“Ask a Priest: Was I Wrong for Not Speaking Up?”

Regnum Christi Spirituality Center Ask a Priest
Q: The guy I work for made what seemed to be a sarcastic prayer to God in front of a bunch of guys. I couldn’t help but laugh a little bit, because it was awkward, but I didn’t say anything. Did I commit a sin of some sort with my actions? Thank you. – P.R.

Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC

A: Sometimes we get caught in awkward situations where our first reaction isn’t our best one. That the incident bothered you is a sign that your conscience is working. Perhaps the incident is worth mentioning the next time you go to confession.

What would be good, too, is to plan ahead. What will you do the next time somebody makes a similar joke?

If we prepare ourselves now, our reaction might be very different in the future. You might just look at the guy without smiling and simply walk away. Or you might say something edifying — “Our Lord isn’t like that. He’s different in this way …”

It is worth backing up a step and asking why this guy thought it was OK to make this “prayer” in your presence in the first place.

People sometimes joke about certain topics around those whom they perceive as being in their camp.

A man, for instance, might be tempted to make an off-color joke with his buddies in a bar. It’s unlikely he would do the same thing at the Thanksgiving dinner table with his mom and sisters and wife present.

Why the difference? Because he expects that his buddies will appreciate a dirty joke. He wouldn’t expect that same thing from the women closest to him (we hope). He probably already realizes that they hold to a higher standard.

The point here is that your friend might not perceive that you hold to a higher standard, too.

It might be a good moment to look for ways to give more public witness to your faith, either by your conversations or by wearing some kind of religious symbol.

This could help send out the message that you are take God seriously. And that in turn might discourage other irreverent jokes.

A helpful book might be 60 Days to Becoming a Missionary Disciple by Fr. John Bartunek, LC SThD.

So let the light of your faith shine. The world needs all the illumination it can get.

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Alex Kucera

Atlanta

Alex Kucera has lived in Atlanta, GA, for the last 46 years. He is one of 9 children, married to his wife Karmen, and has 3 girls, one grandson, and a granddaughter on the way. Alex joined Regnum Christi in 2007. Out of the gate, he joined the Helping Hands Medical Missions apostolate and is still participating today with the Ghana Friendship Mission.

In 2009, Alex was asked to be the Atlanta RC Renewal Coordinator for the Atlanta Locality to help the RC members with the RC renewal process. Alex became a Group Leader in 2012 for four of the Atlanta Men’s Section Teams and continues today. Running in parallel, in 2013, Alex became a Team Leader and shepherded a large team of good men.

Alex was honored to be the Atlanta Mission Coordinator between 2010 to 2022 (12 years), coordinating 5-8 Holy Week Mission teams across Georgia. He also created and coordinated missions at a parish in Athens, GA, for 9 years. Alex continues to coordinate Holy Week Missions, Advent Missions, and Monthly missions at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Cumming, GA.

From 2016 to 2022, Alex also served as the Men’s Section Assistant in Atlanta. He loved working with the Men’s Section Director, the Legionaries, Consecrated, and Women’s Section leadership teams.

Alex is exceptionally grateful to the Legionaries, Consecrated, and many RC members who he’s journeyed shoulder to shoulder, growing his relationship with Christ and others along the way. He knows that there is only one way, that’s Christ’s Way, with others!