A charitable complaint about the USCCB

So, I am going to do something I don’t usually do.  I’m going to complain about the USCCB.

But, unlike a lot of people that do this on the internet, I’m going to be respectful. 

The first thing I want to talk about, is the power to loose and bind.  While Peter was singled out by Jesus (which I talk about, here; Why I'm Catholic.

Before we get started, be sure to read this; Being Anti Ukraine is supporting evil

Understand, I am not saying you should go off on your bishop, for making bad decisions.  Or the USCCB for making bad decisions.

Having said that, Jesus tells his disciples; “Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.  Again, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my father in heaven.”

(Matthew 18:18-19).

So, I fully accept that our bishops fully have the authority to bind us to matters related to the faith and even doctrine. 

My issue is when a Holy Day of Obligation seems to be made up out of thin air.

Since I became Catholic on 31 May 2009, never once (that I know of), have I had to go to a Holy Day of Obligation the day after, because it fell on Sunday.  Since, generally, it’s just celebrated on that Sunday.

I’m just a little confused why we can move Ascension Thursday to a Sunday, but have to celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on the following day.

THAT said, my biggest criticism is that people who have to work on those days or go to school on those days, didn’t know enough in advance to schedule their day around it. 

Someone on here called for “fewer” Mass times (besides being hypercorrection, less is grammatically correct, not that I always trust grammar books.  Ending a sentence in a preposition is sometimes a requirement, thank you very much), and, not only do I think that’s a bad idea, I think we should have MORE.  Especially in a Protestant majority country like the United States. 

Having said that, I think we might need to have more priests, first, so I kind of get it from that perspective.

The fact of the matter is, because of things like this, have more Mass times becomes a necessity. 

Anyway, that’s my charitable rant.  I’m not sure how or why the USCCB decided this, but I did go to Mass on the 9th.

Because I respect my bishop’s authority, even when bishops make bad decisions. 

* All scripture quotes are from the Revised Standard Version Bible, Ignatius Edition, Copyright 2006, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America.

Adam Charles Hovey is the host of the weekly Bible study, Coffee and Christianity and is the founder of the Catholicism, news, and whatever community