Catholic News Agency brings us the story of the excommunication of LifeTeen founder Msgr. Dale Fushek The story describes his services thus (my emphasis):
Their meetings regularly draw 250 to 300 people. The priests’ 90-minute services begin at 10 am each Sunday and feature much music but do not include sacraments. Reportedly, the priests have repeatedly said their services are not to be considered “Catholic” in any way.
“They always claim that they are not doing something in opposition to any denomination, but they are always holding their worship services at a time that coincides with a lot of Catholic Masses.” Jim Dwyer, a Diocese of Phoenix spokesman, told the East Valley Tribune.
The East Valley Tribune quoted two attendees of Monsignor Fushek’s service who also attend Catholic Mass.
“I go to Mass for my sacraments, and I go to Praise and Worship for my Christian fulfillment,” Stan Nicpon said, adding that it has a “good community feeling.”
Some have noted that when you remove the Sacraments, people try to fill the hole with a glittery but inadequet substitute–music in this case. I’d say not only is it a poor substitute, but trivial and trivializing pop-music with a veneer of sentimental Christian lyrics is a genuine wedge. It’s not complimenting liturgy, it’s replacing it. And once it’s in, the acceptable lyrics that allowed it to sneak in under radar can melt away and morph into the Same Old Crap.
Thanks for this post!