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

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he has been attacked and is letting it happen!! there is no way when discerning God’s will that you should choose evil. God only wills good for us. the vocation to the priesthood is forever. it’s not like fr. francis was ordained this year, he’s been in religious life for over 17 years.

he will not be allowed to marry in the church. he’s been a priest for way too long. no good can come from this relationship. if they get married it will be outside the church and he will be barred from the sacraments not to mention the scandal he’s causing to the faithful.
Ok–sorry. I saw this post…this kind of answers my questions above.

I think we should be placing much of this responsibility on the widow, though, too. I mean, a priest? Interested in a relationship with a priest? I know she is vulnerable being a widow, but evil is at work here, I think, when someone is able to “tempt” a priest.😦 Not that she herself is evil–but evil is seeping in…and typically does, when we are at our weak points…it finds an opening, and then bam…if you give the devil an inch, he’ll take a mile.😦
 
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he will not be allowed to marry in the church. he’s been a priest for way too long. no good can come from this relationship. if they get married it will be outside the church and he will be barred from the sacraments not to mention the scandal he’s causing to the faithful.

I am not sure about this. There is a process for priest who want to leave the church. If he goes through to process and is laicized, there is no barrier to him marrying and receiving the sacraments. Many priests and nuns have left their vocations and continued to be devout practioners of the faith.
 
Yeah, I see no good end here. Even if he comes to his sense and abandons this folly (and I pray he does), I doubt you’ll ever see him on EWTN again. It would be a sour taste and hurt for many viewers (I say this only anecdotally from those I have personally spoken to).
I am not sure of that. I think he he comes back alot of good can come of this experience. He can be an example to Priests that struggle with leaving the Priesthood. Almost half of the Priests that leave the Priesthood is because of a women or to get married. I think if he stay a Priest he will be a good example of how to resist temptation and persevere as a Priest. O n the other hand if he leaves the Priesthood i think it will be a great tragedy as there are probably many young men who watch the show and are considering the Priesthood and may think if Fr. Francis can’t even hack it, how could I? It could discourage men form entering the Priesthood. I am hopeful somethnig good will come of this.
I just can’t understand how Fr. Francis could lost touch with the Priesthood or Faith with the job he has. he gets to interview all these amazing people who have amazing faith, you think that would be an encouragement and a faith strengthening experience every week. I know i have troubles with faith and then when i watch the show and see all these wonderful people and the faith filled stories it lights a fire under me. I can;t believe how it doesn’t do it for him also. Anyways, i still believe something good may come of this
 
As for all the speculation, being a friend of the involved widow myself, I can tell you that yes, there was physical intimacy and yes, they both need SERIOUS prayer, as does their unborn child.
 
As for all the speculation, being a friend of the involved widow myself, I can tell you that yes, there was physical intimacy and yes, they both need SERIOUS prayer, as does their unborn child.
Now, are you seriously a friend of the widow? Or are you an acquaintance?

Are you just someone who wants to stir the gossip pot here on the forum?:cool:

Terri
 
As for all the speculation, being a friend of the involved widow myself, I can tell you that yes, there was physical intimacy and yes, they both need SERIOUS prayer, as does their unborn child.
WOW - that didn’t take long to come out, however this poster is correct, sad to say. He’s definately not coming back. Poor Mother A. - this might just knock her over.
 
Why can’t he be laicized? It happens from time to time. I know a woman whose husband was an ordained priest and was released from his vows. She told me that he still has the power to hear confessions in a true emergency and to give the last rites (say, upon encountering an accident where someone is dying)… He keeps a kit with a stole and the holy oils, etc. in his car at all times.
 
This really is so sad. EWTN was a tool I used during my conversion and I have become quite attached to some of the program regulars. I will pray for him.
 
I stopped watching the show a while ago because it was getting too frank about the birds and the bees. It embarrassed me; I can just imagine what it must have been like for the priests. It was no longer appropriate.
 
Hi All,
This is my very first post. I just found Catholic Answers when I was looking to find others to talk to about this issue with, after watching the 1pm replay of LOTR and being completely floored by the announcement. Like others, I knew something was wrong right away, when I saw Fr. Anthony sitting alone, looking so solemn. I immediately thought Fr. Francis or Fr. Mark had been in a car wreck! I was absolutely shocked and saddened by Fr. Francis’ letter. I am a convert (it will be 2 years next Easter), and EWTN had SO MUCH INFLUENCE on my conversion - particularly LOTR (although at 36 I am far out of their target audience) and The Journey Home - I have watched almost every episode of those shows for the past 3-4 years. Like Sandy said, I felt like I “knew” Fr. Francis- from LOTR and his homilies during the daily Mass. I agree that he was occasionally less than perfectly humble and made some other missteps (a.k.a. human), but he had great charisma and gifts to touch young people’s hearts and relate to them, and I thought he was a very good homilist. My 8 year old son thought he was such a “cool priest”, and would often watch with me, when the subject matter was appropriate. I thank God he was not home today, as I do not want to share this with him for now. I realize that Fr. Francis is human, and we are all frail, but I think that his actions send the wrong message to all the young people who watch the show, like: “vows are binding - until you change your mind”, which tends to be what you see almost everywhere in America these days - like with marriage vows. I’m just really sad and disappointed. It was weird to see the new intro and ending, without Fr. Francis’ basketball shot. I can’t imagine that he will not be offering the occasional daily Mass anymore (at least for a while), or hosting LOTR - this was his gift! He was the heart of the show- and it ended so abruptly. I am praying for him, and for all those who feel pain and sorrow at his (God willing, temporary) departure. I do feel thankful that EWTN was up front and told us what happened. If he had just disappeared without any explanation, everyone would assume the worst about him- something worse than the truth. :gopray2: 😦
 
hi!

here is a transcript of the letter read out on LOTR

Dear Family

Regretfully, I have a message that does not come without significant pain to both you and me. I have to tell you in all honesty and truth, that I have been personally involved with helping a widow and her struggling family. Over the course of time, the mother and I have grown very close. As a result, I am compelled to take some time off to prayerfully and honestly discern my future.

I am truly sorry of the impact this may have on so many. I am not unaware of the gravity and magnitude of the situation, yet after much wise counsel, it is really something that I must deal with now for the good of all.

With that said, it is best that I deal with it away from EWTN. Therefore, I have asked for and graciously been granted some extended time to prayerfully discern my vocation.

To those who are part of the EWTN family locally, and others throughout the world, especially all those who have supported me so faithfully in my priestly vocation and ministry here on Life on the Rock, I sincerely apologize. I ask for your prayers and understanding during this time that is so very difficult, but yet so very necessary.

Please lift me up in your humble prayers to Jesus through Mary, our Mother, in Grace and Mercy.

Fr Francis Mary, MFVA

Fr Anthony Mary then said “Brothers and Sisters of our EWTN family, this is a time in which Fr Francis and all involved are in great need of your prayers and your support as our family. Always remember that no one is beyond the power of God’s Mercy or Redemption. And on Fr’s behalf, I humbly ask that you pray for him. God bless you.”
 
Sadly the Catholic Church is full of disobedient people who believe themselves to be smarter than the Pope, or the Holy Spirit who guides the Church for that matter.

i forgot to add to my last post another reason why priests don’t marry… they cannot have any attachment to people, especially in a marriage where total giving of self is required to the other. Another main reason for this is due to the attack on the priesthood by the enemy… if a priest is married this leaves him very vulnerable as he cannot give his full attention to his “children”… those people that show up on Sunday calling him father. I don’t know about your priest but mine is often in his office until 9pm most days. A priest’s duty is to serve the people.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “Christian virgins, called by the Lord to cling only to Him with greater freedom of heart, body, and spirit, have decided with the Church’s approval to live in a state of virginity” (922; emphasis added). As this statement points out, celibacy also bears strong witness to true sexual liberation. For liberation consists of man being able to master his passions rather than giving in to his whims.

From an article on Catholic.com

The reasons Latin Rite priests can’t marry is both theological and canonical.

Theologically, it may be pointed out that priests serve in the place of Christ and therefore, their ministry specially configures them to Christ. As is clear from Scripture, Christ was not married (except in a mystical sense, to the Church). By remaining celibate and devoting themselves to the service of the Church, priests more closely model, configure themselves to, and consecrate themselves to Christ.

As Christ himself makes clear, none of us will be married in heaven (Matt. 22:23–30). By remaining unmarried in this life, priests are more closely configured to the final, eschatological state that will be all of ours.

Paul makes it very clear that remaining single allows one’s attention to be undivided in serving the Lord (1 Cor. 7:32–35). He recommends celibacy to all (1 Cor. 7:7) but especially to ministers, who as soldiers of Christ he urges to abstain from “civilian affairs” (2 Tim. 2:3–4).

Canonically, priests cannot marry for a number of reasons. First, priests who belong to religious orders take vows of celibacy. Second, while diocesan priests do not take vows, they do make a promise of celibacy.

Third, the Church has established impediments that block the validity of marriages attempted by those who have been ordained. Canon 1087 states: “Persons who are in holy orders invalidly attempt marriage.”

This impediment remains as long as the priest has not been dispensed from it, even if he were to attempt a civil marriage, even if he left the Church and joined a non-Catholic sect, and even if he apostatized from the Christian faith altogether. He cannot be validly married after ordination unless he receives a dispensation from the Holy See (CIC 1078 §2, 1°).
source
 
Just read the text of Fr. Francis Mary Stone’s letter. Please pray for both parties. Obviously his confession of “involvement” implies the relationship became more than a priest -layperson state. Wonder how long the woman has been widowed. Death of a loved husband can make one vulnerable. A caring priest can be vulnerable. Again pray for each party. God will see that each person does the right thing.
 
Just another 2 cents: I am 40 years old and almost cried myself. I watch Mass every morning, as well as LOTR on Thursdays (bit out of their target audience, I know!). I take a lot of comfort in the EWTN priests and their wonderful homilies. I hope Father finds his way…he has been a blessing to many of us.

It was a little odd the way he was removed from the LOTR intro and the broadcast of Mass. That was one heck of a jump shot he made in the LOTR into! :o
Well, I’m older than you are 🙂 and I never miss LOTR. I was shocked, saddened, and angry last night and today still feel sick. But imagine the emotional turmoil Father Francis must be feeling – it must be something fierce. Today being first Friday, I prayed for him before the Blessed Sacrament. God can always bring something beautiful out of despair. Pray that God’s will be done.
 
OK, here’s my question… When we marry, we make vows. We can’t decide to change our state in life later to religious–just up and leave our spouse and children to become a nun or priest. If someone wanted to do this, every person out there would tell them that’s crazy, you’ve already got your vocation, you need to live out the one you have. So how can priests, especially those in religious orders, do this? How can he be ‘discerning his vocation’ when he has obviously already taken vows to his vocation? How can his superiors allow this, and how did they allow a monk (priest in a religious order, not just a diocesan priest) to get this involved with a laywoman? I am just so confused by all this. 😦 I will pray for him though, and for her to get enough sense to realize what she’s doing to him. 😦
 
I hurt for Father Stone. And I pray for him.

I hurt more for the young people who have grown to love his leadership of Life on the Rock. I’m certain that his apostolate to the young of the world has been extremely successful.

His experience in the world before he became a Franciscan and his athletic skills and personality have been tremendous examples in showing young people that real people can have religious vocations.

Sadly, much damage has been done to some whose faith has been wavering. And not a few vocations may have been lost.

But all has not been lost.

I recall a story my mother told me of a time, the early 30s, when she was a teenager at Mass on a Sunday in a small town just outside of Duluth, Minnesota. The church was packed, as usual, with the Catholic railroad workers, merchants, laborers and their families and the altar was set properly by the altar boys. But nothing happened at 10:30, the appointed time.

Men started to pull out their railroad watches (extremely accurate, I’ll have you know), check the time, glance up at the sacristy entrance, and then at some of their friends nearby.

Finally, one of the altar boys poked his head out of the sacristy and called out “Father isn’t here!”

Imagine the shock in the congregation. Everybody had loved their new young priest who had been born to a prosperous family. But something had happened and he decided he didn’t want to be a priest any more and unannounced to anybody had caught a train (on a different railroad) and left town for California.

The Bishop soon sent in a replacement and people stopped talking after a while. Then a year or so later, word came that Father had returned to his Bishop, made his confession and amends and was returned to the Faith and his Priesthood. But he did not ever serve in any nearby parish.

Please pray for Father Stone, for EWTN and its staff, for the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word, and for the youth of the world who need men like Father Stone.

Please pray fthat they can find a replacement for Father Stone who can continue his mission. It would be unlikely that he will be able to resume it when he returns.
 
OK, here’s my question… When we marry, we make vows. We can’t decide to change our state in life later to religious–just up and leave our spouse and children to become a nun or priest. If someone wanted to do this, every person out there would tell them that’s crazy, you’ve already got your vocation, you need to live out the one you have. So how can priests, especially those in religious orders, do this?
I asked in the AAA forum for an explanation of how priests can marry after laicization.
 
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