A priest who teaches no Purgatory?

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Marie_Cecilia

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I am struggling with something that I was shocked to hear recently. A priest said that Purgatory was something the nuns “thought up” to keep us out of trouble. :eek: Yet I understand that Purgatory is real, as is written in the CCC. But I was so dumbfounded that I could not respond to him, and others were present. Any others hear of this type of message? And how did you respond? I so dislike to disrespect a priest by calling him on it, so is praying for him enough?
Thanks!
 
I don’t think it would be disrespectful to “call him on it,” in fact he might be wanting you to do so. Just be prepared for a verbal battle, which is not something we all like to have with priests. I have never heard a priest deny something so blatantly, but I have often heard flippant comments about how “the nuns” did this and “the stodgy Irish pastors” did that, and they were often about things like Lenten renunciation, modest dress, respectful attitudes in the church building, etc–things we very much should still have in 2004! A simple comment like, “I think the Catechism phrases it a little differently” is soft enough to avoid offense but direct enough to make your point.
 
Never heard that said of Purgatory, but have heard it said of Limbo. Maybe he just misspoke. I’d make a joke out of it and ask him if the nuns confused him all those years ago.
 
If he seriously thinks that…either
  1. He doesnt know the bible… who says 8 years of “formation” aint enough! :rolleyes:
  2. He has lost his faith
  3. If he keeps THAT up, he’ll be lucky to LAND in Purgatory…if the Lord doesnt just throw him and those like him so hard that they bypass there and end up somewhere else for misleading the flock.
 
The reality of Purgatory is a dogmatic pronouncement and anyone, regardless if he is a cardinal, bishop, priest, nun, or catholic lay person who says Purgatory is an invention, not only departs from catholic teaching but is a heretic. A heretic is defined as someone who denies a dogmatic infallible teaching of the church. This priest you mention seems he needs to go back to the seminary, as per the reason he seems to be theologically confused. Yes, speack with him, and if he is humble enough to listen to you on this matter, thank him if he corrects himself. he can beleive whatever he personally desires, (not even he is under a vow of obedience) but to pass him hypothetical invalid oipions on a dogmatic pronouncemet, that he has no right to do, especially if in the public prayer of the Church: the Mass, which is not his, but the Church’s.
You may want to write a letter to both his superior (if he is a religious order priest) and to the Bishop. If these don’t work, please consider writing a letter to cardinal Josef Ratzinger of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith(I am sure he won’t be very happy if that priest keeps teaching there is NO purgatory).
many blessings, and lets continue to pray for young vocations to orthodox seminaries, and that the liberal ones over age 50 may change, and get out of the 1960’s 1970’s mindset.
 
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misericordie:
The reality of Purgatory is a dogmatic pronouncement and anyone, regardless if he is a cardinal, bishop, priest, nun, or catholic lay person who says Purgatory is an invention, not only departs from catholic teaching but is a heretic. A heretic is defined as someone who denies a dogmatic infallible teaching of the church. This priest you mention seems he needs to go back to the seminary, as per the reason he seems to be theologically confused. Yes, speack with him, and if he is humble enough to listen to you on this matter, thank him if he corrects himself. he can beleive whatever he personally desires, (not even he is under a vow of obedience) but to pass him hypothetical invalid oipions on a dogmatic pronouncemet, that he has no right to do, especially if in the public prayer of the Church: the Mass, which is not his, but the Church’s.
You may want to write a letter to both his superior (if he is a religious order priest) and to the Bishop. If these don’t work, please consider writing a letter to cardinal Josef Ratzinger of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith(I am sure he won’t be very happy if that priest keeps teaching there is NO purgatory).
many blessings, and lets continue to pray for young vocations to orthodox seminaries, and that the liberal ones over age 50 may change, and get out of the 1960’s 1970’s mindset.
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Oh yes sorry i forgot: Purgatory in the New Catechism: See: #'s 1030-1032: This is what the Church(not a priest’s personal opinion) teaches on Purgatory: everyone is free to see for themselves.
 
Thank you all for your (name removed by moderator)ut. Because of your comments, I now have an idea of how to approach him on this! 👍
 
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