A REPUBLICAN CONGREGATION? A letter to the Archbishop of the Diocese of new Orleans
Dear Archbishop Aymond
On Sunday, September 6th I attended 10:30 Mass at St. Dominics on Harrison Avenue in the Lakeview neighborhood of New Orleans. I met Father Mike on the way in. During Mass Father Mike addressed the congregation stating something to the effect they would not be showing a speech President Obama would be making during the week to the school children. I am a musician of many decades and a carpenter working around loud equipment almost as long. My hearing is such I did not understand what he had said so I approached him after Mass asking what he meant. Father Mike looked me in the eye with a confident smile saying "We are a Republican congregation' and were not interested in what the President had to say. I did not know there was such a thing in the Catholic Church. Is this true?
I was raised by two beautiful people who adopted 5 kids and fostered 8 others. I am baptized and confirmed in the Catholic Church. I do accept Jesus as my salvation. My folks are devout and attend Mass six days a week. They are what waters the roots of my faith through example. Both Mom and Dad said they thought it was wrong for Father Mike to be using the pulpit to further a political view. I have yet to meet someone who disagrees that church is for worship and not politics. I personally find it an abomination to the Rite of Mass.
I heard the President's address. There was nothing in it that wasn't lectured into me by my old man, a gentleman of exceeding generosity and understanding. Perhaps Father Mike does not understand there are a lot of children in this country who don't have a continuous and positive male role model in their lives. The children who go to St. Dominic's I'm sure are getting positive role model reinforcement way beyond say a kid that goes to Carver. A male role model for a lot of kids in this country is an absent thing. I cannot believe that a man of God would find a positive male role model a bad thing. I am not saying a priest should be a man without self identity but is there a point in which one's personal views need be put aside if only to hear what the other side has to say? Isn't that what Jesus was getting at?
There's also a question of taxation. When you become a political action group don't you lose your tax exempt status? I don't want to sound as if I am making fun at this point. The church is not where it used to be in american society and will continue in its current direction should it continue acting in such an alienating way. Jesus was neither Republican or Democrat and taught it is your affiliation with God that is your key to a better life. That is why I go to Mass. Not to here ugly talk of division and disrespect.
Thank you for taking the time to read this
Mark jerome Richard Pohlen