Verification of member names that appear to be clerical or religious titles

lizaanne · #1 Mar 18, '08, 11:00 am

Hello -

I'm curious and I have a question.

Does the CA staff do any type of verification of users who have user names such as "father", "sister", "brother", etc. ?

My concern is that these user names might be misleading to other members if in fact these individuals are not clergy or religious.

~Liza

MrS · #2 Mar 18, '08, 1:59 pm

Good question.

I have wondered too.... both that, and when a Fr ABC says he is Catholic. And the opposite becomes obvious.

Would that they would simply use N/A and let it go at that.

.

Bruised Reed · #3 Mar 18, '08, 2:26 pm

What if a clerical or religious title isn't in the user name but they make the claim?
I don't know of this happening but I have thought how this is looked into.

lizaanne · #4 Mar 18, '08, 2:29 pm

I think this is a very serious concern. You could have just about anyone out here, PMing people, with a user name like FatherWhosit, and users could think he is a priest.

It is very scary - but that's only my opinion.

~Liza

JReducation · #5 Mar 18, '08, 4:06 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by lizaanne

I think this is a very serious concern. You could have just about anyone out here, PMing people, with a user name like FatherWhosit, and users could think he is a priest.

It is very scary - but that's only my opinion.

~Liza

My opinion is that if you treat every user with respect and charity, the title is not really an issue.

I did see a Carmelite, whom I happen to know, get blasted by several posters and called a heretic, etc. I thought that was totally inappropriate, whether one believed that the man was a Carmelite of not.

We have to remember, just because you don't agree with a deacon, priest or reiligious, does not make them less Catholic or less worthy of respect.

My policy is always treat others with respect and respond as positively as possible and if the person is a cleric or a religious they won't be offended, neither would a lay person.

JR

**puzzleannie** · #6 Mar 18, '08, 5:46 pm

since people would normally not be using their real name as a screen name, neither would their title necessarily be "genuine" but part of that screen name. If I call myself Mrsannie would you assume I am married?

lizaanne · #7 Mar 18, '08, 5:55 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by puzzleannie

since people would normally not be using their real name as a screen name, neither would their title necessarily be "genuine" but part of that screen name. If I call myself Mrsannie would you assume I am married?

Absolutely I would.

And that is my point. I have respect for all members on this form - that is not my point, and not even close. My concern is for those who wish to misrepresent themselves and Catholic clergy or religious, and how is anyone supposed to know??

There are about 28 (yes, I just counted) members here who use "Father"XXXX as their user name - and I did not count the ones that are like "fatherofeight". How am I to know, as a casual, or even regular member, who of these users, if any, are actually Catholic priests? Their user name says they are "FatherXXXX" - so why should I not believe them?

I'm sorry - this has nothing to do with respect and charity - but it has everything to do with deception and uncertainty.

Look - this is the internet. I don't know who you are, you don't know how I am (well some of you do

). And call it lack of trust, but I just want to know, when I am responding to someone who calls themselves "Father" (and I don't even know if it's not a woman!!!) that I'm really talking to a Catholic priest, if indeed that person presents themselves that way.

I don't think that's asking to much of a Catholic forum.

~Liza

AHapka · #8 Mar 18, '08, 11:26 pm

I'm gonna have to agree with you on that one.

It would be nice to have some sort of "verified" indicator/tag.

However, that being said, we should all take all claims made by people with a grain of salt. I would hope that anyone using the internet would.

However, I would suggest to the forum admins that it would be a good idea in many ways. I can think of times that it would be good to get an objective opinion from a priest who does not know me, and it might be good see which posters are known priests.

It would also be a nice way of honoring those who serve us, and it would also lend most of us to give their opinion on posts (especially in Liturgy and Sacraments) a little more weight.

Andy

Cathy · #9 Mar 19, '08, 12:00 am

It's importnat, as a previous post stated, to treat everyone with respect. As far as discerning the members who are truly priests or religious, I don't think it matters much in terms of orthodoxy, since there is such a wide range even within the ordained priesthood.

Our best defense is to study sacred Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church ourselves, to pray every day, and to frequent the Sacraments of Holy Communion and Reconciliation.

**puzzleannie** · #10 Mar 19, '08, 12:27 am

screennames have all kinds of crazy designators and I would not for a moment assume all of them are literally true. Momof4 probably is but I don't think JD Salinger's hero has been resurrected for this forum

Ghoti · #11 Mar 19, '08, 12:47 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by puzzleannie

since people would normally not be using their real name as a screen name, neither would their title necessarily be "genuine" but part of that screen name. If I call myself Mrsannie would you assume I am married?

No, I'd think you were a man whose last name was "Sannie"!

kathielee · #12 Mar 19, '08, 1:07 am

I agree completely that all deserve respect. For me, it's a matter of knowing if this person speaking is completely educated in the matter of discussion....or just trying to make people think they know it all. If a real true priest says something, I am more apt to accept it completely. It is completely fair to all of us to know if it's an ordained priest or not.....I mean, isn't it only fair to know if someone knows the truth or is just pushing opinion?? Kathie

**Katie1723** · #13 Mar 19, '08, 3:08 am

Next thing you know, we will have to sign away our first born. An online name is designed for anonymity in my opinion. Lots of times it "means" something. Sometimes it truly is "who" someone is. But how do we really know that? Men can use women's names and the reverse can also be true. You just never really know. As far as matters of faith, I'd place more trust in my parish priest than anyone here. Another person's opinion is nice and seeing how someone else might handle something can be a help. But I hardly envision the College of Cardinals sitting with a laptop and aking someone on CAF who the next pope should be.

Kathy

Inman · #14 Mar 19, '08, 6:12 am

I guess that someone new to internet forums in general could assume that a user name is legit, but I know I wouldn't. Many people don't intend a user name to convey their true identity.
For example, in MMORPGs (i.e. world or warcraft), its quite common for male players to have their in game characters be female and vice versa.

lizaanne · #15 Mar 19, '08, 6:46 am

So - let me ask you all who see no problems with this...

If someone received a PM from a member with the name "Father XXXX", and he gave some sort of counsel regarding an issue the person is currently having, and sounded as if he was a priest, what is the person supposed to think? Were they advised by a priest, or not? When people are in crisis they will cling to things they are told - what if a "Father" PMd someone and told them that it's quite clear their previous marriage is invalid and there really is no need to go through the annulment process?

Not everyone on the internet is savvy enough to know when to think someone is a loon, or is legit. When it comes to someone representing themselves as clergy or religious this is extremely important.

There is another major Catholic forum that does not allow these types of member names for the obvious reasons I've stated here.

I'm just flabbergasted that anyone would think that this is a matter of respect and charity!! This is a matter of protecting the legitimate clergy and religious from those who may masquerade as such, and other members from the unscrupulous.

~Liza