Joel needs to lighten up. M.D. NY, - I couldn't agree less with Joel Schorn's article on kids at mass. Silent, contemplative, private, peaceful, meditative prayer is a very good thing, but it is not mass. All of us need more private, contemplative time with God, but we shouldn't be angry with others because communal prayer interferes with our quiet time with God. Of course, many parish churches remain locked for most of the week, making it difficult to pray quietly in the presence of God, but that's a different issue.
Children are the only hope of the church's future.