Blogger Priest

FATHER JOE

Exorcists are usually quiet and humble men. Archbishop Milingo was a sensationalist and evidently relished the attention he got as a spiritual healer. He left himself open for this kind of fall; indeed, in uniting with George Augustus Stallings, he has found a man with an enormous ego to match his own. Are they Catholics of any sort now, or just a branch of the Moonies? Stallings has women priests, condones all sorts of immoral practices (sexual in particular), combines Christianity with teachings and practices from Kwaanza, the Koran, and the various pagan teachings of the East. As soon as he started his own Church, he eradicated the sacrament of Penance. His religion is pelagian, pagan and utterly religious relativism. His doctrine of the Trinity is modalistic and the first person of the Trinity is called MOTHER-FATHER. The twisted version of the Creed he uses at services speaks of Christ’s birth (while the Latin of the Mother Church in Rome speaks of our Lord becoming “incarnate” which implies in the womb. He also says that Christ “becomes” a person; however, while he became MAN, he had been the Second PERSON of the Blessed Trinity from all eternity.

The issue here is more than a demand against the discipline of celibacy for priests. We see with the archbishop a profound shift away from the orthodox faith and a renunciation of magisterial authority.

CHIA

Will Archbishop Milingo surprise us next by becoming a Muslim?. As an Exorcist he could be under attack by Stan. Other Exorcists should exorcise him.

FATHER JOE

“…by STAN?” You no doubt mean Satan, although I always suspected that Stan Laurel had a dark side, not to mention Oliver Hardy. Peace!

NAZARENE

I am more than shocked to read his self-defense [from the archbishop]. How could anyone say that he loves and obeys Jesus without obeying His Church? Does Archbishop Milingo’s new discovery of marriage in his late 70’s hold water? Come on! He should be preparing for a good death (this age is biblically a bonus), not engaging the Church with his confusion.

BRUNO

The Church seems to care less about the flock entrusted to her care.

FATHER JOE

What do you mean?

The Church still ministers the sacraments and helps the poor. The Church still proclaims the Gospel, both in and out of season. And as much as it pains us in the Church, those that breech the discipline and the teachings of the living Church need censure, so that others will not be led astray.

The current story about Stallings and Milingo is less about faith and charity as it is about selfish ego and greed.

MWENYA

You have no idea how we in Zambia feel about such a great man as Milingo. We will always love him not matter what you and your cohorts say.

FATHER JOE

It is inconsequential how people in Zambia feel about the renegade archbishop.

You can love whomever you want, the fact is that the archbishop is now excommunicated from the Church and is in a new union with formal heretics.

He attempted marriage outside the Church in a ceremony conducted by the Moonies, a Church that insists that a Korean fanatic is the Messiah (and according to some sources, God).

If he has sex with the woman, then that also makes him a fornicator since he is not free to marry. May God have mercy on his soul, and all those who follow him.

DAVID

My soul is in partnership with the beloved LUTHER of our times, the beloved Archbishop Milingo. Unlike you, he sees the will of God instead of the will of man.

“YOU are JOSHUA! Let the Lord’s own enter the Promised Land under your guidance. Thanks and thanks in Jesus name. Amen.”

FATHER JOE

There must be a translation issue, for while I might associate Milingo with Luther; I would tag neither as “beloved” given their rebellion against the See of Peter and their arrogance to the Church’s teachings and disciplines. I am convinced that the errant Archbishop is not complying with God’s will, but rather is following another spirit entirely. He has undermined the sacrament of marriage by his “attempted marriage” before the false messiah Moon and any physical congress is equivalent to fornication. He takes his followers, not to the promised land of Jesus, but to the false kingdom of insurrection and dissent. Given his peculiar behavior, I have to wonder if the once famous exorcist is not now possessed by the very entities he once combatted. No thanks, is my response to his appeal, I remain with Peter and Christ, not with Milingo, Stallings or Luther!

FIDELIS

Let the Catholic faithful pray for all those who spread errors in the Catholic faith. This is unthinkable in Nigeria, and can never be supported by any of the Catholic faithful in Nigeria. Rome is the center of our faith, and we must obey the Church. Satan is at work, and we must rise up to stop the enemy from destroying the Church. May we all pray for our separated brethren— pray that they come back to the fold.

DAMIAN

Miligo is in great error— may God pardon him.

FATHER FANO (NGCOBO)

With the Archbishop Milingo saga, the whole of the African Continent is slowly but surely waking up from its theological slumber. Milingo is the kind of a bishop-theologian for which the Continent of Africa has been looking. We all know that Rome and her Fathers care much less about the Continent in all matters African. In this day and age to argue that the Roman Catholic Church has absolute truth in everything borders on ignorance and blind theological pride. Our Continent will never be the same with bishop-theologians such as Milingo and others.

FATHER JOE

Archbishop Milingo had an arranged marriage witnessed by the cult-leader Moon, and you would recommend his judgment? You are being silly. The poor man betrayed his promises to God and the Church. Indeed, Father Fano, so have you. You counted race as more important than membership in the true Church established by Christ.

You make much of your not being affiliated with Rome. Well, so be it, run away from the ROCK all you want, there really is nowhere else to go. I grieve for your parishioners. You feign Catholic Christianity and yet you are only a pernicious kind of Protestant, and one who would steal from the Roman Catholic flock. The Holy Father is the ultimate bishop-theologian, and he has begged for Archbishop Milingo to come back to his senses. He has prayed for him, too. For all we know, this renowned exorcist may have been snagged by some spiritual evil that went under the radar of his discernment. The truth of the Gospel is for all men. There is no African Church or American Church. There is only THE CHURCH in Africa or in America. The difference is important. You are nothing new. You have made yourself a would-be pope. Nationalist churches have long been on the scene and they all suffer from a narrow perspective. The Catholic Church is still growing in the Third World, despite your castigation against the good priests and religious who have ministered and even sacrificed their lives to bring the truth of the Gospel to the sheep needing a shepherd. You are NOT that shepherd. You should go back to your religious community and renew your promises. We do not need priests who chase women or the disobedient who are more wolf than shepherd.

FATHER FANO

For too long, both the Western and European theologians have sought to define us and to force us into the mold of their disciplines.

FATHER JOE

The Catholic faith allows for enculturation. However, the deposit of faith must be preserved. Discipline must be upheld. The answer is not separation or dissent. Rather, The Church in Africa is called to weave their stories and lives into that of the universal Christian faith. You cannot properly do this as a Catholic by rupturing your link to the See of unity established by Christ. You should not lie. The problem is that you, not Africans, YOU do not like to be told what to do. Poor priest, you should learn personal humility and absolute dedication to the teachings of the faith. A priest is not his own man. He belongs to the Church. You forgot that. Father Cutie defected to another faith community. You tried to start your own church. I regularly do penance for my faults; but priests like you refuse to kneel— will not submit— will not serve. There is way too much of Milton’s Satan about such fallen priests and too little of Christ.

FATHER FANO

The question is not whether the good Archbishop is excommunicated by the self-righteous Roman Catholic Institution – but the kind relevance or irrelevance the Roman Catholic Church is continually depicting in this day and age of the freedom to belong.

FATHER JOE

The Roman Catholic Church is the BRIDE OF CHRIST. She is holy because Christ is holy. Have you forgotten your first year theology about the marks of the Church? There is plenty of freedom, Father, but it can also be misused. This is behind the nature of sin, abusing our liberty and making the wrong choices, selecting apparent goods which are really evil or just not good for us. You call the Roman Catholic Church “self-righteous” because you have spurned her authority over you. If your judgment is wrong, and I am convinced this is the case, then the self-righteousness is yours. By seeking to justify yourself, you make justification from Christ impossible. You stand outside the community of salvation.

FATHER FANO

Surely, God is not identical to the Roman Catholic Church. God is God, period! So no matter whether one has membership in the Roman Catholic Church, Methodist Church, Zionist Church, etc. – is not an issue. What is vital is that one has a good relationship with his/her God.

FATHER JOE

Certainly, there is an identity between the Roman Catholic Church and the Mystical Body of Christ. In this sense, Christ shares his divinity by grace with the Church. The Pope is the Vicar of Christ and the visible head of Christ’s Church. Jesus is the invisible head. He extended his authority to Peter and promised to be with him until the final consummation. Like a good fundamentalist Protestant, you stress a PERSONAL relationship with God. And yet, while this is important, the Catholic stress upon a CORPORATE RELATIONSHIP with Christ is very much what the word “Catholic” or “Universal” is all about. Your little breakaway church and the few sects loosely affiliated with you cannot make this claim. Neither in scope nor in history can they represent the house Jesus built. We do not come to God alone. He has given us each other and the Magisterium (teaching authority) to preserve us in the truth. Yours would be capricious religion based upon human whim and African eccentricities and maybe burning loins. This is all too bad for you. I would want no part of it and most of Africa would agree with me.

FATHER FANO

There are more serious issues to address in the churches, as with racism and poverty.

FATHER JOE

Avoidance solves nothing. I am reminded of the pro-life fight. We often hear that there are other important issues. Well, it is true. But if I am a dead baby, I have no more issues. Similarly, when it comes to faith, we are dealing again with life, albeit eternal life. Should I really place social justice matters ahead of whether I will go to heaven or hell— and who I might take with me?

FATHER FANO

God bless the Archbishop!

FATHER JOE

Yes, and I pray every day that he will repent before it is too late.

Filed under: Anti-Catholicism, Apologetics, Celibacy, Marriage, Priests | 1 Comment »

Bishop Seeks to Change No-Marriage Rule
By WILLIAM C. MANN
The Associated Press

Wednesday, July 12, 2006WASHINGTON — Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo, whose 2001 marriage caused an international scandal within the Roman Catholic Church, set out on a new mission Wednesday to override church rules and let married priests continue their ministries. / The Zambian archbishop said he was championing the cause of married priests even before his marriage, but his new goal is to end the church’s celibacy rule.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/12/AR2006071201616.html

[Here is Archbishop Milingo on the left] He begged married priests to “come out of their Catholic prisons and be reinstated, taking once more their pastoral responsibility among the married priests.” He continued: “To those priests who may feel that by marrying they have stepped down or fallen short, unleash your burden of humiliation, exclusivity and shame. Come among your fellow `sinners,’ so considered, who were to be branded, and to be forgotten forever as weaklings.”

Archbishop Milingo was taken aside by Church officials and the late Pope John Paul II interceded to pursuade him to return to the fold and renounce the marriage, which he did four months later in August 2001. The attempted marriage had been conducted by Rev. Sun Myung Moon (Unification Church) and the woman was a South Korean, Maria Sung. Unsure of his stability, he remained in seclusion for a year in Argentina. His supposed wife from the arranged marriage complained bitterly about the situation. Archbishop George Augustus Stallings, chief primate of his own independent African American Catholic congregation (Imani Temple, 1989) also married an Asian woman at the ceremony. He hosted the press conference yesterday, Wednesday, July 12. [See Bishop Stallings here on the right and Archbishop Milingo below]

Now, Archbishop Milingo (76 years old) has gone over the deep end again and is back with Maria Sung. Like other dissenters, he refuses to leave the Church, desiring instead to force her to change. “My position is very clear in my understanding of my ordination by the church. Once a priest, always a priest. Even though a priest can renounce his vows and be defrocked by the church, the church avows that he always remains a priest.”

[Here above is Bishop Stallings with his wife.] The archbishop said there are some 150,000 married priests around the world and about 20,000 in the U.S. who should be returned to ministry.

Here is the text of Archbishop Milingo’s speech at the Washington Press Club:

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We are dealing with a very serious matter that has affected the Catholic Church for many years. In the last 35 years since the International Catholic Synod of Bishops in 1971, the struggles surrounding celibacy have worsened. If in 1971, the church listened to the appeals of Bishops to offer celibacy as an option to those who would bind themselves to it for their entire lives, but let those called to be ordained priests, yet married, to fulfill their calling, then today we would not be harvesting straw instead of divine graces.

The seriousness of the matter was emphasized once again when the US Bishops raised the issue as we entered this third millennium. Once more the authorities in the Vatican waved it off, to the detriment of the church in USA and around the world.

Married priesthood has existed as early as the time of Moses, as we read in Leviticus that they were all married, the family of the High priest Aaron. Some argue that what was demanded in that priesthood was merely a legal purity. But when God demanded sanctity as a sign of being intimate with Him, this injunction of sanctity was still more applicable to priests: “Be holy, because I, your Lord, am holy.” Sanctity or holiness is the first requirement of any priesthood, married or celibate.
The Apostles ordained priests and bishops, regardless of their marital status. St. Paul ordained Timothy and consecrated him to Bishopric. He ordained the first Bishop of the Island of Malta, who was a married man. As St. Paul said to Timothy, the one condition he imposed upon a Bishop was to marry only once.

“A Bishop must be irreproachable, married only once, temperate, self controlled, decent, hospitable,, able to teach, not a drunkard, not aggressive, but gentle, not contentious, not a lover of money.” (Timothy 3:2-3)

Some people will be surprised to hear of what became of Zacchaeus, the short man whom Jesus called down from a sycamore tree and then visited his house. He truly was converted with his whole family, and ended being consecrated Bishop of Caesarea Philippi. (History of the Church: Venturi).

Jesus shared fully with all his apostles, both married and non-married, all that was required to be an Apostle. He did not show favoritism to any of them. Even as He gave them responsibilities, He looked to each one’s capacity, and relied on each of them. The question of celibacy was not His preoccupation. I think that the demands presented by St. Paul to a candidate to Bishopric are more than sufficient for the life of a Bishop. Looking back to priesthood from which rank a Bishop comes the same demands are applied to the priesthood.

We hereby appeal to those Bishops who have been sent to the monasteries, condemned forever, never to appear any more to their faithful. Let them come out of their Catholic prisons and be reinstated, taking once more their pastoral responsibility among the married priests. Please let us know where you are, be in contact with us.

To those priests who may feel that by marrying they have stepped down or fallen short, unleash your burden of humiliation, exclusivity, and shame. Come among your fellow “sinners,” so considered, who were to be branded, and to be forgotten forever as weaklings. Come in, but never come with lamentations. Your burden has been loaded off, you come light, released from any weight of sinfulness. Become a Magdalene, a Paul, a Peter or Augustine, or one of the many others who never looked back to their struggling past. They all became outstanding saints, in spite of their former weaknesses.

To our beloved “Mother Church,” we beseech you to open your arms to these prodigal children who have longed to return home and have so much to offer. There is no more important healing than the reconciliation of 150,000 married priests with the Mother Church, and the healing of a Church in crisis through the renewing of marriage and family. The Church has nothing to lose by allowing priests the option to marry. Historically, out of holy marriages have come priests, popes, saints, and loving servants of God and the Church.

It is out of our love for our Faith and deep concern for its future that we proclaim this day, the end of mandatory celibacy, and the option for priests to sanctify the family as it was intended in the Garden of Eden, even as they fulfill their calling and ordination.

Sponsored by Stalling’s AACC, the archbishop is going to spend six months traveling the U.S. spreading his dissent and witnessing to his breech of promises made to God and to the Church. He is a disgrace and proof that the Church must be more careful in the future about who is made bishop.

Archbishop Milingo goes every which-a-way. He made promises of perpetual celibacy and obedience. Then he broke them and attempted marriage, making a promise he was not entitled to keep to a woman. Shortly thereafter, he put her aside and reaffirmed his promise of celibacy and pledged obedience to the Holy Father. [See the statement below] Now, he has renounced his promises to God and the Church again and has returned to his so-called spouse. What they might do in bed is not something about which I would speculate; however, he has joined himself to heretics and in Stallings, an excommunicated priest who likes to masquerade as a bishop or patriarch (his own pope)!

Maverick Archbishop Weds in Manhattan
http://www.wewillstand.org/media/20010528.htm

Vatican Regrets Marriage of Bishop Milingo
http://www.cathnews.com/news/105/128.html

Married Archbishop Back to Work
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2482321.stm

Media Coverage of Archbishop Milingo
http://www.archbishopmilingo.org/media_coverage.htm

Married Archbishop Decalres New Ministry
http://washingtontimes.com/national/20060712-110557-8071r.htm

Rome Exorcist says Archbishop Milingo Brainwashed
http://www.fatima.org/news/newsviews/amorth.asp

Filed under: Anti-Catholicism, Apologetics, Celibacy, Marriage, Priests | 3 Comments »

Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo (of Zambia) was excommunicated on Tuesday, September 26 by the Vatican for his break with the Church in celebrating an unauthorized episcopal ordination and/or installation. He was already in trouble for an “attempted” marriage to Marie Sung, a Korean acupuncturist (which took place in 2001). I say “attempted” because marriages that break the rules in the Catholic Church are considered null-and-void. He is only feigning marriage and any sexual activity is fornication. He reconciled with the Church, claimed he was brainwashed, and then left again.

He used to perform unauthorised exorcisms and large scale healing services. He was known for being flamboyent and outspoken. But it looks like the Catholic Church will have the final word. This week he participated with George, wannabee Pope, Stallings in the installation of four men as bishops. His campaign, called MARRIED PRIESTS NOW! seeks to end compulsory celibacy for priests. It has been at least 20 years since such a highly ranked clergyman has been excommunicated.

The Vatican described the archbishop as “spreading division and confusion among the faithful,” and so censure was necessary and we need to pray fervently for healing and fidelity during “these moments of ecclesiastical suffering.” The archbishop was guilty of “irregularity and of progressively open rupture of communion with the Church.” Both Milingo and Stallings were participants of the mass wedding celebrated by Rev. Sun Myung Moon’s Unification Church in New York back in 2001. Moon picked out Asian women for both men.

Susan Gibbs, spokeswoman for the Archdiocese of Washington, said Archbishop Milingo’s actions in attempting to name bishops without Vatican approval were “clearly illicit.” (Unfortunately, this does not mean that the bishops are necessarily “invalid”!) The event took place on Sunday at the Imani Temple on Capitol Hill, which is operated by pseudo-Archbishop George Augustus Stallings Jr., a former Catholic priest who defected back in 1989. Stallings must have had some concern or doubt about his own episcopal orders because he was one of the men consecrated by Archbishop Milingo. The others were Peter Paul Brennan of New York; Patrick Trujillo of Newark, N.J.; and Joseph Gouthro of Las Vegas.

Some have suggested that Milingo is demon-possessed. Back in the 1970’s his healing services were so wild that he was warned by Rome. He incorporated local customs and it was said that his rituals resembled voodooism. He was told to stop but refused. Ordered to Rome in 1983, he continued his bizarre ministry and became a celebrity drawing thousands to services and for exorcisms. Now he suffers from automatic “latae sententiae” excommunication for participation in unauthorised ordinations.

It is all just too sad. Note that while the various News services assert in headlines that the Vatican excommunicated him, the truth be said, he did it to himself. All that Rome is doing is declaring the obvious, stating a fact to insure that faithful Catholics are not fooled into thinking Archbishop Milingo and his cronies are in good standing.

FATHERJOE: Milingo & Schism

WASH POST: Milingo Excommunicated By Vatican

Below is a Spanish parody of the issue, not recommended for everyone, okay, maybe not recommended for anyone! I thought Spain was more respectful of the Church. You have been warned:

DISCUSSION

JOHN PAT:

A tragic shame!!! Stallings et al are considered Valid “Old Catholic” Bishops…to what purpose for another line of Apostolic Succession. This shows how far the “Old Catholic” position has taken since 1870  with the beginning of the movement. On the other hand “Old Roman” Catholic clergy maintain the discipline and praxis of the Ancient Catholic Church of Holland which predates PIO IX’s establishing a rival heirarchy at Utrecht. One can not be a Roman  Catholic Bishop if one is not in communion with Peter! “Old Romans” pray for the Holy Father in the Una Cum at Mass, the “Old Catholics” abandoned such practices along with auricular confession, celibacy, veneration of the Saints etc. TRADITIONALISTs are cast out while PROGRESSIVE get second chances! By this account Archbishop Lefevre should be Canonized.

BISHOP CORNELIUS:

I Whole heartly Agree Bishop Cornelius ECCC UK

Filed under: Anti-Catholicism, Apologetics, Celibacy, Marriage, Priests | 2 Comments »

This is the fifth post in an extended discussion about married priests and the breakaway group founded by Archbishop Milingo.

MATTHEW

Part of the answer to the problem of low response to vocations is to improve the Church’s approach to advertising the “product.” You get more potential buyers with an effective ad campaign. It has been my experience that the Church doesn’t advertise for candidates in an effective manner.

FATHER JOE

There are many programs for vocations that would seem to agree with you. However, I suspect the fads they follow to recruit men will only have short-lived results. The real answer is happy and holy priests. The scandals have hurt morale, not to mention the widespread dissent that exists even in Catholic families. Families need to have children and they should encourage them to be priests and nuns. Priests must be men committed to prayer, worship and service. Celibacy is a wonderful way to embrace this calling and it has given the Roman Catholic priest of the West a special charism as a man single-heartedly in love with God. Celibacy is a plus, not a deficit in the equation.

MATTHEW

Not enough positive encouragement is given to young people who are at the point of selecting a career to opt for a consecrated life.

FATHER JOE

This is true, and yet when they see others mock or disrespect priests, it is no wonder that they might also become cynical or close the door to such a vocation as priesthood or consecrated life. There are also way too many rascals in the ranks.

Note also that the priesthood is not simply a CAREER; it is a way of life. All day, each day, everywhere he goes– the priest is a priest!

MATTHEW

When was the last time you went to a high school career night (other than at a Catholic high school) to encourage young men to take up the challenge? When was the last time your bishop went on such a mission? This is a mission activity and it looks like one that is invisible to the hierarchy. Remember, not all committed Catholics attend Catholic schools.

FATHER JOE

You are very presumptuous. I am the product of public schools and know well the challenges of outreach to the community outside the parochial system. However, sometimes there is active resistance to allowing priests and religious a forum in the context you mention.

MATTHEW

I know that I applied to the seminary when I was young, but for no given reason they wouldn’t take me.

FATHER JOE

I cannot say why they did not take you. Did you try somewhere else? Were the problems in the psychological screening? Did you have the proper recommendations? Did you show respect to the Church and the clear capacity for obedience? Were you committed to celibacy? But in any case, the priesthood is not for everyone. I have some close friends who studied to be priests but for one reason or another, did not complete the formation. We may think we have a calling, but that vocation must be confirmed by the Church herself— another form of regulation.

Sometimes this regulation fails, either because of incompetence in those placed over seminarians or because the candidates themselves conceal serious problems or reservations that later explode.

MATTHEW

I also know a number of men who attended seminary because they wanted to be priests and dropped out because they didn’t feel called to celibacy.

FATHER JOE

It is a good reason to drop out. Celibacy is a terrible and a wonderful sacrifice. Compared to other men, it makes the priest the “poor” man, unfulfilled in the ways that the world considers important. Nevertheless, celibacy is a great treasure and a hallmark of the priesthood in the West. I am not threatened by a few married clergy. However, I would grieve if this wonderful gift that God bestows his priests was minimized or dismissed as accidental or inconsequential. You might see it that way, but most celibate priests do not. The majority of priests I know in ministry would oppose a change in the discipline, so would I.

MATTHEW

According to Catholic theology one charism can exist independent of any other.

FATHER JOE

Yes, charisms can be distinct but they are rarely if ever independent. They flow one into the other. Such is the case with a celibate priesthood.

MATTHEW

Why do we insist that God triple the charism of priesthood with celibacy and masculinity?

FATHER JOE

I am a faithful Roman Catholic priest. That is why I take these views. I believe that what the Magisterium teaches must be believed. Further, speaking for myself personally, that violation of this trust would bring me disgrace as a priest and forfeit my immortal soul.

1. The priest must be a man. Christ did not select women to be among the twelve and his example has been followed for two thousand years. He has not told us that we could do otherwise. Gender is not an accidental but has core meaning to our identity and importance for the priest in regard to the incarnation. The priest is a living icon for Christ who functions at the altar as “alterchristus” acting “in the person of Christ, head of the Church.” The priest is Christ, the bridegroom of the Church which is his bride.
2. The discipline of celibacy, while not intrinsically necessary for the priesthood, certainly has roots in the practice of the ancient Jews, the early Church, the life of Jesus and the witness of St. Paul and others. It is a beautiful way to make a priest a sign of contradiction to the world, a man who offers not only cultic oblation but the sacrifice of his own flesh for the good of the Church.
3. The priesthood is God’s great gift to the Church. It makes possible the re-presentation of Calvary on our altars, Holy Communion, the absolution of sins, and so much more. It is not a gift that one can merit or for which one is entitled as upon a social justice agenda. No one is worthy of it and yet all of us, on both sides of the sanctuary, benefit from it.

MATTHEW

As you admit these are arbitrary disciplines of Rome. They are not mandated by divine scripture or tradition. Get a better ad campaign. You might surprise yourself.

FATHER JOE

Did I say arbitrary?

Celibacy is a discipline, but it is a long-standing practice that has colored our understanding of the priesthood. The priest belongs to the Church. This is the family that receives his first loyalty and all his time and strength. There should be no competition.

As for the all-male priesthood, it is a matter of unchangeable doctrine. Women cannot be priests and their so-called Eucharist is invalid! The marriage analogy at the altar is distorted by priestesses into a perverse sacramental lesbianism.

The Scriptures and Sacred Tradition lend much support to the current Roman Catholic position. Revisionists pretend otherwise and do not have the high ground.

If all you want are better sales gimmicks then maybe you would prefer one of the breakaway churches? But I hope not, because I am convinced they will incur almighty God’s terrible judgment for harming the mystical body of Christ.

God bless and keep you.

Filed under: Anti-Catholicism, Apologetics, Celibacy, Marriage, Priests | 1 Comment »