Dear Doves,

I found something startling in one of my local newspapers. I usually like to give links with most everything I post here, but this time I prefer not to. It’s an article pertaining to a local catholic church (I’m not catholic) in regard to Lent.

I will do a straight copy and paste of sections of the article here:

“Spiritual and/or Religious?” “I’m afraid that I am the last Catholic in my family.” “I just can’t do this anymore.” “I want to belong, but where?”

One local church is experimenting with a program to deal with those issues in this season of Lent, in which the 40-day period between Ash Wednesday and the Thursday before Easter is observed in the Christian tradition by fasting, prayer and penitence. 

………

“The way the church rites are presented, it is like an exclusive language known only to those who are a part of the group,” he said. “We need to rethink that. Religion expresses our dichotomy when it should be about — not so much the mythology but more of the responsibility of the church. Pope Francis has really given the church a whole new face. As he says, it is time for mercy.”

……………..

On Friday, the church will do the “Stations of the Cross” in the company of clowns. This is a program that has received a lot of attention in the Catholic Church. It uses clowns and mimes to tell the story of Jesus’ journey — from being condemned to death, his taking the cross of execution to the hill where he is nailed to the cross, his death and the removal of his body to the tomb.

“The clowns are from our diocese,” said ________, a parishioner of St. Mary’s. “We have planned this for a long time. Last year, we wanted them to come but they were already booked somewhere else.”

Anyone who is interested in the programs is invited to attend. For more information call ----------.”

My comment: I am speechless.

YsiChrist,

Patty RP