A California priest threatens to
hold back a treat unless his
congregation agrees to play ball:
at St. Anne Catholic School in Santa Monica were so dire at
one point that Father Michael D. Gutierrez turned to his congregation
for help. He refused to give his sermon until at least 10 families
stepped forward to consider enrolling their children in the financially
strapped parish school.
A risky proposition, methinks.
Granted that a parish school is a good cause, how many preachers would
give the faithful the option — even at no cost — of going home
homilyless?
I hope Father Michael’s gambit
catches on. Think of the happy possibilities … “Unless I see a double
sawbuck in the collection basket every week from every family, you’ll
never hear On Eagles Wings in this church again!”
Now that would be a great fundraiser tool.
Contribute money or we will use Here I am Lord or
other such song for all four hymns of the standard hymn sandwich.
How about selling tickets to a Gather Hymnal bonfire?
Surely you would raise enough to fund the Adoramus or other
appropriate hymnal. Cough up money or a drum kit will be
given to the choir!
Now in reality the idea of withholding a
homily is really a bad idea and the first instance of sermon extortion
I have ever heard of. You have to be a pretty confident preacher in the
first place to use this one, though of course under Canon law
there is no way you could licitly do this for a Sunday or other Holy
Day of Obligation Mass.
9 comments
I’d pay good money to NOT hear Elton John played at the end of a homily as we did a few weeks ago in conjunction w/prodigal son Gospel. Makes me really want to invite my evangelical friends to Mass- NOT. What a maroon.
Most homilies are so bad nowadays that it would make more sense to say, “Donate or I will EXTEND my homily!”
Cody, you’re point is spot on. Did anybody in the congregation cheer when Fr. Gutierrez made this threat? They should have…
But without a homily, how will we know that we’re all okay?
Did you delete a more recent post on translations and the nun’s group?
Father, is that a threat … or a promise?
Reminds me of a scene in “Blazing Saddles” when the new sheriff takes himself hostage.
If the good father’s sermons are worth hearing, I hope he is successful. On the other hand, if they are like one I heard discussing the merits of underarm deodorant, the school’s days are numbered.
If you read the article a picture of a 2nd grade teacher at the school gives you a clue as to why Catholic parents who try to follow the Church would not want their children to attend the school. (definatly not wearing a habit)
After attending Mass today with the entire population of a very liberal Catholic school I am grateful that we homeschool. The children were loud, poorly dressed, and poorly catechized. The homily was terrible, “the Saints are like us, Theresa of Avila was fat, St. Matthew was a cheat, St. Jerome was a cranky old SOB.” No mention of how they BECAME Saints, that they strove to love God above all else… The adults present were just as bad and a poor example, most left after receiving Communion.
Again, I’m glad my kids get a good Catholic education, at home.
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