Former Catholic Priest Condemns the Catholic Church and Scott Hahn

[yellowbird]

We Catholics really are to blame for so many people being clueless about the faith they are raised in. I loved God, I wanted to do His will, I attended Mass every Sunday until College, I read the Bible, I went to Catholic school and CCD every year, and still I didn’t hear anything to defend my faith.

This resonates with me.

 

[qui_est_ce]

Yes, I know who he is, we have met, I have been in his house. I am just about best friends with one of his relatives. A dear protestant friend of mine, who I love, and pray that she comes into the fullness of the faith in the Catholic Church. (It could happen, especially since she has some serious wacked-out anti-Catholicism in her family.)

I do know the Dominicans, OOP. Clearly, he never made his faith his own, from reading his personal story. Just because someone attended Seminary, doesn’t mean they were actually “present” in mind.

He is pretty open about his ignorance in his testimony, only he blames the Church and not his own ignorance.

I too left the Catholic Church when I was 18. I was ignorant, and blamed the Church for not teaching me. I loved Christ, but I never got to KNOW His Church on Earth.

To this very day, I am a little mad that I wasted so many years as a fundamentalist, when it really was Christ and His truth that I was seeking. I thought it was in the modern evangelical churches. Sure, His truth is there, but it’s not ALL of His truth.

We Catholics really are to blame for so many people being clueless about the faith they are raised in. I loved God, I wanted to do His will, I attended Mass every Sunday until College, I read the Bible, I went to Catholic school and CCD every year, and still I didn’t hear anything to defend my faith.

I agree that my generation was extremely poorly catechized. The wake of Vatican II left much turmoil. The words of mass kept changing. How to receive, when to set and stand, etc. In CATHOLIC high school, we studied Buddhism, nothing Catholic. I begged our religion teacher to do a Bible study. I was voted down.

My daughter, now in Catholic high school learns much, much more OT, NT, Catholic faith.

We catechize much better today, and the quality of the homilies regarding catechizing has greatly improved as well.

But this is not the same as going to seminary, learning, and passing tests, even if one does not believe what is studied. For example, I can study Buddhism, pass the test, and still not believe in it. Why would I then start a website that tells lies about Buddhism? It would show how ignorant I am.

So was he REALLY a Dominican, or is he just SAYING that? Or does he really have TBI?

 

[qui_est_ce]

So was he REALLY a Dominican, or is he just SAYING that? Or does he really have TBI?

Sorry, your post came in while I was typing mine.

 

[qui_est_ce]

I guess I’m surprised the guy is even “on the radar.”

The reason is there are many anti-Catholic Protestant web sites they provide links to his site. They like and solicit the testimony of priests to support their position.

One of the reasons I like Catholic converts stories is that I never see any hate or lies about their former faiths. Rather, they see their former faiths as journeys. I especially love Rosalind Moss and her “Salvation is from the Jews.” They bring something IN with them, and we welcome it. Unlike anti C’s seem to DETRACT.

 

[ralphinal]

FOr the record, I did not put the head-injury part in to invite ridicule or jest. Nor do I think that he understood the faith before the injury. Something about it just stood out.

I agree that overall, he is harmless. It is what others do with his story that can be dangerous.

 

[qui_est_ce]

FOr the record, I did not put the head-injury part in to invite ridicule or jest. Nor do I think that he understood the faith before the injury. Something about it just stood out.

I agree that overall, he is harmless. It is what others do with his story that can be dangerous.

Plus the fact he is actively soliciting fallen away Religious to use as ammunition. It’s almost as if he is assembling bodies as ammuntion to hurl on catapaults. Never mind the state of their souls.

 

[po18guy]

Colossians 1:24, I love it! This started Scott Hahn’s journey into the Catholic Church. I have his CD on suffering. This is why, as Catholics, we tell ourselves to “offer it up” when something hurts or doesn’t go our way!

I don’t know ANYONE, Protestant or Catholic who has been in Rome and not been inspired.

That’s the only logical conclusion.

The reason he left is sealed. It certainly would make for interesting reading, and would remove much doubt as to his motives for both leaving and the apparent hatred he harbors toward, not only the church, but those with the temerity to join the church.

Christ’s peace.

 

[mercygate]

The reason he left is sealed. It certainly would make for interesting reading, and would remove much doubt as to his motives for both leaving and the apparent hatred he harbors toward, not only the church, but those with the temerity to join the church.

Christ’s peace.

Oh *DO *tell! Are his reasons for leaving sealed because everybody’sreasons for leaving are sealed? Or is this “special”?

 

[distracted]

I’ve noticed that some of the worst anti-Catholic bigots are often fallen away Catholics. It’s even harder to reason with them since they think they already know all there is to know about Catholicism since they used to be Catholic.

So TRUE!!! I couldn’t have said it any better…

I ought to know - i used to be one of those former Catholics…

but then again, maybe not…

No, definitely not… I was kinda “wild” but was never one of those who bad-mouthed the Church…

I didn’t do that until recently… .

actually, this brings up an important point… As much fault as i find with some of the church’s members… (etc)… as hard as it is to stick to the Church’s moral teachings every day in every way… i suppose it is somewhat a miracle that i am still devoutly catholic… and didn’t go the way of the aforementioned former priest…

As soon as i saw in the OP the words “former Catholic priest”… i felt i really need not read any further… Those words kinda say it all…

 

[po18guy]

I’m starting to think this guy’s harmless. Except for the harm he’s doing his own soul in leading the Catholic and protestant faithful into apostasy.

Anyone reading this thread really ought to look at the front page of his website. He is ANTI- everything: Evangelicalism, Purpose Driven Life, Catholicism, the Emergent Church, and MOTHER TERESA! (According to him, she’s a lost soul)

Now that we know what he’s against,
I wonder if he is FOR anything?

When the entire world knows what he hates, but must dig to discover what he loves, little else needs to be said.

Listening, COACH? He hates Evangelicals! Should we dialog now??? That’s two things we have in common.

Christ’s peace.

 

[po18guy]

So TRUE!!! I couldn’t have said it any better…

I ought to know - i used to be one of those former Catholics…

but then again, maybe not…

No, definitely not… I was kinda “wild” but was never one of those who bad-mouthed the Church…

I didn’t do that until recently, after having gotten to know it better… .

actually, this brings up an important point… As much fault as i find with some of the church’s members… (etc)… and as hard as it is to stick to the Church’s moral teachings every day in every way… i suppose it is somewhat a miracle that i am still devoutly catholic… and didn’t go the way of the aforementioned former priest…

As soon as i saw in the OP the words “former Catholic priest”… i hardly needed to read further…

I believe that the spirit of antichrist leads all away. The poorly catechized, he leads away by dangling the carrots of simplistic, non-judgmental faith, whereas with the well(?) catechized, or clergy, it is much more serious and produces much more negative energy toward the church.

It almost sounds as if he faults the church for failing to protect him from temptation. Since he is such an anomaly, there is clearly a more serious force which captured him.

Christ’s peace.

 

[qui_est_ce]

The reason he left is sealed. It certainly would make for interesting reading, and would remove much doubt as to his motives for both leaving and the apparent hatred he harbors toward, not only the church, but those with the temerity to join the church.

Christ’s peace.

I just read your post. How do you know all this? Where did you find the information?

 

[po18guy]

Insert (probably) sealed. Sorry. I would guess that the church does this out of protection of self and the individual. In this exact case, one would need to locate the local Dominican prelate who had charge over him. If he was a Dominican.

Christ’s peace.

 

[qui_est_ce]

Oh *DO *tell! Are his reasons for leaving sealed because everybody’sreasons for leaving are sealed? Or is this “special”?

waiting!

 

[jmcrae]

Oh *DO *tell! Are his reasons for leaving sealed because everybody’sreasons for leaving are sealed? Or is this “special”?

I assume this is related to his being asked to leave the Dominican Order and being laicized - not his leaving the Church altogether. (Although I certainly can see how being made homeless and unemployed would contribute to feelings of alienation.)

 

[qui_est_ce]

I assume this is related to his being asked to leave the Dominican Order and being laicized - not his leaving the Church altogether. (Although I certainly can see how being made homeless and unemployed would contribute to feelings of alienation.)

OK, he was ASKED to leave?

 

[ralphinal]

OK, he was ASKED to leave?

I missed that too. I saw on one website where he was repremanded for teaching that the Bible alone was the sole rule of faith and morals, per Protestantism. I did not see where he got the boot.

 

[qui_est_ce]

I missed that too. I saw on one website where he was repremanded for teaching that the Bible alone was the sole rule of faith and morals, per Protestantism. I did not see where he got the boot.

Where did you see this? I couldn’t find anything but his site and links to his site.

 

[ralphinal]

This is from this site:
christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-r011.html

First, I discovered that God’s Word in the Bible is absolute and without error. I had been taught that the Word is relative and that its truthfulness in many areas was to be questioned. Now I began to understand that the Bible could, in fact, be trusted. With the aid of Strong’s Concordance, I began to study the Bible to see what it says about itself.

I discovered that the Bible teaches clearly that it is from God and is absolute in what it says. It is true in its history, in the promises God has made, in its prophecies, in the moral commands it gives, and in how to live the Christian life. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (II Timothy 3:16-17).

This discovery was made while visiting in Vancouver, B.C., and in Seattle. When I was asked to talk to the prayer group in St. Stephen’s Catholic Church, I took as my subject the absolute authority of God’s Word. It was the first time that I had understood such a truth or talked about it. I returned to Vancouver, B.C. and in a large parish Church, before about 400 people, I preached the same message. Bible in hand, I proclaimed that “the absolute and final authority in all matters of faith and morals is the Bible, God’s own Word.”

Three days later, the archbishop of Vancouver, B.C., James Carney, called me to his office. I was then officially silenced and forbidden to preach in his archdiocese. I was told that my punishment would have been more severe, were it not for the letter of recommendation I had received from my own archbishop, Anthony Pantin. Soon afterwards I returned to Trinidad.

I re-read the whole story. He does make is sound as though he left the Order, not the order leaving him.

 

[graceandglory]

Insert (probably) sealed. Sorry. I would guess that the church does this out of protection of self and the individual. In this exact case, one would need to locate the local Dominican prelate who had charge over him. If he was a Dominican.

Christ’s peace.

Hi. Um…I guess I just did that.
Yes. He was a Dominican. Here is the response I received from someone at the monastery.

Dear _____ , Thanks for your enquiry. It is interesting to hear that you have met Peter Bennett. Yes, the ‘monastery’ is still here – though it isn’t strictly speaking a monastery, but a Dominican priory. Peter Bennett was indeed a student here in the 60s, and was ordained a Catholic priest from here. Then he was sent to the West Indies to do parish work there. He was very zealous, friends who knew him told me. Then he began to invite Pentecostalist preachers to his parish, and began to come more and more under their influence until eventually he joined them.

He returns to Ireland from time to time and gives talks that are severely critical of the Catholic Church. Several years ago he contributed to a book by former Catholic priests, and reading this is the only exposure I have had to the ‘new’ Peter. I have to say I found his account of life here so slanted, so bitter, so lurid, so fundamentally false, that I just couldn’t connect it at all with the Tallaght I remember – nor with the man I had known as a student. Obviously some great change took place in him that altered his whole perception – and even his memory. I went through the same studies in the same place, and I am grateful for the education and formation I received. The same would be said by practically everyone who went through here – with different degrees of emphasis, obviously! Religious life was more demanding in those days than it is now; or rather it was demanding in a different way. It was a tough ascetical way of life, but there was a great deal of fun as well, and a very deep seriousness about the apostolate. In the 60s, when Peter Bennett was here, it was opening up with great joy and recognition to the 2nd Vatican Council, just like the rest of the Catholic world. What he wrote was a perfect caricature. I listened to part of a tape that he sent to priests in Ireland some years ago, but I couldn’t listen to the end; it was the same slant as the book. It just wasn’t recognizable at all.

I studied here in the 60s, then in Switzerland, then in Italy. Later I taught in England and then here in Tallaght, and in Rome. Having spent 30 years in 3 or 4 other posts, I’m now back in the same Tallaght as director of a retreat house here. Life goes in cycles, doesn’t it? Hearing of Peter Bennett again after all the years is strange. Nowadays we’re surprised at nothing, really. We see people do and say many crazy things in the name of religion, and it’s the same all over the world. Don’t be upset that such people talk the way they do. Better to be the object of such talk than the author of it. There is sanity in the world, but one has to be sane to recognise it. I hope his presence doesn’t upset you too much

God bless you now and always.

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