Posted on 04/23/2016 4:41:33 AM PDT by NYer
Yesterday, Michael Voris of Church Militant released a very difficult and courageous episode of the Vortex. In it, he alleged that the New York Archdiocese, in apparent retribution for his investigation of the strong homosexual culture within the clergy there, intended to publicly reveal his own past sins. If true, this would amount to an egregious violation of the 8th Commandment. And the sins in question were unquestionably shocking and unexpected. Voris said, in part:
I have never made a secret that my life prior to my reversion was extremely sinful. I have said many times — in public — that I was in a state of mortal sin, and had I died, I would have been damned. I also revealed these sins were of a sexual nature and that they occurred over a prolonged period of time. I did not reveal the specific nature or details of the sins, because when I returned home to the Church, I did not think that a full public confession of details was necessary in order to start proclaiming the great mercy of God.
Perhaps that was a wrong assessment. I don’t seriously know. Perhaps along these years I should have been revealing of greater detail. That, I now think so, but more on that in a moment.
Whatever the matter, I will now reveal that for most of my years in my thirties, confused about my own sexuality, I lived a life of live-in relationships with homosexual men. From the outside, I lived the lifestyle and contributed to scandal in addition to the sexual sins. On the inside, I was deeply conflicted about all of it. In a large portion of my twenties, I also had frequent sexual liaisons with both adult men and adult women.
These are the sins of my past life in this area which are all now publicly admitted and owned by me. That was before my reversion to the Faith.
Since my reversion, I abhor all these sins, especially in the world of the many many other sins I have committed having nothing to do with sexuality. I gave in to deep pains from my youth by seeking solace in lust, and in the process, surrendered my masculinity.
The original is much longer, and the text does not do justice to Voris’ presentation in the video, which every interested party should watch. Voris’ revelations were offered personally, and with obvious sincerity. He admitted his wrongdoing, rather than denying it. He expressed hatred for his own sins, not excuses. He offered a compelling case for the reality of his conversion, and how God’s gratuitous grace and mercy fuels his drive to do the work he does today.
I worked for three-years in a prestigious crisis communications firm. Our clients were some of the most powerful figures in their respective industries, and the issues they faced — often with huge legal or financial ramifications — were complex and challenging, and invariably played out in the media. I had the pleasure of watching some of the best and brightest minds in the PR business advise proactive responses to bad press, and in my opinion, Voris handled this situation exceptionally well. He got in front of the story. He owned his failings. He took much of the wind out of the sails of any forthcoming attack. He appeared to recognize one of his principal failures: that as one of the most aggressive investigators of homosexual activity in the Church, revealing his past sooner would have made him more credible and prevented such an attack.
If what Voris says is true, and this is being orchestrated by forces within the Archdiocese, it will be ugly. They will no doubt provide as many salacious details as they can dig up. I hope that if the Archdiocese of New York is really mounting such a smear campaign (an allegation the archdiocese has now denied) that it backfires spectacularly, and earns them the opprobrium they so richly deserve. The odds that something like this would be an official effort sanctioned by Cardinal Dolan is highly unlikely; still, even if it was an “off the books” effort by high-ranking members of the clergy, it should be exposed and condemned.
The folks at Church Militant and I do not see eye to eye on some very important things. But today, I stand with Michael Voris against those who would use public detraction to destroy a man’s reputation. Michael has my personal prayers and my public support in this fight.
When I first saw the transcript of Voris’ comments yesterday evening, I was actually on my way out to go to confession. We’re all sinners, and God forbid any of us have to render a public accounting of things for which we are so deeply ashamed. I have no doubt that this was one of the hardest things Voris has ever done. I commend him for the way he handled it.
“But my sin was this, that I looked for pleasure, beauty, and truth not in him but in myself and his other creatures, and the search led me instead to pain, confusion, and error.” (Bk. I, 20, p. 40–41) - St. Augustine's Confessions
I watched the video and was brought to tears. What courage and may God bless him!
Ping!
Michael Voris recently released a public statement about his past and about his conversion.
I don’t entirely understand the circumstances or timing of this statement.
My thoughts.
We constantly pray for sinners to convert and we say we are happy when they do!
I am impressed with Michael’s courage in making a public statement. I hope that others who carry the terrible burden of certain attractions will take his example to heart and make changes in their lives whatever the sacrifice that might entail.
Michael clearly loves the Church and is laying it all on the line. Even when I disagree with either a position he takes (he’s wrong about fulfilling your Mass obligation at an SSPX chapel) or the style of its expression (his public tone about some figures such as Card. Dolan has been too ascerbic whatever the issue he might raise), he deserves continued attention and support both in prayer and for his work.
He has to come clean...about that hair./s
Brave guy; good for him to get it out there so he’s not compromised going forward.
me... unsubstantiated allegations which were denied by the Archdiocese.
Much ado about nothing!
meh...
As I stated in a similar thread, I am withholding comment on this. I think there is more to this story and in time we will find it out.
+1
His likeness to Rep. Jim Traficant was observed long ago.
Praying for all involved. “Jesus I trust in You”.
Right the first time.
Love the message of the Divine Mercy! From St. Faustina's Diary:
“As the soul continues to immerse itself more deeply into the abyss of its nothingness and need, God uses His omnipotence to exalt it. If there is a truly happy soul upon earth, it can only be a truly humble soul. At first, one’s self-love suffers greatly on this account, but after a soul has struggled courageously, God grants it much light by which it sees how wretched and full of deception everything is” (Diary, 593).
When will Donna Wuerl come clean.
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