It was silly to comment on a Facebook post. I “went down the rabbit hole,” as my daughter sometimes says when one becomes too involved in a social media thread. Here’s how it happened:
I follow a few Catholic groups on Facebook, so when I saw the title, “Holy Orders,” I was captivated. I expected it might be a new book about vocations to the priesthood, from like-minded Catholics.
Mainstream Theater and Catholicism
My expectations changed when I saw the actual source of the post. It was from a nearby regional theater, announcing the public reading of a new play. After decades of working in the performing arts in local schools and community theater, I am wary of modern shows that deal with my Catholic faith. When contemporary plays from mainstream playwrights present Catholicism, they likely get something wrong. I’m sorry to say it about my fellow artists, many of whom are dear friends, but it’s true.
Consequently, when I read the story line about a middle-aged nun who goes against her order’s directives when she ministers to a poor parish, I was waiting for the other shoe to drop. Would this play simply be about a devout religious who serves the poor? Unfortunately, according to the summary given by the theater, it is not. The character of the nun actually “serves Mass” in the poor parish, because the diocese has ignored the parish’s request for a priest. The nun is disciplined by her superiors for her disobedience and then takes some time to decide whether this incident was a chance to pursue her true vocation as a Catholic priest.
Distorting Catholic Doctrine
I should have moved on, and scrolled past this post about an artistic work that distorts basic tenets of Catholic doctrine. Without having attended the event or read the script, I cannot know the full content of the text. The description provided, though, does show that the play considers the possibility of women’s vocation to the priesthood. The use of the word “serves” ambiguously describes the function that the nun completes at Mass. Since the summary says no priest is available, “serves Mass” apparently means what we would call, “celebrates Mass,” which we know is impossible without an ordained priest. More clearly, the play presents a Catholic diocese as ignoring the need of an impoverished parish.
With these elements in the show’s premise, the ensuing discussion in the script likely characterizes the Church as misguided and unenlightened, at best. Unless the action includes a conversion experience for the nun and a plot twist that shows the diocese dealing charitably with the poor parish after all, the play is problematic in its confusion of what constitutes a Mass, who can be a priest, and the Church’s pastoral charity.
Positive Influence of Movies in the Past
Actually, the plight of parishes without a pastor could make an excellent topic for a play. Imagine the good that such a work could do to raise awareness of the need for priests. It might inspire men to hear the call that modern society tends to muffle. That kind of positive influence happened in the last century, with movies that presented heroic priests who opened Boys Town or spirited nuns who kept St. Mary’s parish school alive. Unfortunately, the entertainment industry these days lacks this kind of inspiration, following instead the well-worn path of permissiveness and self-gratification.
Defending the Faith
Indeed, it would have been prudent to scroll on by. Nevertheless, I commented as any naïve Catholic wishing to defend the faith might. I wrote, “This story line shows a misunderstanding of Catholic teaching. No Catholic woman, much less a Catholic nun, has a vocation to be a priest. As a Catholic who has been deeply involved in the performing arts for all of my life, I am disappointed to see my Church misrepresented in the theater.”
The theater promptly thanked me for my comment. They invited me to come to the reading so that I could share my thoughts with the playwright. I would have liked to go, but I had rehearsal for the show I’m directing at our local Catholic school on the night of the event. I asked if there might be another opportunity to hear the script and give feedback. The theater’s openness to my attending and sharing truths of our faith heartened me.
The Real Kicker
It didn’t end there. The real kicker came a day later, not from the theater, but from one of our own, someone I would hope to be my ally. A reply to my comment appeared. The respondent, who identified herself as Catholic, respectfully disagreed with me. She reported that there are “devout Catholic woman priests” serving in parishes. She concluded that these women “were called to this vocation.”
What a disappointment to be erroneously corrected by a fellow Catholic. The woman who respectfully disagreed with me does not seem aware that a nun cannot say Mass. Does the average Catholic know that only an ordained priest can consecrate hosts to become the Blessed Sacrament, without which the ceremony is not a Mass? Parishes without a priest may have Communion at their Sunday liturgy, but it will be constituted of hosts consecrated during a Mass somewhere else.
We traditional Catholics know society doesn’t always get us. We expect the press, social media, and even the entire mainstream entertainment industry to misunderstand Catholic doctrine and unwittingly promote falsehoods about our faith. But when the sadly mistaken individual is Catholic, it is disheartening. On the other hand, how wonderful it is when Catholics can stand together defending the faith.
Down the Rabbit Hole
After fifteen years of experience with Facebook, I know enough not to continue this kind of conversation. It is truly the rabbit hole that my daughter laments. Still, I opted to respond to my virtual Catholic sister. I wrote, “I am sure there are devout Catholic women serving in parishes. They are either nuns or consecrated or lay women. The church has not ordained any women to the priesthood.”
Does it matter that I responded? My head says, probably not. My conscience is not quite settled that commenting at all on Facebook regarding this play was well-advised. My hope is that at least someone may be protected from confusion by reading the exchange between a secular theater taking a jab at the Church, a cradle Catholic, and a misinformed member of the faithful.
14 thoughts on “Defending the Faith in the Rabbit Hole of Social Media”
Your comments were perfectly appropriate. They were not “going down the rabbit hole” at all. That would have been the case if the “Catholic” commenter kept insisting she was right and bringing in irrelevant matters and you kept arguing with her. Such people should be publicly corrected once. Just don’t bother continuing pointless argument with people who won’t listen to reason and facts.
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This kind of thing (depicted in the play) is bound to happen sooner or later, given the shortage of priests, the flimsiness of the Church’s current rationale for an all-male priesthood after it admitted that the earlier reasons were misogynistic, the majority support for women’s ordination not only among Catholics but probably among the clergy too, and the fact that in the many parishes without a resident priest a nun (or “Pastoral Assistant”) does so many things anyway that priests used to do.
In fact it’s probably already happened, though no one has reported it to bishops.
Captcrisis,
Thank you for your perspective. I agree that the shortage of priests creates a need for others to minister to parishes. The good that the Lord brings of this is a more obvious call to holiness to members of the Faithful who are not ordained priests. We are a priestly people, called in our baptism to be prophet, priest, and king in imitation of Jesus.
We must always keep in mind, though, the facts of ordained Catholic priesthood and the definition of Mass. From the article above, “only an ordained priest can consecrate hosts to become the Blessed Sacrament, without which the ceremony is not a Mass. Parishes without a priest may have Communion at their Sunday liturgy, but it will be constituted of hosts consecrated during a Mass somewhere else.” Those who answer the call to serve parishes without a priest have a special vocation, a sacred call from the Lord which I would think incredibly humbling. They can fulfill many duties that priests do, although they cannot hear confession or consecrate hosts.
Regarding why women are not called to ordained priesthood, the Magisterium is guided by the Holy Spirit. The Church is not a democracy, nor subject to popular opinion.
Regarding what you describe as “It’s probably already happened,” yes, some quick research showed me a group of Catholic women who call themselves priests, some of them having self-ordained. Their “ordination” and identifying as priests is no more valid canonically than a couple with a “common law” marriage calling themselves married in the Church or people with gender dysphoria identifying as something other than their biological sex. These are hot topics and I don’t mean to be uncharitable. God sees our hearts. Peace.
~Mary
Thanks for your response!
“the flimsiness of the Church’s current rationale for an all-male priesthood after it admitted that the earlier reasons were misogynistic”
Utter nonsense. The Church has “admitted” nothing of the kind, and you obviously are not aware of and have not read the Church’s very sound and very full explanation of why it will never have power or authority to confer the Sacrament of Holy Orders on a woman. It’s ontologically impossible. Sadly your ignorance is not surprising, many Catholics are not aware of it either, they get their information about the Catholic Church from the secular media which makes up whatever it thinks will sell and collect clicks.
“undeniable influence of prejudices unfavourable to woman”
I’m quoting from Paul VI’s declaration “Inter Insigniores”. He’s referring to the reasons given in the Patristic period for why women can’t be priests. He can’t bring himself to cite them but we all know them: women are too stupid; their presence causes men to stumble; they are morally weak; they are made unclean by menstruation; their role is in the home; etc.
LoL captcrisis, read the full document or heck even the full sentence. The meaning is exactly the opposite of what you claim. Pope St Paul VI was refuting exactly the type of false accusation which you are making. He says that naturally members of the Church are influenced like all men by the results of the Fall that men try to lord it over women, but that this is certainly bot the reason why Christian priestesses are impossible. The Catholic Church has done far more to promote respect for the radical equality of women with men than all other organisations put together.
Spiritual Works of Mercy, instructing the ignorant. Honestly, you did your duty.
Faithful,
Thanks for your comment and your kind words. We can only hope that when our intentions are pure and open to the Lord’s inspiration, some good comes of it.
~Mary
I get on social media but largely never get into a debate, I post what I feel compelled to do. I know some do get on social media to “Defend the Faith” and they must feel called to do so. In that, good for them.
I wonder if this woman who identified as Catholic might have just been, you know, just trying to get a reaction.
This is all. Thank you for sharing this
Facebook “is” (itself) a rabbit hole. While it brings together family and friends (as it is often touted to do) it then breaks apart and destroys the same. Poison is poison. Unless one calls it what it is there is danger to miss its deadly consequences!
I would have to agree, and I feel free being free of it lol
It has its own agenda and erroneous opinions we do not NEED.
To Beverly and Finnianjohn,
Thanks for your perspectives. I understand. Most of us have learned to limit our interactions on Facebook to family news and positive messages. Like any other means of communication, Facebook is prone to misunderstanding and the various other ugliness of our fallen nature.
~Mary