Verification of member names that appear to be clerical or religious titles - Page 2

cameron_lansing · #16 Mar 19, '08, 9:21 am

I agree that it is not a matter of respect but of integrity. Some posters who might thought to be Catholic priests (as in us Catholics united in full communion with Benedict XVI, the bishop of Rome and Supreme Pontiff) are not. Sometimes I just shake my head over this even more than when I read people without credentials expounding on Church law without disclaimer. I cannot see how either assists the salvation of souls or the good of the Church.

My opinion is that the topic goes beyond the matter of screen names. Clerics and members of religious communities have a public role in the Catholic Church, and it is not inappropriate to ask for their credentials when they purport to express the official view of the Church. After orders or vows, we no longer have some kind of absolute claim to anonymity, and people have a right to authenticity on our part in any case.

Individuals who appear to counsel action contrary to the teaching or discipline of the Catholic Church should be asked to furnish their name, ecclesiastical title, diocese or religious community, address of ministry in polite private message. They can be looked up in the Kenedy directory at most local parishes (and I for one, will give the page number on request). Since most dioceses, parishes and communities have websites with directories and email addresses, they can be checked in that manner.

Concerns about misrepresentation might be directed to a moderator. But I do think it would be wise, if it can be done, for this kind of forum to authenticate those claiming holy orders or consecrated life in the Catholic Church.

b_justb · #17 Mar 19, '08, 9:29 am

bump. Waiting for the CA Staff to weigh in.

I like the idea of the poster who suggested a "verification" tag. I think that's a great idea.

lizaanne · #18 Mar 19, '08, 10:12 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by cameron_lansing

Concerns about misrepresentation might be directed to a moderator. But I do think it would be wise, if it can be done, for this kind of forum to authenticate those claiming holy orders or consecrated life in the Catholic Church.

I agree - that is why I think these types of user names should not be an option. If someone is truly a priest, he can put this info in his signature, just as you do in yours, so he is visible, accessable, and verifiable.

~Liza

**Katie1723** · #19 Mar 19, '08, 4:36 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by lizaanne

I agree - that is why I think these types of user names should not be an option. If someone is truly a priest, he can put this info in his signature, just as you do in yours, so he is visible, accessable, and verifiable.

~Liza

How do you propose verifying someone's identity?

Kathy

**brotherhrolf** · #20 Mar 19, '08, 5:00 pm

My user name is brotherhrolf - Brother Hrolf. I was a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism back in the 70s and 80s - you know, the folks who dress up in medieval costumes and have tournaments and feasts, etc. We are still in contact with our friends from back then (DW was a member too) and I answer to Hrolf or Leonard equally. I was an altar boy before Vatican II. I sang in a cathedral choir for over 20 years and I am a calligrapher. I have never passed myself off as a religious (hence the lower case, all-one-word username). I've been a member of CAF since '04. I have seen so called "clergy" or "religious" post and then suddenly disappear. We are not supposed to discuss moderator activities but I think you can read between the lines. I think much more goes on behind the scene. A class act, if you ask me.

AHapka · #21 Mar 19, '08, 5:16 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katie1723

How do you propose verifying someone's identity?

Kathy

Before someone is allowed to use a screen name with Brother, Sister, Father, etc. they must present evidence of their position to the mods. I'm sure the Priests on staff at CAF have ways of verifying such claims (i.e. they probably know who to contact in that person's home diocese to find out if that person is what they claim to be).

Andy

**puzzleannie** · #22 Mar 19, '08, 5:16 pm

parishioners often refer to me as Sr. Annie, and I just know I am going to be spending time in purgatory for impersonating a nun. If I PM you it won't be to give religious counsel from a nun wannabee, it will truly be a puzzlement.

MrS · #23 Mar 19, '08, 5:35 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by puzzleannie

parishioners often refer to me as Sr. Annie, and I just know I am going to be spending time in purgatory for impersonating a nun. If I PM you it won't be to give religious counsel from a nun wannabee, it will truly be a puzzlement.

If you do it often enough, you might just get into the habit.

.

lizaanne · #24 Mar 19, '08, 5:36 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katie1723

How do you propose verifying someone's identity?

Kathy

Please see Cameron's post above - he makes perfect sense.

~Liza

lampstand · #25 Mar 19, '08, 5:43 pm

I agree. There's nothing wrong with expecting people to be telling the truth.

**puzzleannie** · #26 Mar 19, '08, 5:58 pm

ok I insist on proof that MrS is really a man and lampstand always sheds light on the subject. Bro has given us his explanation of his name so I will accept it. the only members I know who include religious titles in their screennames have proven, on the occasions they offer "official" comments, their authority and experience for so doing, and notably, humbly admit when they are wrong, or speaking from memory rather than from actual documents.

MrS · #27 Mar 19, '08, 6:23 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by puzzleannie

ok I insist on proof that MrS is really a man and lampstand always sheds light on the subject. Bro has given us his explanation of his name so I will accept it. the only members I know who include religious titles in their screennames have proven, on the occasions they offer "official" comments, their authority and experience for so doing, and notably, humbly admit when they are wrong, or speaking from memory rather than from actual documents.

Hi. My name is Mrs Mr S.

Let me tell you right here and right now. He is the man. And there are now seven offspring of Mr. S who also could answer to Mr. S.

I would offer more proof, but then I would be prohibited from this site, and he might be also. Now, you can have him back for a while, but then I get him back later.

Thanks dear.....

**Zooey** · #28 Mar 19, '08, 8:33 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by puzzleannie

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

I am a legend in my own mind.
(I am also named after a cat...
who was named after JD Salinger's hero)

Quote:

Originally Posted by lizaanne

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

Liza, my take on this is: I accept nobody at face value. My great-grandmother had a saying (which I cannot spell, because it is Dutch & I am

all but illiterate in Dutch): "Troit in der Herr; nine in der herren". It says: Trust in the Lord; but trust in no man!"
Accordingly, I would, if Father [No Name] pm'ed me giving me spiritual advice (good, bad, or indifferent), report Father [No Name] to the mods, sending the post to them to deal with.
If Father is a real Father, that would be no problem; a good priest would fully understand my caution. If he is not a real priest (or if he is a, God help us,

"rent-a-priest"), the mods would, I have great faith, deal with it.

At present there are two priests on here that I fully accept as Real Catholic Priests. There is one Methodist pastor, whom I accept as a Real Methodist Pastor.The rest of the clerical titles, I take with a largish grain of salt. (Enough salt, that my

blood pressure is in trouble).
But I am serious. I am sure of exactly 3 members of clergy. Period.
As far as "Brothers" & Sisters": If any of you are "real", forgive me, but I am not buying it. Why? Because I have knowledge (via other boards) of at least two cases of someone claiming to be such and they are not even Catholic!

I think maybe the real answer (because how can we ever really know who people are?) may be, to have a sticky put up someplace. (Apologetics? Spirituality? Where else?) On the appropriate forums, noting that "Calling yourself "Father" only makes you a priest, if living in the garage makes you a car". (Yes, I know, but

actual wording left to the mods...).

Its the internet. We all have to be less trusting.

Sad, but true.

And, like Brother Hrolf, I have great faith in the mods here. A whole lot of people appear, claiming to be [thus & so], and they vanish rapidly, and their abandoned posts vanish with them.

RevDrNorth · #29 Mar 19, '08, 9:31 pm

My thought is that posters should be respectful of the fact that this is a Catholic forum (Roman). I would not use "Father" in order to avoid the confusion that is mentioned in this thread. I don't even think a Eastern Orthodox priest should for the same reason since it might lead a poster to believe they are hearing from a Roman Catholic Priest.

Probably, the title "Father" ought to be reserved for bonafide Roman Catholic priests. That is not to take away their right to be called "Father" in their denominational setting but here it is case specific. Other clergy can use Rev, Pastor, Vicar and so on. Just my two cents.

MrS · #30 Mar 20, '08, 5:17 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by RevDrNorth

My thought is that posters should be respectful of the fact that this is a Catholic forum (Roman). I would not use "Father" in order to avoid the confusion that is mentioned in this thread. I don't even think a Eastern Orthodox priest should for the same reason since it might lead a poster to believe they are hearing from a Roman Catholic Priest.

Probably, the title "Father" ought to be reserved for bonafide Roman Catholic priests. That is not to take away their right to be called "Father" in their denominational setting but here it is case specific. Other clergy can use Rev, Pastor, Vicar and so on. Just my two cents.

Thanks for weighing in on the topic... now the question of curiosity.... what is meant by your bio as "Liturgical - Non Roman Catholic" ??