Also in The American Conservative (go here, click on the PDF), Michael Brendan Dougherty's look at the fairly dismal results so far from Tom Monaghan's attempt to build a Benedict Option-style orthodox Catholic town in southern Florida. It's full of fascinating details, but this passage really stood out. If you were an orthodox Catholic, what could be better than being in a town where orthodox Catholics and their values guided public life? Well, not so much:
But a visit to Sunday Mass demonstrates that unity in doctrine can be superficial. Though 99 percent of residents are Catholic, the town has its own religious controversies. After the 10 AM Mass, several worshippers mock Monaghan's devotion to architect Frank Lloyd Wright, the inspiration for his oratory. Gesturing at the jumble of steel latticework and the abstract light fixtures, one man sighs and shakes his head. Another says the face of the church looks like "a stone rendering of a cartoon rocket-ship on a steel launch pad." Another mourns, "Anything would be better than this." They have reasons to gripe--the back wall is crossed with drooping diagonal seams that make the priest celebrating Mass look like he is moving across a giant spider's web. ] The oratory embodies the internal controversies and contracted expectations of Ave Maria. Originally, Monaghan planned a transparent structure that would hold 3,300 worshippers, making it the largest church in the country. But traditional Catholics groaned at its resemblance to the evangelical Crystal Cathedral in Los Angeles. Michael S. Rose, an author of several books on church architecture, pointed out that Monaghan's hero, Wright, "rejected the European heritage of churches, disdainfully referring to them as 'sepulchres.'" Partisans of sustainable building were also horrified--a glass cathedral in the Everglades would be an environmental disaster. Architectural students at Notre Dame submitted alternative designs, drawing on Spanish mission traditions.It is not just the architecture of the church that bothers some residents; it's the worship inside. Nick Healy, the university president, formerly worked at Franciscan University of Steubenville, a Catholic college in Ohio that supports the small charismatic movement in the church. His preferred form of worship includes evangelical-style praise and
worship bands, but Ave Maria has mostly attracted traditionalist Catholics who prefer the old Latin Mass and Gregorian chant. Healy feared that Latin liturgy would turn what he calls the "broad Catholic middle" against the university and spoil the development of the town. A former corporate lawyer, he has a penchant for conflict and has dismissed
priests whose liturgical tastes ran counter to his.
Humanity: Wherever we go, there we are.
Here's an apparently promotional videoclip showing the oratory at Ave Maria:
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Perhaps the more fundamental issue theologically is that God does not bless this sort of enterprise.
Wow. Not only is it unsuccessful, but God hates it. And he hates you too Tom Monaghan. So there.
I would expect that at least some of the AMU grads sent out into the world are paying dividends. Taken to the extreme, the anti-enclave view would promote sex toy parties for the neighbors as an excellent opportunity for evangelization.
Simon: Perhaps the more fundamental issue theologically is that God does not bless this sort of enterprise.
I have always considered Monaghan a philistine of plutocratic pretensions. But in an imperfect world of secular Pharisees, he is probably more pleasing to God than the jowly jabberers of the USCCB. At least he earned his double chins.
David wrote, "I've certainly run into many traditionalists who hate the Novus Ordo Mass and everything having to do with it -- but I've also run into many Novus Ordo Mass Catholics who practicially spit at you if you so much as suggest doing something like singing *Salve Regina* in Latin at the end of Mass. They act as if they think that doing *anything* with the merest *hint* of Latin or Gregorian Chant is tantamount to re-establishing the inquisition or something."
David, you prove my point, in a sense. Catholics who attend the New Mass generally don't care if the Traditional Mass is celebrated in their diocese as long as its not rammed down THEIR THROATS. (Though I must say, in more than 10 years of being a music director and subbing in at different churches with diverse backgrounds from a Latin Mass parish to suburban parishes with Glory and Praise in the pews, I have never encountered outright hostility to either Latin or Chant. While it may not have been the parish's "taste" in music, they at least tolerated it in small amounts.)
I simply can't say the same with the radtrad Latin Mass folks whom it would please nothing more than to see every parish that uses the Novus Ordo either "convert" to the Latin Mass or cease to exist. Unlike the Novus Ordo folks, they DO CARE that the Novus Ordo is celebrated. Musically, I have worked with folks who don't want to sing from the Adoremus Hymnal because some of the hymns in it were written or arranged by Protestants or "Novus Ordo Catholics". Give me a break.
The desire for authentic Catholic communities is very real among a wide variety of Catholics in America. The problem with Ave Maria University and Town, is that it is an American capitalist style for-profit real estate development venture that is marketed to orthodox Catholics.
Catholics are the target for fleecing here.
The problem is that Monaghan and his circle of yes-men reject important fundamentals of Catholic teaching. More can be found at www.avewatch.com
Best to stay away from Ave Maria, or be regretting it later.
Stumbled on this site, and thought I would give you a little perspective. We live here --moved here this summer --kids, dog and all.
[b]THE GOOD[/b]
Total kid heaven. We have 40 kids within 100 yards of our house. The cell phones, computers and TV have been replaced with playing outside. It really has been remarkable. Water park, basketball courts, tennis courts, ball fields and bike paths everywhere are a huge hit with my kids.
The Catholic Prep School. We moved here from the Northeast, and figured the schools would be ok--not great--but ok. We were wrong, the school has been fantastic. Demanding, rigorous and free from the crap filled days we had experienced in the past. The reading list is fantastic, and we are so happy to see our son reading Tom Sayer, and enjoying it.
Neighbors. Hassle free, normal and little of any keping up with the Jonses -- A nice change.
The church. There are lots of masses to chose from ranging from your basic 10 o'clock mass to the 7 PM college mass and latin masses. I could do without the English as a second language priests--which are hard to understand - but overall it has been a very positive experience.
Amenities. Great place to walk, ride a bike, golf or just relax. They did a nice job of crating nice open spaces and green spaces.
Dog Park. Best I have ever been to.
Fresh Vegetables. Immokalee (nearby) has a great vegetable co-op. We have been spending less than 10 bucks a week for a big bag of fresh vegetables.
[b]THE BAD [/b]
The weather. It gets hot in Florida. BUT--mornings and nights are beautiful.
Shopping. It is 15 miles to the Publix in N. Naples or 7 miles to Winn Dixie in Immokalee. We allegedly will see a Publix early next year -- here in town. Ditto for the Gas station.
Town center businesses. We need more. Of course, we need more people as well.
House Prices. they need to accept reality and just cut the darn prices. They are out of whack with other Naples communities. The 275K houses in Emerson Park- need a 25% reduction--same with the other neighborhoods.
OK--that is my take. We really like it here--it has been a tremendous change for our family--but so far it has been a great move.
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