Critic slams archdiocese [of Boston] land sale [St. John's Seminary] as betrayal

The Boston Globe ^ | June 13, 2007 | Michael Paulson

[TaxachusettsMan]

[T]he departing rector of St. John's Seminary sent blistering letters to church officials, alleging the Archdiocese of Boston is endangering the training of priests by letting theological liberals move in next door.

Rev. John A. Farren, a conservative and occasionally controversial Dominican friar, warned the "doctrinal integrity" of St. John's is at risk because of increased proximity to two Jesuit-run institutions, Boston College and Weston Jesuit School of Theology, expected to move into buildings currently held by the seminary.

[Both] are considered liberal institutions open to a wider range of theological views than St. John's. Under Farren's leadership, several members of the seminary faculty perceived as liberal were ousted.

The dispute -- unusual in a clerical subculture in which deference is generally paid to the decision of a cardinal-archbishop -- stems from O'Malley's May 24 decision to sell 18 acres in Brighton, much of it belonging to the seminary, for $60 million to Boston College.

Farren was scheduled to leave at the end of June but quit May 24 over the sale.

"[t]o reduce expenses by mutual collaboration, would induce asphyxiation, with the remedy worse than the affliction," Farren wrote to the seminary board. "As the archdiocese prepares for its bicentennial, there could be nothing but shame and embarrassment if we appear to forsake our own mandate, mission and values for 30 pieces of silver . . . [at Weston Jesuit] opinions of every kind are propagated without adequate identification of the binding articles of faith."

"A sign of this is found in the fact that several professors of WJST are currently under investigation by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith . . . Several professors at WJST are self- professed gays or lesbians. Collaboration at such an institution is not good policy for St. John's Seminary."

[TaxachusettsMan]

Many of us thought/knew this.

Few of us ever expected to see it in print.

Let alone on page 1 of The Boston Globe.

[theDentist]

"Several professors at WJST are self- professed gays or lesbians. Collaboration at such an institution is not good policy for St. John's Seminary."

Soon to be renamed St. John's Semenary. /sarc

[Cheverus]

I alway liked Farren, very orthodox. They called him the “Great White Hope” when he got to St. John’s.

I can’t help but to wonder about a pattern I’ve seen:

When the current administration came in the Rector at Pope John was a Priest of the Diocese of Worcester (National Seminary), and the Rector of the Seminary was a religious Order Priest. Now they are both Priest of the Archdiocese of Boston....just makes me go hmmm.

[Cheverus]

Read the attached letter linked in the article. I knew O’Malley was bad, but no where near this bad.

It appears that he is intentionally trying to discourage Vocations, “Pastoral Planners” must be the next step.

The fact that so many still seemed hoodwinked to his evil plan amazes me, just look at the Neo-Pagan “ministries” he’s got going, like LIFT among others.

He’s destroyed the morality of the Clergy and endless numbers of Catholics are loosing their Faith. I know several men that O’Malley has destroyed the Vocations of through his evil plan.

And the kids, who’ll have to grow up with this!!!

While Christ promised that the Gates of Hell wouldn’t prevail against the Church, he never said any such thing about the Archdiocese of Braintree....especially when such an evil man is leading it down such an obvious path of distruction through de-construction!!!

I used to think Mahoney or Hubbard were the worst Bishops in the country, but now I’m not so sure, O’Malley is so much more devious and diabolical.

[NYer]

'There could be nothing but shame . . . if we appear to forsake our own mandate, mission and values.' (St. John's Seminary)

[marshmallow]

I read the letters. Distressing, to say the least.

There was no consultation, whatsoever. Ironic really. The "democratic Church" mob can be mighty dictatorial when the need arises.

[Jaded]

THis is a truly creepy picture.

[maryz]

The "democratic Church" mob can be mighty dictatorial when the need arises.

It's been "democratic" for over 40 years now -- I'd think you'd be used to it. :(

[Zionist Conspirator]

THis is a truly creepy picture.

I think that's the good guy. Trust the Boston Globe to make a conservative look creepy!