Cur

"Church can have a tendency to feel rigid and frigid to people," he says. That dissolves when he walks into Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Mission, Texas, with his mutt pack trailing behind his robes. The dogs sometimes veer off from the processional to prowl the pews, greeting favorite people, but during Mass they generally lie quietly at the altar (though one has taken to curling up in the celebrant's chair, so Sikes has to perch on its edge).

He's so convinced of the power of the animals that when a newcomer complains (rarely), he says gently, "If you want to look for a church that doesn't have dogs, I'm sure you'll find one." He reminds them Jesus was born surrounded by animals. "In this dehumanized era, I believe dogs are the angels that will keep us human."

So, Fr. Snipes likes to dress up his dogs in vestments - I can only presume he has them in the proper liturgical color - and have them present in the Sanctuary during Mass?

Okay.  Say, Father, when you receive a summons for jury duty, do you show up at the courthouse with your dogs in Roman collars?  Because surely celebrating Holy Eucharist is more important than appearing before a coirt of law, isn't it?

My friend, the ever-snarky Crescat, noted that although Jesus was born in a stable surrounded by animals, He chose to celebrate the Last Supper in a proper environment.

But to turn away people from his church for the sake of his dogs?  I guess if you have an allergy, or a fear of dogs, you're not welcome.  Fr. Snipes' "children" come first.

I hope Bishop Flores of the Diocese of Brownsville doesn't expect reverence from his people when they come to Mass.  Because evidently he doesn't for his priests to allow this to continue.

There is a time and place for everything.  I have advised my clients to come dressed to court showing respect and deference to the bench - this priest, in my opinion, fails to show even that to his Lord.