Prominent Legion priest admits fathering child, issues apology [CNA]

[NewEnglandPriest]

I know this is unpopular to say, but this is just another example of why there should be voluntary celibacy in the priesthood. God wired normal human beings for love, romance. intimacy and conjugal relations. The Church should not stand in the way of this. It is part of nature - and even natural law?.

All celibacy is voluntary. No one is forced into the Latin Rite priesthood, no one is forced to remain a Latin Rite priest. Married deacons, married protestant ministers, etc. all have issues with adultery and other immoral sexual activity. Celibacy is not the root cause of sexual immorality, original sin is.

God’s first command was “be fruitful and multiply”. We read (I Tim. 3:2) that a bishop should have only one wife. Does that sound like celibacy?

As long as we’re being literal we should note that the man in question wasn’t a bishop…

 

[Geaux_LSU]

“A number of years ago I had a relationship with a woman and fathered her child.”

I am disappointed to see the slant this priest has in his reference to “her” child. It should read OUR child. Referring to the child as “her” child certainly provides emotional distance to Father but incorrectly so.

Right on! It’s his child, too! I can’t believe he worded it like that.

This is just my suggestion, but I think he should be dispensed of his vows and marry the woman. She deserves help raising the child, and since they’ve already (and wrongfully) had relations, they might as well just get married. They owe that to the child, I think.

Nonetheless, whatever happens, I trust God will turn around this evil for the good. Pray for His Church!

 

[ringil]

Right on! It’s his child, too! I can’t believe he worded it like that.

This is just my suggestion, but I think he should be dispensed of his vows and marry the woman. She deserves help raising the child, and since they’ve already (and wrongfully) had relations, they might as well just get married. They owe that to the child, I think.
!

I think they kind of need to . . . . love eachother, don’t you think?

 

[MJE]

The corruption/perversion w/ the L of C is deep. This man’s transgressions are understandable but then, w/ his superiors knowing the situation, to allow (or promote?) him to go on national stage + write a book (s) affirms my 1st sentence. Somebody wrote that the formation of these men in the L of C was perverse/distored from the get-go.
Prayers for all involved.

 

[Luna_Lovecraft]

“A number of years ago I had a relationship with a woman and fathered her child.”

Yeah, this jumped out at me, too.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

regnumchristi.org/english/articulos/articulo.phtml?se=359&ca=84&te=782&id=36743

Here’s a letter from his superior; at the end he answers a few questions. The answers left me a little confused, too.

I agree. Especially this, “The presence and the assistance of the Papal Delegate has helped a lot to sort out difficult issues like this.”

I don’t see what the difficulty is in understanding that a priest who has violated his vows/promises needs a time away from public ministry. It seems more like the presence of the Papal Delegate is forcing them to do their job.

 

[Rich_Olszewski]

Right on! It’s his child, too! I can’t believe he worded it like that.

This is just my suggestion, but I think he should be dispensed of his vows and marry the woman.

Agree with your first part, not the second. He is obligated, morally and legally, to contribute to the support of HIS child, but there’s no obligation to marry the woman - there should not be, either. Marriage is no solution to a problem unless the couple were disposed to become or were in love with one another and willing to spend their lives together. A tall order.

BTW, wasn’t there a proposal after his death for the founder of the order to be considered for canonization? If so, that notion surely went into the dustbin quickly!

 

[ringil]

BTW, wasn’t there a proposal after his death for the founder of the order to be considered for canonization? If so, that notion surely went into the dustbin quickly!

Um, yeah, I would think so. . . . Marcal Marciel (sp?) was a real class act. . . .

 

[St_Francis]

I hope this is not a repeat because my comment seems to be lost in cyber space.

Roy, You make a very good point. I would add that the human need for companionship might outweigh and perhaps lead to the sexual aspect. It gets lonely on the road.

This is why we *need to *pray for priests!

Keep them, I pray Thee, dearest Lord,
Keep them, for they are Thine -
Thy priests whose lives burn out before
Thy consecrated shrine.
Keep them, for they are in the world,
Though from the world apart;
When earthly pleasures tempt, allure, -
Shelter them in Thy heart.
Keep them, and comfort them in hours
Of loneliness and pain,
When all their life of sacrifice
For souls seems but in vain.
Keep them, and O remember, Lord,
They have no one but Thee,
Yet they have only human hearts,
With human frailty.
Keep them as spotless as the Host.
That daily they caress;
Their every thought and word and deed,
Deign, dearest Lord, to bless.

Our Father; Hail Mary; Mary, Queen of the Clergy, pray for them.

 

[Toni]

This is why we *need to *pray for priests!

Keep them, I pray Thee, dearest Lord,
Keep them, for they are Thine -
Thy priests whose lives burn out before
Thy consecrated shrine.
Keep them, for they are in the world,
Though from the world apart;
When earthly pleasures tempt, allure, -
Shelter them in Thy heart.
Keep them, and comfort them in hours
Of loneliness and pain,
When all their life of sacrifice
For souls seems but in vain.
Keep them, and O remember, Lord,
They have no one but Thee,
Yet they have only human hearts,
With human frailty.
Keep them as spotless as the Host.
That daily they caress;
Their every thought and word and deed,
Deign, dearest Lord, to bless.

Our Father; Hail Mary; Mary, Queen of the Clergy, pray for them.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

I think the Legion has to take a little responsibility for this. From what I read, many were making trangressions and it was off limit to criticize. I think the Legion made great efforts to secure pious young men and these men were then abused. It’s no wonder that some of these guys are not thinking straight.

Yep, I agree. My thoughts (for what they were worth) at the time when Marcel’s actions were exposed is that the whole organization needed to be taken apart and the priests sent to the dioceses. The whole leadership had to be corrupted by the cover up of Marcel, and now we see it continuing with this cover up.

Dear God, have pity on these men and bring them to true metanoia.

 

[ellipsis2]

Yep, I agree. My thoughts (for what they were worth) at the time when Marcel’s actions were exposed is that the whole organization needed to be taken apart and the priests sent to the dioceses. The whole leadership had to be corrupted by the cover up of Marcel, and now we see it continuing with this cover up.

Dear God, have pity on these men and bring them to true metanoia.

I am wondering if more information has been reported. I feel for the priest who were victims to this order.