A LAYMAN PROTESTS: PN DIOCESE CONFUSION MAKES THE CHURCH LOOK STUPID

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"There is so much over-reaction and differences between parishes in Palmerston North Diocese that it is making the Church look stupid."

Yes. This is a direct result of the NZ Conference of Bishops passing the buck on COVID-related matters  to individual dioceses and parishes. So now they're all over the shop. The bishops were asking for it. Many priests and people who subsist on the Novus Ordo diet remind me of small boys in bed at night who close their eyes and pull the blanket up over their heads so they won't see the bogeyman coming. 

It's hard to avoid the conclusion that the reason why the Church in Palmerston North looks stupid is that the Church is acting stupid. Palmerston North Massgoer Bruce Tichbon emailed a letter of complaint in regard to the prevailing confusion to all priests in the diocese on Tuesday August 18. So far he's had no response.

Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Palmerston North (complete with pretend tabernacle)

In his letter Tichbon goes on to say that:

"It also appears to cause many Church officials, despite being well-meant in most cases, to grossly overreach themselves. The total shutting down of Masses, after-Mass functions etc in some parishes is incomprehensible, considering the government guidelines.

 

Dear Fathers (Tichbon writes),

Looking at the official government guide documents:

https://covid19.govt.nz/everyday-life/religious-communities/#religious-events-and-ceremonies-at-alert-level-2

"This specifies 1- metre spacing, but only for people who don't know one another.

https://covid19.govt.nz/everyday-life/gatherings-and-events/

"This one includes 'religious services'. There is no 1- metre spacing requirement but it states, "If you can't maintain physical distance from people you don't know, you could consider wearing a face covering."

"So these two government instructions are contradictory. Therefore the Church can use the 'gatherings and events' instruction, and cannot be pinged for not maintaining 1- meter spacing.  Looking around town in shops and restaurants it's obvious that virtually no one else is doing it.

St Mary's, Palmerston North

"Reflecting on the Mass I attended at St Mary's Palmerston North at 10.30 am Sunday 16/8/20:

"Parishioners were prevented from entering once there were 100 (plus 20 for the Polynesian choir whose singing was absolutely amazing).  My wife was shut out. I argued from inside the church that they could have another 100 in the foyer, which is a separate defined space, but was told by an official person this was not possible. This contradicted the government rules above which say multiple defined spaces of 100 are allowed (at St Mary's separate toilets and kitchen are available in the hall outside if necessary).  They eventually relented and let my wife in.

"Our churches would not need to provide additional Masses if they applied the government rules.

"Many rows of pews were blocked off. This appears utterly unnecessary from the government rules for social gatherings (which includes religious services), cited above .

"There was not the usual cup of tea at St Mary's. This appears to ignore the government rules above, which stipulate no such exclusion.  Once it is a cup of tea session it is definitely a social gathering. If St Mary's had put 100 in the defined area of the foyer there could have been a cup of tea in the church foyer and another in the church hall for those in the body of the church, both have kitchens. This would avoid the 2 groups of 100 mixing.

"Communion at St Mary's was distributed to people where they sat.  This measure is not required under government rules.

"There was a children's liturgy (after all, the kids are still going to school during the week). Note there is no children's liturgy allowed in the parish detailed below.

"There is so much over-reaction and differences between parishes that it is making the Church look stupid.  It also appears to cause many Church officials, despite being well meaning in most cases, to grossly overreach themselves.  The total shutting down of Masses, after-Mass functions etc in some areas is incomprehensible considering the government guidelines.

"Many parishioners are lonely and depressed because of the virus and the Church and social functions can provide essential socialisation. The Church taking a 'safety at all costs' approach and grossly over-reacting is presumptive, because if individual parishioners are that concerned about their safety they can stay at home, be offered an isolated position at Mass, or elect not to attend after-Mass social functions.

"Church officials who are exceeding government requirements and denying parishioners service should justify their actions in detail in terms of government rules, safety risks, social impact, and Church doctrine.  Overly-fastidious precautions at our churches increases anxiety for many worshippers. We should be using creative approaches under the current rules to maximise the worship at our churches, not minimise it.

"I have observed parishioners from the Palmerston North Cathedral of the Holy Spirit going to a local restaurant after Mass to socialise, and not observing 1- metre spacing there (which they have no obligation to do under this current Level 2 regime).

"Attending Mass at many of our churches under Level 2 is now more like visiting a high-security prison. Parishioners can find a far more relaxed and friendly environment at the  restaurant down the road, when without breaking any government rules, that friendly environment could be provided at our churches.

"God Bless,

Bruce Tichbon


"For your information, the current Level 2 rules for a parish near Palmerston North.

·       No morning teas after Masses or use of the kitchens at all churches

·         No meetings using church meeting rooms or foyers

·         No children’s liturgy

Commenting on his letter, Tichbon says:

"I remember when Brian Tamaki of Destiny Church had to take on the government in order to hold a church service with hundreds of parishioners, and won.  At the time the Level 2 rules were 10 in a church and 100 in a strip club.  Our Catholic leaders now do the opposite, to have even fewer than the government will currently allow.  

"Tamaki looks like a leader; our hierarchy look, well, out of touch."

But Palmerston North Diocese looks good in comparison with the Archdiocese of Wellington, where +Dew jumped the government gun and cancelled all Masses last weekend. And although only geographically part of PN Diocese, Our Lady of the Southern Star Abbey or 'Kopua' as it's known, seems to have jumped the gun even on Cardinal Dew. 

Last Friday I was publicly rebuked by my PP for presenting for Communion on the tongue - not that I minded. "You know you're not supposed to do this," he said as I knelt to receive, in front of the assembled children all sitting on the floor around a coffee table 'altar' in the sanctuary. Having just patted all the little ones on the head, Father held the sacred Host aloft in front of me and failing to evoke any response to his remark, he gave me Communion, as is my right - and the right of everyone who refuses to receive in the hand, with its risk of sacrilege and contamination.

So on NZ's patronal Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and on Sunday, I went without the Sacrament and on Monday I drove 20 minutes to the abbey for Mass at 8 a m, arriving at 7.30 a m. I'd had this wheeze: I'd ask Father if I could have Communion on the tongue if I went up last in the (very short) line for Communion. 

The door to the abbey church was locked. I don't know why; I've never found it locked before. I assume that the monks - most of them elderly - are keeping themselves 'safe'. A mutual friend of theirs and mine, an Oirishman called Geoirge (RIP), used to drive even further than I for daily Mass at the abbey for years.  For ten years or so before his death he longed to die and go to God. He'd have welcomed COVID.

Many priests and people who subsist on the Novus Ordo diet (many because they've never known anything better) remind me of small boys in bed at night who close their eyes and pull the blanket up over their heads so they won't see the bogeyman coming.

. 

So since Monday I've attended the SSPX Latin Mass live-streamed from Corpus Christi, Tynong, Melbourne.

 

Corpus Christi, Tynong, Melbourne

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=Images+for+Corpus+Christi%2C+Tynong%2C+Melbourne&rlz=1C1SQJL_enNZ881NZ881&oq=Images+for+Corpus+Christi%2C+Tynong%2C+Melbourne&aqs=chrome..69i57.20580j0j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

The following verses from the Book of Ezekiel, Chapter 34, seem apposite in regard to the situation of the Church in New Zealand in these evil days of Ardern's Reign of Terror (translation and commentary, Douay Rheims):

 Evil pastors are reproved. Christ the true pastor shall come, and gather together his flock from all parts of the earth, and preserve it for ever.

[1] And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: [2] Son of man, prophesy concerning the shepherds of Israel: prophesy, and say to the shepherds: Thus saith the Lord God: Woe to the shepherds of Israel, that fed themselves: should not the flocks be fed by the shepherds? [3] You ate the milk, and you clothed yourselves with the wool, and you killed that which was fat: but my flock you did not feed. [4] The weak you have not strengthened, and that which was sick you have not healed, that which was broken you have not bound up, and that which was driven away you have not brought again, neither have you sought that which was lost: but you ruled over them with rigour, and with a high hand. [5] And my sheep were scattered, because there was no shepherd: and they became the prey of all the beasts of the field, and were scattered.

[2] "Shepherds": That is, princes, magistrates, chief priests, and scribes.

[6]  My sheep have wandered in every mountain, and in every high hill: and my flocks were scattered upon the face of the earth, and there was none that sought them, there was none, I say, that sought them. [7] Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: [8] As I live, saith the Lord God, forasmuch as my flocks have been made a spoil, and my sheep are become a prey to all the beasts of the field, because there was no shepherd: for my shepherds did not seek after my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flocks: [9] Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: [10] Thus saith the Lord God: Behold I myself come upon the shepherds, I will require my flock at their hand, and I will cause them to cease from feeding the flock any more, neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more: and I will deliver my flock from their mouth, and it shall no more be meat for them.

[11] For thus saith the Lord God: Behold I myself will seek my sheep, and will visit them. 

Eucharistic Procession from SSPX Corpus Christi Tynong Melbourne