Chaplain guilty of sodomy in Germany

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davy39

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AP reports that a Capt. Greg Arflack was sentenced to five years in prison for forcible sodomy and conduct unbecoming an officer. Most of the acts happened during a drinking binge in Bamberg, Germany. The priest commented, "I really screwed it up, and I’m sorry. God help us all.
 
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suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-sod02.html

“Capt. Gregory Arflack, 44, a Roman Catholic priest serving as a chaplain with the 279th Base Support Battalion, also pleaded guilty to three counts of committing an indecent act, two counts of fraternization with enlisted service members and one count of conduct unbecoming an officer.”

“I apologize to the soldiers; my heart hurts for them,” he said. “I can’t explain what the chaplaincy means to me and I messed it up.”

So, is he kicked out of the priesthood too?

Nohome
 
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Nohome:
So, is he kicked out of the priesthood too?

According to Walt Oliver’s first link, Fr. Artlack has been suspended by the Archdiocese for the Military Services and also by the Owensboro, Ky., diocese which loaned him to the military.

The Owensboro diocese will begin its investigation after the military finishes their investigation.
“I failed as an officer, I failed as a chaplain, I failed as a leader,” he said as he pleaded guilty.
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He needs our prayers.
 
Hopefully, they won’t take him and place him somewhere else, as they have done in the past. I really believe that this is a test of us Catholics, to see how many will cut and run, when things like this happen.
 
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Nohome:
So, is he kicked out of the priesthood too?
Nohome
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Can the Church revoke Holy Orders? Also, are his crimes in the military, also actions that would be considered crimes under civilian law? I would assume the forced sexual actions would be rape under civilian law. Would it be better for the Church to throw him out and unleash him on Society, or should the Church subject him to the discipline of the Church and order him spend his remaining years in a monastery under appropriate supervision. :hmmm:

I don’t know myself, what is best.
  • Kathie :bowdown:
 
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davy39:
Hopefully, they won’t take him and place him somewhere else, as they have done in the past. I really believe that this is a test of us Catholics, to see how many will cut and run, when things like this happen.
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A test? A test of Catholics from who? God? Satan?

Sorry, my God doesn’t do horrible things to people in order to test the faithful.

Nohome
(who did “cut and run”)
 
A test of Catholics from who? God? Satan?
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Well, duh!
Too many unfaithful Catholics do “cut and run” instead of putting all their faith and love into God. Satan has had a field day with the faithless by putting himself and his machinations between The Perfect Bride of Christ and Her adherents. And, just like Eve, they bit.
Man is a fallen, weak willed creature. No one should ever judge the Message by the little messenger because one is setting himself up to be disappointed and let down.
God does not let us down, ever.
My faith is in God and Holy Mother Church.
 
Heart Of Mary:
So does his victim/victims…
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Yes, indeed! And if reading and thinking about this news story brings them a few prayers, it can only bring good.
 
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harinkj:
Can the Church revoke Holy Orders? Also, are his crimes in the military, also actions that would be considered crimes under civilian law? I would assume the forced sexual actions would be rape under civilian law. Would it be better for the Church to throw him out and unleash him on Society, or should the Church subject him to the discipline of the Church and order him spend his remaining years in a monastery under appropriate supervision. :hmmm:

I don’t know myself, what is best.
  • Kathie :bowdown:
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Once a priest always a priest, but the Church may laicize him.
 
Guar Fan:
According to Walt Oliver’s first link, Fr. Artlack has been suspended by the Archdiocese for the Military Services and also by the Owensboro, Ky., diocese which loaned him to the military.

The Owensboro diocese will begin its investigation after the military finishes their investigation.

He needs our prayers.
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Oh dear Lord in Heaven! I am from Owensboro…that is my diocese…I had not heard of this yet! :crying:
 
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catsrus:
Well, duh!
Too many unfaithful Catholics do “cut and run” instead of putting all their faith and love into God. Satan has had a field day with the faithless by putting himself and his machinations between The Perfect Bride of Christ and Her adherents. And, just like Eve, they bit.
Man is a fallen, weak willed creature. No one should ever judge the Message by the little messenger because one is setting himself up to be disappointed and let down.
God does not let us down, ever.
My faith is in God and Holy Mother Church.
Click to expand...
I couldn’t have said it any better. Remember, the Blessed Mother said that the church and the Pope will suffer much. I believe the priest abuse cases are just one of the ways. May God watch over all of us.
 
Originally froim Harink:
“Can the Church revoke Holy Orders? Also, are his crimes in the military, also actions that would be considered crimes under civilian law? I would assume the forced sexual actions would be rape under civilian law. Would it be better for the Church to throw him out and unleash him on Society, or should the Church subject him to the discipline of the Church and order him spend his remaining years in a monastery under appropriate supervision.”
The reception of any Sacrament can be anulled. We are most familiar with marriage annulments. An anulment means that no sacramental reception occurred. Sacerdotal annulments are rare, but yes there can be cases in which the Church declares that ordination is invalid, null - i.e., the man never got ordained. As for whether his crimes would be considered crimes in civilian law, maybe. But the military has its own law system - the “Uniform Code of Military Justice” (UCMJ), and this chaplain was prosecuted in accord with that. As far as what the Church decides to do about him, it depends pretty much on his bishop and the Holy See, but the Church cannot ‘force’ him into a monastery - he would have to agree to and accept that. If he refused, then, yes, he is “unleashed” back into society at large. (Sadly, he’d receive a hero’s welcome in places like Boston, San Francisco or LA!)
 
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