tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post5707170742389825124..comments2024-03-23T12:05:23.537-05:00Comments on The Wild Reed: A "Bells and Smells" Kind of GuyMichael J. Baylyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03087458490602152648noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-79052009411518613732009-03-22T20:11:00.000-05:002009-03-22T20:11:00.000-05:00Thanks everyone for your positive feedback.Phillip...Thanks everyone for your positive feedback.<BR/><BR/>Phillip, I appreciate your sharing of your experiences and the awkward situation you find yourself in.<BR/><BR/>You ask: "Do I have to hide [my sexuality] in order to be a viable, contributing member of the parish?<BR/><BR/>Sadly, I think that's what it's coming to in the vast majority of Roman Catholic parishes - including, perhaps, yours.<BR/><BR/>However, from what I've gathered from your thoughtful and honest comments on this blog, I believe you will discern the right course of action if and when you have to choose between your integrity and your parish.<BR/><BR/>Peace,<BR/><BR/>MichaelMichael J. Baylyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03087458490602152648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-58580915237739111892009-03-19T16:51:00.000-05:002009-03-19T16:51:00.000-05:00Thom sent me over here and I, too, am saddened by ...Thom sent me over here and I, too, am saddened by your experience. I was about to say "Joe" was right, look at the windows, but then I might say that. Then I read again the deeply felt hurt that should not come from those who are meant to dispense the love of God.<BR/><BR/>God's blessings on you.Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06167056789275283692noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-79498573489036632122009-03-19T01:09:00.000-05:002009-03-19T01:09:00.000-05:00Micheal, this work of fiction is so beautiul and a...Micheal, this work of fiction is so beautiul and at the same time so eerily reminiscient of my own personal experiences at my Cathedral parish. <BR/><BR/>I joined RCIA and entered the Church in this parish because despite the imposting externals of its facade the people at the Cathedral seemed genuine and truly Christ loving. Also, as the subject of your story is, I'm an unashamed "smells and bells" Catholic and am far more comfortable at a solemn celebration of the Holy Mass, completely with incense and a full choir, rather than a contemporary, folksy rendition...<BR/><BR/>The figure of Fr. O'Connor seems so identical to one of the priests at my parish its almost frightening. When my mother and I chose to enter the Church through RCIA we were taken under the wing of a young, orthodox, and extremely good looking priest (of Italian descent) who seemed to have at the center of his life Jesus Christ and the efficient management of his Church at this local parish. In time I truly came to look up to this noble priest and his title of "Father" really did translate to me in a profound way, as my mother is a single parent and I never really had had a father figure to look up to. <BR/><BR/>Even during tough times he always made his presence and concern felt. When I was going through my coming out stage it was to him that I turned to first for guidance and direction. I'll always treasure that meeting we had. Even though he echoed official Church teaching, his words to me were "Althogh you have this cross to carry that doesn't mean you can't live a holy life...", he conveyed to me that he sincerely understood what I was going through and that he viewed me no differently than he had before. <BR/><BR/>But now, being in the position I am now this priests often provokes profound feelings of empathy and sadness on his behalf. Not only is he insanely good looking, but some effeminate manerisms of his personality have led me to think that there could be a very good chance that he is actually a closeted homosexual. Knowing him and understanding that he is the epitome of the "JP2 Generation" and orthodox to his core I know that if he is he has forsaken this fact for what he believes is the will of God manifest in the teaching of the Church... I think it's a sad reality that individuals who are in the closet turn out to be those are the most vehement gay bashers. To this point my priest hasn't proved this point...but I do know that he would go out of his way to tow the official Church doctrine even if his own personal and emotional feelings might prompt him from doing otherwise...<BR/><BR/>Currently this leaves me in an awkward poisition. I'm not really active within my parish right now but I'm hoping to get invovled soon. Perhaps being a lector or Eucharistic Minister. For all I know, my priest thinks that I'm doing the best I can to live as a celibate homosexual. But at some point, I know my sexuality might possibly come to the forefront... Do I have to hide it in order to be a viable, contributing memeber of the parish? Even though he's very friendly towards me right now if in the future he got wind of my new outlook on life and my changed "lifestyle" I could see him having no qualms whatsoever with asking me to cease all activities within the parish...<BR/><BR/>Things like this just worry me because I know what's happened to Scott Pomfret and so many others when the intracacies of their sexual lives were discovered... And it's horrible, and shows how much reform the Church needs, that I should be afraid of something like this... Because of who I am...<BR/><BR/>Nevertheless, thanks Michael for a beautiful and very meaningful narrative!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-29548636624593820992009-03-18T21:49:00.000-05:002009-03-18T21:49:00.000-05:00McMorrow's art is awesome. Thanks.McMorrow's art is awesome. Thanks.Terry Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09819523933502820341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-2350842765470775612009-03-17T10:28:00.000-05:002009-03-17T10:28:00.000-05:00This was great Michael and really hard for me to r...This was great Michael and really hard for me to read, especially the part about staring at the windows. I used that technique so much I made my favorite window my avatar.<BR/><BR/>It depicts St. Helena finding the True Cross. I wondered, will the Church ever find the True Cross or will they keep substituting a fake one.colkochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03432916690101599393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-3383332932773550602009-03-16T17:14:00.000-05:002009-03-16T17:14:00.000-05:00Thank God the Church decided long ago to separate ...Thank God the Church decided long ago to separate a sacrament's validity from the minister's worthiness. "Looking out the beautiful windows" has had to be used in every age, including during the "good ol' days" when pastors were often gruff, power-driven, frustrated and frustrating men.kevin57https://www.blogger.com/profile/01681985465980196347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-70538476396989384172009-03-16T15:55:00.000-05:002009-03-16T15:55:00.000-05:00Dear God, Michael, that was beautiful. Painful to ...Dear God, Michael, that was beautiful. Painful to read, and it hits way too close to home, but beautiful. Thank you.Tchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13388784325608457371noreply@blogger.com