Father Ray Kelly - Beginning Of The End Of His Priestly Vocation?

I had written in recent weeks about the mess that Father Ray Kelly of Ireland made of a nuptial Mass.  I had thought that was the end of it, but alas, the sad saga continues.  You see, he's been offered record deals by both Sony and Universal.  And what does Father Kelly say of all this new-found fame and opportunity to make a bundle?  Sit down for this!

“It looks like it is going to happen (the record deal). Ninety per cent of people don’t get a break and now, at this stage of my life, it is happening for me. Dreams do come true.”

That's a direct quote, and quite revealing, it seems.  Just what "dream" is coming true?  Forgive me for being so boring and mundane, but isn't the "dream" of a Catholic priest to save souls and to be an "alter Christi"?  I understand that he thinks he's going to remain a priest -but what comes first?  Let's look at it another way - what will demand the most of his time?  The answer to that question is the answer to the previous question.

I'll now ask another question that I suspect will cause flaming attempts in my combox.  While the primary blame for the obscuring of Father's priestly vocation is his, might not some culpability lie with those who thoughtlessly swooned over this priest's abuse of the wedding Mass?  I think that's very likely.

Pray for Father.  Pray for those who remain bamboozled over Father's performance.  Pray that dust be knocked from their eyes and that eternal life with Christ, through His Church be the "dream to come true".

The Role Of Situation Ethics In The Border Mass And Singing Priest Debacles

Now that some of the dust - and emotions - have (hopefully) calmed after the revelation of Father Kelly's performance two weeks ago, I think it bears revisiting.  There are underlying moral principles at play, and we cannot ignore them for the sake of maintaining a facade of peace.  A "peace" that cannot bear some rigorous examination of situations and underlying principles is not true peace.

Father Ray Kelly is the priest in Ireland who violated Mass rubrics by putting on a singing performance during a Nuptial Mass two weeks ago.  In discussions regarding his actions, I've seen undercurrents of a "situation ethics" mindset in the remarks of faithful Catholics.  I've also seen it as we've discussed the "border Mass" on April 2, done by some bishops as part of their ongoing shilling for amnesty for people in this country illegally.  Needless to say I'm greatly concerned.

Let's define "situation ethics".  In this Christian-oriented site, we see that "situation ethics" was pioneered by an Episcopal priest in the early 1900s.  He also happened to be an advocate for euthanasia and for Planned Parenthood - small wonder.  The site does an excellent job in demonstrating the logical fallacies of situation ethics.  In a nutshell, situation ethics is a notion that decision-making should be based on the particulars of a given situation and not upon fixed law (such as Mass rubrics as defined by the GIRM, the Ten Commandments, etc).

I was involved in a closed discussion during the Triduum weekend with faithful Catholics regarding the Father Kelly matter.  More than a few seemed to buy the notion that the rubrics, generated by the Roman Catholic Church, can be suspended for the sake of a "happy moment".  It was mentioned that "at least there were no dancers or clowns".  Now see the problem?  If the rubrics of Mass can be suspended at will, what's the difference between priests singing versus puppets galloping down the aisles?  Without objective principles that govern the Mass, those embellishments become a mere matter of personal taste, don't they?  Once we jettison a principle for one circumstance, it can never be invoked for another circumstance for in that first act of disregard we would have shown our own disrespect for that principle.

I've also seen "situation ethics" ethos in other discussions.  One very public discussion is on Jill Stanek's site.  Granted, Jill and many of her site assistants aren't Catholic.  I'm just appalled at how they think they're knowledgeable enough to tell Catholics what their attitudes toward Church authority should be.  Some of the commenters - Catholics - tried to explain the role of Church authority in our Mass.  But again too many Catholics were all too willing to turn a blind eye "because the song made people happy" or some other similar excuse.

I also had a Facebook discussion on the matter.  Of course there was my original post on this matter.  Take a look at those comments and you'll notice that most of those supporting Father's disobedience voice their own flippant attitudes towards the Magisterium.

I think we also saw the situation ethics mental poison at play during the "border Mass" on April 2.  Please read the link to refresh your memories about that event.  I link now to an article that explains why that was a violation of Canon Law regarding Mass.  Situation ethics has corroded even the thinking of many of our bishops.

Some might ask why I continue to harp on what they might consider "minor matters".  Folks, it's very simple.  The underlying moral principles of any situation can never be regarded as "minor".  If we refuse to examine rigorously these principles behind our thinking when it comes to so-called "minor matters", we risk crippling our ability to deal properly with matters that aren't so "minor".  I'm no expert in that regard, but I do know enough to realize the damage done when we don't attempt rigorous, thorough thinking that applies Christ's Commandments and Church law appropriately.

More On Why The Father Ray Kelly Fan Club Is Flirting With Hell

God bless these Protestant preachers.  They see the perils to which so many Christians expose themselves by dint of their emphasis on subjective "good feelings" versus God and His Word.

At 8:40 we hear that "entertainment is the devil's substitute for joy".  Hear!  Hear!

When Emotions Trump Intellect And Will - The Father Ray Kelly Fiasco

Several days ago, at a nuptial Mass in Ireland, the priest decided it was time for a "lovely moment" so he broke out in song.  However he did so during Mass - constituting liturgical abuse.  The video went viral, with people everywhere gushing over the priest's voice, how touching it was, and on and on.

A few of us tried to talk some sense (you know, as in logic and reason and fidelity to rubrics), but apparently we're resented as a bunch of mean ole party-poopers.  Even many Catholics are swallowing the nonsense "hook, line and sinker".  I am not sure what troubles me more: the liturgical abuse itself, or, what passes for reason and discourse in Catholic circles.  For the moment I'll not consider the reactions of non-Catholics for they would not have had opportunity for proper education regarding such matters.

I brought up the fact that Mass is not about the people as much as it is about the Unbloody Sacrifice of Our Lord.  I pointed out that the priest is "alter Christi" and is not about the business of attracting attention to himself (don't you think all the gushing over his "talent" should have been a clue?).  For those who tried to trot out the "legalist" schtick, I pointed out that Jesus Christ, through His Magisterium, had His Hand on the creation of the rubrics.  But nope!  None of that mattered one iota?  Wanna know what the supreme consideration was when opining about this performance?  And several said this, so I'll put it in quotes!  Wait for it!!  Here it is!

"It was so bee-yoo-tee-fulll, it just moved me to tears!  Sigh!  Sob!"

Got that?  It's all about emotions!  Forget the fact that Our Lord informs our intellect and strengthens our wills.  Intellect and will just don't amount to a hill of beans when emotions are being tugged and manipulated.

See the big problem there?  Men and women are created in the image and likeness of God, particularly through our faculties of intellect and will.  Of all God's creatures, only men and angels possess these faculties.  Emotions are on a lower level.  Animals have emotions, but they don't have intellect and will to render them made in the image and likeness of God.  This over-exaltation of emotions is nothing more than a degradation of man, impelling him to live in a lower, animal-like plane of existence.  And let's face it.  It's more palatable to our fallen natures to lower ourselves to that plane; it requires less effort to indulge our emotions rather than discipline them to be ordered by intellect and will.

The Culture of Death is prevailing largely because more and more people are living solely in their emotions and are not exercising intellect and will.  The Voris video I just posted shows how homofacism is progressing largely because they are manipulating the emotions of those who are largely undisciplined intellectually and who are most likely not pursuing Christ through His Church.

Below I post the video.  I think if you look at the beginning and end of it you'll see the damage being done without having to subject yourself to the entire bilious debacle.