THE MAHONY CHAT ROOM

The Bitmap Cuts In

Excerpts from real chatting posted by Gerald at The Cafeteria Is Closed, with a little color from the Bitmap!

James: I've read that Pope Benedict is concerned about the liturgy and is about to issue a decree that encourages a more generous use of Latin in the liturgy including the use of the Tridentine rite. Do you support this and will you encourage the use of more traditional forms of worship in the archdiocese if he issues the decree?
CardinalMahony: James: of our 5 million Catholics, only a handful are interested in the Latin Mass. I must focus upon the 99% who need a vibrant Mass that includes them in its celebration.
TheBitmap: James, what the Cardinal is trying to claim here is that 99% of his ecclesiastical constituants prefer a Mass that answers the magical WIFM question, What's In-it For Me? You see, receiving Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Most Blessed Sacrament - body and blood, soul and divinity - just ain't enough. They like to be entertained, so he says, with insipid guitar/folk/pop styles of music and liturgical dance. Ya can't have it too churchy, dontcha know. In all reality, James, I have a gut feeling that 99% might just be a severe over-estimation, though some may just want the current rites done with a lot more reverence than that expressed in the Religious Edumacation (de-de-deeeee) Congress year after year.

steve25: Who are your most favorite Saints?
CardinalMahony: Steve: St. Joseph is my patron saint. In our new Cathedral, we have a tapestry which depicts him as the young man he really was.
The Bitmap: Mine is St. Peter, the rock upon whom our Holy Mother Church was founded. Though St. Joseph was a really cool saint, too. He heeded the Lord's call to take Mary as his wife as she conceived the Holy Infant Jesus. Now, I haven't seen the tapestry in the LA Cathedral, but if it's as hideous as the statue of who they passed off as Mary at the entrance, we might be in a bit of trouble.

Arleen: My daughter asks, why do we need to go to church on Sunday? I attend faithfully, but my daughter is of this younger generation that doesn't see the importance of going to church. She says it's boring and all they do is ask for money. How can we make church and the mass more appealing to this younger generation? I try to set an example, but feel like I can't persuade them. What can I do
CardinalMahony: Mass should involve the full, active, conscious participation of everyone. If we are involved, we love meeting God in this form. There are great Masses for teens, such as parishes with Life Teen. Find her a group of active Catholic teens who love Mass, and she will too.
The Bitmap: Yes, Mass should involve the full, active, conscious participation of everyone. By attending the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, you're fulfilling that third Commandment (I hope they teach these in Religious Ed down there), Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath Day. Personally, I'd steer away from the LifeTeen Masses. Don't let such misconceptions as stage band style music, teens doing homilies (this actually happened - do some YouTube searching, it's out there), and people gathering around the altar during the Liturgy of the Eucharist persuade you. Up at my east coast parish, none of our four Masses use that stuff. Our music is primarily traditional, and always reverent. Yet we have a very vibrant youth group, which showcases band style music OUTSIDE of Holy Mass (which is perfectly fine), at vibrant youth group meetings and such.

Moderator: From Denny: Why can only men become priests, and not women?
CardinalMahony: The moderator has better answers than I do to that question!!!
CardinalMahony: Denny: we are following the tradition of the early Church and Jesus' actions. That has become our Tradition for a long time.
The Bitmap: Is the Cardinal saying that if he had his way "Tradition" would be broken? He doesn't sound too keen on this one.

Moderator: From Fran at Congress: I've been asked this and I don't know -- Can Catholics' burial ashes be scattered?
CardinalMahony: Fran: normally, we encourage that all of the ashes be in one place for the sake of the family and future generations, but if someone wants to spread their ashes over the sea or forest, well, they do return to their origins. Just don't spread them over Disneyland.
The Bitmap: I will defer to the Curt Jester, who directly quotes the Order of Christian Funerals - The practice of scattering cremated remains on the sea, from the air, or on the ground, or keeping cremated remains in the home of a relative or friend of the deceased are not the reverent disposition that the Church requires. (416) That especially goes for Disneyland.

The Bitmap has signed off.

Peace,
BMP