HEY FOLKS: What's with the mini wedding dress if you aren't going back to Mass after Communion?

Irish priest blasts hypocritical Catholics.

Father Paddy O'Kane from Ballymagroarty in the Diocese of Derry, Ireland, has criticized parents who stage an elaborate First Communion show for their children, then fail to return to church.

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) -- The Catholic Herald has shared an op-ed from Fr. Paddy O'Kane of Ireland. The priest blasted parents who stage an elaborate, expensive First Communion for their children, complete with miniature tuxedoes and bridal gowns, then do not show up to church afterwards.

Fr. O'Kane said the practice is "...reduced to an orgy of sentimentality and materialism with miniature brides and bouncy castles and bursting bank accounts."

He posted his commentary on his parish website, reminding people of their baptismal promise to bring up their children in the faith. ‽That promise will only be kept if this is not a 'once off' occasion but the beginning of a new stage in his/her faith journey. Simply put, you must bring him/her to back to Mass again every weekend after his/her First Communion."

Fr. O'Kane is also concerned that for many children this is the last time their parents will bring them to Mass. He reported in 2015 that of 121 kids in the parish First Communion program, only 21 attended Mass the following Sunday.

If Catholics believe in their Church, in the existence of God, and the promises of Christ, then their behavior ought to reflect that. However, many Catholics, and Christians of other denominations live as virtual atheists. They skip church, they engage in immoral behavior, and only engage with their faith when they need something or are among practicing Christians.

This is not Christianity, but something less. It is common, as the number of children who skipped Mass following their First Communion reveals.

It is absurd to throw a lavish party only to stop attending church afterwards. What are parents celebrating?

Perhaps they are keeping up appearances, but there is another word for people who practice such behavior: hypocrite.

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