Comments on: Monday – Labor Day, 2018 – Dignity for all

By: Christine Wheeler

Christine Wheeler — Tue, 04 Sep 2018 16:27:08 +0000

Thank you A. As an update to my experience, I quit my job as pastoral assistant shortly after I turned 60, I am now 71 and have been carrying this hurt for a very long time. After that experience I decided to take early retirement. It was tough financially, emotionally, and especially spiritually. I had been attending this church for 28 years. The sad part is that certain people in three other churches within a 15-20 minute drive are aware of what happened and are sympathetic, others literally don’t know what to believe. So I’ve stopped going to these churches as well. However, I have not lost my faith. I read the scriptures and these reflections every morning. I read religious books such as Jesus of Nazareth by Pope Benedict XVI. I’d like to quote something he wrote that gives me hope. He says “if you follow the will of God, you know that inspite of the terrible things that happen to you, you will never lose a final refuge. You know that the foundation of the world is love, so that even when no human being can or will help you, you may go on, trusting in the One who loves you. “

By: A

Tue, 04 Sep 2018 02:41:48 +0000

Christine, I’m so sorry that you had to go through this awful experience. Yes, this is why I choose not to get involved in parish life, since the background work has shown me the ugly, uncivil side of church work.

You not only lost your job, but your pastor, your parish. There was a reading from Jeremiah a few weeks ago about shepherds who don’t shepherd, and that has been the theme often lately. I will pray for you that you may have a steady source of income.

By: Christine Wheeler

Christine Wheeler — Mon, 03 Sep 2018 17:14:43 +0000

Sadly parish priests who wear two hats pastor and boss are not necessarily the best employers, especially if they are are not management trained. Briefly, when a new younger priest was appointed parish priest, three months in, he fired me and the secretary giving us three months notice – no reason for dismissal. He was giving us a difficult time hoping we would quit! The secretary and I were in our mid fifties. She left immediately. I on the other hand went to the bishop. The bishop told him he couldn’t fire me without cause. I got my job back, but he made my life miserable, I finally quit shortly after I turned 60. But I still attended Mass because that was also my parish. If I thought the behaviour would change, I was wrong. He got others involved and soon my reputation ruined. A month ago, I left the church even though he has been assigned to another parish, his deacon has kept up the harassment. If this sort of behaviour is happening in other Catholic parishes, and it is, then the Pope Leo is turning in his grave.