Persecuted Priests: A Growing Problem in US

Catholic Citizens.org ^ | 6/9/06 | Mary Ann Kreitzer - Catholic Media Coalition

[kstewskis]

Pray for our faithful priests *ping!*

[StJacques]

A few days ago I posted on another thread my feelings that the Catholic Church has shown far too much of an unwillingness to confront evil whenever and wherever they find it, which is the duty of every Christian. There is too much thought given to the consequences of that confrontation, which invariably come down to controversy, and at whatever level of the church hierarchy you discuss it, in my view there is an almost pathological desire to avoid controversy. The editorialized opinion of this article gives real-world examples of why this is so as they relate to the problem of homosexuality.

I very much applaud those priests whose desire to keep to their commitment to confront mortal sin did not impede them from taking action when their consciences dictated that it was necessary. And I am displeased to read of the consequences many of them have faced. But at the very least those of us in the laity can put this discussion right out in front of everyone, where it should be. I know my fellow Catholics only too well. Neither they nor I will stand for this if it is put out in front of us all.

[karnage]

Shocking. Stunning. Appalling. God savecthe Holy Catholic Church from the devils within!

[Ciexyz]

Most interesting.

[bornacatholic]

I survie thanks to the great Blessing of St. Thomas More, Boynton Beach. My Pastor is outstanding and our Patish is thriving and spiced with innumerable conversions.

As for Bishop Barbarito and his Duty to Teach, Rule, and Sanctify? I have no public knowledge on which to judge.

But, you are right. Florida ain't a spiritual paradise

[livius]

My Pastor is outstanding

That is wonderful news! (BTW, I bet he knows all the priests I mentioned in my post!)

[livius]

An old saying: the Church is an anvil that's worn out many hammers.

Bears repeating.

[ichabod1]

As a new convert, and seeing many of the 2000 new converts in our diocese this year, I say that the Church is making converts almost in spite of itself, and many of us aren't going to accept a corrupt, lavender episcopate.

[tiki]

Our priest says that that is why he is here in our state. He says Florida is full of homosexual priests and that good priests are persecuted. We have people who live in Florida who send their donations to our parish because they don't want the hierarchy in Florida to have a penny for their agenda.

I don't think it is as prevalent in our diocese but we do have some, one especially, who is not only homosexual but is on a personal power trip. This is a small town so the grapevine is very active. He recently got a wealthy older woman to sign her home over to him, not the diocese or the parish but to him personally. He hangs out with her and goes on vacations with her and she pays for everything (I know the woman who takes care of her finances.) He lives in an apartment, away from the parish and his number isn't listed. We think he must have something against the bishop because he gets away with murder and the bishop won't do a thing. He is in a poor parish and the parishioners are basically being held hostage by him but many of them now come to our church.

[marshmallow]

Don't forget Lynch prohibiting adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in his diocese.

That was the biggest red flag of all, for me.

[livius]

He lives in an apartment, away from the parish and his number isn't listed.

That is never a good sign. (We had a priest here in Florida who was selling the drug Ecstacy out of his condo.) I don't know why diocesan priests are permitted to live anywhere other than the rectory.

The priest you are talking about sounds like he could be a real legal problem down the road, btw, especially if he is influencing a vulnerable older person. But the bishop never seems to listen until it is too late.

[livius]

I agree. When I read that Lynch had done that, I knew there were major, major problems with the man.

[Antoninus]

Yeah, but how am **I** going to get to Heaven without good priests?

Pray for Grace. IMHO, bad priests and bishops are a punishment from God for our laxity.

[khnyny]

What is your opinion/knowledge of the Diocese of Venice? I believe it is Bishop John Nevins?

[mckenzie7]

I was aware of the sex scandal with some of our priests, but was not aware of the ongoing pink palaces. It sickens me to the core!

The good bishops DO have to be in the majority, don't they?

What if we were to withhold the special collections that support the Bishops Conferences and maybe the good bishops will get a clue that we Catholics demand a house cleaning? If anything, a radical drop in funds will catch their notice!
Usually peer pressure is very powerful!

Food for the Poor could use the dollars and more directly aid the least of our brothers and so do unto God.

St. Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle!

[nanetteclaret]

That and when the Schindlers asked him to pray the Rosary with them for Terri he said he "doesn't do that sort of thing."

[karnage]

Amen to your comments about the shifting tides of history.

We are the Church; we must help provide that "spontaneous" movement!

[Antoninus]

What if we were to withhold the special collections that support the Bishops Conferences and maybe the good bishops will get a clue that we Catholics demand a house cleaning? If anything, a radical drop in funds will catch their notice!

I generally don't give to the Bishops Appeals--unless my bishop demonstrates beyond a shadow of a doubt that he's trustworthy and not a liberal/lavender lackey. There are plenty of orthodox Bishops, faithful religious orders and Catholic lay apostolates who are worthy of support.

I NEVER give to anything tainted with the USCCB label.

[bornacatholic]

I am over on the Gulf Coast often. I go to Mass at Ephiphany Cathedral in Venice. I'll be there this weekend. What was astonishing to me was every single priest in residence arriving to distribute Communion for every Mass.

Of course they also have 497 Extra Ordinary Eucharistic Ministers so Communion looks like, if not a a man-to-man defense, at least a match-up zone.