Comments for Being Frank

Comment on Kneeling by Gavin Abraham

Gavin Abraham — Fri, 18 May 2012 11:14:19 +0000

MaryandMartha,

I just want to endorse the idea of the Q&A box in the school foyer. A great idea, especially when so many non-practising Catholics and non-Catholics are part of the school communities. I think other schools should follow that example.

Comment on NZCBCAWOL? by Helens Bay

Helens Bay — Thu, 17 May 2012 10:33:55 +0000

“”These people who want to have their free choice for same-sex “love”, have no patience, respect, or basic tolerance for hearing different positions. ”
Jimmy G you are using exactly the same argument as they are.

Comment on NZCBCAWOL? by JimmyG

JimmyG — Thu, 17 May 2012 06:31:49 +0000

On this topic, it's interesting to see that the otherside is anything but tolerant.

These people who want to have their free choice for same-sex "love", have no patience, respect, or basic tolerance for hearing different positions. Helen's Bay. I don't understand why you say "gay bashing" in #2. How is disagreeing with homosexuals in public to be considered "bashing"? When you disagree with people that you feel and believe are wrong, and you write it here publicly on this blog, do you think that you are bashing the other side? Would you be happy with others accusing your simple disagreement of bashing?

Comment on Eucan’t say that! by Opthomistic

Opthomistic — Thu, 17 May 2012 02:46:10 +0000

Yes, but maybe it is more than that. The presence in the Eucharist must be different than God’s presence in creation, otherwise the only thing remarkable about the Eucharist is “the non-presence of bread/wine”?

Comment on Eucan’t say that! by John Jensen

John Jensen — Thu, 17 May 2012 01:53:25 +0000

The point is precisely what you said about transubstantiation – the consecrated elements are no longer bread and wine. Christ is, indeed, present in me – but so, also, I will be the first to tell you, is John Jensen. He doesn’t cease to exist when Christ is present in me. Similarly for all the other presences of the Lord. The Eucharist is unique.

Comment on Kneeling by avalanches

avalanches — Wed, 16 May 2012 08:45:02 +0000

when in rome…

Comment on Kneeling by jodokaast

jodokaast — Wed, 16 May 2012 01:51:00 +0000

My attempt at an answer (off the top of my head)

“Catholics kneel from the end of the Sanctus (holy holy holy…) until the great amen out of reverence for Jesus and the actions that are about to take place (the turning of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ).

Kneeling whilst the most appropriate posture for Catholics is not always possible for example sore knees.

Non-Catholics may sit for this reason. Non-Catholics may also sit if they if for any personal reason they do not wish to kneel.

However Non-Catholics who do not have such a reason are encourage to kneel as not to disturb the sign of congregational unity.”

Short Answer “Kneeling for Non-Catholics is not compulsory but is encouraged”.

My parish (where you visited) is full of older persons and I believe that their not kneeling is a result of their not knees :P

It is a very good question, and one that does require some tact in answering. I think you have hit the nub of the question when you realize we kneel because of faith, and how do we encourage what ought to be done without ‘scaring them off’. You may want to consider that some people (like myself) use the back of the pew for their hands whilst kneeling and people who remain sitting upright make this hard.