Bishop Burke excommunicates women "priests"

[rinnie]

Just to clarify, when I said Church above (in this case), I meant some of it’s leadership.

I am Catholic and yes there are some things that the Church and I disagree on, but I will always be Catholic. I’m also a Republican, but there are some things I don’t agree with the Republican party on., but I’ll probably always be Republican.

Point is don’t be afraid to voice your disagreement if thats how you feel.

But see we are trying to tell you that our point is we never ever said we agree with everything that the church leaders do. We said we agree with the word of God which is the church. What people do is if they didnt like this priest or that priest, or bishop or whatever they blame the Church. No priest, bishop, etc has ever changed the churchs teachings and if they tried to do so they were thrown out. Now what you did was say dont believe everything your church tells you. We will always believe in the teachings of the Church. ANd the only person who can make changes (per say) is the Pope because he has that authority handed down from Peter. God Left him that authority. Do you understand what we mean? That is why he said Peter Feed my sheep. What is the Good Shepherd. Its all thru the bible. THe first thing Jesus said Peter i leave you the keys, then he said peter you will be the leader of many, its all thru the bible. then what were Jesus last words in John He said it 3 times for Goodness sake. Feed my sheep, feed my lambs. the leader feeds his sheep. Peter is the leader of the Church. Now for you to tell us dont believe everything your Church tells you is like saying dont listen to the Pope think for yourself. Again we cant do that. Jesus left him to us. To lead us. Peter is the good Shepherd he takes care of his flock. THe Pope is Peter today.

 

[pnewton]

What a great move! It is good to see positive leadership addressing heresy with the appropriate discipline.

 

[sisterpatril]

Wake up! Now in recent years, the diocese recognized what a nice cash-cow asset it was, and says hey you belong to us, hand everything over.

Archbishop Burke stepped up to the plate to fix this problem almost as soon as he got to St. Louis. The previous leaders failed to do their jobs…because they didn’t want the controversy. They were cowards. Archbishop Burke has proven many times he is not a coward! That’s why I love the man!

Now, you “wake up!” If you are going to be a Catholic, you must obey the church. Those board members of St. Stanislaus did not want to obey, so they excommunicated themselves…thus, they are now protestants!

 

[mangy_dog]

Wake up! This isn’t about separate denominations or becoming protestant, but control and money. This parish rose under it’s own power and own resources over 100 yrs ago, with virtually no help from the diocese. It was as catholic and loyal as your own church. Now in recent years, the diocese recognized what a nice cash-cow asset it was, and says hey you belong to us, hand everything over. It’s wrong and I’m sorry you can’t see that.

Perhaps churches who fit that definition should be classified as “associate” parishes. Sure, they should give some money to the diocese, but if they are financially viable on their own, they should stay that way.

Wake up Mikew!!

These are prophetic, heroic times we live in.

Bishop Burke, Bishop Braxton, and the 5 Cardinals seeking the dogmatic proclamation of the 5th Marian dogma - these things have to happen. They are happening.

Just wait until Pope Bendict XVI visits the U.S. and talks to the presidents of the different Catholic Universities…!

The battle lines have been drawn. This age will polarize the heroes from the zeros.

I hope that you and christians world-wide seek refuge in the Holy Mother Church before the Warning and the permanent Miracle comes…hopefully way before the Chastisement.

Wake up Mikew.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum.

 

[Cabin4]

One comment stands out of the crowd.

Cabin4

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Letter to the editor, St. Louis Post Dispatch

Archbishop Raymond Burke moved quickly to excommunicate two local women who declared themselves to be ordained Catholic priests. (“Women ordained as priests are declared excommunicated,” 3/14). They weren’t criminally charged or civilly sued or deemed guilty of any crimes, nor did they admit to any. Yet over the past 20 years, we can’t recall a single other priest here who was ever excommunicated, even those clearly and repeated charged, accused, sued or deemed guilty of heinous crimes.

Not one priest who pled guilty to child sex crimes here (James Beine, Felix Bland and James A. Funke), was convicted here of child sex crimes (Bryan Kuchar, Thomas Graham and Gary Wolken), or was convicted elsewhere of sex crimes (Fred Lenczycki, Gregory Sutton, and Romano Ferraro).

Not one priest who was found guilty in a civil trial (James Gummersbach) or who admitted child sexual abuse to church authorities (Robert F. Johnston, Joseph P. Lessard).

Not one priest who has pled guilty to child porn charges (Gerhardt B. Lehmkuhl, John P. Hess) or has been defrocked because of multiple, credible child sex abuse allegations (Robert Yim, Donald J. “Duck” Straub, Leroy Valentine).

Not one priest against whom several child sex abuse lawsuits have been settled (Norman Christian, Michael S. McGrath) or are pending (Henry Kohnen, Louis Kertz and William Poepperling).

Not one priest who was arrested for other sex crimes (Joseph D. Ross, for indecent exposure), admitted other sexual misbehavior (Michael A. Campbell, who “inappropriately touched” a 17 year old) or is accused of other sexual misbehavior (John J. Woulfe and Wiliam A. Christensen who allegedly viewed porn with a child).

But these two women, who called themselves priests, have been swiftly excommunicated. In Archbishop Burke’s eyes, apparently, women acting like priests is a greater crime than men acting like criminals.

Barbara Dorris

Outreach Coordinator, SNAP

Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests

6245 Westminster

St. Louis MO 63130

314 862 7688

 

[Lorik]

Archbishop Burke stepped up to the plate to fix this problem almost as soon as he got to St. Louis. The previous leaders failed to do their jobs…because they didn’t want the controversy. They were cowards. Archbishop Burke has proven many times he is not a coward! That’s why I love the man!

Now, you “wake up!” If you are going to be a Catholic, you must obey the church. Those board members of St. Stanislaus did not want to obey, so they excommunicated themselves…thus, they are now protestants!

Just want to clarify that (then) Archbishop Rigali was beginning to address the situation but was moved and made a cardinal. Archbishop Burke walked into the mess and has done what he needs to do.

 

[Lorik]

Catholics don’t get excommunicated for their weaknesses. They do get excommunicated for outright distain and public defiance.

 

[mangy_dog]

One comment stands out of the crowd.

Cabin4

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Letter to the editor, St. Louis Post Dispatch

Archbishop Raymond Burke moved quickly to excommunicate two local women who declared themselves to be ordained Catholic priests. (“Women ordained as priests are declared excommunicated,” 3/14). They weren’t criminally charged or civilly sued or deemed guilty of any crimes, nor did they admit to any. Yet over the past 20 years, we can’t recall a single other priest here who was ever excommunicated, even those clearly and repeated charged, accused, sued or deemed guilty of heinous crimes.

Not one priest who pled guilty to child sex crimes here (James Beine, Felix Bland and James A. Funke), was convicted here of child sex crimes (Bryan Kuchar, Thomas Graham and Gary Wolken), or was convicted elsewhere of sex crimes (Fred Lenczycki, Gregory Sutton, and Romano Ferraro).

Not one priest who was found guilty in a civil trial (James Gummersbach) or who admitted child sexual abuse to church authorities (Robert F. Johnston, Joseph P. Lessard).

Not one priest who has pled guilty to child porn charges (Gerhardt B. Lehmkuhl, John P. Hess) or has been defrocked because of multiple, credible child sex abuse allegations (Robert Yim, Donald J. “Duck” Straub, Leroy Valentine).

Not one priest against whom several child sex abuse lawsuits have been settled (Norman Christian, Michael S. McGrath) or are pending (Henry Kohnen, Louis Kertz and William Poepperling).

Not one priest who was arrested for other sex crimes (Joseph D. Ross, for indecent exposure), admitted other sexual misbehavior (Michael A. Campbell, who “inappropriately touched” a 17 year old) or is accused of other sexual misbehavior (John J. Woulfe and Wiliam A. Christensen who allegedly viewed porn with a child).

But these two women, who called themselves priests, have been swiftly excommunicated. In Archbishop Burke’s eyes, apparently, women acting like priests is a greater crime than men acting like criminals.

Barbara Dorris

Outreach Coordinator, SNAP

Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests

6245 Westminster

St. Louis MO 63130

314 862 7688

Hello Barbara,

Either Bishop Burke, the legal system or God Almighty will catch up with the pedophile priests. Of that I have no doubt.

It may seem apparent to you that a degree of criminality distinguishes Bishop Burke’s actions. I am sure that his decision had nothing to do with degrees of criminality and everything to do with sending a message to all who think that things are going to remain “business as usual”.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum.

 

[Cabin4]

I did not write the letter. I am just the messenger.

It seems to me that following Canon and following the Gospel seems to be, at times, a very blurry line.

Cabin4

 

[mangy_dog]

I did not write the letter. I am just the messenger.

It seems to me that following Canon and following the Gospel seems to be, at times, a very blurry line.

Cabin4

So it would seem…

I am but a mangy dog who waits for the crumbs to fall from my Master’s table.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum.

 

[wanner47]

I did not write the letter. I am just the messenger.

It seems to me that following Canon and following the Gospel seems to be, at times, a very blurry line.

Cabin4

Please show me where it says in the Gospel that we are not allowed to forgive those who are penitent and sorry for their crimes.

If the priests mentioned in Barbara’s letter had publicly and frequently said that they weren’t sorry, that it was perfectly okay to commit sexual abuse, etc. then Archbishop Burke would probably had to excommunicate them as well.

However, if the priests in question were repentant, then Jesus has commanded us to forgive them. Do you deny Jesus’ teachings?

 

[saylo]

Please show me where it says in the Gospel that we are not allowed to forgive those who are penitent and sorry for their crimes.

If the priests mentioned in Barbara’s letter had publicly and frequently said that they weren’t sorry, that it was perfectly okay to commit sexual abuse, etc. then Archbishop Burke would probably had to excommunicate them as well.

However, if the priests in question were repentant, then Jesus has commanded us to forgive them. Do you deny Jesus’ teachings?

The priests may be “repentant” but would they be willing to do the penance that would justly apply? A penance spread out over years? An Our Father and a Hail Mary just won’t do it. Do you think?

 

[sisterpatril]

Cabin4, bringing up the priest scandal will do you no good. There is not one person writing on this post who wouldn’t want an unrepentant sexual offender hiding as a “priest” in the Catholic Church excommunicated.

And…please…the Post-Dispatch? They’ll print anything that bashes the Catholic Church. Satan’s newspaper!

But…for THIS post that we are writing in…women cannot be priests…period. Jesus wanted it that way in the Catholic Church that he set up and heads. Why? We do not know. You’ll have to ask him when you meet him.

As for me, my mom and dad taught me long ago that sometimes the answer is “NO”, whether I like it or not!

 

[wanner47]

The priests may be “repentant” but would they be willing to do the penance that would justly apply? A penance spread out over years? An Our Father and a Hail Mary just won’t do it. Do you think?

I would think they’d be willing to do a significant penance if they were truly repentant, yes. If they refused to do penance, that may indicate that they weren’t truly repentant.

HOWEVER, the Church does not have a list of appropriate penances for corresponding sins. That’s left to the priest’s discretion – NOT the archbishop’s. If the priests in question went to confession and were absolved of their sins, and by all accounts were trying to refrain from sinning again, then there is no just reason to excommunicate them.

 

[jc-servant]

The priests may be “repentant” but would they be willing to do the penance that would justly apply? A penance spread out over years? An Our Father and a Hail Mary just won’t do it. Do you think?

None of us know what another’s penance is because it is sealed in the confessional. We should not be speculating about it either. Even given all of the Earthly penance that we can imagine, it is highly likely that all of us will spend some time in Purgatory being purified whether whether our sin was murder, theft, fornication, contraception, abortion, molestation or any other mortal sin that separated us from God.

The women who purported to get ordained as Catholic priests (and the man who purported to ordain them) separated themselves from God, and they did it in a public and defiant manner such that they caused scandal to other faithful Catholics. They have not repented their defiance of church teaching. This is why they received a public announcement about their excommunication. There are many more people who are “excommunicated” by their own actions, but they don’t get the public notification of it because they are not waving their defiance in front of the public.

I feel sad for all people who separate themselves from God, but I understand why some of them need public correction in order to bring the need for reconciliation home to them. I wish that there were more priests who had the courage to tell people when they were endangering their immortal souls rather than letting them continue in disobedience and possibly on their way to a more eternal separation from God.

 

[Cabin4]

I stated that Canon Law and God’s law seem to get kind of crazy sometimes. It is a simple statement towards Bishop Burke’s use of Canon Law over Gospel. What, exactly, have the women done against the law of God? And what have these priests (rape, molest, and chlid porn) done against the law of God?

The women have earned excommunication but the priests have not.

Jesus spoke of equility, compassion, and justice. The Church has a history of changing it’s stance on the priesthood as well as other injustices (slavery).

Bishop Burke has excommunicated these women due to Canon Law. Christ’s Church is screaming for reconciliation and it has little to due with these women, who, if but born in 400 A.D. would be teaching in Mother Church with full priestly authority.

Cabin4

 

[Mirror_Mirror]

This Church built itself up with its own money and resources and was doing just fine for a hundred years. What’s the problem? Answer: There was no problem until the diocese made one. Sure the diocese has the authority when it comes down to faith and morals and assigning priests, but when all of sudden it demands to absorb the Church’s own finances which it had no part in building up in the first place, I thinks thats wrong. Surely a compromise could’ve been worked out. Now we have lost a fine Church and many formerly loyal Catholics excommunicated, all for control and money. Sad. God has got to be slapping his forehead about now.

There are so many Catholics out there who think the Church and it’s leadership can do no wrong; now there is some real nonsense for you.

So you are telling me that they should all receive all of the benefits of the Archdiocese at no cost? Let me know how that works?

 

[rinnie]

One comment stands out of the crowd.

Cabin4

---

Letter to the editor, St. Louis Post Dispatch

Archbishop Raymond Burke moved quickly to excommunicate two local women who declared themselves to be ordained Catholic priests. (“Women ordained as priests are declared excommunicated,” 3/14). They weren’t criminally charged or civilly sued or deemed guilty of any crimes, nor did they admit to any. Yet over the past 20 years, we can’t recall a single other priest here who was ever excommunicated, even those clearly and repeated charged, accused, sued or deemed guilty of heinous crimes.

Not one priest who pled guilty to child sex crimes here (James Beine, Felix Bland and James A. Funke), was convicted here of child sex crimes (Bryan Kuchar, Thomas Graham and Gary Wolken), or was convicted elsewhere of sex crimes (Fred Lenczycki, Gregory Sutton, and Romano Ferraro).

Not one priest who was found guilty in a civil trial (James Gummersbach) or who admitted child sexual abuse to church authorities (Robert F. Johnston, Joseph P. Lessard).

Not one priest who has pled guilty to child porn charges (Gerhardt B. Lehmkuhl, John P. Hess) or has been defrocked because of multiple, credible child sex abuse allegations (Robert Yim, Donald J. “Duck” Straub, Leroy Valentine).

Not one priest against whom several child sex abuse lawsuits have been settled (Norman Christian, Michael S. McGrath) or are pending (Henry Kohnen, Louis Kertz and William Poepperling).

Not one priest who was arrested for other sex crimes (Joseph D. Ross, for indecent exposure), admitted other sexual misbehavior (Michael A. Campbell, who “inappropriately touched” a 17 year old) or is accused of other sexual misbehavior (John J. Woulfe and Wiliam A. Christensen who allegedly viewed porn with a child).

But these two women, who called themselves priests, have been swiftly excommunicated. In Archbishop Burke’s eyes, apparently, women acting like priests is a greater crime than men acting like criminals.

Barbara Dorris

Outreach Coordinator, SNAP

Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests

6245 Westminster

St. Louis MO 63130

314 862 7688

Please dont blame the Church for the Justice System, THese priests are on trial just like everyone else, no one is defending these priests, Why do you keep bringing this up we said its wrong the church said its wrong, What do you want our blood? And who named you judge Jesus will judge these men accordingly. We are not okaying this behavior. And you dont know what they said in confession, and God didnt give you the authority to judge these men. So untill Jesus comes back and leaves the Church to you i will go by the Pope. And how do you know what was told to them in confession, You dont.

 

[Scottgun]

Bishop Burke has excommunicated these women due to Canon Law. Christ’s Church is screaming for reconciliation and it has little to due with these women, who, if but born in 400 A.D. would be teaching in Mother Church with full priestly authority.

Cabin4

Ok. Let’s not indulge in make-believe.

 

[sisterpatril]

who, if but born in 400 A.D. would be teaching in Mother Church with full priestly authority.

Cabin4

No they would not.