This story inspired another post of mine from yesterday. It is a real issue however, don't you agree? But is it really so difficult to solve? I don't think so. If the company will not change it's policy, just don't go on a cruise, and if you must, simply choose a cruise line that provides a Catholic chaplain.
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The original story from the Catholic League:
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Ten days before Christmas, we learned that Celebrity Cruises had just announced that beginning in 2010, it would no longer have priests on board to celebrate daily and Sunday Masses. We immediately followed up by questioning the cruise line about its new policy. Just this week we received a reply that said, “Out of respect for our guests of all religious faiths, Celebrity has chosen to align the religious services provided for Catholic, Protestant, Jewish and Interdenominational faiths effective January 4, 2010.” It added that religious services would be provided for “the major High Holy Holidays of each respective faith.”
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What this statement failed to note is the reason for the new policy. The following is an excerpt from the letter it sent to Catholic priests affected by the change in policy: “While we do meet the needs of many guests onboard by supplying a priest, we have recently encountered a great deal of negative feedback pertaining to the ‘selective’ support of one particular religion/faith. After many internal discussions, external research, and marketing investigations, Celebrity Cruises will only place Roman Catholic Priests on sailings that take place over the Easter and Christmas holiday.”
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In other words, because some anti-Catholics objected to daily Mass onboard the ship, Celebrity Cruises threw the priests—and the lay Catholic men and women with them—overboard. Instead of standing on principle and telling those generating the “negative feedback” that no one is forced to go to Mass, and that tolerance demands respect for religious freedom, officials at Celebrity Cruises decided to yield to the bigots.
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The Catholic League advises all Catholics to shop around the next time they plan to take a cruise, but not to waste their time checking out Celebrity Cruises. - Source
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Scary. Harbinger of things to come...
ReplyDeleteSince we don't have the money to go on a cruise, I can tell myself that we didn't really want to anyway, if that's the way they're going to be. I'm sure that bigotry did have something to do with it; however I do see some parellels to "big business" behavior we have experienced over the years. During a recession they tend to eliminate all positions they consider non-essential. Chaplains travel free on most cruise ships; some of them get paid. Celebrity is being cheap and trying to look like it is honoring a customer complaint. The bottom line is the only thing they understand; if all their Catholic customers bail on them, they may find that chaplains aren't as non-essential as they thought.
ReplyDeleteMelody, I agree with you. Bill Donahue is too quick to claim "anti-Catholic bigotry" (in this context, as well as all others), IMO.
ReplyDeleteStill, it is a shame, even though I wouldn't be caught dead on one of their cruises anyway.
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ReplyDeleteRobin,
ReplyDeleteGiven the letter that Celebrity Cruise sent out, they are maintaining that it was because of complaints, not the bottom line, that motivated their decision. Now, Melody may be 100% correct, but you can't fault Bill Donahue for taking them at their word.
Since we don't have the money for a cruise, it is with great ease and lofty manner that I can truthfully proclaim, "We will NOT sail with Celebrity Cruises!"
I would never go on a cruise anyway.
ReplyDeleteTaking a cruise has never been on my list of things to do, ever.
ReplyDeleteThe thought of being cooped on a ship for days and days makes me break out in hives.
I never even knew they had priests and such on cruises...
I've always wanted to go on a cruise. One of these days I might make it but it won't be on Celebrity.
ReplyDeleteI would never cruise anyway, but it's worth noting that Royal Caribbean just gave a crappile of money to Food for the Poor's Haiti Relief Fund.
ReplyDeleteDo ya think I could raise $50, 000.00 to put in a stinkin' electrical system and heating system in the priory we are supposed to live in one day (just got the estimates...oy, vey!).
ReplyDeleteI'd be willing to "prostitute" myself just to get the money to get into a real priory...is that a sin?
Comments, anyone?
A cruise would be just the ever livin' crucifixion of this poor padre...but I'd do it for my "chillen"...they need a place to live, ya know?
Maybe a donate box? Would that do it??:<)!
Okay, I'm crazy right now...just take it for what it's worth...
Oral Roberts raised millions by saying if he didn't, God was going to call him home.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you could try that angle, Father.
I'm in for a ten-spot.
:)
Cathy: I'm afraid that some might welcome me "going home"...:<)!Nah, just kiddin'...We watched O. Roberts growing up. He was somethin' else!
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