Rev. Peter M.J. Stravinskas: The Curse of Meetings

Stating the Obvious, With Some Help From Grace, by Dr. Jeff Mirus
November 15, 2021
Bishops’ Focus on Communion Crisis Highlights Bigger Issue, Theologians Say, by Carol Zimmermann
November 15, 2021

*Image: The Sleeping Cardinal by Fernando Botero, 1967 [Kunsthal, Rotterdam]

Rev. Peter M.J. Stravinskas, The Catholic Thing, Nov. 15, 2021

Father Peter Stravinskas holds doctorates in school administration and theology. He is the founding editor of The Catholic Response and publisher of Newman House Press. Most recently, he launched a graduate program in Catholic school administration through Pontifex University.

Note: We’ll all be watching the bishops’ meeting in Baltimore this week to see if they can come up with a policy – a policy with teeth – that will draw a sharp line as to who should and should not come forward for Communion. Especially, radically pro-abortion politicians with names like Biden, Pelosi, etc. Our longtime friend Fr. Peter Stravinskas reminds us, however, that there’s usually quite little that “meetings” alone can do, particularly when, for decades, bishops and priests have allowed false doctrine to run rampant. There are short-term solutions, and let’s hope the U.S. bishops apply some in the next few days. But this is going to be a long struggle over the long-term direction of the Church and society. Which is why The Catholic Thing intends to be here both for the short and long haul. There’s no alternative. If you understand the full extent of the challenges we face, you’ll also grasp the need for TCT to be here, not only for 2022 but for years to come. Be part of a real solution. Click the button. Support The Catholic Thing today. – Robert Royal

 

Rev. Peter M.J. StravinskasWith all the chatter about the Synod on Synodality and as our bishops meet in Baltimore this week, my intense disdain for meetings has hit me with renewed, brutal force. As a high school administrator, I inherited a weekly faculty meeting, Fridays at 3 p.m. (Who in his right mind selected that time-slot?) These torture sessions often went on until 5 p.m. – because some teachers just loved them. Actually, they loved hearing themselves drone on.  

We may hope that our bishops will do more than just talk this week – there is the serious business of Biden/Pelosi/et al. to address, which we may hope will be treated in the way it deserves. But our expectations must be tempered by the reality of large meetings. 

People in business understand “the curse of meetings.” One asserted  ….