Former Catholic Priest Condemns the Catholic Church and Scott Hahn

[ralphinal]

You describe your uncle as a dirty old man but even he spoke the truth. It reminds me of the story of Balaam’s ***. Is that what you mean?

I was prepping the thread for the insult to come. He had issues, but he knew the truth

That story of Balaam’s donkey is a good one. I can see how

 

[mercygate]

This is also true for former mormons or for that matter with anyone who has left their faith for another. On this forum, the most virulent antis against their former faith are former mormons, jehovas witnesses, Seventh Day Adventists etc. It is only natural. There is no reason to believe that the same would also not be true for former priests and devout catholics.

Maybe you’re right to some extent. JWs and LDS people come from traditions that catastrophically distort the Person of Jesus Christ and hold their followers in what amounts to cultural bondage (not that that is all bad! – who can dismiss LDS family values?) As for SDAs – Yeah, they’re odd but I have not encountered the bitterness from them that you describe. I’ll take your word for it. But most of us who come into the Church do NOT badmouth our former churches.

 

[chris_molter]

But most of us who come into the Church do NOT badmouth our former churches.

At least no more than we did when we were there…

Maybe it’s an Episcopalian thing…

 

[jmcrae]

Sadly, our Priests are a target for Satan, and he seems to have gotten hold of Bennet.

Could he have ever been a priest? He claims never to have read the Bible when he was Catholic - which makes me wonder, was he ever presiding at a Mass, or doing his daily Office?

 

[tundramom]

This is also true for former mormons or for that matter with anyone who has left their faith for another. On this forum, the most virulent antis against their former faith are former mormons, jehovas witnesses, Seventh Day Adventists etc. It is only natural. There is no reason to believe that the same would also not be true for former priests and devout catholics.

This is the only thing I will have to agree with you on why me.

I went through my own hatred of Mormonism heavily linked with abandonment issues because I left. I had a hatred, but I don’t believe I do any longer. I just don’t see the logic in Mormonism as I once did. (although I was probably one of the worst examples of a faithful Mormon, I was still Mormon)

I also bought into the whole anti-Catholic bit partly because of my Mother’s influence and her Mormon views as well as the new AofG church that I was “saved” in.

Thankfully, God was able to turn my heart around and take all the blinders off. I am Catholic now… fully Catholic and so humbled by God’s Grace that pulled me through it all.

As you said, it is human … and therefore “natural” to fall into that pile of…stuff. However, it is not what God wants for us either. He wants us to be able to rise above it with a grateful heart because of His works in us. Not our own. I think Marcus Grodi, Scott Hahn, and Jeff Cavins are all shining examples for all of us!

in Christ
Steph

 

[mercygate]

Could he have ever been a priest? He claims never to have read the Bible when he was Catholic - which makes me wonder, was he ever presiding at a Mass, or doing his daily Office?

Yeah. That’s what I mean about the :whacky: with this guy. Some serious tracking problems between his testimony and what MUST be the facts.

 

[jmcrae]

I wouldn’t bet on that. Hahn’s books alone must be providing him with a comfortable income! Then the speakng engagements . . . Gotta be sweet!

With all the travelling, etc., I’m sure they spend just about as much as they get. It’s not cheap to fly all over the country.

I am guessing you are also not aware that at least some of these guys do free talks for young people, going from parish youth group to parish youth group pretty much from the moment their plane lands; they don’t just lounge around in their hotel rooms waiting for it to be time to give their paid talks.

 

[qui_est_ce]

Yeah. That’s what I mean about the :whacky: with this guy. Some serious tracking problems between his testimony and what MUST be the facts.

I wondered that myself. Especially because he claimed to be a Dominican, Order of Preachers. All priests have theology degrees from Seminary. If he never read a Bible, he never said a mass, or read the mantatory daily Office.

 

[mercygate]

With all the travelling, etc., I’m sure they spend just about as much as they get. It’s not cheap to fly all over the country.

I am guessing you are also not aware that at least some of these guys do free talks for young people, going from parish youth group to parish youth group pretty much from the moment their plane lands; they don’t just lounge around in their hotel rooms waiting for it to be time to give their paid talks.

Heck, when I used to be on the lecture circuit, nobody asked me to pay my own expenses! That’s just understood.

Anyway, this thread isn’t about whether Scott Hahn is rich or some Protestants are rich, it’s about screwball anti-Catholics and their nonsensical claims.

Actually, I think I should go to confession for almost enjoying their shenanigans.

 

[ralphinal]

Could he have ever been a priest? He claims never to have read the Bible when he was Catholic - which makes me wonder, was he ever presiding at a Mass, or doing his daily Office?

Oh, he read it. He just didn’t read INTO it. That is the problem.

Then again, he might not have ever actually contemplated scriptures. They might have been words on a page to him.

Neither one is the Church’s fault.

 

[CatsAndDogs]

Quote:
Originally Posted by mercygateThe reasons for hostility ALWAYS include something personal:

Sister was mean.
Father was mean.
Father made inappropriate advances.
My Father/Mother used religion as a weapon.

Very often [almost universally] it is rooted in divorce & remarriage, contraception, abortion, masturbation . . .

You couldn’t be more wrong on this. I fall into none of these categories and know plenty of former Roman Catholics that don’t either. Don’t make ridiculous universal statements that you can’t reinforce.

So, why did you leave?

The reason is ALWAYS some variant of being scandalized by some behavior of some sinful Catholic, and not being able to separate the sinner from the sin, and imputing to the Church the evil of the person.

PLEASE show me ONE instance where that is not true? Thanks in advance.

 

[qui_est_ce]

No more wacko than folks on these boards who argue all day long about who is right and wrong, who goes to hell and who doesn’t.

There’s a difference between spreading lies and honest debate. Most of the Catholic posters here are trying to defend the faith in an honest manner. Some get rude, but I have not seen this much on the thread I frequent.

This is also true for former mormons or for that matter with anyone who has left their faith for another. On this forum, the most virulent antis against their former faith are former mormons, jehovas witnesses, Seventh Day Adventists etc. It is only natural. There is no reason to believe that the same would also not be true for former priests and devout catholics.

What I noticed about Scott Hahn, Marcus Grodi, Tim Staples and espcially Rosalind Moss, is they have a great deal of love for their former denominations, and see them as a part of their journey home. Mormons and JW’s are mad because when they go into the real world, they realize they have been lied to. Ex-Catholics? I still haven’t figured it out, except that maybe they are being fed anti-Catholic propoganda, didn’t really know their faith too well, and are being cultivated by ant-Catholics to attack the Church. I don’t see Scott Hahn, et al “attacking” their former denominations as much as they are seeking truths. IOW, they are looking for a truth, The TRUTH, and it’s a journey that lead them home to Rome.

 

[qui_est_ce]

Anyway, this thread isn’t about whether Scott Hahn is rich or some Protestants are rich, it’s about screwball anti-Catholics and their nonsensical claims.

Actually, I think I should go to confession for almost enjoying their shenanigans.

Everybody has a right to make a living, espcially an honest living. I do think its on topic, because one of the accusations made on by Bennett is that Scott Hahn made a lot of money on his conversion, implying that Scott Hahn did not convert for Truth.

Also, most people who come into the Church will tell you they are shunned by their families and friends. It’s an “anything but Catholic” attitude. Scott Hahn even considered the Episcopalians so he wouldn’t have to become the “C” word.

 

[ralphinal]

I think that there are two kinds of former Catholics: those who leave and those who are left. Those who leave fall into two groups: those who know and those who don’t.

Those who leave because they do not know get angry because they think that they were denied something. They weren’t, but they did not know it and still do not. They are chasing something that is either in the Church or not needed for salvation. They want to pull others away because they don’t know what they are fighting.

Those who leave and did know are angry because of whatever it was the made them leave the faith, such as abortion, remarriage, etc.

Those who are left are those who are looking, but cannot find what it is they seek. Perhaps they are missing something in their faith formation, perhaps they are missing the gift of Faith. They tend not to be angry. They are honest and truly looking for whatever it is that they cannot find.

 

[mercygate]

Everybody has a right to make a living, espcially an honest living. I do think its on topic, because one of the accusations made on by Bennett is that Scott Hahn made a lot of money on his conversion, implying that Scott Hahn did not convert for Truth.

Also, most people who come into the Church will tell you they are shunned by their families and friends. It’s an “anything but Catholic” attitude. Scott Hahn even considered the Episcopalians so he wouldn’t have to become the “C” word.

All points taken. I missed the part about Hahn converting “for the money.” Puh-leeze. He sure didn’t envision his present success when he left his pulpit and his Protestant seminary teaching job with a wife, a baby and no income!

 

[mark_a]

I just discovered this website, started by a former Catholic priest, Peter Bennett:

bereanbeacon.org/RC_Apologists.php

Bennett chastizes Scott Hahn, Patrick Madrid, and other converts for falling into apostasy. Elsewhere on this site, he solicits testimonials from former Catholics. Much of what is said against the Catholic Church and Scott Hahn is just plain false or lifted out of context. He is alarmed by the many books, cd’s, and talks given by these converts and seems bent on countering them. As a Catholic, Evangelical tapes and CD’s do not bother me unless they spout anti-Catholic falsehoods. I used to listen to them all the time before the Catholics got into the media. I would not condone Catholics spreading falsehoods about Protestantism either.

My question is how can someone who claims to have been a Catholic priest for over 20 years to have found the truth in Fundamental Evangelicism accuse a former Presbyterian minister of not understanding Protestantism when he himself didn’t understand the teachings of the Catholic Church? Not sure if Bennett adheres to Calvinism, Antimonianism, etc., as the focus of the site seems to be anything but Catholic.

I guess Mr. Madrid and Mr. Hahn have hit the bigtime even among some Protestants. At least the pope is getting a break when Scott and Patrick are being dragged through the mud.

 

[mark_a]

Very often [almost universally] it is rooted in divorce & remarriage, contraception, abortion, masturbation . . .

You nailed it!

 

[swariffin]

I just discovered this website, started by a former Catholic priest, Peter Bennett:

bereanbeacon.org/RC_Apologists.php

Bennett chastizes Scott Hahn, Patrick Madrid, and other converts for falling into apostasy. Elsewhere on this site, he solicits testimonials from former Catholics. Much of what is said against the Catholic Church and Scott Hahn is just plain false or lifted out of context. He is alarmed by the many books, cd’s, and talks given by these converts and seems bent on countering them. As a Catholic, Evangelical tapes and CD’s do not bother me unless they spout anti-Catholic falsehoods. I used to listen to them all the time before the Catholics got into the media. I would not condone Catholics spreading falsehoods about Protestantism either.

My question is how can someone who claims to have been a Catholic priest for over 20 years to have found the truth in Fundamental Evangelicism accuse a former Presbyterian minister of not understanding Protestantism when he himself didn’t understand the teachings of the Catholic Church? Not sure if Bennett adheres to Calvinism, Antimonianism, etc., as the focus of the site seems to be anything but Catholic.

Dear Brother,

One of the biggest challenge being a Catholic priest beside celibacy, is the vow of poverty. I believe this vow is valid to all Catholic priest whereever they are. You know, being unable to own “anything” while living in the western civilization which is considered as glamorous, is very challenging. Perhaps by looking at Scott Hahn (he is not ordained as a Catholic priest, so he is not bound by the vows), as a well known theologian, he has the chance of making money out of his talent. As Bennett having “about the same” knowledge, but less famous, he can only uses his talent talking from the opposite perspective to get attention. At least, from accross the ocean I know Scott Hahn, but I don’t know Bennett until you bring up this OP in this forum.
That’s what he is doing. Do you think he is really become an unbeliever after this 20 years? Perhaps not. But, for the sake of earning whatever he is dreaming now, he would like to sacrifice his “professionalism” and somehow “faith” to pursue his goal.

 

[qui_est_ce]

Dear Brother,

One of the biggest challenge being a Catholic priest beside celibacy, is the vow of poverty. I believe this vow is valid to all Catholic priest whereever they are. You know, being unable to own “anything” while living in the western civilization which is considered as glamorous, is very challenging. Perhaps by looking at Scott Hahn (he is not ordained as a Catholic priest, so he is not bound by the vows), as a well known theologian, he has the chance of making money out of his talent. As Bennett having “about the same” knowledge, but less famous, he can only uses his talent talking from the opposite perspective to get attention. At least, from accross the ocean I know Scott Hahn, but I don’t know Bennett until you bring up this OP in this forum.
That’s what he is doing. Do you think he is really become an unbeliever after this 20 years? Perhaps not. But, for the sake of earning whatever he is dreaming now, he would like to sacrifice his “professionalism” and somehow “faith” to pursue his goal.

Diocesan priests do not take a vow of poverty. Only some religious orders do. The vow of poverty means they “pool their resources” like the early Christians. They don’t live in poverty. Their housing, food, medical expenses and retirement are taken care of, and they don’t have to worry about job security as long as they toe the company line not even that (in the case of Jesuits). More than I can say about my line of business.

The point is Bennett is bashing Scott Hahn for selling out.

 

[po18guy]

Alleged Catholic priest. I would have to know more before I believe it, as these anti-Cs are motivated by hatred. If true, the spirit of antichrist lead him away. All we can do is pray for him.

Christ’s peace.