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

[AlegreFe]

The catholic church has admited hundreds of mistakes in the past! Ever hear of something called the Crusades?

Are you justifying the killing of Islamics and the burning of witches now?

How far do you want to go using that word Infalliable?

When we say that the Church does not make mistakes, we mean when it comes to faith and morals. Read the Catechism of the Catholic Church along with the Bible and you will see NO MISTAKES in either of them. You might not agree with some of what the Catechism says but that does not mean that it is wrong. That is like saying that Jesus is wrong just because you don’t agree with something He might have to say. So you are saying that Jesus does not make mistakes and that is a different story?.. no it’s not. Because Jesus built His Catholic Church on Peter the Rock. No mistake there.

 

[AlegreFe]

mozier:

One thing that I am noting here is the widow. She knows he’s a priest, so why is she taking part in this?
Oh, I am sorry, I am judging again. Never mind John 7:24. Anything goes these days in the Catholic Church, so sure, why not.

Well, all we know is that he fell in love with her. Doesn’t mean she encouraged it or anything - for all we know she may want no part of it!

Somehow I doubt that very much. Even my 13 year old daughter can see right through that. Please use the brains that God gave you and think. If she wanted no part of it she would’ve stopped him a long time ago. She would’ve told him to stop coming around so much and that she could take it from here. He would have left her alone then. Satan has used a woman again to lure the man into sinning (possibly sinning since we don’t know for sure if he actually did anything with her). Satan is loving this but he shall be defeated once again.

Saint Michael the archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our protection against the
wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him we humbly pray,
And do thou O Prince of the Heavenly host,
By the Power of God, cast into hell Satan and
all the evil spirits who prowl around the world
seeking the ruin of souls. AMEN!

What Father needs to do is to FAST & PRAY. Fasting is very important for Father right now. I was thinking of doing that myself for him. But I am weak too. I have fasted before so it shouldn’t be hard. So I will try.

 

[AlegreFe]

LilyM:

Well, all we know is that he fell in love with her. Doesn’t mean she encouraged it or anything - for all we know she may want no part of it!

We don’t know he fell in love with her. The letter said he has become involved with her. It did not say he is in love. Love is a choice. He may have feeling for her right now but he may have not made the choice to love her and to pursue a relationship in that way. I think we are speculating about him being in love with her, love was never mentioned in his letter.

That’s right. Fr. Francis only said that they have gotten close. The word he used was “close” not “in love” or anything to do with “love.” So please people, STOP saying that he “fell in love” with this woman. We don’t know that because he didn’t say that.

 

[AlegreFe]

I forgive Fr Francis for whatever he may have done wrong. That forgiveness would even include MURDER for that is what God and Jesus both of taugh me by example in the bible. That forgivenss would include him putting down his collar. I stand fast when I say maybe God has another propuse for Fr Franics (see this link and the answer from Byzcath)

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?p=2916875#post2916875

See my other post for more examples.

I have learned alot from EWTN and from watching Fr. Francis. He was and still is one of the reasons why I decided to go back to church and get confirmed. I feel sorry for the man and I will pray for him.

You guys can condem Fr. Francis and ridicule him all you like. I will not.

But if you people here are your typical Catholic than I’m going elsewhere to find the REAL teachings of Christ. I know damm well Jesus would never ever agree with what many of you stated above.

You completely misunderstood everything these people were trying to say. FORGIVE? Of course we want to FORGIVE Father Francis. Who are we NOT to forgive? We are sinners. But that does not mean that Fr. Francis is RIGHT in what he has done or possibly may do. We all make mistakes. But that does not mean that those mistakes are RIGHT in any sense of the word. But it also means that we should forgive. But our forgiveness does not condone certain behaviors of certain people. We have to be accountable for what we do.

If you feel you have to leave the RCIA class and go to the Lutheran church then go ahead. That just means that you are not ready to enter into God’s One True Church, the Catholic Chruch. You are not ready to take persecution. You have to take persecution to be in the one true Church of Jesus Christ, the Catholic Church. And if you are not ready for that, then I suggest you go so that you can futher discern. Perhaps your path to the Catholic Church takes some pit stops elsewhere.

I will pray for you so that you can really discern about your faith and where you want to be. If you are searching for the TRUTH, the FULLNESS of Truth, then you are in the right place. But perhaps you do not think you are. That just means that God has not removed the scales from your eyes just yet.
You are in my prayers.

 

[AlegreFe]

a priest can’t marry because He has God as spouse.

The Church is his spouse, not God. But I see from the rest of your post that you sort of point that out. It looks like that is what you understand, that the Priest is married to the Church.

 

[AlegreFe]

they do play lame music on life on the rock. i blame that and the charismatic movement. all that touchy feely garbage that turns men into wimps. i see too much of it on ewtn as good as it is.

LOL LOL I do like the intro song on LOTR. But you are right. All that “touchy feely” stuff is garbage sometimes. I myself prefer the Traditional Latin Mass over the Novus Ordo. I really like the Mass on EWTN too… very reverent.

Perhaps there can be some changes on LOTR. Fr. Mark and Fr. Anthony are very different than Fr. Francis. So if Fr. Francis will not come back to LOTR, then things might be different. I just hope that people will keep watching. I know I will as EWTN is pretty much all we watch. We watch some other channels but not much.

 

[AlegreFe]

It ought to be recalled that Fr. Francis is not the first priest from their community to take a leave of absence to discern his future. At least two others have done the same. Though the network never fully revealed (to my knowledge) their reasons for doing so. At best, they suggested that one had become burnt out and needed a sabbatical break while discerning his direction. I don’t think that the community ever announced the final dispositions of these priests. They just disappeared into the setting sun. So, in a way, this is nothing new for them.

It might not be anything new for them as far as a priest discerning his vocation but it could surely be different. Perhaps the other priests taking a leave did not involve a woman as in this case. This is what makes this so shocking and sad at the same time.

I will keep praying.

 

[AlegreFe]

There is a difference between saying something is a sin and condemning someone. Jesus tells us several times in the Bible, if you see your brother sinning, point it out. You should be happy that their are still people who are upset about someone’s sin and the state of the sin. What could be a better example of brotherly love than to be concerned about the state of someone’s soul?

AMEN! Just as a wife should be concerned if her husband is unfaithful. Not so much because it was a betrayal to her, but that it was a betrayal to God and the vows that were taken and perhaps now his soul is in jeopardy. No good Cathoilc wife would want her husband’s soul to be in possible jeopardy like that.

turtle18:

I find it quite upsetting myself, and once again this bad behavior by a priest has shaken my trust in the priesthood.

Please don’t mistrust the whole priesthood because of this. Please. Our Priests really need our prayers all the time. Without Priests there would be no Jesus in the Eucharist. We NEED our priests. Please pray for them.

turtle18:

Condemning someone or judging someone is completely different. No one on this board has said, “Fr Francis Mary Stone should be damned to hell because he broke his vows.” or "(It doesn’t matter if he commited the actual act or not; a vow of chastity involves a lot more than just physical contact.)

You are so right on the “judging” verses “condeming.” Even Father Corapi says that. We have to “rebuke” our brothers and sisters when it is called for. No one here has ever said that he is going to hell, so you are right about that too.

 

[AlegreFe]

My Jesus, Our Jesus, Beloved Jesus, Merciful Jesus,

Help Father Francis.

Tonight let us pray for your soul Father Francis. May you stay faithful to the covenant that He made with you. May you realize the suffering He will endure if you leave the priesthood.

Jesus commanded us to love one another and many people including myself are reaching out to you because Jesus commanded us to love one another as He loves us. You need lots of help and support at this time. Remember you are not alone and we love you. We are praying for you.

During your leave of absence spend as much time as you possibly can in front of Jesus in Eucharistic Adoration. Listen to HIM. He will help you with this cross.

If you abandon your priestly duties you will be going against God’s will and not just you but the widow you have feelings for and her children will be harmed as well. I believe the Bible shows that God is harsh to those whose sins involve widows and children.

He loves you and He understands you and if you let Him back in He will purify your Soul. Don’t lose hope Father Francis!

Jesus Christ loves each one of us and He is closest to us during our hardest times. Please TURN to JESUS CHRIST AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. He is so merciful and so loving. His Will be done, not yours my dear brother Francis and your reward as He said will be great in Heaven.

As today is All Saints day we ask the Blessed Virgin Mary, our loving Mother and all the community of Saints in Heaven to pray for you Father Francis to make the right choice and remain faithful to your priestly vows and to seek forgiveness for your sins. Amen.

AMEN!

 

[LilyM]

That’s right. Fr. Francis only said that they have gotten close. The word he used was “close” not “in love” or anything to do with “love.” So please people, STOP saying that he “fell in love” with this woman. We don’t know that because he didn’t say that.

Forgive me, I didn’t know the original wording. You’re right.

 

[AlegreFe]

No, I am pretty sure there are other clergy men from numerous denominations who were married before they are ordained and are married Catholic priests. That has nothing to do with the situation at hand where a Catholic priest is now discerning marriage.

Oh no, here we go again. Fr. Francis did NOT say he was thinking about marriage. He said he needs to discern his vocation.

I think some people here need to watch the show (online or as a rerun to be aired on Friday at 1:00 PM Eastern time, Noon Central time. Or on Sunday at 11:00 Pm ET/10:00 PM CT) before anything more is said in error of what was actually said on the show.

 

[AlegreFe]

Forgive me, I didn’t know the original wording. You’re right.

All is forgiven. BTW I didn’t mean for only you to “stop.” That was meant for all the people that keep saying the wrong thing about what was said.

I also want to apologyze in general. I have been a bit harsh to some people, especially to jpsheehn. I am only human and it does not excuse my “feelings” of anger and betrayal to be taken out on all of you. I just felt that I had to point out some truths about the faith. So I am so sorry for taking my “feelings” out on you. Please forgive me.

 

[Tietjen]

Oh no, here we go again. Fr. Francis did NOT say he was thinking about marriage. He said he needs to discern his vocation.

Actually, neither Woodstock nor I said or suggested that Fr. Francis was thinking about marriage. Marriage was only mentioned concerning Lutheran and/or Anglican clergy in general.

 

[AlegreFe]

Actually, neither Woodstock nor I said or suggested that Fr. Francis was thinking about marriage. Marriage was only mentioned concerning Lutheran and/or Anglican clergy in general.

Then am I reading this wrong?

Woodstock:

No, I am pretty sure there are other clergy men from numerous denominations who were married before they are ordained and are married Catholic priests. That has nothing to do with the situation at hand where a Catholic priest is now discerning marriage.

emphasis mine

I think that is what Woodstock meant. From what I read in his post, he meant that Fr. Francis is discerning marriage. I will have to read that again… but I read it several times.

Perhaps Woodstock himself can correct me if I’m wrong.

 

[Tietjen]

Then am I reading this wrong?

I think that is what Woodstock meant. From what I read in his post, he meant that Fr. Francis is discerning marriage. I will have to read that again… but I read it several times.

Perhaps Woodstock himself can correct me if I’m wrong.

I stand corrected. I will not attempt to “correct” you again. God bless.

 

[Fergal]

As much as I love Fr. Francis, he was never my favorite EWTN priest. My favorites are Fr. Anthony and Fr. Mark. Among other priests that I feel are very humble and holy are Fr. Joseph and Fr. Miguel.

This is a very sad reflection on how people weigh up one Priest against another. Priests are not celebrities but there again if you live and think American I suppose it is inevitable that you begin to judge things by their entertainment value. Sheesh

 

[AlegreFe]

This is a very sad reflection on how people weigh up one Priest against another. Priests are not celebrities but there again if you live and think American I suppose it is inevitable that you begin to judge things by their entertainment value. Sheesh

I said nothing about “entertainment” value. That is not how I see the priests on EWTN or anywhere for that matter. You do NOT know me at all so don’t assume to know what I mean in my posts. Why don’t you ask me what I mean?!

I have a right to have my “favorite” priest. Since I like Holy and Humble priests that is how I base my decision on how I like Priests. There is nothing wrong with that. That does not mean that I don’t love and pray for those that are not so Holy and Humble. My decision is also based on the way they conduct themselves at Mass, their reverence, their homilies,…etc.

I also understand that no matter how Holy or not Holy a priest is does not mean that the Mass is not going to be legit. I understand that the host is still transubstantiated no matter what the sins of the priest are. That still does not mean that I can have a certain “taste” for certain priests.

I do NOT like very liberal priests. I refuse to attend a Mass with a super liberal priest whose homilies are so nonchalant that he doesn’t seem to care at all about what the Church teaches. I have attended such Masses and I refuse to go back to those. I thank God that I still got Jesus at communion but that does not mean that I have to attend that particular Mass with such a liberal priest.

 

[snowfly]

I just honestly think that priest should be allowed to marry, but as someone pointed out in my other thread Father Francis Mary is in an ORDER so it is a little bit different than say a secular priest

Wouldn’t cure the problem though, we all know no matter what we are in the world that there are lines we agreed not to cross, but many do.

And imagine the scenario, another priest looks at another priests wife, runs off with her, being married didn’t sort it.

Elopes with the house keeper ? it has already happened, anyway thinking that married priests would cure all problems in the Church just isn’t true, there are many other scenarios.

Here’s another, priest runs off with the daughter of FR x…the list is endless, thinking your curing one problem would create just as many more.

As for the Priest in question, I saw him many times on EWTN, he seemed very devout, and maybe he still is, but hes still human, there is a Spiritual struggle going on here, and Prayer is what is need, not condemnation.

**Yes, Satan has done his work well
**

The beast certainly has, pray pray, and then pray some-more.

 

[Altesse]

While the fact that Father Francis has fallen in love with someone and is taking time to discern his vocation may be troubling, it does not appear that he has broken vows or sinned by having a physical relationship with this woman. Let us keep this in mind.

Loving someone and needing time to seriously consider your future is are not bad things.

Whether or not he leaves the Order for marriage or stays in the order and forgoes marriage I believe Father Francis will serve the Lord in whatever he endeavors.

Our prayer should be that the Holy Spirit would make clear to him what path he should take, and that he be protected from any attacks of the enemy.

 

[Angela_Tate]

A cautionary note about this particular thread discussion:

I have just cleaned up this thread to remove all off-topic and borderline insulting posts which were in response to some of those off-topic posts.

This thread in Popular Media is about the EWTN announcement and concern for the welfare of Fr. Stone.

It is not a discussion about celibacy for the priesthood. There is a discussion in Vocations about that spurred on by the same EWTN announcement.

Please reserve comments in this thread to the concern for Fr. Stone and his role at EWTN.

Thank you.