Hello again, good people of St. James!
 
I wrote last week about the cancel culture. My hope this week is that I haven’t since been canceled from your weekly reading. That’s because I’d like to expand very briefly on what I started.
 
Anyone familiar with the Church and its history can immediately respond to last week’s article by saying, “Wait! Wasn’t the Church a proponent of the cancel culture before it was cool?” Well, as the classic Catholic answer goes, yes and no.
 
No doubt we can point to figures or voices in the Church that have been swept right into the cancel culture. Think about some of the fringe elements of the Catholic world who have written off Pope Francis because he has spoken out about issues that have become political tinder (migration, ecology, unbridled capitalism). Or, if you prefer, think about those who labeled then-Pope Benedict XVI as an intransigent German Rottweiler who, as a former professor and Vatican official, cared for lofty principles (faith, hope, and love . . . as well as migration, ecology, and unbridled capitalism) more than people. Both narratives obviously reduce the person to a position or two—often with no critical thinking or analysis of the things the people have written or said. In that way, members of the Church show signs of being co-opted by the cancel culture.
 
But, you say, what about that infamous ‘E’ word that the Church through the centuries has loved to throw down on its opponents? Ah, yes, excommunication. With its process of excommunication didn’t the Church write the book on the cancel culture?
 
Let’s give a brief answer by going right to the sources of the early Church. Matthew’s great “Church order” discourse reveals that excommunication is indeed an option, but only the option of last resort. The first step to correcting someone is to do it in secret and without any fanfare or pomposity. If that doesn’t work, we are to take one or two others with us as a kind of mild intervention. If that doesn’t work, the faith community is to step in to try to win the person over—not destroy them or enact vengeance for past sins. If all these steps prove futile, only then can the person be treated “like a Gentile or tax collector” (i.e., as one who lives outside of communion—as ex-communicated).
 
With this passage in Matthew we must also recall the passage of Paul that says excommunication is still for the purpose of the person’s restoration, not for permanent retribution. Judging by the parable of the forgiving father, how could it be any other way?
 
History shows that the Church hasn’t always lived up to these quite radical expectations laid down by our Lord. Excommunication sometimes took the form of an impulsive ‘cancel’ more than a patient reform. But even the institutional Church has grown in this area and recognized its failure to act with divine mercy.
 
The question for us this week is, will we?

- Fr. Ryan

On Thursday we shared our monthly Good News Report. There are lots of exciting and great things happening at St. James Parish, St. James School and with our wonderful community. We are delighted to spread the good news! Read here.

Congratulations to the RCIA Confirmation Candidates!

Weekly Intentions and Remembrances

Please pray for our sick...
Martha Wrobel
 
Rose For Life
This week’s Rose for Life is donated by The Gomez Family in thanksgiving for the loving care of their daughter, Clarissa.
 
Baptisms
Anthony John Grabowy, child of John Grabowy and Amanda (Palisi) Grabowy
Samantha Anna Twardowski, child of Olivia Twardowski
Zeno Martin Burke, child of Kevin Burke and Jennifer (Fragale) Burke
 
Wedding Bans
August 1, 2020
Catherine Madden/Christopher Whelan
 
Remembrances
Saturday Evening/Sunday July 11/12 2020
Dana Mangi, James Coy, Linda Mackey, John Glueckert Sr., Ray Czajkowski
 
Monday, July 13th
Joanne Mangi, Gerardo Vigan, Ernesto Vigan Sr., Ryan Popp
 
Tuesday, July 14th
Vincent Villinski, Helen Bailitz and Helen Marie Bailitz, Louise Gehrke
 
Wednesday, July 15th
Lawrence Lehnis, Judy Martin, Fr. Eugene Faucher
 
Thursday, July 16th
^{Kevin James Houlihan, Robert Walberg,}
Friday, July 17th
Ronald James Ferres (1^st yr Anniv), Catherine Sabay, Meggan McDermott
 
Saturday, July 18th
Patricia Flood (1yr. Anniv), Jeffery Helminski
 
In Loving Memory
 
Louise Gehrke is survived by her children Cynthia L. Gehrke, Keith E. Gehrke and Dean R. Gehrke (Sandy Graham); her grandson Joe A. Gehrke as well as her niece Leila Denning.
 
Robert Fox is survived by his wife Virginia nee Wood; his children Elizabeth A. (Ray Schaeffer), Robert T., John J. (Kathleen), Joseph P., and Mary Lynn Fox; his grandchildren Timothy Lombardi, Ryan & Natalie Schaeffer, Kevin, Michael & Kelly Fox, and Megan & Sam Patton; and his brothers, John (Dorothy) and William (Marianne) Fox.

Rita Mueller mother of Diane Anderson, Kathleen Pacini, Marcy (David) Lockard, Mimi (George) Anderson, Fred (Colleen) Mueller, Christine (Steve) Blum and the late Richard (Patty) Mueller; grandmother of 19; great-grandmother of 19; aunt and cousin of many.
 
Christians celebrate the funeral rites to offer worship, praise, and thanksgiving to God for the gift of a life which has now returned to God, the author of life and the hope of the just.  The Mass, the memorial of Christ’s death and resurrection, is the principal celebration of the Christian funeral.  St. James encourages all our families to schedule a memorial Mass or funeral Mass when we are free to worship in our Church.  We want to pray for your beloved family member that has passed away and offer thanksgiving for the gift of life with the family.