‘Commotion Along With the Devotion’

In response to Chuck Singleton’s “For Blacks, Worship Calls for Commotion Along With the Devotion,” Op-Ed Page, July 20:

The schism over Father George A. Stallings of Washington, D.C., has little to do with “the clash of cultures and the test of theologies” that Singleton cites. Rather it has to do with the training of able priests who can conduct a good liturgy. The Gospel black-inspired liturgy is truly alive. The majority of parishes that I have attended cannot be described as such. As a Catholic who attends Mass regularly, nothing bothers me more than a wandering homilist, bumbling ritual, and an inept choir. God demands more. I demand more.

The person of the priest, as the shepherd of the flock, is God’s instrument of vitality. If the priest is not life-giving, then it is much harder for his flock to be life-giving. Sadly, the dark interiors of many churches match the dark interiors of many parish shepherds. Why? The seminaries, which form these priestly leaders, have neglected to perform their sacred task.

A dull seminary will turn out dull priests who in turn spread their gospel of dullness to the faithful. A priest without at least a mild appreciation for elocution, beautiful ritual, in short aesthetics, spells disaster. This is why so many are moving toward other denominations. We all want liturgies which have a vitality. This same vitality transcends both culture and theology.

SHAUN DI ANDRE STRONG

Camarillo