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Thread: Continuing problems with pastor from previous church

  1. #1
    Senior Member Tradd's Avatar
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    Continuing problems with pastor from previous church

    Folks who’ve been here a long time may remember the issues I had with the priest (Orthodox) from my previous parish which caused me to leave the parish in early 2008. Not long after, he tried taking me down online, even going so far as to try to get me in trouble with the regional Orthodox group I was involved with. He was a women stay at home right from the beginning of marriage, have many babies, homeschool only type. I was an outspoken single woman which he didn’t like.

    Anyway, I’ve been much happier at current parish. I have had no contact at all with priest from previous parish. I barely have contact with anyone who attends that church. I found out recently from a friend that used to go there that that priest is talking about how I’ve fallen and need to be reformed since I’m gone from church in the summer when I’m scuba diving. I hate gossip!

    Anyway, a young woman from my current parish is marrying a guy from the old parish - where the troublesome priest still is. Wedding is this summer at my current parish. The troublesome priest will be doing the wedding with my priest. Normally, I’d be singing, but that means missing diving. I was also asked to do one of the readings at the wedding. I politely declined, saying I was taking a lot of trips this summer. When I was asked, they didn’t have a firm date.

    The real reason I’m skipping this wedding is that I don’t want to be anywhere near the old priest. The family doesn’t know that and they don’t need to. I did warn the bride’s parents that when I was at the other parish, the priest had no issues getting very political (very conservative) about issues like gay marriage during wedding sermons. That has no place and a lot of guests always got upset. I don’t know if he’s like that now, but I felt I had to at least warn them, and they do what they like with the information. Sad situation, but keeping myself away from the wedding is the best thing for me to do.

  2. #2
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    Isn't this gossip?

  3. #3
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    I understand where this is coming from. Religious abuse is rampant, and I went through it in the 80s and 90s. A simple decision like skipping a wedding can consume vast amounts of one’s thoughts leading up to the occasion. It’s all about religious guilt and cult-like control over a persons entire being.

    You’re making the right decision. Stick with it.

  4. #4
    Senior Member JaneV2.0's Avatar
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    Nature is the quickest route to the spiritual, IMO.
    Send a particularly nice card/gift to the couple involved, and enjoy your dives guilt-free.

  5. #5
    Senior Member Tradd's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ToomuchStuff View Post
    Isn't this gossip?
    What - me warning the parents how the priest acted during sermons when I was in that parish? If I did nothing, and he got all political during the sermon, I would have felt bad about it. I told the parents that I don’t know how he is now, but this is what he did 10 years ago. Priest is a loose cannon and no one reins him in.

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    Good move, Tradd. No need to commit to going and decline it guilt free.

  7. #7
    Senior Member Teacher Terry's Avatar
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    A minister once said he would prefer someone be on their boat thinking about church than to be in church thinking about being on their boat.

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    I think you handled the wedding very well. And, as for the priest, he needs to tend his OWN garden.

  9. #9
    Senior Member beckyliz's Avatar
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    I remember your problems with him. I agree with your warning the bride's family and your decision to steer clear. Enjoy your dive!
    "Do not accumulate for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal. But accumulate for yourselves treasure in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, your heart is also." Jesus

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tradd View Post
    What - me warning the parents how the priest acted during sermons when I was in that parish?
    No, telling us: talk of a personal, sensational, nature The part of the definition of gossip that fits?

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