The blog header depicts an important and yet mis-understood New Testament scene, Jesus flogging the money-changers out of the temple. I selected it because the faith that gives us consolation can also make us very uncomfortable. Both Divine Mercy and Divine Justice meet in Jesus. Priests are ministers of reconciliation, but never at the cost of truth. In or out of season, we must be courageous in preaching and living out the Gospel of Life. The title of my blog is a play on words, not Flogger Priest but Blogger Priest.
To say that celibacy promotes solidarity with the poor is a joke. Most priests throughout the industrialized world live an upper middle class life, even those who take a vow of poverty.
Living in a suburban rectory, living the life of a kept man, sometimes with a housekeeper and cook, is not solidarity with the poor. I wish the Latin Rite clergy would stop it with that nonsense.
I would suggest to you that it is the young married or single women and men of the Peace Corps and Jesuit Volunteer Corps who have authentic solidarity with the poor.
“A man who has broken his promises is hardly a good authority to instruct men on keeping theirs.”
Isn’t this somewhat harsh, Father?
Bill Donohue of the Catholic League is divorced, and yet he is still deemed acceptable in defending the faith.
Why an invalidation for those on the left but not on the right?
Dinter, came to an honest decision in conscience to leave what he felt was a dysfunctional institution. It seems to me that such inconsistency undermines the Church’s credibility.
Would matters change if Pope Francis were to reconsider the discipline of mandatory priestly celibacy?
How about The Other Side of The Altar by Paul Dinter? Surprised you didn’t have that one. Or The Changing Face of the Priesthood by Donald Cozzens; and also Sacred Silence. But alas, we wouldn’t want to suggest anything that would encourage critical thinking. The Magisterium should do our thinking for us.