World Cup Priest Suspended

The other day I put up a post about a Dutch Priest who turned the celebration of Mass into a celebration of Soccer. (Please God, Don't Let Something Like This Ever Happen Here!!!!!. )

Well, it turns out that Fr. Paul Vlaar who perpetrated this infamia has been suspended by his Bishop, Mgr. dr. Jozef M. Punt, for allowing it. Apparently this isn't the ist time he has done something like this. & the Bishop had given him fair warning to not do it again. Fr. Vlaar chose to disobey his Bishop after making a promise to obey his wishes on activities like this. & the Bishop responded to this disobedience by suspending the priest.

"On Sunday, July 11 Pastor Paul Vlaar has Obdam in the context of the World Cup the Holy Eucharist is celebrated in an orange chasuble and moreover with texts insufficient justice to the sanctity of the Eucharist. The images were received with indignation by believers at home and abroad.
Earlier, the bishop enjoined on the priest Vlaar not to mix the Holy Eucharist with secular events. The priest has said to fully endorse this and promised to abide it. The pastoral zeal and commitment of the pastor are also not in question.
Following this latest case, the bishop met again with pastor Vlaar immediatelyand he imposed a reflection period for the duration of that period of his priestly duties suspended. After completing this will be reconsidered." (rough translation of the official news release from the Catholic Archdiocese of Haarlem-Amsterdam)

It is refreshing to see a Bishop insist that the Mass be celebrated properly with proper reverence as well as using proper texts that get across the holiness of the Eucharist. Now if a few more Bishops here in the USA would take a lead from this Dutch Bishop.

Source: Confirmed: “World Cup Mass” pastor suspended