I am attending a course for adults to be baptised in my church. I am already baptised and confirmed in a different denomination, but I have married someone from a different denomination, we have children baptised in this church, and so I have made the decision to also join as I attend mass each week and feel the need to fully belong to the church. It took me three years to make this decision, and I'm very sure this is what I want to do.
The course is six months long, and in our session last week we had the new priest to our church lead the session. I don't know him at all, this was the first time I had listened to him speak. He said some things that really shocked me, and made me feel very upset and uncomfortable.
On the topic of redemption, he said that some people are fake Christians- they do not have God in their heart, and he can smell their falseness, it is obvious to him, and he can't stand it. It makes him feel sick. And the worst people for this was the clergy themselves.
I've never ever heard a priest talk like this- I've attended church since I was a baby, I've done many different classes and religious study groups, I've spent lots of time with priests of many different denominations and NEVER have I heard any speak as harshly about their own parishioners and their fellow priests.
I would like to speak to the other priest about this- it made me feel like I didn't want to go back. Am I overreacting? He later commented that people may not like his honesty, and this made me question myself.
It totally feels at odds with love, forgiveness, tolerance and 'judge not' that we normally hear.
I would really appreciate any views on this.