ASK FATHER: What to do if sermons are heretical?
From a reader.
QUAERITUR:
What does a laywoman do if the Priest or layperson (this has happened) giving the homily at a mission starts promoting so called “same sex marraige” or trashing the teachings of the Church? Walk out? Take detailed notes on content in pew for letter to the CDF? Do something in passive protest? Start praying the rosary to disrupt error? What should I do? I’m either going to err doing tooo much or not enough and I really need your advice because things are not right and its becoming more and more common. Bishop is very timid man.
Tough question. There are many particulars to be weighed.
Ideally, I suppose, you could record it, or at least take good notes and pass it on to the authorities. That presumes that the diocesan bishop will actually do something about it.
If the bishop is a “very timid man” that might not be the case.
Sending the evidence to the Nuncio or to Rome would most likely result in the evidence being remanded again to the diocesan bishop.
I like the idea of a passive protest: standing up, silently, rosary in hand, walking out to the vestibule.
Another option is to cut one’s donation significantly, and then to inform the pastor and the bishop of why you are doing this and to what orthodox group you’ve chosen to send the majority of your Church contribution. You should note that the donation will return to the parish when Church teaching returns to the pulpit.
This is a tough one, however, especially if it’s a mission (by which I take it it’s a small place and probably not a lot of alternatives nearby).
