Anglo parishioners at Oklahoma church vent frustrations to bishop

Published: 2006-07-25

TULSA, Okla. (CNS) -- When Bishop Edward J. Slattery of Tulsa met with 60 Anglo parishioners of Sts. Peter and Paul Church over a potluck dinner in late June, he told them he had come to listen. He got an earful, and he issued some blunt rebukes in response. Many of the English-speaking parishioners -- some of whom were founding members of the 55-year-old parish in Tulsa -- said they have felt "a sense of disruption" since Father Tim Davison arrived as pastor two and a half years ago and intensified efforts to reach out to the growing Hispanic community within the parish. As a result, some Anglo parishioners feel unappreciated and unloved, they told Bishop Slattery. Their discontent boiled over this spring when Bishop Slattery came to confirm young people from Sts. Peter and Paul and St. Thomas More parishes and celebrated the Mass mostly in Spanish. Some people walked out, and the family of at least one confirmand left the parish over the incident. During his June 29 visit, Bishop Slattery said he knew that the parishioners had given much to the parish over the years and acknowledged the sense of disruption created by the increase in Hispanic ministry. But he said he cherishes the great diversity within the church and the diocese.

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