in the Church are two very different things. I think it's a good thing that people have the opportunity to understand what's going on at Mass, and have ways of participating that engage their senses as well as their mind and spirit. But a) how many Catholics actually take full advantage of the invitation to participate (just because the Mass is in a language we understand doesn't mean we don't tune out from time to time - it's still just as easy to show up, take communion, and leave as it was in the past), and b) how many Catholics continue this participation into the rest of their week, not just through personal prayer and family ilife but in taking seriously the Church's teachings on poverty, oppression, etc? Shouldn't the council - the goal of which was to engage the church in new and different ways with the modern world - have inspired people to think of their faith/religion as something that happens in our interaction in the world, not just in the Mass?<BR/><BR/>I think you're absolutely right that I won't ever see the church embrace same-sex unions, and I certainly won't hold my breath on that one. I would love, however, to see the church come to a place where it can think and talk about queer issues in a more critical, multi-dimensional way. The world is complex, why can't the church treat it that way?katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09431373034999581023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6579449491523862647.post-45152970730119403322009-02-09T13:43:00.000-08:002009-02-09T13:43:00.000-08:00Kathleen,An excellently written piece. You should ...Kathleen,<BR/><BR/>An excellently written piece. You should be commended. I guess that I can't totally agree with all of what you are saying though. I am one of the few who thinks the Church has changed too much over the past 50 years. I am not anti-Vatican II, I just think that the message of the Council gets perverted. I don't like any of the P&W style music played at Mass nowadays. I hear the names Haugen, Haas, or Farrell and I cringe. I miss hearing the organ. I can't stand seeing the choir at the front of the church, rather than in the loft. I like the old style confessional booths. I feel intimidated every time I go into a face-to-face confessional. I don't hold hands during the Our Father. I refuse to take the Host in my hand, only on the tongue. <BR/><BR/>That being said, I feel that on the whole, the tone of Vatican II was to increase participation in the church and Mass. I think that these goals were met, but at the expense of solemnity. You are right in saying that the Church stifles the queer in the pews. I really disagree with the decisions to not let open gays into the seminary, and to dismiss anyone that comes out while in seminary. <BR/><BR/>I don't think you'll ever see the church embrace same-sex unions. I do think that the Rome needs to welcome everyone into the doors. How that happens is anybody's guess.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com