Orthodox Priests in Detroit are "Under Siege"

[asquared]

good for St. Anastasia, I will certainly pray for them and their new priest, that comes to mind as one of the worst, twice I have been bodily “assisted” to my feet by an usher while trying to kneel for the consecration. The glass chandelier is awesome, however. I have seen positive changes at Guardian Angels over the years, and my nephews got a pretty good education there. I try to get back to the Shrine or St. Mary’s when I am there in R.O. and take what I can get. It’s still the Mass, whereever and however, so let’s just pray for our priests.

 

[SeekerJen]

asquared:

My family is still in the Detroit area, and it is impossible to find a parish where you can kneel during the Eucharistic prayer without being molested by ushers, where authentic preaching can be heard, where the school teaches true Catholic doctrine.

Huh. I attended a Mass earlier today where the entire congregation knelt throughout the whole Eucharistic prayer (including the ushers), and where our pastor gave a thought-provoking homily on today’s Gospel (Jesus commanding us to hate our loved ones if they hold us back from Him). As I do not yet have children, I do not have first hand experience with the school, but I know several alumni, one of whom is a religion teacher at the school, and I would trust any one of them to teach true Catholic doctrine to my (God willing) future children .

Yes, there are many things happening in Detroit that should not be. I was raised in another local parish where the school was basically a public school with uniforms and where I never heard that divorce, birth control, or abortion were wrong. However, I understood that not all parishes were like that, and persevered until I found a good one. Do not say “impossible” to find an orthodox parish. It is possible.

 

[Detroit_Sue]

SeekerJen:

Huh. I attended a Mass earlier today where the entire congregation knelt throughout the whole Eucharistic prayer (including the ushers), and where our pastor gave a thought-provoking homily on today’s Gospel (Jesus commanding us to hate our loved ones if they hold us back from Him).

Let me guess… St.Albert the Great? Fr. Dan?

 

[yinekka]

In my archdiocese a faithful priest was assigned to a liberal parish and the dissenters in the parish tried for nearly two years to get rid of him “because he is too orthodox” and they finally succeeded by accusing him, falsely, of having an affair with his housekeeper ( a very devout woman). The archbishop didn’t believe their story but transferred the priest for the good of his physical health.

 

[Faithful_2_Rome]

WOW…the evilness of liberal Catholics knows no bounds

 

[SeekerJen]

Detroit Sue:

Let me guess… St.Albert the Great? Fr. Dan?

Sacred Heart, Dearborn, Pastor: Fr. Larry Kaiser.

Our neighborhood parish is St. John the Baptist, but I’ve been an active parishoner at Sacred Heart for about 10 years now. It’s worth the extra few minutes drive on Sunday- a very friendly and enthusiastic community with an emphasis on orthodox teaching and practice, plus a beautiful old church building with tons of stained glass, vaulted ceilings, Italian oil paintings to represent each Station of the Cross, etc. We’re also lucky to have a pastor and parish committed to updating the church (plumbing, handicap access, heating/cooling) without losing the sacred and traditional feel. We added about 90 new families this year (not including any newbies who haven’t yet registered), and people drive in from Canton and Wyandotte for Mass (I always drove in from Westland when I lived there).

It’s a good place. I think the parishoners would revolt if suggestions were made to remove the kneelers or modernize the appearance of the building.

 

[Chris_in_Mich]

Detroit Sue:

There was a meeting called “The Elephant in the Sanctuary” a couple of months ago. This meeting and “plan” was drawn up by Bp. Thomas Gumbleton.

Where was this? I hadn’t heard about it were you there? what happened?

 

[Detroit_Sue]

Chris in Mich:

Where was this? I hadn’t heard about it were you there? what happened?

Chris, this was not a public venue. It was for priests alone. Bp. Gumbleton had the endorsement of about 15 other priests, and they invited all the priests to it. It was about the orthodoxy of the new breed of priests coming out of the seminary. Because many of the seminarians wear the cassock after being elevated to acolyte, the liberals are becoming very afraid of these new priests/candidates. The old guard (those who were ordained in the 60s & 70s) are dying out. They are afraid all of their “accomplishments” will die with them. Their goal is to target the good men, and do whatever they can to “make them better priests.” They sincerely see orthodoxy as a move backward. Like I said before, they are confusing “orthodoxy” with “Pre-Vatican II.” Some of the faculty from the seminary were there, also, and they were complaining about men who were ordained who “shouldn’t have been.” When Bp. Vigneron was rector, you better believe this wouldn’t have taken place. Since he’s be reassigned, the seminary has taken a decidedly “left” turn.

Pray without ceasing for holy priests. If this diocese has anything to do with it, they will be eliminated.

Michael S. Rose was dead-on with “Goodbye, Good Men.” And that’s disturbing.

 

[mercygate]

Detroit Sue:

This diocese is insane. The cardinal sends the good bishops to other states, and the 3 most recently ordained are among the worst of the lot.

In the Anglican Communion, there is an association of “catholic” priests called the Society of the Holy Cross. It is part of their mission to accept assignments in places most hostile to orthodoxy. I am sure that these orthodox young men have come forward in full knowledge of the struggles facing them. While praying for the Archdiocese of Detroit, let us pray that these “rigid” young men will stand firm and be prospered by the Holy Spirit.

With churches closing all over the city, you would think that management would take advantage of its talent rather than trying to suppress it.

 

[Brendan]

Detroit Sue:

When Bp. Vigneron was rector, you better believe this wouldn’t have taken place. Since he’s be reassigned, the seminary has taken a decidedly “left” turn.

… If this diocese has anything to do with it, they will be eliminated.

(

I will disagree with that assessment Sue. As you know, I am in formation to the Deaconate in Detroit and I am therefore a student at Sacred Heart.

The new rector, Fr. Laginess has been very good for Sacred Heart and is very interested in an orthodox curriculum. If anything, just out of his own good. It’s Fr. Laginess’s job to ordain priests and it’s the orthodox parishes and families that are providing the men. He knows if they don’t provide an orthodox curriculm and environement, these men will go elsewhere.

If anything, the seminarians look at Bishop Vigeron and other’s like Fr. John Recardo and they see how orthodoxy is not only correct, but good for one’s careers. The view Bishop Gumbleton as a washed up ‘has been’; heck he was given the mitre in 1967, before most of them were even born, and he is still just an auxarily bishop. No Pope has seen fit to make him an Ordinary.

The Archdiocese has done a great job of identifiying good men and raising them to the Espiscopate in the last 10 years. And then giving those bishops See’s of their own.

Let Bishop Gumbleton and his cronies complain, they are a dying breed and everyone can see that. Yes they can make the lives of these men difficult for a while, but they will come out the better for it. They will be better priests, but not in the way the progressives are expecting.

+Gumbleton and his cronies are NOT the diocese, many more in the diocese want these men in their ranks than do not.

 

[Detroit_Sue]

Brendan:

I will disagree with that assessment Sue. As you know, I am in formation to the Deaconate in Detroit and I am therefore a student at Sacred Heart.

The new rector, Fr. Laginess has been very good for Sacred Heart and is very interested in an orthodox curriculum. If anything, just out of his own good. It’s Fr. Laginess’s job to ordain priests and it’s the orthodox parishes and families that are providing the men. He knows if they don’t provide an orthodox curriculm and environement, these men will go elsewhere.

Hi Brendan ~

A lot of bad things happened under the interim rector’s watch. And there is no formal support from the seminary for the priests. I know this sounds trite, but, after you are ordained, you are going to see a lot of ugly politics. Formation is really kind of a cocoon. Don’t misunderstand me, my husband would go through formation again if that’s what he would have to do to remain a deacon. It’s worth that and more. It’s just that once you are ordained, there’s a lot you really don’t want to see.

God bless!
Sue

 

[Jennifer123]

Faithful 2 Rome:

If anyone wants to read a truly HORRIFYING book…much scarier than reading about Exorcisms… oh it involves the demonic all right… right in the SEMINARIES…rampant, overt homosexuality…from seminarians, to priests to bishops… I suggest the book… Goodbye Good Men… this will blow your socks off, curl your hair, raise goosebumps, etc… know thy enemy…know from whence they came and what their plan is.

The youth minister of a parish I attended was in seminary but dropped out due to such activity - he mentioned once seeing other seminarians watching porn. He struggles with his call.

 

[Fast_ed75]

Gumbleton is a regular on the ‘Call To Action’ circuit. 'Nuff said.
I looked him up on the hierarchy website- seems he is only about four months from his 75th birthday- what a retirement party that will be.

 

[buffalo]

Detroit Sue:

The newest trend in our Archdiocese is for liberal ( for lack of a better word ) priests are rejecting the newly ordained and candidates for the priesthood for their orthdoxy. The assignment board is assigning orthodox, inexperienced priests to some of the most flaming liberal pastors. Their intent is to break them. The ones that won’t break are having their reputations dragged through the mud.

There was a meeting called “The Elephant in the Sanctuary” a couple of months ago. This meeting and “plan” was drawn up by Bp. Thomas Gumbleton. Our famous protester. He has a lot of time on his hands, galavanting all over the world to partake in demonstrations. The orthodox priests are being accused of being “rigid” and wanting to go back to Pre-Vatican II practices.

This is all true. This is no rumor. I personally know 2 of the priests/candidates who are suffering at the hands of this liberal Episcopate. Other clergy have proudly announced that they attended the elephant show, and doggone it, it’s time to bring the Church into the 21 century.

Please pray for our priests. They need all the graces they can get to rise above the cesspool that our archdiocese is rapidly becoming.

Sounds like more of what is written in - Goodbye Good Men

 

[Chris_in_Mich]

Fast_ed75:

Gumbleton is a regular on the ‘Call To Action’ circuit. 'Nuff said.
I looked him up on the hierarchy website- seems he is only about four months from his 75th birthday- what a retirement party that will be.

Can anyone enlighten me on exactly how retirement works? I thought that Bishop’s and Cardinal’s had to resign by their 75th birthday, but that the resignation did not have to be accepted. I believe even Cardinal Maida is now in his 70’s. What are the chances that someone like Fr. Perrone who was ordained in the 70’s but is very orthodox becoming a bishop?

 

[MrS]

asquared:

what else is new? someone very close to me was a victim of the Sacred Heart seminary mentality 30 years ago. The damage that Gumbleton has inflicted on the archdioces and the Church cannot be understated. Remember where Call to Action started, and who was its earliest promoter. My family is still in the Detroit area, and it is impossible to find a parish where you can kneel during the Eucharistic prayer without being molested by ushers, where authentic preaching can be heard, where the school teaches true Catholic doctrine. I had heard that the seminary has a new rector who is trying to repair the devastation, but that it is like turning the Queen Mary around in a hurricane.

Guardian Angel Parish Six Mile and Gratiot in Detroithttp://forums.catholic-questions.org/images/icons/icon14.gifhttp://forums.catholic-questions.org/images/icons/icon14.gifhttp://forums.catholic-questions.org/images/icons/icon14.gif

MrS

 

[MrS]

Detroit Sue:

When Bp. Vigneron was rector, you better believe this wouldn’t have taken place. Since he’s be reassigned, the seminary has taken a decidedly “left” turn.

Pray without ceasing for holy priests. If this diocese has anything to do with it, they will be eliminated.

Michael S. Rose was dead-on with “Goodbye, Good Men.” And that’s disturbing.

How very, very true. Oakland’s gain is certainly our loss. I was praying that he would replace Bishop Mengeling in Lansing.

MrS

 

[Detroit_Sue]

Chris in Mich:

Can anyone enlighten me on exactly how retirement works? I thought that Bishop’s and Cardinal’s had to resign by their 75th birthday, but that the resignation did not have to be accepted. I believe even Cardinal Maida is now in his 70’s. What are the chances that someone like Fr. Perrone who was ordained in the 70’s but is very orthodox becoming a bishop?

As long as Maida is alive and/or our Archbishop, you will not see any orthdox priests being elevated. I thank God for Szoka, even though he was a money hardliner when he was here. Now in Rome, and a close associate of the Holy Father, he promised that a certain monsignor will never be bishop as long as he (Szoka) is alive. I wish we could get Bishop Blair back. sigh

 

[mercygate]

Jennifer123:

The youth minister of a parish I attended was in seminary but dropped out due to such activity - he mentioned once seeing other seminarians watching porn. He struggles with his call.

He might contact John Joseph Myers of the Archdiocese of Newark.

 

[Fast_ed75]

*The sisters’ order is known for its social activism, donating about $25,000 annually to various causes, including the League of Conservation Voters and Common Cause. *Hamiliton told the paper the order donated to Emily’s List because many of the candidates the PAC supports share the IHM’s positions on issues such as human rights, the environment, the economy, children and education.

She is dead wrong, no pun intended, here is what their website offers:

EMILY’s List, the nation’s largest grassroots political network, is dedicated to taking back our country from the radical right wing by electing pro-choice Democratic women to federal, state, and local office. We are a network of more than 97,000 Americans – from all across the country and all walks of life – our grassroots network has helped elect 56 Democratic pro-choice members of Congress, 11 senators, and seven governors.