Baltimore priest removed for liturgical abuse

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"I am sickened that they would treat our pastor this way," he said. "It doesn’t sound possible that the church would take such a petty thing and ruin a man’s career."

This quote from a parishoner shows how much this parish has been misled. Violating Canon Law is not a petty thing - especially when you’re dealing with the Mass. And this is the first time I’ve heard the priesthood referred to as a ‘career’. I’m sorry - it’s a vocation and a calling. This is not a ‘role’ a man plays out. When he is ordained there is an ontological change that takes place through the grace of ordination. The word “career” strips the priesthood of all its grace and honor and secularizes its meaning.

Bravo for this Archbishop!
 
I read the article in the Baltimore Sun this morning.

When a man is ordained, he agrees to follow the rules. Being a pastor doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want. —KCT
 
Baltimore, Nov. 9, 2007 (CWNews.com) - Baltimore’s Archbishop Edwin O’Brien has removed a pastor who invited a female Episcopalian priest to join him in celebrating a funeral Mass, the Baltimore Sun reports.
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Father Martin was removed from his parish assignment at a meeting with archdiocesan officials on November 8. The priest, whose unorthodox liturgical practices had prompted several prior complaints, said that the Episcopalian priest had not participated in the Consecration during the October funeral liturgy, although he had invited her to read the Gospel. There were conflicting reports on whether or not the Episcopalian cleric had received Communion; Father Martin said that he could not recall administering the Eucharist to her.
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On the orders of the archbishop, Father Martin resigned his parish assignment and issued an apology for “bringing scandal to the Church,” the Sun reports. A spokesman for the Baltimore archdiocese explained that the pastor’s removal was called for because “he has repeatedly violated Church teaching.”
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Finally some action…

cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=54685

The Bishops are starting to act out. I’ve been waiting for things like this for a LONG TIME>…
 
And Archbishop Edwin O’ Brien has been Archbishop a little over a month when this happened. Finally, rule with an iron rod.
 
Maybe (I’m praying) this is just the beginning of regaining control and ending the “free for all” in some of our parishes.
 
KCT said:
I read the article in the Baltimore Sun this morning.

When a man is ordained, he agrees to follow the rules. Being a pastor doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want. —KCT
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👍
 
awalt said:
From the data in the article it seems like abuses were going on for some time. Hooray to the new Archbishop for his courage and sending a message!
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Although in the wrong, this priest, needs our prayers. Not good to rejoice in someone’s misfortune. We all need each other.
 
Seems like this was the straw that broke the camel’s back rather than the primary issue. However, it WOULD seem more prudent and pastoral to pick an issues other than somebody’s funeral to initiate the public confrontation.

The bishop is doing the right thing, but that doesn’t mean the approach is prudent.
 
manualman said:
Seems like this was the straw that broke the camel’s back rather than the primary issue. However, it WOULD seem more prudent and pastoral to pick an issues other than somebody’s funeral to initiate the public confrontation./quote]

It’s a tough call for the bishop. According the Sun article, the female, Episcopal Pastor participated in a funeral with Fr. Martin before this one. It also stated that the priest had received advice on numerous occasions from the archdiocese.

The article quotes Fr. Martin, “In our neighborhood, when you go to a church dinner or a church function on a social level, people from all churches are involved. That’s the kind of relationship the churches have. It’s very, very close.” That’s lovely, but Mass is another story.

Sometimes I wonder if things like this are a public cry for help. Like a kid who acts out knowing mom and dad will finally do something. —KCT
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Some of this behavoir is the fruit of seminaries that did not do a proper job of forming priests. I’m glad JPII called for a review of seminaries.

The young seminarians we have had at our parish seem reverent and willing to follow the rules. Praise God. —KCT
 
The whole situation is really sad. Just reading the responses that some people in the article gave shows that many Catholics have absolutely no appreciation for their patrimony of faith or respect for authority placed by God.

It is true, the Church, who’s members are sinners, has always had problems. In the middle ages, for example, simony was a big problem. In our day the major problem, in my opinion, is a lack of respect for authority–it is ironic too because the latest Ecumenical Council taught more about ecclesiastical authority than all the others (probably combined)–and the one before that probably spoke about it the second most.

😦
 
crenfro said:
Although in the wrong, this priest, needs our prayers. Not good to rejoice in someone’s misfortune. We all need each other.
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To this point I agree. Never the less, the removal of this priest is a good thing and makes a strong point. With some luck and some prayer this priest may be able to return to his vocation. Still, there are many priests that stretch their authority and have strayed. Chicago’s Father Michael Pfleger is another priest who needs to be removed from his parish and sent to a retreat for some serious prayer and reflection. I suspect that there are many more. These are just men and as men they are subject to temptation. They do need our prayer, but the Archbishops still need to take this type of action.
 
When we had a collection for Retired Priests, my wife offered a couple she knew - but the bishop wanted money. 😃
 
I am so proud of our new Archbishop!! When Cardinal Keeler was appointed, we were told to expect reforms, although quiet ones. After 19 years, we were still waiting. Now, after 6 weeks, we’ve seen decisive action. I’m going to send him flowers next week. I pray for him every day. Every time I walk into the Cathedral and see his chair, I smile. Every day at Mass when his name is mentioned, I smile. And now, you’ll have to peel me off the ceiling.

Betsy
(Where’s the “walking on air” smiley when you need it?)
 
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