Get the Connection

I'm currently having philosophical disagreement with the priest at my church. For months, he has refused to extend the kiss of peace so that the congregation can wish one another peace. He cited the Bridgeport diocesan direction that the kiss of peace be suspended due to swine flu. I complained to the bishop as well via email - which was, not surprisingly, ignored.

The aggravation level grows after each mass - where families furtively wish one another peace as the priest moves on to Lamb of God and I defiantly turn to anyone near me and verbally wish them peace. I've had two conversations with Fr. Gil, expressing my outrage over this. First, swine flu is not the threat it's been made out to be -- and second, the communal wish of peace is as integral to the mass as any other Eucharistic ritual in my opinion. So we're at an impasse right now - he asked me to let him get through Easter and then "he'd see."

So I struggle each time but I still find myself walking through the door on Sundays, finding a reason to go.

After reading this article comparing coverage of Benedict's role in a sex abuse case to the persecution of the Jews, I'm running out of reasons.