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.
Paul speaks of “filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ,” an admission that is embarrassing to those denominations which contend that our Lord has done everything and that all which remains for us is to have faith in him. We have been redeemed, but salvation is not automatic. Our Lord tells us to take up our crosses and to follow him. What was missing from the passion and crucifixion? The answer is simple, our union and participation with him. He died for us but now he would have us die with him so that we might live with him, in this world and forever in the next. Paul pours himself out as a witness to the Lord and his Gospel. Salvation history does not end with Christ, even as it reaches the climax of God’s intervention; rather, it continues in the lives of believers in the Church. Like Paul, and for the sake of our brothers and sisters, we are commissioned to proclaim the Good News as a “completion” of “the word of God.” Our Bibles are translated and the books compiled. We are taught our faith. No one comes to the baptismal font alone. Our encounter with Christ is not just a mystical experience, but one that is mediated through the sacraments and human vessels.
Primitive man, with the most bare-bones of civilization, seemed to appreciate that there was something singular about virginity or sexual purity. Our ancestors viewed it as giving the person a certain physical and spiritual strength. The knight makes his solitary vigil and prays before a great quest. The oracle or prophetess is untouched by men so that she might have a more intimate communion with the divine. Despite religious error and moral confusion; this peculiar truth about our nature and this sublimation came to light. Later, after the gift of supernatural revelation, the mystery of virginity or celibacy found its place in the religious dispensation for which it was properly made: centered on the Virgin of Nazareth, Mary, and upon her Son, Jesus Christ. All priestly celibacy and religious virginity find their exemplar in them, particularly in our Lord.
I have rewritten this post several times, struggling to express something that is hard to define. Christian celibacy emphasizes mind and will over attraction, passion, instinct, etc. But none of us exist outside of the human family and all men and women are creatures of God. Both the celibate and the atheist might place too much emphasis upon the mind. It can become a form of idolatry.
Neither an extremist celibacy that hates our biological nature nor an atheistic materialism that denies the spiritual component to our identity should be given the upper hand. It is curious that this latter group might look down upon our physicality, giving the gravity to the mind even as we tamper to improve, manipulate or mechanically duplicate elements of our constitution. Ours is the age of computers and robots. But the minds of men are more than electrical brains and the body a masterpiece beyond that of any fabricated automaton. We might suppose that the mind can do all things; that whatever we can imagine, we can make real. And yet there is also a reductionism: there is a scientific empiricism that impugns other types of truth and which looks upon human genius as something which might be replicated in the mechanical.
We were made for God. This is a truth of our nature. Atheists will sometimes embrace an exaggerated science as a place-holder for where God belongs. They will leap to assumptions or rally around conflicting math or parade man’s growing understanding of both the universe, large and small, or point to man’s technological breakthroughs. Science rests upon all sorts of philosophical presuppositions. It can act as a kind of religion for those who explicitly claim no religion. Science might overreach itself, arguing that no restraints should be placed upon what the mind can conceive, even the horrific. Some critics warn that we are playing God.
I am reminded of the controlling “IT” in Madeleine L’Engle’s A Winkle in Time. A warning, for sure, it portrays a dark disembodied Mind which takes over everything, exerting a powerful telepathic bondage over people. Do not get me wrong, the mind is a wondrous gift. Look at all the technology and breakthroughs that have been made possible by human genius. But we can wrongly regard the gift of the mind as if it is the giver of all gifts. We have fashioned weapons of war that could destroy the planet and all life upon it. Separated from will or love, the mind can be a cruel task master.
Christian celibacy is not simply the victory of the mind over the flesh. If the bestial is close to the animals, a narcissistic mental egoism is reflective of the devil. If thinking heads could be severed from their bodies so that they could devote themselves to mental deliberations unfettered by physical desires, this would not constitute an effort at perfect celibacy. True celibacy is neither the destruction of our sexual faculties nor the negation of our gender-identity. Rather, it takes all that makes us human and makes of it a sacrificial gift to God. Men and women are human beings, not angelic ones.
The fiction that man is a mind distinct and locked in a human body can lead to a terrible separatism. We are our bodies. According to their natures, both angels and men must surrender and conform to God’s loving providence. If the will is poisoned by hatred or by the wrong kind of love, then the mind alone cannot straighten us out. We would be given over to the demonic.
An emphasis upon the mind does not necessarily mean that one is good or holy. The two components of the human soul are also found in angelic beings: intellect and will. But men also have physical bodies and we cannot pretend otherwise. These bodies are liable to original sin, weakness and corruption. They also possess certain positive abilities and attributes which must be acknowledged or integrated so that we might be holistic persons.
There is no intrinsic or necessary link between atheism and science. One of the most brilliant men I have ever known was the late Dr. Hank Dardy. A genius, he ranked with Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, and yet he worked for the Navy Department and gave his ideas away to others who made billions. He helped perfect HD television and there was a part of him in the guidance system of every ballistic missile in our country. There is a long list of advances made under his team in engineering, physics, and computers. Diverse in his research interests, he even assisted Spielberg in the fabrication of his virtual dinosaurs in the Jurassic Park film. And yet, this first-class mind and scientist was also known by the religious title, Deacon. He was a devout Catholic and clergyman who assisted at Mass, preached, was qualified to perform baptisms and to witness marriages. Further, while most deacons were married; Deacon Hank was celibate. His whole life was dedicated to his work for our country and for the Church. His celibacy was an important ingredient in who he was and in how he approached the world. Although worth a small fortune, he lived simply. There was his work and his prayers. He did not even have a television set, not because he did not want one, but because he watched what he wanted on the computer (which was more so than not, work related). A poverty of spirit matched up with his celibacy in a marvelous way so rarely realized in today’s world. He exemplified the value of faith, commitment and celibacy. Priests could learn a great deal from this deacon.
Atheists claim to be the ultimate integralists in that they deny the spiritual component in the human being. They have a high appreciation of the mind but define it wholly in terms of the brain which they regard as the most important organ in the human body. They are right to say that people are their bodies. They are wrong to claim that these bodies are not animated by souls. We are, in their estimation, thinking and loving meat. They propose a high or lofty estimation of man; but they demean him as entirely an animal or a biological machine. The intellectuals among them would consequently equate or compare human knowing with the ever-increasing computational power of computers. As materialists, they would likely suppose that a day will come when a technological invention will rival or surpass the human mind. Science fiction has already given us such characters in Space Odyssey’s Hal and Star Trek’s Data. The critique I would render is that to surmise such is a form of errant reductionism. We should not reduce the human mind to computation, no matter how complex. Machines like animals might mimic man and his sentience, but without the infusion of a soul by God, that is all they will ever do. We mistakenly try to close the gap by restricting the abilities of the human mind, denying its self-reflective knowledge, literally bending back unto itself— which would be impossible without the soul.
Why this apparent aside in a reflection about priestly celibacy? It is simply to acknowledge the unbelieving and even hostile environment where the priest finds himself. It comes down to a fundamental element. If there were no God and nothing of man that could survive death, then the very institution of the priesthood would be ludicrous. It would be an utter waste of time, resources and energy. Celibacy would be the tree topper on a Christmas tree voided of meaning. This touches the essential demarcation where people of faith and those without part ways. Without the gift of faith, the testimony of Scripture will not move atheistic critics. The Church has placed great confidence in reason and philosophy but not all atheists are all that reasonable. They reject logic and philosophical proofs as language games. “Show me heaven with my telescope. Reveal to me the Eucharistic change under the microscope. Where is God in a world where the innocent suffer and evil flourishes?” When it comes to a discipline like mandatory celibacy, they would argue that it is a waste of the only life a person will ever have. A priest-friend many years ago was taken in by such assertions, and by the inherent skepticism that permeated his graduate studies in anthropology. “Given that there are so many religions, how could we be certain that any are true? Would it not be easier to say that they are all equally false?” He left the ministry and got married. After an accident, he felt abandoned. He stopped believing entirely.
It occurred to me, ever since, that men seeking ordination must be totally certain of the Church’s claims. Dismissal from the seminary is no cause for lasting shame; defection from the priesthood brings with it a lasting stigma and possible scandal. A good priest can work miracles of faith, even if he cannot clearly see the fruits. A bad priest is a devil that can do incalculable harm to souls. The priest will face fire from every side. Only if he is absolutely convinced of his faith and calling can he endure both the emotional assaults and the possible challenges from the various academic disciplines. He must be smart, holy and loving. Our men must be celibate priests in a world that has stopped believing and where many believers have become practical atheists, living as if there is neither divine judgment nor resurrection.
While certain laity and religious take temporary vows of celibacy; the richness of priestly celibacy is its permanence. A short-term commitment would be long on show but short on substance. The whole point is that one is not simply delaying gratification or the opportunity to be a husband and father; but rather that these goods are being forever taken off the table. The witness of Christ’s celibate and sacrificial love is manifest as absolute and forever. He is no part-time Savior and there should be no part-time priests. God will never break his covenant with us. It is an everlasting covenant. The pledge of this agreement is the redemptive blood of the Cross. Dying might seem permanent enough; but our Lord would not stay dead. It is his resurrection that is constant and that touches eternity. The promises of marriage speak to our constancy unto death. Priestly celibacy embraces the endless share and glory we are given in Christ’s resurrected life. Marriage ends with death. The priesthood will endure into the eternity of the heavenly kingdom.
Although his existence might be denied, it seems obvious to honest believers that the devil is exerting an oppressive influence upon the modern world. There are all sorts of “how to” books on the mechanics of love-making and seduction while spirituality is reduced to a form of self-seeking psychology. Masquerading prayer focuses upon the horizontal instead of the vertical. Prayer becomes wishful thinking or inspirational slogans. If the supernatural is acknowledged, it is in terms of New Age occultism or media fantasies. MTV ran an awards program in 2013 which paraded Miley Cyrus in a song and dance spectacle that was straight out of the routines used at strip joints. She came on to a married man, touched herself and exhibited the most vulgar of sexual simulations. Brushing aside any pretense, she even appeared in the papers wearing horns like a female devil. Until recently she was a Disney teen icon and the role model for 14 year old girls across the nation. I suppose this will set the stage to a side-line modeling career, given that clothing in stores would already have young girls dress like street-walkers. Both in abortion and in a pedophile culture, our society is feeding our children to the beast. People are being corrupted early on so that they might be entirely desensitized to the values and meaning of traditional religious faith.
Taking delight in foul music and lurid images does not help prepare one for pew sitting on Sunday or living in Christian marriage or hearing a call to celibate priesthood. No one can run far or fast enough to escape the rampaging eroticism. It is mainstream and makes the message of the Church seem ridiculous or out of touch with man’s bestial nature. Politicians want marriage for gays at a time when heterosexuals no longer want marriage at all. Celibacy is not even on the radar. There are further efforts, not simply to redefine marriage, but to rewrite the book about personhood and human nature. Callous that we are usurping God’s prerogatives; it is as if secular men do not care. They have made man the measure of all things. It does not seem to matter if anything corresponds to the truth or not. Efforts are underway to create various degrees of marriage contracts. No fault divorce already illustrates how the notion of permanence has been stripped from the definition. It was once a motto that promises were made to be kept; however, today it is truer that promises are made to be broken. Some legislators are seeking to establish marriage contracts with built-in term limits. Such licenses would marry couples for a period of five years. At the end of the five years, the couple could either renew the contract for another term or allow it to expire automatically. Once expired, they would be free to seek out another sexual union or marriage. The Church could never have any part in sordid relationships like this. These tactics will not safeguard marriage or preserve a society that has become fearful of commitment; rather, it would signal its complete collapse.
Here is a valuable lesson for parents. Billy needs prayers for strength and courage. Miley needs prayers that she might come to repentance and healing. Bad music is not made good by a young woman selling and cheapening herself. I think his fears and regrets are well-founded.
“This administration does not want a strong Catholic Church, nor a strong relationship with it, as it sees the Church as an obstacle to its liberal social agenda,” Jim Nicholson, former U.S. Vatican Ambassador said.
Justice Richard Bosson wrote: “Now [the Huguenins] are compelled by law to compromise the very religious beliefs that inspire their lives. Though the rule of law requires it, the result is sobering. It will no doubt leave a tangible mark on the Huguenins and others of similar views.”
I have heard doctors say that they may have to turn in their licenses to practice if they must prescribe abortifacients and do referrals for immoral treatments. There was a nurse at J. Hopkins some years back who forfeited her job for refusal to assist at abortion procedures. Everything from gay rights to abortion seems to trump religious liberty these days.
I think it is noble that these young children should want to help make a difference against Muscular Dystrophy; but I really, really hate these “youngest persons ever” contests that put innocent lives at risk.
Lee Thompson Young “Jett Jackson” purportedly took his life. This is terribly sad. He was a wonderful actor with much promise. His Disney show was entertaining and wholesome. This is hard to believe. Rest in Peace.
I know of two similar stories where false allegations were made against priests. The accusers later came forward and admitted they had lied. But the damage was already done. One priest was told that he could never have any association with children. The other despaired and left the priesthood. There is a lot of intimidation in such matters. We want to protect children, but the truth and possible innocence should matter, too.
Third gender option? Someone should call God up and give him the breaking news. How do we teach Genesis now? Should we make the snake into the third gender?
They should simply note the gender as currently “indeterminate” until the testing results come back. My concern is that this is not really medically driven, but a blind for a moral agenda. The excuse of a few misfortunates will be used as a foot in the door for the kind of transgendered nonsense as we recently witnessed in California. It will not be a matter of errant genitalia but people simply saying they feel male or female while they live in bodies of the opposing sex. The Church would side with the DNA and debate about those in the cracks.
Huh? They built a 47 story building and forgot to put in elevators! This reminds me of a giant office building put up about ten or more years ago. It was beautiful, except for one thing… not a single bathroom in the whole structure! Ah, architects and their mistakes!
I can see it now, Johnny who is 6 foot 5 inches and shaves will claim to be transgendered and be allowed to hang out in the girls’ bathroom and sign up for girl’s wrestling… you watch! He can already join the Girl Scouts!
“This radical bill warps the gender expectations of children by forcing all California public schools to permit biological boys in girls restrooms, showers, clubs and on girls sports teams and biological girls in boys restrooms, showers, clubs and sports teams. This is insanity,” says Randy Thomasson of savecalifornia.com.
Since progressives love quotas, I can imagine that next the NFL will be told they must allow a certain percentage of women and transgendered persons on football teams… not to mention the Cheerleader squads. If we are going to do this to kids, what about adults? What laws will be made to compel enforcement? It is said that a decadent culture eventually realizes every possible absurdity.
Some time back I made a post in response to inquiries about people’s pet dogs and the question as to whether they would be given entry into heaven. It is amazing how long the subsequent thread became. My answer was essentially to stress human immortality and our hope for heaven. Animal substantial forms would continue to exist as paradigms in the divine mind. Anything more would be up to God’s mysterious providence and I would not presume to give an answer where the Church has not. Others were free to speculate, but we would not know anything more for sure until or if we find ourselves among the saints.
All sorts of responses were elicited. Some were angry with me and thought I was mean-spirited. (I could not post all of these comments.) Others made arguments for the continued existence of animals because they are a part of our affection and shared existence in this world and thus would add to our happiness in the next. Others cited Scripture and argued for a literal new earth. Some ridiculed the whole notion of an afterlife, for anyone or anything. Others agreed with me that the stress had to be upon the beatific vision and how we (people) are made for God. In any case, the whole gambit of responses was made. It actually makes for an interesting discussion. I mention it again here, in case anyone new might like to see the comments or add some.
I would not worry much about the fate of animals after they die. If we love animals we should do what we can now to protect them from abuse and suffering. We live in a world where many species are rapidly becoming extinct.
Further, some may err by the sin of presumption about their own salvation. Are you sure that you are going to heaven? Speaking for myself, I have faith in Christ and try to be a faithful disciple in the Church. I worship God and seek to serve him through my charity and sacrifices for others. However, if people forget God, discount obedience to the commandments, and hate their fellow man… well, they may be in for a terrible surprise!
While I do not agree with everything in the fundamentalist Protestant message, here is an interesting clip from a Christian Scare Video that was shown to me in HS Bible Club…
COMMENTS
MISTER FLAPATAP:
With the prospect of looking at God face to face, we are wondering about Muffy and Fido? For the love of Pete!
My mother passed away last week and I was even wondering about meeting our loved ones in Heaven. Since our love will be perfected in God, there should not be any preference or degrees of love towards others. Will we care more about spending time with an old relative than someone who is now a stranger? I am inclined to think not. But I may be mistaken…
JOHANNES:
God works in mysterious ways, a billionth times into billions beyond the reach of any technology from this world or beyond this world we live in.
In my belief, most of his wonders are never exposed to those with a proud consciousness but to those who humbly accept and welcome him into their life with a deep appreciation and understanding of this GIFT that cannot be made nor created, this gift called LIFE.
So, one out of these wonders, I believe that our God Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, time and space, had reserved somewhere a space for our animals especially those who share our life and amuses us in time of great misery.
Animals, especially those who understands us are not cars or machines that have no souls and simply rust in time when abandoned, but, they have a living life, a soul and an understanding, that is why they are welcome by most of us humans to relish and share our life, some of us even treated them as our own family members.
In my opinion, I have no doubt our Father somewhere in his Bag of Mysteries had reserved a special place just for them in their afterlife.
BETTY:
This is such an interesting question and as we have several pets. The kids want to know the answer. I think your point about being stewards of animals on earth is what we should be focused upon. I recently picked up a book called Animals in Heaven? Catholics Want to Know! by author Susi Pittman. As a devout Catholic and steward of creation, she offers compelling evidence for animals to be present in heaven.
CHRISTIAN:
I wonder if dogs might go to heaven, but in some lesser sense than humans do. We are created by God, and in a subsidiary way we created dogs, i.e. we use the creativeness we receive from God to create things ourselves. Maybe through our efforts, God gives dogs a primitive “pneuma,” to go along with the “anima” they received directly from God.
FATHER JOE:
Huh?
YIANNI:
For God had created the world out of love, the Lord shows his love through everything you see, animals, birds, fish, the sun the moon, and above all MAN. Trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you may receive in heaven openly.
TREVOR:
I looked this up because, at 5:10 today I have to go and have our dear golden retriever “Charlie” put down, as he has a brain tumor.
I am so sad because he has been part of our family for nearly 10 years and has just given love to us all. I think that love is coming somehow from God, and unlike me, he was not tainted with original sin.
Maybe animals already know God, and are therefore already in a state of bliss that we find when we go to heaven.
I shall miss that unconditional love and I pray that someday I will also feel like that.
Fr. Fernando Suarez offered a healing Mass and service at Holy Family last night. We figure about 650 people came out. He is well known in the Filipino community.
Here I am with Father Suarez on the rectory porch. I heard confessions from 4:30 to 6:30 PM and made myself available for more after Mass. Father Suarez offered the healing blessings to individuals in the church and then went over to the overflow crowd in the hall.
The success of the event was all due to the many volunteers who set up for the event, gave hospitality to the priests and organized the parking and seating. Chief among these is Monette Roxas-Tharp (pictured below) who took registrations and functioned as the parish coordinator.
This is the home of the AWALT PAPERS, the posting of various pieces of wisdom salvaged from the writings, teachings and sermons of the late Msgr. William J. Awalt.
Blogger Priest 