More proof that the so-called vocation crisis is a created one is Matt C. Abbot story via Mike Tripoli about Msgr. Wilbur Davis the vocations director for the Diocese of Orange. I think the Minutemen could learn a think or two from these gatekeepers for the various diocese who have virtually built a wall around the seminaries. When it comes to vocations they are much more effective in their own "catch and release" program. "This one looks orthodox, I guess I will toss this one back in and keep looking." In fact based on their rejection of apparently orthodox men seeking the priesthood if they wanted to write a book on this subject they could call it "Profiles in discourage."
Msgr. Wilbur Davis supports pro-abortion Catholics, had an animus towards the vocations in Bishop Bruskewitz diocese ("This kind of stuff pisses me off."), towards Mother Angelica "Do we really want to encourage people to drink of Mother Angelica’s religious intolerance and arrogance? I certainly do not"), and calls Catholic Family Radio extremist. So of course he is a perfect match as the vocations director for Bishop Tod Brown. Though I guess if vocations were like golf scores they would be doing very well.
Looking a the Diocese of Orange’s website one thing caught my eye.
To Trust Again
Holy Family Cathedral
A special marriage preparation program designed for couples entering marriage after one or both partners has experienced loss through death, divorce, or annulment.
Through divorce or annulment? Looks like this program is as theologically sound as the rest of the diocese.
Roman Catholic Blog and The Cafeteria is Closed is also covering the story.
6 comments
Our diocese just recieved a new vocations director. We already have gone from recieving one man every two years for seminary to recieving five this coming year. Not to mention that 3 of the last 6 are from a tridentine community placed out in the boonies.
If the Church has a 50% professed homosexual rate in the priesthood, then there is a large percentage of that number that is going to be part of the looney left in every aspect of Church life.
Rejecting men who profess orthodoxy without any other manifest abormalities is very often the norm of the day. Your polotics matter. One suggestion would be to do what they did: get accepted and get through without being found out. Not good formation, but they control much of the Church now and they are not producing vocaitons.
I fear there is something very sinister going on in situations like this. I don’t want to believe it, but I have heard the stories and witnessed some extreme goofiness.
What’s happening in Orange is disastrous, but on the bright side there are dioceses where vocations are thriving. Lincoln and Boise for instance.
Msgr. Davis’ liberal agenda has been documented in earlier articles.
In an article written by Diocese of Orange insider, Jeff Nihill, the Catholic weekly newspaper, The Wanderer, had this to say about newly appointed vocations director, Msgr. Davis:
“The prospects in the upcoming years for quality diocesan priests under Brown are not bright, especially considering his appointment of Vocations Director, Msgr. Wilbur Davis. Davis is an outspoken ultra-liberal among diocesan clergy–a “liberal’s liberal”–frequently using the pulpit to stump for various left-wing causes. Davis spent the 1990’s serving with the left-wing Maryknolls in Chile and as pastor of St. Boniface Church in Anaheim before being tapped by Brown to serve as Vocations Director. The appointment left many stunned, and provided the clearest indication as to what direction Brown intended to take the diocese. Vocations Director is a key position as it is a first contact for men considering the priesthood. Not only should the appointment be an exemplary priest, but one with a demonstrated success in promoting vocations. Davis does not. Davis inherits the position from Msgr. Daniel Murray, who had held the position for two decades. During his tenure, Murray had reason to take pride in the diocese’s success in ordaining men to the priesthood, which far exceeded the numbers in neighboring dioceses, such as Los Angeles and San Bernardino (an interesting comparison, Orange currently has roughly the same number of men in the seminary as does Los Angeles, yet the L.A. Archdiocese is seven times larger). While Murray was no firebrand conservative, neither was he a flaming liberal like Davis.” (Tod Brown, Bishop Of Orange: A Two-Year Retrospective, by Jeff Nihill, The Wanderer, July 20, 2000)
Solution:
At the interview with Msgr. Davis, tell him you’re a homosexual who fully supports Planned Parenthood. Once you’re in, reveal thyself.
BMP
The irony in the Orange diocese is that they are also home to the Norbertines of St. Michael Abbey. These canons have numerous young vocations, they celebrate the Novus Ordo in Latin, and a few of them serve as chaplains for Tridentine Indult celebrations.
Their site
http://abbeynews.com/
See the Gallery link for several pages of photos.
.