Bad Fundraising Ideas?
  • expeditus1
    Posts: 483
    I saw this commentary and video posted on Rorate Caeli today:

    "A 'Circus Mass' featuring circus acts, a clarinet-playing main celebrant, and belly dancers (one of them with a snake around her body) celebrated on December 16, 2012 apparently as "fund-raising" (!) for Kinderhilfe Bethlehem, a non-profit relief organization helping the Caritas Baby Hospital in Bethlehem."
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzdBAX02KHE#t=250
  • Adam WoodAdam Wood
    Posts: 6,482
    and belly dancers (one of them with a snake around her body)

    2:51, for those of you who don't want to have to sit through the whole thing.

    Oh, and....

    (UN)HOLY CRAP WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED?
  • Adam WoodAdam Wood
    Posts: 6,482
    It was hard to see, but did anyone else notice the look of boredom/confusion/disgust on the faces of the two children conscripted into being altar servers?
  • melofluentmelofluent
    Posts: 4,160
    Dass war nicht "Gottesdienst." Vieleicht "Molochdienst." Was gibst mit die Kirche in Deutschland? Bitte, Herr, hilfen Sie uns am schnell.
  • expeditus1
    Posts: 483
    Moloch service, indeed, melo.
    Thanked by 1melofluent
  • expeditus1
    Posts: 483
    More backdrop on the video, from an article posted a couple weeks ago:
    http://www.traditioninaction.org/RevolutionPhotos/A544-Circus.htm
  • Adam WoodAdam Wood
    Posts: 6,482
    A few years ago I had an incredibly vivid dream in which I was to be an acolyte at a Solemn High Pontifical Mass in the Extraordinary Form. Among the many duties of the acolyte team in this dream-world was to form an acrobatic human-pyramid (while holding candles) during the proclamation of the Gospel.

    I hadn't thought about that dream in a while, until...

    image
    Thanked by 1expeditus1
  • chonakchonak
    Posts: 9,216
    I like the way the human pyramid reflects and complements the sculpture at the left (in the Paul VI Audience Hall).
    Thanked by 2Adam Wood ZacPB189
  • melofluentmelofluent
    Posts: 4,160
    Be afraid, be very afraid.
    Thanked by 2CharlesW CHGiffen
  • Kathy
    Posts: 5,509
    Not sure why RC focused on the snake. (Actually, I think I know why, but that's just silly.) I focused on the priest giving Communion to people seated at café tables with drinks on them.
    Thanked by 2expeditus1 ZacPB189
  • chonakchonak
    Posts: 9,216
    Well, the photos from the "service" show that there was a lot of interest in the snake.

    Apparently this event was held at the circus, when it was stationed near the cathedral in Solothurn; it was conducted by the official circus chaplain and the cathedral rector, who was vice-president of the charity.

    This is really a sad case: the point of the event seemed to be to provide entertainment for the donors, and that, by itself, seems harmless; but it's sad to see the sacred liturgy instrumentalized for a worldly purpose, to put a gloss of religion on the event.
    Thanked by 1expeditus1
  • MaryAnn Carr WilsonMaryAnn Carr Wilson
    Posts: 1,738
    Chonak- I thought the same thing about the pyramid and the sculpture.
  • Adam WoodAdam Wood
    Posts: 6,482
    I like the way the human pyramid reflects and complements the sculpture at the left (in the Paul VI Audience Hall).


    They are, clearly, about to engage in a dance battle against each other.
  • Kathy
    Posts: 5,509
    I'm sure everybody knows that the HP (human pyramid) took place during an audience rather than a Mass. It had something to do with morally supporting circus performers, who basically took over St. Peter's Square.
  • Kathy
    Posts: 5,509
    St. Peter's Circus Square
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