www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News Aussie Sharing of Churches, Clergy

Bob,
Im sorry but I dont get your point.
Stephanos I

Stephanos I:

I guess I rambled. My first point is that it seems that those pushing for this sharing don't want to hear from those who ask questions as to why this is necessary. The second is that those in the clergy seem to be hesitant to speak because they don't know which way the wind is blowing.

BOB

I agree with Father Stephanos. It seems that in these situations, it is the Catholics that sacrifice having statues, candles, icons, the reserved Blessed Sacrament, etc.

And to put a curtain over a crucifix or statues and whatnot seems entirely disrespectful. I don't know if I could bring myself to worship in a place where the image of Our Lord and His Saints has been deliberately covered over.

Logos Teen

Teen, I have to agree with you. It seems that before Vatican II we wanted to achieve unity by converting Protestants to Catholicism. Now, it seems, our Catholic leadership intends to achieve unity by making us all Methodists.

Dear Friends,

I want to clarify that I don't see shared churches as the norm. Only in certain situations do I think sharing a church is a good idea. My experience is a shared church on a military base. I like going to mass knowing that Protestants worship on the same holy ground.

We know that many Eastern Catholic parishes that are too small to support themselves make use of RC churches. A big compromise for them, but the Divine Liturgy is offered for EC's who might othewrwise have to attend an RC Mass.

So, I'm saying that a shared church should only be considered for special circumstances. The Church has experience and guidance in this matter. I look to my bishop to make good decisions about shared churches.

Christ is our peace.

Paul

Although I know this is not in the same context of which you refer, but the practice in the Latin West is(was?) to cover the statues during Lent.

Father Deacon,

This is still practiced in the Latin Church. Not every good thing went the way of the dinosaur with the reformations/renovations/whatever of Vatican II. We still have a few things.

And you're absolutely right, but statues aren't covered in Lent for the same reasons that these Protestants cover over our Catholic statues (or Catholics cover over these statues for Protestants). The Protestants, by this act, deny the legitimacy of these images. Believe me, I was a Protestant for 17 years. This is exactly what it means.

Naturally, this is not what is meant when statues are covered over during Lent. They're covered because Lent (or the Great Fast, if you prefer) is a penitential time, etc.

Logos Teen

Catholics have been sharing church buildings with other denominations in Australia in remote areas for some years now. It is just not worth havinga building with all the many costs for small groups. It makes more sense to share the costs with others and thus have a place to worship.

Military chaplains have always shared what was provided by the military. Although on or near military bases that are more established it is not uncommon to find that the separate denominations have built their own churches if they have the numbers to support them.

Having to share a worship space may or may not be the most suitable arrangement; nevertheless, I remember being quite impressed as a youth upon visiting the United States Merchant Marine Academy's (Kings Park, NY) Mariner's Chapel and viewing its "towering interfaith altar. This altar, which sits on an automatic turntable, is unmistakable upon entering the chapel. Its three sides correspond to the three pre-dominant faiths in the United States, Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish. In keeping with the traditions of a maritime chapel, even the candleholders on the altar are in the form of fully rigged sailing ships."

Views of the three sides and the turntable in rotation are available at:

http://www.usmma.edu/about/MarinersChapel/History.htm

Dear Martin,

Thanks for your post! Great pics of the USMMA Chapel.
I really like the altar rail. I wish there were more of them in RC churches.

God bless you,

Paul