Posted on 12/02/2010 11:59:19 AM PST by mlizzy
Father Tom Euteneuer, former president of Human Life International and author of a book on exorcism that was pulled off the market not long after it was published and promoted (including in this column), has seemingly "disappeared." As my regular readers will know, I've quoted Father Euteneuer often over the last few years. But in news that surprised even me, HLI announced in late August that Father was stepping down as HLI president.
Father was quoted as saying: "I have been utterly privileged to serve this great mission for a decade, and now I am called back to my diocese [by the bishop] to continue my priestly service in parish work, which was the original calling of my vocation. I have great peace about the road that lies ahead and about all that has been accomplished up to this point."
In addition to his rather abrupt departure from HLI, Father's book Exorcism and the Church Militant, which was being promoted by HLI in July, was essentially pulled from circulation not long ago, a vague reason given for doing so.
Strange, if you ask me.
In the months leading up to the book's publishing, I had sought, and obtained, permission to reprint in this column the book's entire Introduction. Given the circumstances, I decided it was best to have that particular column removed from RenewAmerica.
I've never heard from Father since all this transpired, and e-mails to three officials of the Diocese of Palm Beach, Father's home diocese, have gone unanswered. In my e-mail to those officials, I simply asked if Father Euteneuer is indeed a priest in good standing with the diocese. It's certainly easy enough for at least one of them to respond: "Yes, Mr. Abbott, Father Euteneuer is a priest in good standing here in the Diocese of Palm Beach. Thank you."
But, alas, I've heard nothing. Crickets.
I do know this: There's "more to the story," and whatever transpired is not the result of a bishop's persecution. There are at least a few individuals who know the whole story, but, right now, they're not willing, or able, to divulge the details. Perhaps they don't want me, or anyone else, to pursue the matter. Well, that doesn't sit well with me.
I hope to find out more in the coming weeks. Maybe I will, maybe I won't.
You’re right. This is distressing.
Did not Fr Paul Marx experience something similar to this?
I would like to know if there was some form of subterfuge, some "conspiracy" to silence him. But at this point, I do not want to know, if his exit was a result of personal failings on the part of this priest.I suppose he could have been attacked by Satan. Pio, Vianney, etc. were. And if that were the case, pulling the book makes sense sort of, so as not to frighten or have other priests involved.
bookmark for later reading.
Heck, if a layman wanted to get a hold of the prayers, they only need to do an Internet search. They don’t to need to buy Father’s book or the Roman rituale.
Well, that’s true. It’s all a mystery to me. I hope Matt Abbott can reach Father soon.
Pardon my ignorance but who is Albert Cutie??
He did say that he was taking time off. Why not take him at his word? Maybe he’s climbing Everest or helping the Missionaries of Charity in some hellhole and he doesn’t want to be found.
-Theo
This is very distressing. I hope something terrible has not happened.
Ha! He’s a very open person. So while that’s a nice thought, it wouldn’t fit in with his persona. He said he was taking time off, IMO, because he got laid off, and he was just being kind. But then again, if there are no answers, one just doesn’t know.
“Satan is extremely dangerous and Euteneuer went in without fear”
####
Exactly right. He was almost dismissive of the Devil, smiling at times when recounting specific incidents during his exorcisms. It was quite striking.
He DID cite the utter danger of Satan once he got his claws into you. The important thing was to confidently ignore him, and rely on the protection of Christ and the Virgin, whom the Devil fears and abhors.
Utterly fascinating, and all things considered, truly awesome in importance.
I hope all is well with Father Euteneuer.
6) Somebody wanted him to shut up.
Mess with the goat get the horns.
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in the battle and in the terrible warfare that we are waging against the principalities and powers, against the rulers of this world of darkness, against the evil spirits.
Who is called "a liar, and the father thereof"?
Who was said to have been "a murderer from the beginning"?
A priest in FL with a high media profile (local cable show or radio show, I believe) who took a girlfriend, left the Church and is now an Episcopal.
Agreed,I had this happen to a few priest friends of mine.Everyone stays mum and after a few months everything is up and running again.I never asked them but mostly when they did talk about it,it was for R&R.Respect the vocation and give him some space.
The author seems to have gotten a little above himself. No, more than a little.
Or if just his book had been pulled, that I could also understand, a heretofore unnoticed doctrinal error perhaps.
But both together smacks of an attempt to create an "unperson" .
On the other hand, Mr. Abbot says quite clearly: "whatever transpired is not the result of a bishop's persecution."
I pray that it is you and not I that has the right of it.
IIRC he was a US priest, of Hispanic ethnicity, who got caught up in a romantic situation with some ladies, and had to leave the priesthood. And his name was Father Cutie ... NO REALLY!!!
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