My Dear Parish Family:

Last Sunday, a man was outside of Church before and after the 9:30am and 11am Masses. He was handing out flyers to everyone who came into Church. Deacon Michael, some other parishioners, as well as myself asked him to move to the corner and not hand out his flyers directly in front of the Church. He refused! Actually, he was rude and unpleasant to all of us. I did call the 45th Precinct to ask if a car patrolling the area could stop by to move the man away from the front of the Church. Unfortunately, that did not happen.

Nonetheless, I am telling you this so that you will understand that I would not allow any political and civil advocacy group to bother you on the way into Church. I believe that you should be able to attend Church on Sundays without being confronted by others trying to promote their political or social agenda. In other words, I did not allow this person nor would I invite any group to give out flyers to you going into or out of Mass
on Sunday.

As you know, I do not speak about politics from the pulpit and do not promote one side of a neighborhood’s social issue. We certainly should be knowledgeable about political and social concerns confronting our community and country, but not from the pulpit! If this person returns today you are under no obligation to take his flyer, but are certainly welcome to take it if you so wish.

However, respectfully, please do not take a flyer and then leave it in Church because then I have the added task of picking up unwanted flyers.

The bottom line is that I did not invite this person to be in front of our parish Church on a Sunday. None of us should ever try to confront someone in front of the Church on our own.

If someone or something is happening in front of Church, kindly let myself, Fr. Dan or Deacon Michael know and we will take the proper steps to rectify the situation. I do not like confrontation, and I am guessing that none of us do, but I will protect the sanctity of the Church and always advocate for your right to an undisturbed, peaceful entrance into Sunday Mass. As always, I am willing to speak to anyone regarding this matter or any concern you have about St. Benedict’s Parish.

On a happier note, as I mentioned at Mass last Sunday, Msgr. Whalen, our former Pastor, has been named a Bishop by Pope Francis. We are so happy for him and for the Church in New York. I have sent him a note telling him that St. Benedict’s Parish is praying for him in a special way.

I invited him to come here soon after he is consecrated a Bishop to celebrate a Sunday Mass for us where we can celebrate together this great honor for him and the Church of New York. I will let you know when I hear back from Monsignor. He will be consecrated a Bishop in December at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Please continue to remember Bishop-elect Whalen in your prayers.

Until next week, peace and prayers! St. Benedict and Cardinal Cooke, Servant of God, pray for us!

Fr. Stephen P. Norton