Priests, Father Mulcahy?

[FM Arouet666]

I grew up an atheist, never had much contact with religious folks, I think I was thirty before I entered a Catholic church. My perception of priests was molded by MASH, father Mulcahy, the simple, decent priest with a benign manner and an undeniable wisdom.

Of course, as I grew older I realized that the T.V. image had little in common with reality. A case in point.

This week I was called for a consult. A little old lady with abdominal pain. As I approached the room I heard the patient praying with a priest.

"Thank you O' lord for all of this and all of that." Both of them genuflecting, eyes closed and hands raised.

Far be it of me to judge anyone as looking utterly ridiculous, but that is what I was thinking. Anyway, I gave them their pagan ritual and proceeded to look through the chart.

As the prayer ended the priest asked, "Are you a man or a women?"

Priest: "I know your name is Vivian, but that could be a man's name."
Patient: "I am a women."

Priest: "Well, you look like a man."
Patient: "No Father, I am a women."

Priest: "Ok, but you look like a man, have a nice day, and may god be with you."
Patient: "Thank you, Father."

This is where I came in, the priest walked out, ignoring me, despite my greeting "hello Father." I try to be respectful, I do not have much use for priests, the whole "father thing" is a bit weird if you ask me.

Anyway, I went into the room to find a little old lady, a cap covering her bald head, suffering from metastatic breast cancer. She was visibly upset, but would not tell me why.

I can't imagine a doctor being so insensitive.

I guess we are all human, but I would think that a minister of the lord would have a bit more compassion, a least as much as a tired old grumpy atheist doctor.

:evilgrin:

[WCGreen]

1. I can and have had several doctors being that

insensitive to me and family members... But, I have also had dealings with several doctors who have been absolutely marvelous, truthful and willing to stand behind the patient...

I have also met several clergy folk fro many denominations who have been callous and concerned more about religious politics than serving the flock... But it has also been my pleasure to meet dozens of clergy who are dedicated to the spiritual well being of people, what ever form that may take... Pagan or not, denomination be damned, there are a lot of caring priest, deacons, ministers and other people of cloth who dedicate their lives to making our stay on this glorious planet a tiny bit better by giving us a focal point that is larger than the sum total of ones experience...

BTW, that priest is an ass hole...

[DanCa]

2. Where are our father flanningans when you need them.

I had one bishop say I deserve parkinsons because I want t o farm babies for embryonic research. Incredible isn't it. I still believe in god but not organized religion, that's why I refere to myself as a jesusian instead of a christian. I have little love left for organized religion. Peace to you arouet666 I know how you feel.

[PurgedVoter]

4. Do you really want to own a baby farm?

Seems like a mess to me. You would almost need to have Parkinson's to want to own a baby farm. Your downwind neighbors won't be happy I can assure you. :eyes:

[DanCa]

5. Lol and imagine the cying sounds those nasty babies would make

Thanks for the post. I got the flu right now and you made me laugh :D
:thumbsup:

[PurgedVoter]

3. Lots of things draw people to the priesthood.

Motives, goals and ideals shape us over time. If we don't have goals and ideals then only the motives are left. Off the top of my head I can think of several bad motives for becoming a religious leader. Desire for respect, attention, petty power, God's blessings or preference, magical powers, attention, access to children and/or gullible people, and uncounted donations. There have been some great men who wore the collar. But the inquisition was led by people who felt that torturing to death people who believed differently from themselves was following Jesus. Popes still wear white out of respect for a pope that had previously been the grand inquisitor. I think we have reason to suspect those who don the robes. On the Protestant side, when I was eight I heard a man called Dr. Carl McIntire on the radio. This man was pure poison. As a bible reading child, it was obvious what a monster this man was. He was asking for money so he could buy another plane to go back to Africa and convert the natives. His story was that he used his previous plane to fly to a village and pick up the chief and fly him around, showing the wonders of the technology. Then he would convert the chief and the whole village to Christianity based on showing off the aircraft. At the time it outraged me. Now I suspect that Dr. Carl McIntire never set foot on African soil. Find me a man who does good at their own personal expense, and seeks no renumeration or accolades. That man deserves the respect that we hold for the collar.

[DanCa]

6. well I wanted to become a priest at one point in time.

But I just could not abide by some of the rullings that the heirachy made. And foolish me was too vocal about disenting for my own good.
Note I am sure there are good priests out there but the conservative noise machine, and the weeding out process makes thier voices few and far betwwen. Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson being the exceptions.

[PurgedVoter]

7. I thought I was called to be a priest at one time,

but then I would be forced to get out of the closet when I pray. I suppose that I could beat my chest and cry out, 'Here am I, a sinner, have mercy on me.' But that might get old, and I really like the book of common prayer. (I don't even mind the new one.) I also have a bit of an issue with passing the plate.

[regnaD kciN]

8. Somehow, I don't think you'd need to worry about that today...

...at least not in ECUSA. Although, by now, the "new" BCP is far from new, with a revision due in the next 7-10 years.

[DanCa]

9. A fellow episcopallian :) No wonder why we get along so well.

Fortunately after the rc excummunicated me the episcopals took me in. The colllection plate doesnt bug me though it's the pledge cards that bother me. Last year our church seceratary 'accidently" put everyones pledges into the church news letter. Man that was a bad weekend :D It's a shame that the fundies have to ruin everything by pushing politics down your throat no?

[hunter]

12. How did you get excommunicated?

From what I've heard you've really got to raise some kind of hell to get kicked out of the Catholic church, and I can imagine very little beyond some sort of superstition, or the abuse of me or my family by the church, that would motivate me to do this. Who cares if the Catholic church leaves the door open for you if you don't ever intend to go back? In most cases I don't believe I could cede to the Catholic Church the authority that excomminication implies. It would be better to walk away. As human being we have free will.

Returning to the original post, I've met priests who were dumber than sticks, and priests who were insensitive control freaks, and worst, priests who were both. I've also met priests who were later revealed to be pedophiles. Every community has its own sorts of bad apples, and it is very true the Catholic Church seems to have them in excess.

But for the most part "Father Mulcahy" isn't a bad stereotype for Catholic priests, although the priests I most enjoy are the fiercely intellectual activists.

I do know from personal experience they won't kick you out of the Catholic Church for being an outspoken supporter of gay marriage, married priests, women priests, sex education, and birth control. I don't have any expectation that I will ever change the Church, maybe as the character of Father Mulcahy knew he wasn't going to end war.

You shine your light where you are, and for now the Catholic Church is part of my community.

[DanCa]

13. I wrote a post about this a long time ago.

The church where I live has a "course" that you have to take prior to adult confirmation. The name of the course is to the rite of christian initiatian for adults. Anyhow I live in a small red neck town and the the people that run the course are dyed in the wool prolifers. What they wanted me to do was take a digital camera and go with them to an abortion clinic and take pictures of women so that they can put them in the local website
When I flat out and out refused to do this the proverbial hell broke loose and the shit hit the fan. I was so upset I couldn't speak for three days. So this lead to a falling out . I mean how can i go back to the church where the head priest asked me to leave?

[hunter]

15. There are places in the United States I would not regularly attend Mass

I've been to a few of these places while traveling.

My mom has been asked to leave churches, but that's not the same thing as excommunication. Most situations I'm aware of are more like this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=214&topic_id=37507&mesg_id=37526

[DanCa]

16. Thank you for the link

:hug: peace be with you friend. These are wierd times no?

[IntravenousDemilo]

10. He -- he -- he looka like a man...

I see Miss Swan from "Mad TV" has taken the collar. What a ghastly thing for him to have said. Perhaps you are reticent about these things, but I think I would have lambasted the heartless bastard.

BTW, William Christopher is one of the most pleasant men I've ever had the good fortune to meet. He comes across in real life just as you see him on TV, and through his charity work he has done a lot of good for the world, not just make it smile.

[Orrex]

11. My anecdotal experience

In my life I've been lucky to visit the ER only about ten times (on my own behalf and others') and in only one instance did the doctor treat the patient like a human being, and it was such a striking divergence from expectation that my friend and I still talk about it. In every other case, the doctor acted like God on Earth, deigning only to visit the lone patient in the ER only at the doctor's convenience, answering no questions except to say "Ask the nurse."

Well, fuck you, doc.

In my life I've known perhaps two dozen hardcore Born-Again Christians. All but two of them were complete, in-your-face, "embrace Christ or die forever" assholes, and they never ever shut up about it.

ME: "How are you this morning, Brian?"
BRIAN: "Excellent, because Jesus is my personal lord and savior."

Well, fuck you, Brian.

I don't have a lot of experience dealing with priests or clergy in general, but non-Christian doctors and Born-Again Christians are just about equally likely to be insensitive assholes.

[FM Arouet666]

14. LOL

Your right, and I must admit, the medical profession is full of assholes. The "god" complex is rampant. I always hear, "thanks doctor, you saved my life."

Bullshit, I am an auto mechanic who just changed your oil and fixed your brakes. I always respond, "No, you did the hard work, you went under the knife, my part was easy." Some, most?, docs let it go to their head, narcissism is common trait, especially among surgeons.

Laughing out loud at your Brian anecdote.

I agree and second the motion. Fuck you Brian, FUCK YOU. :evilgrin: