Arlington priest outted as KKK Klan LEADER

[SyroMalankara]

The title of this post is “Arlington priest outted as KKK Klan LEADER”

What was the purpose of “leader” being all capitalized and failure to mention that it was his past?

because leadership is more than passive membership. Its active participation, and encouraging others to do violence. A bit different than, oh a youthful mistake due to bad friendships

And by what authority do you make this determination?

how about common sense, if you need more, how about the authority given by God to me through His Holy Church in baptism, sealed in Chrismation and renewed in the Most Holy Eucharist - is that enough, or do you need Papal pronouncement?

A politician, sheriff, sure. A priest?

even more so. Perhaps you think lesser of clergy, I expect greater than a lay politician or sheriff for the anointed

Fanning the flames of racial divide and encouraging vindictive attitude are not beneficial for any party involved.

Who is doing, or has done that - me for restating the news, you for taking umbrage, this priest for not paying back what is due, or the black family for existing?

 

[EIF5A]

because leadership is more than passive membership. Its active participation, and encouraging others to do violence. A bit different than, oh a youthful mistake due to bad friendships

The original post and title conveniently failed to emphasize his past. Actually, the original post hid that part.

how about common sense, if you need more, how about the authority given by God to me through His Holy Church in baptism, sealed in Chrismation and renewed in the Most Holy Eucharist - is that enough, or do you need Papal pronouncement?

Your thoughts are greater than what could be God’s providence or allowance to raise a priest out of sinful past? Who are you to discern who is worthy or not to become a priest?

Who is doing, or has done that - me for restating the news, you for taking umbrage, this priest for not paying back what is due, or the black family for existing?
You’re twisting the news. You even have the gall to say he doesn’t deserve to be a priest. That he needs to be held accountable for his past is separate.

“the black family for existing” — Are you kidding me? Who said anything about the black family, except you just now for using their suffering to smear a priest?

 

[SyroMalankara]

The original post and title conveniently failed to emphasize his past. Actually, the original post hid that part.

how would you perfectly write a title at your first go? " Arlington priest outted as PAST KKK Klan LEADER" - is that so much better? The post did no such thing, since all the links were present to read. You read it the way you wanted to read it. The OP was written as I read it, with extreme shock and dismay.

Your thoughts are greater than what could be God’s providence or allowance to raise a priest out of sinful past? Who are you to discern who is worthy or not to become a priest?

could bes, is a game I dont wish to play. He is a priest, I recognize that. Im not discerning anything, but no diocese would knowing ordaining anyone with that much unpaid debt due to Court action, had they known.

“the black family for existing” — Are you kidding me? Who said anything about the black family, except you just now for using their suffering to smear a priest?

how do you think they feel, that a newspaper writer had to help this Anointed man of God to right his wrong to them, considering he resides just an hour away, never repaid or even attempted to personally apologize for his action

 

[Mulligan2]

According to the Diocesan statement, the reporter introduced herself as a parishioner.

See: arlingtondiocese.org/Press-Releases/2017/Diocesan-statement-on-Butler-family-press-conference/

She said that in her article as well. She was, in fact, a former parishioner at the church prior to moving, and she knew the priest in question personally.

 

[EIF5A]

how would you perfectly write a title at your first go? " Arlington priest outted as PAST KKK Klan LEADER" - is that so much better?

This makes a huge difference. You know, the whole Christian thing with conversion and redemption?

The post did no such thing, since all the links were present to read. You read it the way you wanted to read it. The OP was written as I read it, with extreme shock and dismay.

The original post: "How is this possible??? Isn’t the KKK anti-Catholic?"

It’s possible because it was his shocking past. Perhaps a more in-depth reading of the articles would’ve been beneficial to get this point across.

The original post: "I’ll bet his laicization is already on Pope Francis’ desk.

So quick to rush to judgment. If you knew it was his past, why would you ask whether such a thing is possible and assume he’s going to be laicized, as if he’s actively involved now?

could bes, is a game I dont wish to play. He is a priest, I recognize that. Im not discerning anything, but no diocese would knowing ordaining anyone with that much unpaid debt due to Court action, had they known.

Then maybe it’s better to not even use the phrase “repentant genocidal maniac” (your exact words in post 24). You were more concerned by his past racism than unpaid debt; that was just an excuse to justify maligning a priest because his abhorrent past racism.

how do you think they feel, that a newspaper writer had to help this Anointed man of God to right his wrong to them, considering he resides just an hour away, never repaid or even attempted to personally apologize for his action

I have no idea what they felt. Possibly anger, frustration, asking God for grace to forgive. But if I were them, I wouldn’t want to be used as an excuse and political weapon to call a priest a “repentant genocidal maniac” and to will for his laicization, especially given these turbulent times.

 

[FirstFiveEighth]

Should a repentant genocidal maniac be disqualified from priesthood? Probably.

So this priest is a genocidal maniac then?

The priest has no need of 3rd party armchair defenders. And still owes Court ordered penalties.

I have already noted that this was prior to his Catholic reversion, but this still does not explain the lack of fulfilling his criminal rehabilitation/obligation.

I agree he should have paid the penalties. I don’t know under what circumstances he did not pay them, and neither do you. However I don’t necessarily find it surprising that this priest didn’t want to go around telling everyone he met, “Hello, I am Father Aitcheson, and I used to be in the KKK. How are you doing today?” I confess my sins to God through the priest in the confessional like everyone else here. I would not be comfortable confessing them to you. Finally, I disagree that every convert should proselytize on whatever their greatest sin was that they have since repented. That could be a helpful and beneficial way for some to channel their energy, but it is not for everyone. I don’t think it was particularly useful to “out” this priest today as it does nothing to ease racial tensions nor benefit his parish. He converted, he repented, how many more times must the man repent before you are satisfied? Perhaps we should just burn him on a fiery cross and be done with it.

 

[SyroMalankara]

So this priest is a genocidal maniac then?

No. That was a response to another poster’s reply about a hypothetical sinner. I responded hypothetically, not about this particular priest.

I agree he should have paid the penalties. I don’t know under what circumstances he did not pay them, and neither do you. However I don’t necessarily find it surprising that this priest didn’t want to go around telling everyone he met, “Hello, I am Father Aitcheson, and I used to be in the KKK. How are you doing today?” I confess my sins to God through the priest in the confessional like everyone else here. I would not be comfortable confessing them to you. Finally, I disagree that every convert should proselytize on whatever their greatest sin was that they have since repented. That could be a helpful and beneficial way for some to channel their energy, but it is not for everyone. I don’t think it was particularly useful to “out” this priest today as it does nothing to ease racial tensions nor benefit his parish. He converted, he repented, how many more times must the man repent before you are satisfied? Perhaps we should just burn him on a fiery cross and be done with it.

I’d be satisfied with his personal apology to the family and paying the owed debt. No need to be so Taliban/ISIS/KKK/Nazi with all that burning him on a cross nonsense.

 

[dmelosi]

No. That was a response to another poster’s reply about a hypothetical sinner. I responded hypothetically, not about this particular priest.

I’d be satisfied with his personal apology to the family and paying the owed debt. No need to be so Taliban/ISIS/KKK/Nazi with all that burning him on a cross nonsense.

I see, so it is all about you being satisfied. A judger.

 

[SyroMalankara]

This makes a huge difference. You know, the whole Christian thing with conversion and redemption?

Agreed. Now let’s get on with redemption and pay the owed due. Right?

The original post: "How is this possible??? Isn’t the KKK anti-Catholic?"

It’s possible because it was his shocking past. Perhaps a more in-depth reading of the articles would’ve been beneficial to get this point across.

It’s present until the affected family is addressed financially and personally.

The original post: "I’ll bet his laicization is already on Pope Francis’ desk.

So quick to rush to judgment. If you knew it was his past, why would you ask whether such a thing is possible and assume he’s going to be laicized, as if he’s actively involved now?

The cloud of uncertainty. I was unaware that the Diocese had known about the priest’s KKK past. They have stated they were caught unaware about the debt. When the other poster linked the story about the Diocese already being aware 20+ years ago – I accept that. So I’ll take that laicization statement and stick it in my own keester. I hope that is satisfactory to you.

Then maybe it’s better to not even use the phrase “repentant genocidal maniac” (your exact words in post 24).

My phrase regarding what sir? You are misconstruing the context. The phrase was used to reply to another poster about repentant murderers such as St. Paul. Not this priest. You are mistaken if I consider this priest in such an extreme manner.

You were more concerned by his past racism than unpaid debt; that was just an excuse to justify maligning a priest because his abhorrent past racism.

No. I am not exactly satisfied, considering the original article, that this is so far “PAST” - considering his encouragement of “Dixie” as the National Anthem from the PULPIT, during a Homily. Nor what is written about his Confederate sympathies. If these are in error as well – then I am mistaken. If not, I am not mistaken at all.

I have no idea what they felt. Possibly anger, frustration, asking God for grace to forgive. But if I were them, I wouldn’t want to be used as an excuse and political weapon to call a priest a “repentant genocidal maniac” and to will for his laicization, especially given these turbulent times.

You keep that up “political weapon” – except I have no political stance for or against this priest. Its his seeming anti-CATHOLIC position I am shocked by. Very little in politics shocks me anymore - surprise maybe; eyebrow raising, yes; shock, no.

 

[SyroMalankara]

I see, so it is all about you being satisfied. A judger.

No actually, its about the JUDGE being satisfied – you know, considering his JUDGEment of $26,000 unpaid for 3 decades.

Call me the collection agent or bounty hunter if you wish – I didn’t make the yet unpaid sentence.

 

[dmelosi]

No actually, its about the JUDGE being satisfied – you know, considering his JUDGEment of $26,000 unpaid for 3 decades.

Call me the collection agent or bounty hunter if you wish – I didn’t make the yet unpaid sentence.

Judger seems to fit better.

 

[SyroMalankara]

Judger seems to fit better.

Thanks Pharisaic political ideologue - I’m in excellent company:
biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=judge&qs_version=RSVCE&limit=500

 

[pnewton]

Should being a klan leader disqualify one from being a priest, even with repentance?

I do not think the question of being qualified, but that of repentance. After all, the Catholic Church is a little different when it comes to such things than Protestants. For example, a priest hears confession and gives absolution. Some sins result in an excommunication that only a bishop can absolve. Beyond that, there is the practical question of the prudent placement of a priest that has committed a heinous crime, whether it be sexual molestation or racial terrorizing.

It requires careful examination, but it should not be an examination which each feel the need to take on.

That being said, I sympathize with those who aren’t comfortable with one with a history of racial hatred and terrorizing innocent people. We aren’t that far out from the time of lynching. I would implore everyone though to consider that if this man is returned to the parish work, to trust the bishop to have done his due diligence. It is better to err on the side of forgiveness when it is not deserved than to withhold the forgiveness that God demands.

 

[SuperLuigi]

Wouldn’t it be more accurate to say “priest outed as former klan leader”?

It would, but they’ll do anything to destroy Trump and the Church.

 

[SyroMalankara]

It would, but they’ll do anything to destroy Trump and the Church.

One need not state anything more.

I hope English isn’t your first language, as you’ve just equated President Trump with Our Lord God and Savior, in your illogical conclusion.

 

[NewEnglandPriest]

This case is a bit more complicated than “former racist converts.”

For starters, he was involved in some very serious acts of violence and perhaps, by definition, even terrorism. If he did not fully inform his bishop(s) of these incidents then he has some serious questions to answer. The potential for scandal is always weighed when ordaining someone with a checkered past and if he withheld information then the diocese was unable to weigh it properly.

Secondly, the allegations that he referred to Robert E. Lee as a “saint” is bit disconcerting. Even given that I assume he did so in jest, that couldn’t have made any African American Catholics feel too welcome. And someone who has converted from racism should have been more thoughtful about the power of words.

Third, given all that he is alleged to have been involved in I personally find his “testimony” to be a bit hollow and self-serving. He makes it sound, at least to me, that he had some odious thoughts and associations but nothing more when the reality seems to be so much more.

 

[philipl]

Should being a klan leader disqualify one from being a priest, even with repentance?

This has to be on of the most strange question I have ever seen posted on CAF. God can forgive but not the church?

 

[John_Lazarus]

Should being a klan leader disqualify one from being a priest, even with repentance?

Should being a persecutor of Christians and actively seeking their deaths disqualify one from being a bishop, even with repentance?

 

[stinkcat_14]

This has to be on of the most strange question I have ever seen posted on CAF. God can forgive but not the church?

I think the issue is not forgiveness but reconciliation. For example, suppose the guy who attempted to assassinate Pope John Paul wanted to be a priest. I could see his past crime being an impediment, even though the pope forgave him.