Fr. Francis Mary Stone takes leave of absence to discern vocation

[havemercy]

Praying indeed!

 

[Maria_Maria]

Fr. Francis continues to deserve respect from us all, and not judgement. Any of us who shake a finger at him must first review our own consciences.

Moreover, our Lord writes straight with crooked lines. Maybe it is His will that Fr. Francis leave the priesthood. Perhaps we should refrain from voicing our certitude about what is God’s will according to our Catholic traditions; maybe we need to admit the possiblility that God is larger than the box in which we put him, maybe our Lord has further, different plans in mind for Fr. Francis.

I join you all in praying for Fr. Francis’ clear discernment according to our Lord’s will, and not necessarily according to what many of you SAY (or imply) is our Lord’s will for him. God bless.

 

[AlegreFe]

My daughter thought maybe we could pray to Blessed Conrad of Piacenza. He and his wife separated then he joined a third order Franciscan Hermits. He wanted to concentrate on his prayer life.
You can read his story here, don’t worry, it’s short.

 

[AlegreFe]

I also thought that St. Thérèse of Lisieux could pray for Fr. Francis. She prayed for priests a lot when she was alive so I’m sure she would pray for Father Francis if we ask her.

There is also a Saint Anthony of Padua Novena that you could pray for Fr. Francis.

 

[jimbol51]

I am Jewish by birth. My wife is Catholic. I cannot in my wildest dreams imagine being apart from her…EVER…! I love my wife so much…
I too was absolutely flabbergasted when Father Mark made the disclosure last night on EWTN. I for one do hope that we all give Father Francis a chance to make a statement to those of us who are deeply involved with EWTN. Until we all know the facts it is in my opinion totally unfair to make any judgements in regards to Father Francis Mary. If in the end it turns out that he did indeed fall in love with this woman then he has to deal with this aspect of his life. I would like to hear from those of you who are Catholic what will be the implications to him and EWTN if Father Francis decides to stay with this woman. I’m sorry to be somethat uninformed of what these implications might be, but you have to understand that I have learned more about Catholicism from watching EWTN than I ever learned about the Jewish faith that I was born into. Thank all of you for your help in this trying time…jim in San Diego

 

[Tabby]

All I can think is that there must be so much more going on “behind the scenes” of which we are unaware because it has not been and likely cannot be publicly revealed. I really think it is absolutely necessary to keep that in mind before accepting the temptation to “take sides.”

 

[rien]

I am Jewish by birth. My wife is Catholic. I cannot in my wildest dreams imagine being apart from her…EVER…! I love my wife so much…
I too was absolutely flabbergasted when Father Mark made the disclosure last night on EWTN. I for one do hope that we all give Father Francis a chance to make a statement to those of us who are deeply involved with EWTN. Until we all know the facts it is in my opinion totally unfair to make any judgements in regards to Father Francis Mary. If in the end it turns out that he did indeed fall in love with this woman then he has to deal with this aspect of his life. I would like to hear from those of you who are Catholic what will be the implications to him and EWTN if Father Francis decides to stay with this woman. I’m sorry to be somethat uninformed of what these implications might be, but you have to understand that I have learned more about Catholicism from watching EWTN than I ever learned about the Jewish faith that I was born into. Thank all of you for your help in this trying time…jim in San Diego

Well Jim, I have learned more about Chritianity from the pentecostal preacher friend friend of mine than I ever leraned from Catholic friends. You should really talk with an orthodox Jewish believer before givning up on Judaism.

 

[archonnx]

I, as we all are, am completly sadened. I understand how alot of people feel and all the implacations this will have. I am heart broken for the youth and those who will take this and use it to tear down the faith.
That being said. We, as Catholics, are soldiers fighting a REAL war and there are real people who get killed (bodly and spirtually). I can understand the temptation he is going thru, I think we all can if we remember all our own sins, both the ones in the past in the present. But i think we need to look at it with the eyes of Truth and spirit. Our brother in Christ, Our Fellow solider, is being unrelently attacked, I for one am not going to sit and let it happen nor am i going to help the enemy. I am sure he has not made a real choice yet about the woman in question but Satan is not going to make it easy for him. For all we know he may be on the very edge of caving, let us all help him to fight. We are Catholic for God’s sake, lets act like it and help our Brother thru Prayer, Fasting, and sacrafice. I know alot of yall allready have, but some i have read are quick to anger and i understand the anger. I am not saying it is ok. It is not, it is very wrong if he does forsake his Real Calling, and we are right to be angry, but not to the extent of attacking him and forsaking him. He needs help more than ever now. I ask all of us to remmber how many times we posted asking for prayers or asked for prayers from anyone? We all know what it is to be weak at times, now lets us Pray for him in his weak moment.
Fr. Francis, stay in the Fight!! I will stay in the fight with you Brother! God Bless us ALL

 

[jimbol51]

I for one hold that we should ask Father Francis in his own words to please tell us what he feels should be his continuing role with EWTN in regards to these recent events. jim in San Diego

 

[sardine0]

I just watch LOTR as it was recorded. I was saddened and seriously shocked at the news. I really don’t know what happened but speculation can get the best of you. I saw how Fr. Anthony was saddened and so was Fr. Mark. I will pray for Fr. Francis. I feel saddened because of any possible scandal it could cause some people, especially young people. I know that anyone can fall from grace at any time. I did but after ten years of absence and wondering I came back to Holy Mother Church. I just will pray for him and whatever the situation is that he will cling to Jesus and seek God’s will for him. He needs time and prayer and there’s really not to much to say. It’s like a death or extreme sadness in the soul. Fr. Francis will figure it out with the Grace of God and our prayers. Suffering comes to us all and we have to bear it with God’s Grace. Look at Mother Angelica, how much she has suffered, not just physically but all the ney sayers and detractors. Mother Theresa suffered too. When I look at the lives of the Saints there is a thread that seems to tie them all together-The Cross and Detachment. They all suffered and maybe entered through their own Agony in the Garden with our Lord, felt abadnoned and somehow, with God’s Grace they triumphed, especially most of them suffered being misunderstood suffered a white martyrdom. God is Merciful and we need to keep our focus and heart placed in Him and His Church. This could be any of us. God uses all things for Good and though it seems at the darkest moment, a light shines to pick us up so we can continue this pilgrimage. I am forever grateful that the Hound of Heaven and Our Blessed Mother never gave up on me, for I was lost and I hope to be steadfast, and be found. If not for the Grace of God, there I went and hope not to go I.

 

[Donna_Mc]

I am shocked and saddened beyond words, the repeat of the
show will be on shortly and I was going to watch it but now I
am thinking it would be way too upsetting for me. I have always
liked LOTR and Father’s homilies. We must pray for him,
all the friars and the whole network. This all seems like a bad
dream to me.

 

[Isa_Almisry]

I don’t understand the orthodox/traditional catholic clinging to celibacy. It didn’t exist for the many first centuries and the church basically converted Rome.

Celibacy has become a “work” IMHO - the kind Paul condemns in Scritpure over and over again.

Now you’re going the opposite extreme.

There were celibate priests from the beginning, including the Apostles (e.g. St. John).

St. Paul wrote a bit on celibacy, over and over again. And it wasn’t to condemn it.

 

[Woodstock]

I asked in the AAA forum for an explanation of how priests can marry after laicization.

It was answered here.

Why can a laicized priest marry?

 

[Woodstock]

I for one hold that we should ask Father Francis in his own words to please tell us what he feels should be his continuing role with EWTN in regards to these recent events. jim in San Diego

Jim,

I don’t think we even know what the recent events are yet. He could have been having a years’ long affair and have a baby on the way, or he could have a recent temptation he needs some time and prayer to work out. I think what the events actually are will determine what his superiors decide will be his continuing role, if any.

 

[jimbol51]

What are the options available to Father Francis in line with Church doctrine if I may ask? Sorry to sound stupid here as we still have no idea of exactly what has transpired overall. I was raised in a Jewish family where religion was basically ignored to a major extent with the Jewish faith being more of a cultural versus religious entity here in Southern California. jim

 

[Woodstock]

What are the options available to Father Francis in line with Church doctrine if I may ask? Sorry to sound stupid here as we still have no idea of exactly what has transpired overall. I was raised in a Jewish family where religion was basically ignored to a major extent with the Jewish faith being more of a cultural versus religious entity here in Southern California. jim

Jim,
This is such an infrequent event that you can see Catholics who are well-formed in their faith are also struggling to answer this.

The way I see it is this:
If this is an issue of temptation, he’ll spend time in prayer and fasting under the direction of a spiritual adviser until he is able to return to full ministry. This is unlikely because they would not make the source of his temptation public, nor would he be likely to ask for forgiveness if this were the situation (temptation is not a sin). Since the letter and brisk removal seemed to imply a longer to possibly indefinite absence, this situation is possible but less likely.

If he has acted on a temptation, has stopped acting on the temptation, has no lasting moral obligations as a result of the actions, then he could repent, spend considerable time in prayer and fasting under the direction of a spiritual adviser, and he would be unlikely to return to public ministry for a long period of time, but he could remain should his superiors believe it is the best course of action. He could be subject to canonical penalties, though, if his actions were immoral, unethical, or in violation of canon law.

If he has acted on a temptation, has stopped acting on the temptation, and does have lasting moral obligations as a result of the actions (such as a child), after repenting, he would be morally bound to care for his moral obligations in some way. It is possible to do so as a priest, though easier as a diocesan priest than a religious priest. However, if he has a child, the scandal it would cause would not be good to working in public ministry. In that case, he might have to consider laicization in order to care for the child.

It is my understanding that he could seek to marry after being laicized as long as it is not specifically forbidden to him when he is laicized. He would not be obligated to do so.

If he has acted on the temptation, and has not stopped acting on the temptation, and is not repentant, things are more complicated. Laicization and excommunication would be two possibilities depending on personal choices. However, considering his request for forgiveness, this seems unlikely and doesn’t need to be further entertained, thankfully.

 

[Tietjen]

What are the options available to Father Francis in line with Church doctrine if I may ask? Sorry to sound stupid here as we still have no idea of exactly what has transpired overall. I was raised in a Jewish family where religion was basically ignored to a major extent with the Jewish faith being more of a cultural versus religious entity here in Southern California. jim

My understanding, and I may be incorrect here because I have not encountered this type of situation before, is that Fr. Francis remains a Priest for life regardless. He is however, no longer allowed to conduct Priestly duties (administer the Sacraments). The rest is between him and God.

 

[RachelsAlumni]

I think that if a Priest is laicized he is no longer a cleric but always retains his priestly functions including the Sacraments. I have read (Rent-A-Priest) that even laicized Priests can still celebrate Mass if requested.

 

[Woodstock]

My understanding, and I may be incorrect here because I have not encountered this type of situation before, is that Fr. Francis remains a Priest for life regardless. He is however, no longer allowed to conduct Priestly duties (administer the Sacraments). The rest is between him and God.

The rest is not between him and God. He will have very specific, and lengthy, requirements placed on him by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith if he is laicized. Please see below.

I think that if a Priest is laicized he is no longer a cleric but always retains his priestly functions including the Sacraments. I have read (Rent-A-Priest) that even laicized Priests can still celebrate Mass if requested.

Everything I’ve seen is that the only sacramental function they retain faculties for is deathbed confessions and emergency anointing.

The standard laicization order doesn’t allow them to be Eucharistic ministers, to give homilies, to teach in Catholic schools, to teach religious topics in non-Catholic schools, and a number of other roles to make it clear they do not have the authority of the Church any longer. I don’t see “you can say Mass and consecrate the Eucharist as long as someone else asks you to” anywhere in there, despite what the rent-a-priests would like you to believe.

 

[Cadence]

Fr Francis did the wrong thing and we should pray for him.
The widow also did the wrong thing. Why did they, on Life on The Rock not also ask us to pray for her? She is now also in a very difficult position.