This is actually a priest in the Diocese of Orange, Fr. Matt Munoz. Besides being the grandson of the late actor, John Wayne, he is known for his rather distinctive look that he has had for a long time, probably ever since his ordination in 2002.
When my son was about 4, he saw him at a Mass and, sure enough, grabbed my arm and said, "Mom - it's Jesus!" A lot of parents have the same story with their kids here.
He's a good friend of my husband's uncle, Fr. Paul Griesgraber, in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. I gotta send Paul this picture.
Sunday, October 03, 2010
Charlie Don't Surf But Jesus Does
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
6 comments:
In this order:
1. God
2. Family
3. Country
4. John Wayne
I'm sorry, but a priest who goes around looking like a stoned hippie elicits little respect for himself or for the Church and God he serves. He may be a fine priest - I don't know him - but appearances do matter; if he was willing to take on the dignity of the priesthood, he should dress (and cut his hair for) the part. I would never seek spiritual guidance from a priest who looked like that; the long hair and surfing would make me expect him to dole out new-agey crap instead of honest, orthodox teaching. And don't tell me that we should seek to understand and look beyond the outer shell, etc. - that's true about people who are still finding their way (i.e. we should seek to see God in homeless people, no matter how dirty and ragged they might be), but a priest should know (and do) better.
I know what you mean, Lina. People have to look the part to be the part. A good example is when I am hiring a new paralegal - anything less than model perfect just doesn't make the cut, you know? I mean, my idea of a "Gal Friday", so to speak, is young and perky, and if I'm paying her salary (huh, men need not even apply since I doubt they can whip together a pleading as fast), I think I am justified in demanding certain specifications.
Oh, and I hate, simply hate, sitting next to fat people at church. Because chances are they have sweaty palms that I'll have to touch at the Sign of the Peace.
Yes, it's a cross that you and I have to bear, Lina, when people don't meet our expectations, but thank goodness we have the honest, orthodox teaching of the Church to affirm them and justify our premises.
And I hate
I was expecting a response along those lines.
Of course you'd assume that because I expect priests to actually comport themselves with some signs of the dignity of their roles in life, I must despise fat people or anyone with any sort of unfortunate looks. I couldn't possibly tell the difference, orthodox and narrow-minded Catholic that I am. I'm going to go stick my fingers down my throat now just to keep my job as a paralegal - thanks for the reminder!
So tell me - when you worked in an office outside the home, did you show up with sleep-matted hair and dressed in ratty sweats? I mean, why not? It's all cool, right? What you wear and do with your hair doesn't affect how your brain works, so why should anyone care? Darned snobs...
Well, now, see? At least I met your expectations with my response.
A common joke in the South, Lina, is to tag on the phrase "bless his/her heart" after you say something awful about the person, as if to convince your listener that the milk of human kindness still flows within you. "Well, he goes to church but I happen to know he likes to dress up in women's lingerie and read smut and Marxist literature . . . bless his heart." I was reminded of that with the statement, "He may be a fine priest . . . but . . ."
This picture was taken at an event at the beach. Had you done a little research, you would have seen that prior to the paddle-out, Fr. Munoz was dressed in an alb and stole (his wetsuit was underneath) and had his hair, which was clean, neatly pulled back. He surfs, as do may other priests of both orthodox and liberal mindsets, because these guys grew up in Southern California and surfed from childhood - is that something they are supposed to give up with ordination, as an activity unbecoming to a priest? The wetsuit is needed as the waters of the Pacific are cold off the coast, and is a common sight at the beach.
Now, if Fr. Matt wore such an outfit when he was saying Mass, indeed it would be inappropriate. But he wasn't, he was about to head out into the surf, and that's where your comments become just silly. Whether someone looks appropriate is dependent on the situation.
But I don't think that's really your beef - you just don't like a bearded priest with long hair in a snug wetsuit, and based on that alone, immediately write him off with "I would never (emphasis added) seek spiritual guidance from a priest who looked like that." I guess you wouldn't even shake his hand at the back of the church after Mass.
Okay, I lied. It's not a priest. He's a oncologist. Does that make a difference?
Pssst...grab the Rabbi, Lina ain't gonna take to him much, I don't think.
Post a Comment