Here is an update to the letter written by 19 priests in Quebec in support of homosexuality.
Sherbrooke Archbishop André Gaumond, who is also the president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, said he wasn’t surprised that the 19 priests had decided to go public with their opinion.
He appreciated that the letter had a polite and non-aggressive tone, he added in an interview with CBC.
"I’m not very happy with the means, to have a public declaration, a public article in the newspaper on a Sunday morning to say, ‘We priests are not in accord with our church,’" he added.
"I’m not very happy with that, but it’s not a reason to throw them out of the church."
Gaumond said the issue will be discussed at a meeting of Catholic bishops of Quebec in about 10 days.
"What will be the result of our discussion, I do not know, but well, life is going on."
Priests who penned letter hope for dialogue
One of the letter’s authors, Rev. Claude Lefebvre, said he’s not sure what the group expects the letter to accomplish, but hopes it will open up dialogue on the issues.
Wow open up dialogue! What a novel idea! I just have never heard that before from people who dissent on Church teaching. Hey let us also open up dialogue on other settled Church teaching. How about the divinity of Christ for example or the natures of Christ. Or how about the the Church’s love for the poor? Let’s us dialogue about charitable efforts for the poor. Dumping these charitable efforts could really help the bottom line of most parishes. Maybe we can find 19 priests tired of running soup kitchens, etc that could write an open letter in support of cutting off the poor and opening up dialogue on the issue.
Now as to Sherbrooke Archbishop André Gaumond. This reminds me that most days (if I am sane) I thank God that I have no vocation to the priesthood and possibly being a Bishop. That crushing weight of the care of souls and having to deal with idiotic priests who must think they are Episcopalians or something is not something anyone would willingly desire other than submission to God’s will.
"What will be the result of our discussion, I do not know, but well, life is going on." My simplistic mind would think that either the priests repent of their promotion of heresy or that they be relieved of any position where they can harm souls until they do. My first reaction is to give them the boot, when I should want to present them with knees in supplication. But plan B in this case is much better so I would encourage both myself and my readers to send some prayers the way of the bishop and his misguided shepherds.
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Don’t just
6 comments
Thanks for the update–clearly frustrating, but not too surprising either…
Don’t expect anything good from someone named “Lefebvre”
Jeff,
Thanks for being just. My first reaction was very simplistic and narrow-minded (“Sheesh, what ridiculous action for priests to take. Why should a bishop have to put up with this baloney?!”). Reading your post here was really helpful. Sure, it was neither right nor bright for those priests to stand publicly against the Church / their bishop. But how cool of Abp Gaumond, to face it peacefully. And how wise of you to, post-rant, remind us that this is actually more complicated than it would seem at a glance — and to pray!
Thanks for ripping on what’s stupid, but thanks also for not just ripping on it but calling us to charity. Too easy for me, at least, to simply complain. Hooray for the Body of Christ! Where one stumbles, her brother shores her up with truth!
It seems that the liberals are really pushing an agenda since Ratzinger’s election over homosexuality, one that we never really saw under Pope John Paul II. Could it be that Father Neuhas is correct: that Pope Benedict will allow this to continue in order to avoid a schism?
While we’re reconsidering settled teachings, can we re-open discussion on the one that says that I mustn’t slap the holy mother shit out of heretical dissenting gay priests?
The following quotes are from St. Augustine, “The City of God”, and seem appropriate in this situation. I am at a loss, without this guidance.
�If the wicked refuse to join in the blessed endeavor, they should be loved as enemies are loved in Christian charity, since, as long as they live, there is the possibility that they may come to a better mind.�
�The only evils these people recognize are having to endure hunger, disease, and murder. It is as though man�s greatest good were to have everything good, except himself.�
Finally, St. Augustine laments the need to deal with “the half-wits we have to endure and must answer.” I guess even a saint’s patience is limited.
And St. Athanasius: �Catholics who remain faithful to tradition, even if they are reduced to a handful, are the true Church of Jesus Christ.�
One positive: learning the names of the signatories, I (in my opinion) would resolve not to hear Mass any one of them would sacrilegiously “celebrate.” But, that’s just me.