Baltimore priest removed for liturgical abuse

[Jennifer_G]

The priests at my parish seem pretty good so far from what I can tell… (Haven’t been around that long yet to know what’s liturgical and what’s not. I know some things are obvious, though.). Granted, I wished this one older priest would speak up a bit during his homilies. I can’t even hear him from 6 rows back from the front! Our parish priests met him during the parish basketball game with another church school. (Our parish won, BTW! Fr. Michael is their secret weapon at 6’8" or however tall he is! )

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?)

This one, :heaven: ? Ok, well that one’s close. So, when I attend the Rite of Election at the Cathedral, I should look up at the ceiling to find you?

Oh, and here’s another article on the Archbishop. He really wants to get to know all of the parishes and people of Baltimore.

 

[Jennifer_G]

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?)

:heaven: ? Ok, well that one’s close. So, when I attend the Rite of Election at the Cathedral, I should look up at the ceiling to find you?

 

[pyropam]

Although in the wrong, this priest, needs our prayers. Not good to rejoice in someone’s misfortune. We all need each other.

I agree 100% with you on this one. We all need to pray for him and for all of our priest now.

 

[baltobetsy]

The priests at my parish seem pretty good so far from what I can tell… …

This one, :heaven: ? Ok, well that one’s close. So, when I attend the Rite of Election at the Cathedral, I should look up at the ceiling to find you?

Yup, that’s where I’ll be! And that smiley will be just fine.

And … the priests at your parish are the greatest! We’ve known your pastor for many years and have heard fine things about the tall one that give us great confidence in him. You just relax and enjoy things there.

Betsy

 

[Grace_Angel]

"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!

Liturgical abuse? Petty?
a man’s career? since when is priesthood a career?
I wonder if that’s why there is paedophilia within priesthood because its a career? that parishioner has left the planet.
Congratulations to the Archbishop.
GraceAngel.

 

[KCT]

There was a follow up article in the Sun today. More of the same sentiments (he’s so compassionate, how can they do this to him?) with one addition. After the statement is read at Mass on Sunday, some parishoners are staging a silent walk out in support of the priest. Sounds like they think the Church is a political body, not a supernatural one. —KCT

 

[baltobetsy]

There was a follow up article in the Sun today. More of the same sentiments (he’s so compassionate, how can they do this to him?) with one addition. After the statement is read at Mass on Sunday, some parishoners are staging a silent walk out in support of the priest. Sounds like they think the Church is a political body, not a supernatural one. —KCT

All that just goes to show how much damage he has already caused. This is a real-life example of scandal as a stumbling block to people’s faith. And the dangers of the cult of personality.

I’m sure we’ll be hearing soon about how the “reign of terror” has begun.

Betsy

 

[johnstown_johnn]

My guess is the priest that was removed has been abusing the liturgy for a good while and had, most probably, been warned privately by his bishop. This was not a “spontaneous action” by the bishop.

The pries, IMHO, was flagrant in his uncooperativeness and therebt got himself removed…and rightfully so.

 

[KCT]

My guess is the priest that was removed has been abusing the liturgy for a good while and had, most probably, been warned privately by his bishop. This was not a “spontaneous action” by the bishop.

The pries, IMHO, was flagrant in his uncooperativeness and therebt got himself removed…and rightfully so.

Correct. I believe the orginal article said he had been “warned” or spoken to before. Sad it had to happen at a funeral, but the priest chose the funeral to force the Bishop’s hand in the matter.

Some of the quotes were very sad. Saying how all the local churches work together on picnics, church suppers and the like. As if Mass is just another inter- faith get together. —KCT

 

[johnstown_johnn]

Correct. I believe the orginal article said he had been “warned” or spoken to before. Sad it had to happen at a funeral, but the priest chose the funeral to force the Bishop’s hand in the matter.

Some of the quotes were very sad. Saying how all the local churches work together on picnics, church suppers and the like. As if Mass is just another inter- faith get together. —KCT

The priest in causing consternation at a funeral could wind up with a lawsuit from the grieving family…the diocese could be sued as well. These off-the-wall clergy better smarten up.

That might have been a consideration by the bishop as well.

 

[KCT]

The priest in causing consternation at a funeral could wind up with a lawsuit from the grieving family…the diocese could be sued as well. These off-the-wall clergy better smarten up. That might have been a consideration by the bishop as well.

The family of the deceased requested the Episcopal minister be part of the funeral Mass. —KCT

 

[Joe_Kelley]

Correct. I believe the orginal article said he had been “warned” or spoken to before. Sad it had to happen at a funeral, but the priest chose the funeral to force the Bishop’s hand in the matter.

Some of the quotes were very sad. Saying how all the local churches work together on picnics, church suppers and the like. As if Mass is just another inter- faith get together. —KCT

One wonders if he knows that mass is different.

 

[johnstown_johnn]

The family of the deceased requested the Episcopal minister be part of the funeral Mass. —KCT

Well that clears it up as far as the lawsuit from the family. But it does not allow a concelebrated “Mass” with a Protestant minister. The churchgoers could then sue.

Funerals do not make an exception insofar as an ecumenical “Mass” is concerned.

The Protestant, if for no other reason, does NOT believe in the Transubstantation. So why was she there?

 

[KCT]

The Protestant, if for no other reason, does NOT believe in the Transubstantation. So why was she there?

She was a friend of the deceased and her family, attending at their request. According to the Sun articles, she had participated in at least one other funeral Mass w/ this priest. She read the gospel, though did not take part in the Consecration. There is a dispute over whether or not she was allowed to receive Communion.

If the members of the parish were used to this sort of thing, they may have no idea how serious it is. Baltobetsy is right, it’s an example of scandal. —KCT

 

[KathleenElsie]

She was a friend of the deceased and her family, attending at their request. Attending and concelebrating are two very different things. I pray the people of this parish understand that. According to the Sun articles, she had participated in at least one other funeral Mass w/ this priest. She read the gospel, though did not take part in the Consecration. There are rules that govern who may read the Gospel and in recent times (since VII) they have become blurred or ignored in many parishes. There is a dispute over whether or not she was allowed to receive Communion.

If the members of the parish were used to this sort of thing, they may have no idea how serious it is. Baltobetsy is right, it’s an example of scandal. —KCT

I wonder if the Bishop will send in a teaching priest to re educate the members of this parish?

Allowing and encouraging social gatherings is great. But not at the expense of the Mass.

 

[PoliSciProf]

To see how the media in Baltimore is responding to the “firing” of the priest in this thread, read the following column by Dan Rodricks entitled **Church Loses Sight of the Big Picture **in the Baltimore Sun (11/11/07).baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-md.rodricks11nov11,0,7860998.column?coll=bal_tab02_layout

Do any CAF members think there is a case for the other side? Does Bishop O’Brian have an obligation to explain his position to the members of the parishes involved by a letter or perhaps a visit to the parishes? It seems to me that he does for both teaching and prudential reasons.

 

[Nohome]

Do any CAF members think there is a case for the other side?

I don’t think there is an “other side”. The last two sentences of the editorial you posted hits this squarely on the head.

Your country is a democracy. Your church isn’t.

I for one think this could be a great learning opportunity in which the Bishop could cite the actual canons used in his decision. In fact, if someone here knows, please post them. I failed in locating them in my cursory attempt.

One other comment from the editorial rings true:

Here, in the long wake of the priest sexual-abuse scandals, the Baltimore Archdiocese’s reference to Father Martin’s offenses as “bringing scandal to the church” seem almost laughable.

At least from a secular perspective, this does seem a bit petty when compared to the past sins of other priests, facilitated by the bishops.

Nohome

 

[Servulus]

If, because of the large number of Catholics in Baltimore, the Sun finds this incident newsworthy it should be reported objectively as a news item. It is inappropriate, however, for the paper to publish opinion pieces from its columnists on what is essentially an internal Church matter. What would be the outcry if the Archdiocese published its opinions on personnel changes made on the editorial staff of the Sun?

 

[KathleenElsie]

What is a premier see?

Does this man want the Holy Catholic Church to be a democracy?

I could understand if this was a service that was not a Mass. I have been to many “remembrance” ecumenical services and find them very moving. There was a Christian Wake Service at the funeral home that would have been the proper time for those not Catholic to speak and for the eulogies to be given.

This could all have been avoided if the Episcopal woman religious (sorry IMHO only men can be priests) had been asked to give a eulogy anywhere but at a Catholic Mass.

The lady that died was described as an activist. So there will probably be many opportunities to eulogize her.

 

[johnstown_johnn]

She was a friend of the deceased and her family, attending at their request. According to the Sun articles, she had participated in at least one other funeral Mass w/ this priest. She read the gospel, though did not take part in the Consecration. There is a dispute over whether or not she was allowed to receive Communion.

If the members of the parish were used to this sort of thing, they may have no idea how serious it is. Baltobetsy is right, it’s an example of scandal. —KCT

If she was a friend of the family then wouldn’t a nice Eulogy suffice? Why wouldn’t she just be part of the friends and mourners and sit in a pew?

She read the Gospel…now THAT is a part of the Mass that without it a Mass is incomplete. So, she BECAME a part of the Mass when she read the Gospel.

The pastor NOR the family have that power to integrate the sacrifice of the Mass with one of its mandatory parts (Gospel) with an unbeliever not annointed in the Church.

Maybe the family is leaning towards being protestant?

The Mass then was INVALID because a part of the Mass (Gospel) was not done in line with the rubrics of the Mass… So, the deceased was denied a burial Mass that was valid. All of us want what is right for the departed…in a Catholic exercise (the Mass).