I am appalled at the messages on this website about the Houston church. There are two sides to every story, and I believe that the side this forum is receiving is a deliberant misrepresentation of what has transpired.
I have been a member of the Houston church since it opened its doors in 1980 and I am shocked that someone from our parish finds the need to tell the whole world about what he thinks is going on here.
Our parish meetings should not be aired on an Internet site, nor any other opinions that this individual has with our church that defile and insult other members of our church.

I hope this forum keeps an open mind and takes his messages with a grain of salt.

Dear Michele,

I do believe the thread about the Houston, TX, parish was closed with the idea that such things best be taken care of thru appropriate and available means.

God bless you and the parish of Houston, TX. I am sure that you have been a great contribution to your parish, especially being a parishioner there for over twenty years!

So the dismissal of the female cantor/choir director was just an ugly rumor? Us cantors stick together, ya know. We do support one another.

Tell Fr. Julian I said "hello." I used to cantor for him out here when he visited.

Joe

Joe.. I believe that the thread should not only be closed but removed permanently. The gossip of those threads should never had seen the light of day.

It's going to cost you some pierogies!

Well, I too am a member of the Houston parish - but obviously not a very well informed one as all this is news to me.

Perhaps I mind my own business too much - simply attending liturgy and working on my theosis. Ignorance is bliss?

MichelleS - don't worry about Houston's reputation. I'm know the people on this forum take everything with a grain of salt and know that there are generally 3 sides to every story (two opinions plus the truth).

Cizenic - I'm very sorry to hear you may be(are?) leaving us. Isn't there some middle way (not to conjure up images of the Oxford movement)?

I'm praying very hard for our parish and will now double my efforts.

I don't think these threads should be erased. Dialogue, I believe, serves better in the end than pure censure. I'm sure the rest of America is getting tired of hearing of the events in Houston, but aren't issues like this important to the Church as a whole? Where else can things like this be hashed out or impartial opinions sought?

Granted, only those in authority can do anything about this, and I don't advocate gossip or rumor - but no names have been named (save of course our priest at this point).

I suppose I'll have to talk to some folks back home when I return. I guess politics as well as prayer goes on in every parish. Call me naive, but I liked things better when I only knew of prayer.

Dear Michele,

Not everyone gossiped.I do feel that if the events are true your Priest didn't handle it well.I think the poster should contact the Archbishop,after all it is his Church too. To make along story short a former parishioner our group moved to Texas and was told by someone at the church, a lay person she wouldn't like it at that Church and she shouldn't come back. She told me this herself it was not second hand information. That makes 2 opinions and 1 factual statement.Not gossip. I hope C stays on- it does look well when converts leave.


Nicky's Baba

Nicky...I did not say everyone gossiped.

I would like to reiterate that some members here DO know who the poster is talking about and the man who is being called "mean spirited" has been very,very hurt by what has been said about him here.

Names were not mentioned but we only has 60 families and some members have surmized who is being talked about and who has said it.

It doesn't matter to me if general and global church issues are discussed. I take issue that a respected member of our church has been very hurt by this so called story.

As for whatever was said to a person by another person in the past at our church: I cannot control what others have done/do and I can't control what has happened in the past.
I am not going to get into a "he said, she said" debate here.

Let's pray for the parish in Houston and concerned parishioners like Michele.

Joe

Brothers and Sisters, I think that perhaps the various circumstances that involve one or another parish community should be best left to the members of that community. There is no way that those of us outside that community can really know what is going on.

Suffice it to say, if there is ANYONE who feels that he/she is being hurt or maligned by the words of others, then we, as Christians, should abstain from anything that would further injure that person or the members of the community.

As most are aware, I don't feel comfortable allowing any discussion that would hurt anybody; but at the same time, I am also not one to cut anyone off from saying his or her piece.

Might I prayerfully ask that we close this discussion without anyone having to officially close it.

And might I also ask that all of us offer prayers and some prayerful/penetential offering for the benefit of the our brothers and sisters in Houston that the Lord's Will be done in bringing all His people to His Will, regardless of their perspectives.

Lord, in Your Mercy, look upon all Your people in all of our parish communities. May they be constant pray-ers; and may they also be aware of the needs of others. And may our bishops be given the grace of perspicacity and forgiveness, so that they may be true pastors to the baptized and do what is necessary for the bulding up of the Body of Christ.

Lord, be merciful to us, sinners.