Request for Clarification

[Julianah]

Hey folks,

A moderator told me that he removed my "negative" comments about the Roman rite, and... ugh, I don't even remember making any! I would like to know what I said so I know what offends people here... Is there someone I could talk to who could clarify for me what it was that I said and why it was a problem?

Thanks!
Jules

[Aelred Minor]

Did you write anything that suggested one form of the Roman Liturgy was superior to another? That could do it.

[Dale_M]

Originally Posted by Julianah

Hey folks,

A moderator told me that he removed my "negative" comments about the Roman rite, and... ugh, I don't even remember making any! I would like to know what I said so I know what offends people here... Is there someone I could talk to who could clarify for me what it was that I said and why it was a problem?

Thanks!
Jules

Hi Jules,

The person who could clarify it would be the moderator who wrote you. Just reply to his or her message and politely ask.

[Julianah]

Originally Posted by Dale_M

Hi Jules,

The person who could clarify it would be the moderator who wrote you. Just reply to his or her message and politely ask.

I did... I went back and read my post, and there was something edited for reason "off topic"... I am racking my brains as to what it could have been. It is true that I bore witness to the beauty of the Eastern rite by illustrating how intimate it is for an individual to go up to the priest during Communion to receive a blessing, and how the Chalice of the Precious Blood is laid on the person's head while the blessing is being said. All that was still there... I'm just really curious.

Wait a minute... I am starting to remember... I do remember saying something about how the Eastern Mass is Heaven on Earth, where time stands still... That was NOT the message that the PM indicated. He said he deleted negative comments about the Roman Rite... I am afraid he deleted POSITIVE comments about the Eastern Rite!

Is there any form of appeal process here at CAF? Additionally, one of the lines in the PM was borderline abusive, and I would really like to talk to someone else about this.

[Julianah]

Originally Posted by Aelred Minor

Did you write anything that suggested one form of the Roman Liturgy was superior to another? That could do it.

Well, it was a debate about whether or not people should go up to the Priest for blessings during Communion, and so I wrote about the Eastern Mass where it's a very intimate experience for the individual. But the thing is that it is very relevant... we can't have an honest conversation about something if the moderators are going to shut down witness to something which is beautiful and good.

Superiority is prideful, and my post was never meant to imply superiority. It was more about being helpful to the one who wants to come home.

[Aelred Minor]

Originally Posted by Julianah

Well, it was a debate about whether or not people should go up to the Priest for blessings during Communion, and so I wrote about the Eastern Mass where it's a very intimate experience for the individual. But the thing is that it is very relevant... we can't have an honest conversation about something if the moderators are going to shut down witness to something which is beautiful and good.

Superiority is prideful, and my post was never meant to imply superiority. It was more about being helpful to the one who wants to come home.

Ah, I think I remember the thread. Perhaps the moderator took your statement as an implicit criticism of the Roman Rite for not having the same custom except as an unapproved innovation, thus seeming to advocate the innovation. The fact that, if this was the thread I am thinking of, the person asking the question was someone in the midst of converting and clearly confused about the subject may have made the moderator more sensitive to the issue.

Just my guess. I would suggest moving on and trying to learn from the incident how posts can be taken in a sense other than what you intended.

[Julianah]

Originally Posted by Aelred Minor

Ah, I think I remember the thread. Perhaps the moderator took your statement as an implicit criticism of the Roman Rite for not having the same custom except as an unapproved innovation, thus seeming to advocate the innovation. The fact that, if this was the thread I am thinking of, the person asking the question was someone in the midst of converting and clearly confused about the subject may have made the moderator more sensitive to the issue.

Just my guess. I would suggest moving on and trying to learn from the incident how posts can be taken in a sense other than what you intended.

Hi Aelred,

Thank you for your thoughtful comments. I was pretty upset: this was a very hurtful experience for me and makes me wonder if this is a good place to trust people. I'm leaning toward "no", but I will talk to my husband about it. It's one thing to have some difficult discussions with folks in a fair setting, but quite another when a moderator bears false witness. That's abusive. I understand that someone can get overly sensitive about such things, but false witness is false witness, and it's unacceptable when someone abuses their authority to do so.

BTW, is your forum name to honor Aelred of Rievaulx? His book on Spiritual Friendship is one of my favourites... Have you read it?

Blessings,
Jules