Organization: Minas Tirith BBS (Public Access Usenet for New Orleans)
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.catholic
Date:         Sun, 27 Sep 1992 13:40:57 CDT
From:         "(Edward J. Branley)" <elendil@MINTIR.NEW-ORLEANS.LA.US>
Subject: Re: Obedience; Parish Hopping

"(Dennis L Schenkel)" <rex!MAGNUS.ACS.OHIO-STATE.EDU!dschenke> writes:

> Also, Jim recently advised me and another poster to find a different parish t
> attend if we are not comfortable, arguing that we are doing no one any good i
> we are not happy in worshipping with that community.  Also, he argues, it is
> longer a big deal if we choose to attend liturgy outside the parish where we
> live.
>
> As for me, I live in a dorm on campus and have no car.  The Newman Center I
> attend is a 20 minute walk and other parishes are much farther away.  As for
> other Catholics, I was not aware that parish hopping or parish shopping was a
> option for us.  Maybe a canon lawyer on the net could cite something about th
> so that I can be better informed about my faith?  Thanks.
>

Well, I'm far from being a canon lawyer, but I don't think it takes more than
simple common sense to deal with this situation.  The solution set doesn't look
that big.  As Jim said, it seems that you're so uncomfortable with this
situation that you probably aren't getting much out of the Mass.  So, since
your faith is strong enough that you *want* to get something out of Mass, then
you can either point out the kneeling situation to the pastor of the Newman
Center and hope he sees things your way, or find another parish.

As to parish shopping, I don't see any reason not to.  I know of no rules that
say you are bound by geography.  Here in New Orleans, we have a neighborhood
where two churches were built almost across the street from one another, one
for the Italians in the neighborhood and the other for the Germans.  One friend
of mine continued to go to Mass at the University of New Orleans Newman Center
well after he graduated, because it was his spiritual 'home.'

Now, this all gets a bit complicated down here if you have children who are
school-age.  We have a very strong elementary school system in this
archdiocese, but there are some schools regarded as better than others.  Throw
in the fact that there is still some degree of white flight in this area, and
you find a lot of people who want to parish shop for what they feel is a better
school for their children.  Our archdiocese has strong policies restricting the
admission of students who are 'out of parish' geographically.  The restrictions
have *absolutely nothing* to do with the liturgical aspects of the parishes,
just the educational ones.  This tends to tie parents to their home parish
also, since it's hard to send your child to school in one parish and be a
member of another for all other purposes.  Single people and couples without
kids have it easier when it comes to jumping in a car and going to Mass
someplace else.



|Edward J. Branley                         elendil@mintir.New-Orleans.LA.US|
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