Posted on 11/05/2007 6:30:37 AM PST by NYer
Dear Family Regretfully, I have a message that does not come without significant pain to both you and me. I have to tell you in all honesty and truth, that I have been personally involved with helping a widow and her struggling family. Over the course of time, the mother and I have grown very close. As a result, I am compelled to take some time off to prayerfully and honestly discern my future. I am truly sorry of the impact this may have on so many. I am not unaware of the gravity and magnitude of the situation, yet after much wise counsel, it is really something that I must deal with now for the good of all. With that said, it is best that I deal with it away from EWTN. Therefore, I have asked for and graciously been granted some extended time to prayerfully discern my vocation. To those who are part of the EWTN family locally, and others throughout the world, especially all those who have supported me so faithfully in my priestly vocation and ministry here on Life on the Rock, I sincerely apologize. I ask for your prayers and understanding during this time that is so very difficult, but yet so very necessary. Please lift me up in your humble prayers to Jesus through Mary, our Mother, in Grace and Mercy. Fr Francis Mary, MFVA
Fr Anthony Mary then said "Brothers and Sisters of our EWTN family, this is a time in which Fr Francis and all involved are in great need of your prayers and your support as our family. Always remember that no one is beyond the power of God's Mercy or Redemption. And on Fr's behalf, I humbly ask that you pray for him. God bless you."
But hey, not to worry. I have always though that Fr. Anthony a much better personality for that role.
But hey, not to worry. I have always though that Fr. Anthony a much better personality for that role.
I just can’t believe it.
Some of these priests tell us more information than we need to know. My opinion to these priests is that if they can’t contain themselves then, “do what you gotta do but leave us out of it.” I like him but he should leave us out of his emotional and sexual turmoil. It really is unbecoming for a priest to show weakness. I suspect he will be back in time for his free junket to World Youth Day in Australia.
The more I think about it the more I am convinced that he could not have done this without malice and aforethought and fellow collaborators.
I think my comments will be limited to:"what an ugly thing to do,I hope he and the widow and family have a nice life".
I think we should be praying for this good man, who has done a good thing by removing himself from EWTN and is humbly asking for our prayers. The rest of this thread, to me, is gossip. tsk tsk tsk. Lots of casting first stones here.
The following is from section 51 of Sacra Virginitas:
Wherefore, if there are any "who do not feel they have the gift of chastity even though they have vowed it,"[80] let them not declare they cannot fulfill their obligations in this matter. "For," says the Council of Trent, quoting St. Augustine, " 'God does not command the impossible, but in commanding serves notice that one do what he can, and pray for what he cannot,'[81] and He helps us to accomplish it."[82] This truth, so full of encouragement, We recall to those also whose will has been weakened by upset nerves and whom some doctors, sometimes even Catholic doctors, are too quick to persuade that they should be freed from such an obligation, advancing the specious reason that they cannot preserve their chastity without suffering some harm to their mental balance. How much more useful and opportune it is to help the infirm of this type to strengthen their will, and to advise them that not even to them is chastity impossible, according to the word of the Apostle: "God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that which you are able: but will make also with temptation issue, that you may be able to bear it."
See also section 54, on fleeing the temptation. (It agrees with what Running on Empty said above.)
-A8
You know the one thing that this priest has over other priests who do the same thing? This one has a huge army of prayer warriors storming heaven. Because of this, I’m willing to bet that in the end, he will make the right decision.
It's easier for us married guys. I haven't faced any memorable temptation since being married, about 15 years ago. But when I was single it was completely different. It wasn't just a matter of lust, but loneliness. Temptations were very hard to resist then. So I can sympathize with priests. Of course, breaking one's vows is a grave evil, considered objectively. But only God knows the psychological stresses working against him that might mitigate his culpability.
I've noticed that some women become quite aggressive with men who are married. It's rather weird.
But when I was single it was completely different. It wasn't just a matter of lust, but loneliness. Temptations were very hard to resist then. So I can sympathize with priests.
That's a good point.
Most Catholics today would be hard-pressed to explain why this would be wrong. They're in love! How can that be wrong? Poor catechesis has consequences.
Haven't faced that one, fortunately. I forgot to add, "thank God!" after saying that I haven't faced any temptations since being married. I'm not looking for trouble!
It’s nice to think of a priest or religious as super human without the temptations or sins in life. They are representatives of God, not God. I remember a brother talking about all of the LOGS God puts before him. Sometimes he tripped and fell, sometimes he was able to step over gracefully. Most of the time he struggled to travel over the LOG with slips and scrapes. The LOG is the Love Of God.
Prayers for Fr. Francis, the EWTN family and members here. Drop the stones.
What is known about exactly what he has done?
I don't think anyone has been distasteful enough to describe any graphic details.
As I noted above, common sense dictates that his entire history with EWTN was not deleted from the website, and an EWTN spokesman did not refer to his situation as one involving "evil" and "sin", and he did not make a public apology, and he did not retreat from all his pastoral work, simply because he, say, winked at someone or held someone's hand.
It's obvious that something very serious and very inappropriate happened and now EWTN and Francis Mary are dealing with the fallout.
No one is proposing that Francis Mary be executed.
They are saying that this cannot be whitewashed or wished away or sugarcoated.
It is what it is, and it needs to be handled according to the law of the Church - not according to sentimentality.
I can’t tell if something untoward has actually been done, or if his feelings are so strong for her—and his doubt of his vocation now so strong—that he is stepping away to rethink things BEFORE something untoward happens.
Absent some kind of report one way or the other, the man deserves the benefit of the doubt.
Again, though, we don't yet know what "this" is.
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