LINK: Msgr.Charles Pope – One Priest’s Concern About Recent Remarks by the Pope
Priestly men have embraced celibacy and obedience, even when difficult. They weep over their sins and those of their people. They surrender many of the things that most men count as gain, just so that souls might be saved. And what is their reward? Accompaniment with sinners in the world should not mean recrimination of those priestly stewards who struggle to show people the proper direction, the WAY that is Christ. The Pope may feel that he is giving necessary guidance to priests; but where is the support and prayer for them as fishers of souls and as shepherds who daily lay down their lives for their flocks?
Many traditional but loving priests feel wounded by the constant assaults directed toward them. There is a terrible danger in joining the secular chorus that derides priests as worldly, as mean-spirited and as sexual deviants. Most priests are good and faithful men. We are warned by numerous saints that Satan targets the priesthood. Why? The devil knows very well that if he really wants to seriously wound the Church then he must destroy the influence and ministry of the priesthood. Our ordained priests participate in the one priesthood of Christ. The heart of the Church is no vague sentiment for goodness or humanism or even works of charity; no, it is the priestly heart— the burning and pierced heart of Christ.
(Response to Pope Francis’ words on June 16 at the Pastoral Conference of the Diocese of Rome.)
I am at a loss about what the Pope regards as intrusion into people’s moral lives. As a confessor, every priest is FATHER, DOCTOR, TEACHER and JUDGE. We cannot excuse sin because it damages one’s relationship with God. We must know what we are up against if we are to help people. The surgeon uses his scalpel not because he is cruel but because he wants to help his patients. The priest gets no joy in causing pain for others; but he also knows that confession and repentance is vital if there is to be any true accompaniment. This matter comes up in his GOSPEL OF JOY back in 2013: “I want to remind priests that the confessional must not be a torture chamber but rather an encounter with the Lord’s mercy which spurs us on to do our best” (44). I have never know a priest who wanted to so transform the confessional; but neither do we want to lie to people, offering soothing empty words or an absolution rooted in sacrilege and bound to collapse again into the quagmire of mortal sin.
It seems to me that this sends the wrong message and undermines the truth of sacramental marriage. Catholics are bound to get married according to the proper form: before a priest and two witnesses. Cohabitation and sexual intimacy is a variation of FORNICATION. How are they faithful if there is no real marriage? There is no vow or promise. Practice shows that such couples are frequently subject to infidelity. There is a fear or hesitance to make a commitment. What we are talking about here is the matter of mortal sin. It is only a feigned parody of marriage. There can be no sanctifying and actual grace in shacking up. Accompaniment should also include helping people in changing their direction. Fellowship on the road to hell is meaningless. The Gospel urges the narrow road. We cannot change Church teaching. Our goal is to help people in their pilgrimage to heaven— to save souls.
Marriage is based upon human nature. We are sexual beings and marriage is created by God for the propagation of children within the intimate friendship of men and women. Our Lord raises this natural bond to the level of a sacrament. Would not the Pope’s words have every couple question whether or not they are truly married? Culture has a definite influence, but it can no more nullify marriages than a pagan culture can give valid status to same-sex unions. Our presumption is always in favor of the validity of our marriages. Redirecting fault for failed marriages away from the couple to the culture is to strip them as moral agents of their overall responsibility. Would he argue that a clashing culture invalidates other sacraments? If it can negate marriage then what about priesthood? We do not want to go down this road.
Please know Father, that you, Msgr. Pope, and all religious are quietly supported in prayer by those that you will never meet. Thank you for your commitment to truth in these confusing times.
Thank you for your priestly vocation and zeal for souls.
FRANCIS PHILIP: I think that you may be overreacting and taking my intentions the wrong way, not fully reading and understanding all that I write before responding.
FATHER JOE: You think so?
FATHER JOE: No I think I understand well enough.
Many hold in high regard the messages purportedly from Our Lady of Akita. While only private revelation, this one is particularly unsettling: “The work of the devil will infiltrate even into the Church in such a way that one will see cardinals opposing cardinals, bishops against bishops. The priests who venerate me will be scorned and opposed by their confreres…churches and altars sacked; the Church will be full of those who accept compromises and the demon will press many priests and consecrated souls to leave the service of the Lord.” It is a nightmare scenario for sure, not all that different from other apparitions and warnings. Pray for the Pope, cardinals, bishops, priests and deacons. Pray also for good and holy laity. Remain loyal to the Church… go to Confession and to Mass… and yes, remember to say Our Lady’s Rosary.
My prayers are with all the priests in difficult times like these.
One thing that I see from this situation: many priests and theologians do not really trust the infallibility of the Pope. As such, they do not trust the Holy Spirit, God Who guides the Pope. They are quick to launch attacks, out of their own pride, against the Pope who speaks for God. They would rather attack than listen in order to understand. They show the darkness of their own “eye,” reliant upon the letter of the law, and afraid of the light and inspiration which comes through faith in Who God really Is and Does. He comes to heal the sick – those who need a Doctor. But some priests only want to treat those who don’t need a doctor and they balk when their houses are stained with the spiritual sores of the wounded.
What would you say to St. Augustine of Hippo? Is he not notorious for having cohabited? Did he not have children out of wedlock? Was he not on a journey toward God? Was it not another priest who inspired St. Augustine to come into the Church? Pray to be like THAT priest who inspires the sinner to repentance. Encourage and teach.
Had you been Moses on that terrible day when he and God found the Jews worshipping the golden calf, would you have encouraged God to smite them? Well, if that is the attitude, then we don’t need the Sacrament of Confession because sin requires immediate death given that we all have the innate ability not to sin – not ever. Of course, that is sarcasm, but I hope that you understand that even many who appear to be obedient – going to Mass weekly for example – are not free of sin, needing the Sacrament to cleanse and heal them/us often because we are all trying to grow in holiness. But if we are not allowed to grow – if we are commanded to be perfect immediately and without training and time to build the good habits, how will we get there?
You contradict yourself in this post. You lack trust, and you lack faith, and you lack understanding. Even though some persons are ordained to be priests, they turn and become sexual predators or have private wives or they steal money from the Church. Why didn’t the Sacrament save them from this? Even though men and women get married, they fight, commit adultery, are unfaithful in other ways, perhaps even worse than some who cohabit ate before they get married. At least the ones cohabitation are entering in to marriage using prudence in light of the generations of failed marriages which came before them. You see them as fornicators; God may see them as less sinful than some priests who, in their hearts, are very proud. Pope Francis asks for compassion and mercy. You complain.
Finally, consider the MILLIONS of children in the world today who have witnessed their parents’ failed marriages, but love and have learned to understand them nonetheless. Instead of placing blame, some compassion and understanding on the part of the priest would be better. They are all deeply wounded. Do you send the wounded into the street and say, “Get help on your own until you learn how to be well again. When you are well, we will admit you to the hospital.” ? No. You reach out and accompany them in order to help them heal and engraftment them back into the Church as persons more healthy than they were before.
You are not a friend of Pope Francis?
There is more grace in a faithful cohabitation than an unfaithfully
carried through church wedding. Thank you Father Joe for your
blog.That was my paraphrase of the pope’s words.
Although I see Pope Francis’s message differently and am one of the fans of this Bishop I will say I agree with you about Priests being a big part of the heart of the Church!
I wrote a piece a bit back about the Priesthood in the church. I have been very blessed to know some absolutely wonderful priests from various orders and I continue to think that we are blessed with men of great character and a true calling to give and grow those who are in their flock 🙂