Father, your video is just as clever as the other you are responding to, but I must say I am shocked. First, I cannot find anything that says this young man was specifically talking about the Catholic Church - actually I believe he is referring to the fundamentalist churches we have heard from in Iowa and other upcoming primary states - so let us not get all defensive for this ONE young man with a video camera. What shocks me most is your suggestion that he does not read. I am not a fan of his video nor do I agree with him in any of his points, but how many young people do you think you will push away by mocking him and challenging his intelligence. Let us go out and meet young people who may be pondering this video and speak with them at their level. Support them but challenge them!
I do not understand your "shocked". If you do not see this is a way to "go out and meet young people who may be pondering this video and speak with them at their level." Support them but challenge them!...???
It does just that?
Your not just taking this opportunity to do some priest bashing...are you?
Eddie, I would invite you to read my post again with a little more consideration. I hope that folks reading this blog can participate in an actual discussion. I am expressing a concern and you are spinning this into priest bashing? If this is how we are going to function then no we are absolutely not going to be able to help guide our young people.
I am defensive because this one young man with a video camera has been seen by every student at my high school multiple times and he uses historical half-truths to attack "religion" of which Catholicism and Islam are by far and away the most prominent and "religious" of the religions out there. So while his video might be anti-other things as well, it is also anti-Catholic.
If someone made a video that publicly bashed your spouse, would you do all you could to come to his or her aid? So for those who think this video response is too much or inappropriate, it is important to realize that the church is Fr John's bride, and he did a glorious job defending her. And thank God for all men like him.
No, it is not a joke. As a priest I share in Christ's "groomhood." As a priest, I am asked to give everything I have to the Church, which is exactly what a groom does for his bride.
Where does it say in the Bible father,that we should not hate the church. It does say however to call no one father except the only Father in heaven. Where does it say in the Bible that one shoul be called Holy?
To the anonymous poster let me offer the following comments to your questions.
Q: "Where does it say in the bible that we should not hate the church?" A: You might first want to ask yourself 'where does it say in the bible that the bible is a do-it-yourself-salvation cookbook' that contains all that we know about God (esp. when it tells to 'cling to the traditions that you were taught by us (ed. authorized apostolic teachers), either by word of mouth or by our letter (ref. 2 Thes 2:15; also see John 21:25 of "many other things" Jesus did that are not written down) ?
The bible itself tells us that "The Church is the pillar and foundation of Truth" (1 Tim 3:15 ). The Great Commission was to TEACH ALL that Christ commanded (Mat 28:16-20) not to pass out bibles that few could even read for 1600 more years and let people try to figure it out for themselves and make all kind of the errors that St. Peter warned would happen by "the ignorant" who would distort scripture to their own destruction (2 Peter 3:16 ).
The bible also says to love your fellow man (both friend and enemy - not hate). Hating religion is the same thing as hating God's people who subscribe to it. After all The Church that Christ established on the rock of Peter (Mat 16:18) is made up of fellow humans (as well as the angels and saints in heaven).
As to your other question about "holiness" -- Christ in becoming man restores the image of God to a fallen and disfigured humanity. We are all obliged to see the dignity of Christ in the potential of every person - what Charity is all about (both love of God and neighbor - since Christ was both man and God and had bound Himself intractably to our humanity for all eternity). Charity can not be subdivided to just love "God" or to just love "man" since that would divide the image of Christ in his dual nature of God and man (new Adam no less). Therefor each person is to be considered sacred and holy when living in a right relationship with God and even afforded the same dignity of Christ. You might here recall this verse: "Be holy, because I am [ed. "I AM" is God] holy." (1 Peter 1:16; Leviticus 20:7).
Your creativity is obviously led by the Holy Spirit. Your Knowledge of history, current events and wisdom are somethings one can marvel at and learn from. You are fine priest.
Father Hollowell! You are a very multi talented Priest!! You have no clue how honored and lucky i feel to have you at Ritter. You have helped transform it into a truly wonderful place. You will definitely be in my stories to my children about people who truly represent Christ, and work their hardest to make sure everyone can see Christ as you do. Thank you so much.
I appreciate your response to the video. I also must admit to appreciating the original. Since I've left Indianapolis and Catholic schools, I've met a lot of people who claim a lot outwardly about faith and religion. I've come to find that my quiet faith does much more for me than anyone I've met who constantly discusses their faith and considers themselves greater than those who are not religious.
The more and more people I meet, the more I come to see that it's not about religion. When people can be respectful and considerate of one another, it says much more than those who constantly speak about the "religious things they do".
I like both videos. I like that this is a conversation people are willing to have. It's a good chance to discuss the right and wrong and to understand that there isn't only one right or one wrong. Taking it all for what it's worth and not digging too deeply, it's good that people are watching and talking.
Thanks for joining in on the conversation. As for the students, use it as a teachable moment. Social media and videos like this offer a great chance to learn.
Jaclyn, it doesn't have to be an 'all or nothing' proposition. Of course there are people who are all talk and no action - that dates back farther than the Pharisees who Jesus reprimanded. Faith is about both the internal and the external. Do you remember the Bible telling us to let them know you are Christians by your actions? Talking about faith without faithful actions is empty but so is internalizing faith and keeping it all to yourself. As Father so aptly says, we are all the Body of Christ. Don't worry about the hypocrites, Jesus knows who they are, just go about your faithful life and worship Him both internally and externally. How else will you proclaim the Gospel and help lead others onto the righteous path? Let us all pray for one another!
So show by YOUR ACTIONS now, Jaclyn D. Bevis You have all the catchphrases and slogans, all the inspirational quotes - this ONE TIME will you truly DO for someone in need ?? Simply keep your word
Thanks for posting this video Father! I knew this was going to be an outstanding response when you started with "Cue the gregorian chant." I always find it inspiring how you find new ways to spread the faith through facebook, twitter, and blogging. This video has been my favorite post yet! Just a quick question for you - Will you be posting this video on Youtube?
No, I'm just going to leave it on Vimeo - I tried to upload it to Youtube first, but it wasn't working for some reason, so I just put it on Vimeo instead. However, if putting it on Youtube would help you in some way, I can try it again - is there something Youtube lets you do that Vimeo doesn't?
Father, I think this video has the potential to go viral, which would do great things for all of Christ's people. I believe that Youtube would be a better platform to make that happen, so if you can get it on Youtube, that would be great! I've posted it to Facebook, as has my husband, and - I hope! - many others!!
Father- tried to find your email address but couldn't so I am leaving you a comment here. Someone sent me your response video to the anti-church "rapper" and i loved it! posted it on my blog. God bless you- awesome work that you do. You are in my prayers!
I found the original video on youtube and sent off a message to the young man that created it. I was surprised to get a reply. He became frustrated with all the people saying they were Christian, but living a life far from Jesus' teachings. The felt since they accepted Jesus as their Savior they could live as they wanted and still be accepted into the kingdom of Heaven. The original video has nothing to do with the Catholic Church. It's about the hypocrisy of SOME religious people.
Anonymous, I agree with you the video is about the hypocrisy of some religious people and the best we can do is pray for them all! The point of young man's video is being missed. I am a Catholic and have worked in the church for over 16 years I did not feel attacked while viewing this video and yes some of our teens had questions and we could work them out together. We need to remember Faith is not taught Faith is caught! The bottom line is having a relationship with Jesus and living by following Jesus and the commandments! It all comes down to LOVE. (gail)
An excellent video Fr., thank you for making it. Glad to find out that you blog too! You've gained a reader for your defense of the Truth. God Bless you, Phil
Bravo - love the idea of song as apologetica. The original rant was a classic Tower of Babel of egregious contradiction -- offing his own religion and 20 something year old sage wisdom over the 2,000 year old apostolic wisdom of The Church that Christ established as a cure for "religion" (God preserve us!). Some just can't see that when Christ told to to TEACH all nations ALL that I commanded you - that IS a notion of orthodoxy - RELIGION.
I'm catholic and I do believe in Jesus and I love my religion but some of the things he is saying are true. Such as if Jesus showed up to the door of your your church would you let him in. Most of us look down on the homeless and poor and that's what Jesus was. Secondly we mask ourselfs with our religion. Just because your catholic doesn't mean your a good person. I bet if you went to any catholic high school and asked them if they went to church on Sunday 50% would say yes and then if you asked them if they drank or partied the night before 80% would yes. I am not agreeing with all he is saying but who is to say he isn't right we are all so closed minded that maybe if we opened our minds up to what others think of our religion we could help them more to understand it. Videos like this are made because of ignorance if we would just listen to it and help explain our views then these videos wouldn't even be made
Well put. This goes for all denominations and evangelicals. In all walks, people go to church but their lives don't reflect what they profess that they believe. They don't read their Bibles to have the Word to guide their lives and to teach what Jesus taught. It is sad that "catholics" have taken so offense to this video ... it seems more than others ...
Wonderful video Father. I hope this helps refute the "Church turns away the hungry and homeless" garbage. I invite these vipers to spend a day at the Cathedral or St. John.'s in Indianapolis and see what the Catholic Church really does for the homeless.
I know the "young man's" video was NOT meant to be anti-catholic. His intent was to bring out those who practice "religion" with no heart for God or what God has called us to do in the world. There are those people .... in ALL denominations. They are people who go to church and leave church and their hearts and lives reflect something else. They are the people who do not apply the Bible to their lives. This young man is a friend of a friend and I know that his intent was not to bash "religion", per se ... but "religion" without the heart of God at the center.
And see, that's the problem - I've got no problem with trying to call people back to God; we're all called to that. The problem is that in your comments and his it is as if that line is black and white. All people have hypocrisy in them and are called to drive that out and to get out of God's way to let Him drive that hypocrisy out of us.
There are ideas in the video that are anti-Catholic, and he may not have meant it, but it is a reality. I can "not mean to offend" but it doesn't really matter to the hearer what my intentions were. If he didn't mean to attack all people who practice religion, he should have said that.
I'm pretty unclear how someone can say "what if I told you Jesus came to abolish religion" could actually mean to simply be talking to hypocritical religious people. If that were his intent, he should have said "what if I told you Jesus came to call hypocrites to conversion" but that isn't his leading line, nor was it his thesis. Every kid that has seen the video certainly understands what his thesis was, even if he doesn't understand it himself.
And his thesis was not the catholic church. It is not the only "religion". He is erroneous to say that "Jesus came to abolish religion". That is wrong. Jesus practiced religion in the Bible. James calls religion, practiced correctly, honors God. "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. James 1:26-27 To attempt to say that the catholic church is the target is erroneous. Religion is practiced by Catholics, Lutherans, Baptists and even evangelicals. And, yes, all of those have their hypocrites. I am not praising all parts of this video. It has produced some healthy discussions, especially among our youth. I can only hope that their discussions are honoring God (as are ours) and that it leads us to a better understanding of God's calling for our lives and what the Bible teaches us ... in and out our churches. Blessings!
Can you blame anyone however for thinking that the original video is a slight to Catholicism? Usually when people are speaking of organized religion they have Catholicism in mind. In the mainstream mind, Catholicism is the epitome of a "corrupt" organized religion. This priest's video is bold and wonderful! he does right to point out the error of associating "religion" with "bad".
AWESOME!!!!
ReplyDeletePadre, your video has to go viral. Thank you for your inspiration. God bless you.
DeleteThanks Nick!
DeleteI LOVE it!!!!!!! FANTASTIC!!!
ReplyDeleteAgena, thanks for the love!
DeleteThis is just great. Thanks for using your talents to the fullest to help everyone else.
ReplyDeletemy pleasure - it has helped answer a lot of questions that the young people at the high school I've been stationed at have been asking.
DeleteFather, your video is just as clever as the other you are responding to, but I must say I am shocked. First, I cannot find anything that says this young man was specifically talking about the Catholic Church - actually I believe he is referring to the fundamentalist churches we have heard from in Iowa and other upcoming primary states - so let us not get all defensive for this ONE young man with a video camera.
ReplyDeleteWhat shocks me most is your suggestion that he does not read. I am not a fan of his video nor do I agree with him in any of his points, but how many young people do you think you will push away by mocking him and challenging his intelligence. Let us go out and meet young people who may be pondering this video and speak with them at their level. Support them but challenge them!
Dear "Anonymous"
DeleteI do not understand your "shocked". If you do not see this is a way to "go out and meet young people who may be pondering this video and speak with them at their level." Support them but challenge them!...???
It does just that?
Your not just taking this opportunity to do some priest bashing...are you?
Eddie Guanajuato
Eddie,
DeleteI would invite you to read my post again with a little more consideration.
I hope that folks reading this blog can participate in an actual discussion. I am expressing a concern and you are spinning this into priest bashing? If this is how we are going to function then no we are absolutely not going to be able to help guide our young people.
I am defensive because this one young man with a video camera has been seen by every student at my high school multiple times and he uses historical half-truths to attack "religion" of which Catholicism and Islam are by far and away the most prominent and "religious" of the religions out there. So while his video might be anti-other things as well, it is also anti-Catholic.
DeleteIf someone made a video that publicly bashed your spouse, would you do all you could to come to his or her aid? So for those who think this video response is too much or inappropriate, it is important to realize that the church is Fr John's bride, and he did a glorious job defending her. And thank God for all men like him.
Delete"...the church is Fr John's bride,"
DeleteWas that a joke? The church is CHRIST'S Bride.
No, it is not a joke. As a priest I share in Christ's "groomhood." As a priest, I am asked to give everything I have to the Church, which is exactly what a groom does for his bride.
DeleteWhere does it say in the Bible father,that we should not hate the church. It does say however to call no one father except the only Father in heaven. Where does it say in the Bible that one shoul be called Holy?
DeleteRomans 9:10 - St. Paul says "our father Isaac" Is St. Paul going to hell?
DeleteSecondly, what do protestants call their biological fathers?
To the anonymous poster let me offer the following comments to your questions.
DeleteQ: "Where does it say in the bible that we should not hate the church?"
A: You might first want to ask yourself 'where does it say in the bible that the bible is a do-it-yourself-salvation cookbook' that contains all that we know about God (esp. when it tells to 'cling to the traditions that you were taught by us (ed. authorized apostolic teachers), either by word of mouth or by our letter (ref. 2 Thes 2:15; also see John 21:25 of "many other things" Jesus did that are not written down) ?
The bible itself tells us that "The Church is the pillar and foundation of Truth" (1 Tim 3:15 ). The Great Commission was to TEACH ALL that Christ commanded (Mat 28:16-20) not to pass out bibles that few could even read for 1600 more years and let people try to figure it out for themselves and make all kind of the errors that St. Peter warned would happen by "the ignorant" who would distort scripture to their own destruction (2 Peter 3:16 ).
The bible also says to love your fellow man (both friend and enemy - not hate). Hating religion is the same thing as hating God's people who subscribe to it. After all The Church that Christ established on the rock of Peter (Mat 16:18) is made up of fellow humans (as well as the angels and saints in heaven).
As to your other question about "holiness" -- Christ in becoming man restores the image of God to a fallen and disfigured humanity. We are all obliged to see the dignity of Christ in the potential of every person - what Charity is all about (both love of God and neighbor - since Christ was both man and God and had bound Himself intractably to our humanity for all eternity). Charity can not be subdivided to just love "God" or to just love "man" since that would divide the image of Christ in his dual nature of God and man (new Adam no less). Therefor each person is to be considered sacred and holy when living in a right relationship with God and even afforded the same dignity of Christ. You might here recall this verse: "Be holy, because I am [ed. "I AM" is God] holy." (1 Peter 1:16; Leviticus 20:7).
Pax
Your creativity is obviously led by the Holy Spirit. Your Knowledge of history, current events and wisdom are somethings one can marvel at and learn from. You are fine priest.
ReplyDeleteThanks Eddie - so is your creativity!
DeleteThat was fantastic, Father. Thanks for being there for us!
ReplyDeleteFather Hollowell! You are a very multi talented Priest!! You have no clue how honored and lucky i feel to have you at Ritter. You have helped transform it into a truly wonderful place. You will definitely be in my stories to my children about people who truly represent Christ, and work their hardest to make sure everyone can see Christ as you do. Thank you so much.
ReplyDeleteThanks a bunch Tad. I look forward to our Tuesday morning talk!
DeleteKathy and Tad - thanks a lot for the kind words!
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your response to the video. I also must admit to appreciating the original. Since I've left Indianapolis and Catholic schools, I've met a lot of people who claim a lot outwardly about faith and religion. I've come to find that my quiet faith does much more for me than anyone I've met who constantly discusses their faith and considers themselves greater than those who are not religious.
ReplyDeleteThe more and more people I meet, the more I come to see that it's not about religion. When people can be respectful and considerate of one another, it says much more than those who constantly speak about the "religious things they do".
I like both videos. I like that this is a conversation people are willing to have. It's a good chance to discuss the right and wrong and to understand that there isn't only one right or one wrong. Taking it all for what it's worth and not digging too deeply, it's good that people are watching and talking.
Thanks for joining in on the conversation. As for the students, use it as a teachable moment. Social media and videos like this offer a great chance to learn.
Jaclyn, it doesn't have to be an 'all or nothing' proposition. Of course there are people who are all talk and no action - that dates back farther than the Pharisees who Jesus reprimanded. Faith is about both the internal and the external. Do you remember the Bible telling us to let them know you are Christians by your actions? Talking about faith without faithful actions is empty but so is internalizing faith and keeping it all to yourself. As Father so aptly says, we are all the Body of Christ. Don't worry about the hypocrites, Jesus knows who they are, just go about your faithful life and worship Him both internally and externally. How else will you proclaim the Gospel and help lead others onto the righteous path? Let us all pray for one another!
DeleteBirgit, I agree with you. I appreciate the conversation that the original video created about the different types of people, faiths, religions, etc.
DeleteIt is my hope that people continue the conversation and the challenge to one another to show their faith and beliefs simply by their actions.
So show by YOUR ACTIONS now, Jaclyn D. Bevis
DeleteYou have all the catchphrases and slogans, all the inspirational quotes - this ONE TIME will you truly DO for someone in need ??
Simply keep your word
Thanks for posting this video Father! I knew this was going to be an outstanding response when you started with "Cue the gregorian chant." I always find it inspiring how you find new ways to spread the faith through facebook, twitter, and blogging. This video has been my favorite post yet! Just a quick question for you - Will you be posting this video on Youtube?
ReplyDeleteThanks Father!!
No, I'm just going to leave it on Vimeo - I tried to upload it to Youtube first, but it wasn't working for some reason, so I just put it on Vimeo instead. However, if putting it on Youtube would help you in some way, I can try it again - is there something Youtube lets you do that Vimeo doesn't?
DeleteBy the way - hope all is well!
Father, I think this video has the potential to go viral, which would do great things for all of Christ's people. I believe that Youtube would be a better platform to make that happen, so if you can get it on Youtube, that would be great! I've posted it to Facebook, as has my husband, and - I hope! - many others!!
DeleteFather Hollwell, at which seminary did you study?
DeleteHave a blessed day.
I studied for a semester at the NAC in Rome and for about 5 years at St. Meinrad in southern Indiana.
DeleteWonderful delivery, Father and thank you for taking the time to respond.
ReplyDeleteGlad to have found your blog and what you write in your ABOUT ME on embracing Catholic social media is exciting. I am adding you to my blog list.
I really loved this and am sharing it with friends and family. God bless you, Father!
ReplyDeleteAwesome job Father!
ReplyDeleteFather- tried to find your email address but couldn't so I am leaving you a comment here. Someone sent me your response video to the anti-church "rapper" and i loved it! posted it on my blog. God bless you- awesome work that you do. You are in my prayers!
ReplyDeleteSr. Miriam - thanks for the response! Blessings in your ministry!
ReplyDeletehaha Father i love this! you have got to show this to the entire school!
ReplyDeleteI found the original video on youtube and sent off a message to the young man that created it. I was surprised to get a reply. He became frustrated with all the people saying they were Christian, but living a life far from Jesus' teachings. The felt since they accepted Jesus as their Savior they could live as they wanted and still be accepted into the kingdom of Heaven. The original video has nothing to do with the Catholic Church. It's about the hypocrisy of SOME religious people.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, I agree with you the video is about the hypocrisy of some religious people and the best we can do is pray for them all! The point of young man's video is being missed. I am a Catholic and have worked in the church for over 16 years I did not feel attacked while viewing this video and yes some of our teens had questions and we could work them out together. We need to remember Faith is not taught Faith is caught! The bottom line is having a relationship with Jesus and living by following Jesus and the commandments! It all comes down to LOVE. (gail)
DeleteAn excellent video Fr., thank you for making it. Glad to find out that you blog too! You've gained a reader for your defense of the Truth. God Bless you,
ReplyDeletePhil
Bravo - love the idea of song as apologetica. The original rant was a classic Tower of Babel of egregious contradiction -- offing his own religion and 20 something year old sage wisdom over the 2,000 year old apostolic wisdom of The Church that Christ established as a cure for "religion" (God preserve us!). Some just can't see that when Christ told to to TEACH all nations ALL that I commanded you - that IS a notion of orthodoxy - RELIGION.
ReplyDeleteI'm catholic and I do believe in Jesus and I love my religion but some of the things he is saying are true. Such as if Jesus showed up to the door of your your church would you let him in. Most of us look down on the homeless and poor and that's what Jesus was. Secondly we mask ourselfs with our religion. Just because your catholic doesn't mean your a good person. I bet if you went to any catholic high school and asked them if they went to church on Sunday 50% would say yes and then if you asked them if they drank or partied the night before 80% would yes. I am not agreeing with all he is saying but who is to say he isn't right we are all so closed minded that maybe if we opened our minds up to what others think of our religion we could help them more to understand it. Videos like this are made because of ignorance if we would just listen to it and help explain our views then these videos wouldn't even be made
ReplyDeleteWell put. This goes for all denominations and evangelicals. In all walks, people go to church but their lives don't reflect what they profess that they believe. They don't read their Bibles to have the Word to guide their lives and to teach what Jesus taught. It is sad that "catholics" have taken so offense to this video ... it seems more than others ...
DeleteWonderful video Father. I hope this helps refute the "Church turns away the hungry and homeless" garbage. I invite these vipers to spend a day at the Cathedral or St. John.'s in Indianapolis and see what the Catholic Church really does for the homeless.
ReplyDeleteKilgore
I know the "young man's" video was NOT meant to be anti-catholic. His intent was to bring out those who practice "religion" with no heart for God or what God has called us to do in the world. There are those people .... in ALL denominations. They are people who go to church and leave church and their hearts and lives reflect something else. They are the people who do not apply the Bible to their lives. This young man is a friend of a friend and I know that his intent was not to bash "religion", per se ... but "religion" without the heart of God at the center.
ReplyDeleteAnd see, that's the problem - I've got no problem with trying to call people back to God; we're all called to that. The problem is that in your comments and his it is as if that line is black and white. All people have hypocrisy in them and are called to drive that out and to get out of God's way to let Him drive that hypocrisy out of us.
DeleteThere are ideas in the video that are anti-Catholic, and he may not have meant it, but it is a reality. I can "not mean to offend" but it doesn't really matter to the hearer what my intentions were. If he didn't mean to attack all people who practice religion, he should have said that.
I'm pretty unclear how someone can say "what if I told you Jesus came to abolish religion" could actually mean to simply be talking to hypocritical religious people. If that were his intent, he should have said "what if I told you Jesus came to call hypocrites to conversion" but that isn't his leading line, nor was it his thesis. Every kid that has seen the video certainly understands what his thesis was, even if he doesn't understand it himself.
And his thesis was not the catholic church. It is not the only "religion". He is erroneous to say that "Jesus came to abolish religion". That is wrong. Jesus practiced religion in the Bible. James calls religion, practiced correctly, honors God. "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
ReplyDeleteJames 1:26-27
To attempt to say that the catholic church is the target is erroneous. Religion is practiced by Catholics, Lutherans, Baptists and even evangelicals. And, yes, all of those have their hypocrites. I am not praising all parts of this video. It has produced some healthy discussions, especially among our youth. I can only hope that their discussions are honoring God (as are ours) and that it leads us to a better understanding of God's calling for our lives and what the Bible teaches us ... in and out our churches. Blessings!
favorite part: "cue the gregorian chant."
ReplyDeletewell done, sir.
Ms. Wesling - thanks for the props! When I break into the ranks of the all-time great rappers, I'll sign you as one of my song writers!
DeleteCan you blame anyone however for thinking that the original video is a slight to Catholicism? Usually when people are speaking of organized religion they have Catholicism in mind. In the mainstream mind, Catholicism is the epitome of a "corrupt" organized religion. This priest's video is bold and wonderful! he does right to point out the error of associating "religion" with "bad".
ReplyDelete