Sean Hannity faces-off with Priest who calls him heretic

[fix]

If you really believe that anyone who is not catholic or a struggling catholic saw that episode, and thought ,“Wow, that’s really great. Now, I can finally embrace the church’s teaching on contraception,” then you are so well sealed in your supercatholic CAF bubble to be in touch with reality.

If you think nuancing the truth is correct and pandering to public debaters like Hannity is true charity them we can see the results of that in society today with legalized abortion, many Catholics contracepting more than non Catholics, and terrible catechesis.

The real problem with Father E going on that show is that it created a spectacle, without actually teaching anything.

Any perceived spectacle is the fault of Hannity.

Father E may feel brave for standing up to him, but what did he really accomplish?

He spoke the truth. The truth divides as Christ said it would.

How many people were converted by watching two catholics duke it out on national television? How many people were turned off? I know when I was considering joing the church, watching an incident like that would have been a real turn-off.

That is true of any discussion. I have seen several times Vatican documents quoted here and folks call them hateful. The problem is not always the truth teller. The problem is one will only receive the truth if one is open. All the sidestepping and nuancing and avoiding is never an answer.

It was good of Father E to contact Sean in private about his statements. But when those attempts failed, he should have referred the matter to Sean’s priest and his bishop. He should have continued to pray for Sean

Pray yes, silence in public no. He has an obligation not to let Hannity’s errors go uncorrected or unchallenged.

 

[Kendy]

hola,

that is not true… this is heresy, which is different than other sins which can be handled privately. the Church has a responsibility to teach truth and guide us from untruth, so when a heresy is said it must publicly be disavowed… Sean Hannity is no different than Arius, except Arius did not have television to spout his evil opinions…

Sean is the wrongdoer, he should have listened to the Church and he should not have debated and insulted the Father otherwise he would not have publicly embarassed himself further.

Dios te bendiga

In a world where contraception is almost universally accepted, it is not useful to go around calling people heretics. It’s like that teacher who gives an F to 90% of the class. There’s something wrong with how the teacher is teaching or failing to teach the lesson. Until after proper instruction has been given is it permissible to start flunking students.

 

[fix]

Then we must settle to say we just simply disagree on what True love and respect is and how to reach out to those in error.

Who said they should not be reached out to? One can oppose public error, offer correction, and still welcome those who publicly deny what is true. The problem is we cannot allow misleading words to stand unchallenged. That is partly why we are where we are today.

 

[Kendy]

Sean Hannity publicly endorses use of ABC while publicly self-proclaiming himself as a faithful Catholic – this is scandalous behavior in need of admonishment and repentance.

How has he done this? Has he organized pro-ABC rallies. That Sean approves of ABC is simply too common to be singled out. Is Father E prepared to deny communion to 90% of the church?

 

[Nordar]

If you really believe that anyone who is not catholic or a struggling catholic saw that episode, and thought ,“Wow, that’s really great. Now, I can finally embrace the church’s teaching on contraception,” then you are so well sealed in your supercatholic CAF bubble to be in touch with reality. The real problem with Father E going on that show is that it created a spectacle, without actually teaching anything. Father E may feel brave for standing up to him, but what did he really accomplish? How many people were converted by watching two catholics duke it out on national television? How many people were turned off? I know when I was considering joing the church, watching an incident like that would have been a real turn-off.

It was good of Father E to contact Sean in private about his statements. But when those attempts failed, he should have referred the matter to Sean’s priest and his bishop. He should have continued to pray for Sean.

Kendy

I don’t think I said anything about what Catholics or non Catholics said when they saw that segment. Because I agree with what Fr.E said that means I am well sealed in my supercatholic CAF bubble therefore out of touch with reality?

How do you know that what Fr.E said on that show did not teach anything to anyone?
I don’t think that Fr.E felt brave by standing up to him, I think if you were to ask him he would say he was just carrying the truth of Church teaching. We have no idea what it accomplished nor how many people will be converted by it. Only time will tell the The Holy Spirit works in his own time and he my very well have used Fr.E to do it. Just because you may have been turned off does not means that others would be.
I do know that what happened has many non catholics and catholics talking about the issues and that is a good thing. Like I said The Holy Spirit works in his own time.

 

[Jayda]

In a world where contraception is almost universally accepted, it is not useful to go around calling people heretics. It’s like that teacher who gives an F to 90% of the class. There’s something wrong with how the teacher is teaching or failing to teach the lesson. Until after proper instruction has been given is it permissible to start flunking students.

the Church teaches the commandments of God, not the commandments of men… if 90% of the class fails that is very sad, but it does not change the Churchs responsibility to teach the truth and challenge the untruth…

 

[Kendy]

If you think nuancing the truth is correct and pandering to public debaters like Hannity is true charity them we can see the results of that in society today with legalized abortion, many Catholics contracepting more than non Catholics, and terrible catechesis.

There’s no reason to pander to anyone. I don’t even like Sean.

Any perceived spectacle is the fault of Hannity.

In this instance, Father E has the greater responsibility. He has to be the grown-up in the situation since Sean is not. He should have never gone on that show. I wouldn’t go on FoxNews for anything. Every show is intended to be a spectacle rather than informative. Unless, Father E has never watched television, he should have know that.

He spoke the truth. The truth divides as Christ said it would.
fix;1997510:

Speaking the truth is not the issue. When speaking the truth, one has to consider when, where, and how?
fix;1997510:

That is true of any discussion. I have seen several times Vatican documents quoted here and folks call them hateful. The problem is not always the truth teller. The problem is one will only receive the truth if one is open. All the sidestepping and nuancing and avoiding is never an answer.

So, consequences be damned?

Pray yes, silence in public no. He has an obligation not to let Hannity’s errors go uncorrected or unchallenged.

Because now, he has accomplished what?

 

[Nordar]

How has he done this? Has he organized pro-ABC rallies. That Sean approves of ABC is simply too common to be singled out. Is Father E prepared to deny communion to 90% of the church?

He does this by having a show on FOXTV that carries live to millions of homes 7 days a week and in those homes are thousands and thousands of Catholics who listen to him. They listen to him as he spreads false teachings about The Catholic Church he does not have to organize pro ABC rallies.

 

[Kendy]

I don’t think I said anything about what Catholics or non Catholics said when they saw that segment. Because I agree with what Fr.E said that means I am well sealed in my supercatholic CAF bubble therefore out of touch with reality?

I also happen to agree with at least the content of what Father E said. I just question his judgement. It seems that often “orthodox” catholics are so eager to see other people chastised that it doesn’t matter when, where, or how this is done as long as some cafeteria catholics get a good spanking.
Nordar; 1997533:

How do you know that what Fr.E said on that show did not teach anything to anyone?
I don’t think that Fr.E felt brave by standing up to him, I think if you were to ask him he would say he was just carrying the truth of Church teaching. We have no idea what it accomplished nor how many people will be converted by it. Only time will tell the The Holy Spirit works in his own time and he my very well have used Fr.E to do it. Just because you may have been turned off does not means that others would be.
I do know that what happened has many non catholics and catholics talking about the issues and that is a good thing. Like I said The Holy Spirit works in his own time.

I know very well what it is like to be on the other side. And well, anyone can imagine how one responds when they are publically attacked.

Let me once again use the kids in school metaphor. Imagine a teacher has a class of out of control kids. The teacher has lost control of the class, and decides to pull out one misbehaving student and humilitates him in front of everyone. And the student responds, " I am not the only one throwing paper, and how come you still haven’t graded our papers." But the teacher continues telling him that he’s a bad little considering the fact that the teacher has poor classroom management.

On this issue, the church is the same way. When it comes to bc control, the teacher has completely lost contrl of the class, and instead of teaching a lesson on the matter, the teacher grabs one loud-mouth student and engages in a shouting match with him.

Kendy

 

[Kendy]

the Church teaches the commandments of God, not the commandments of men… if 90% of the class fails that is very sad, but it does not change the Churchs responsibility to teach the truth and challenge the untruth…

Yes, the church teaches the truth, but the church is failing to communicate the truth, and then getting angry because the students don’t understand. Most catholics I know use bc, not because they have some evil desire to be disobedient, but because everybody else is doing it and they don’t really understand why they can’t and their mommie is just no fun!

 

[setter]

It was good of Father E to contact Sean in private about his statements. But when those attempts failed, he should have referred the matter to Sean’s priest and his bishop. He should have continued to pray for Sean.

Kendy

…then they should form a committee to weigh in the pro’s and con’s of confronting public disent from a self-proclaimed Catholic, invite a spectrum of orthodox to heretical laity to add thier (name removed by moderator)ut, consulted the legal department, figure out the financial costs options, … …thank goodness that St. Paul did not ascribe to such bureacratic notions of confronting public sin.

 

[Kendy]

He does this by having a show on FOXTV that carries live to millions of homes 7 days a week and in those homes are thousands and thousands of Catholics who listen to him. They listen to him as he spreads false teachings about The Catholic Church he does not have to organize pro ABC rallies.

And everyday, he gets up and tells them use birth control?

 

[setter]

Yes, the church teaches the truth, but the church is failing to communicate the truth, and then getting angry because the students don’t understand. Most catholics I know use bc, not because they have some evil desire to be disobedient, but because everybody else is doing it and they don’t really understand why they can’t and their mommie is just no fun!

And like Sean Hannity that are guilty of refusing to consider the truth when plainly and charitably presented to them.

 

[setter]

And everyday, he gets up and tells them use birth control?

Serious sin is serious sin is seriouss sin …scandal is scandal is scandal.

 

[Tom317]

I was also blocked from Sean Hannities Forum. I was given the following message:

**You have been banned for the following reason:
contempt of host

Date the ban will be lifted: Never**

All I did was express my displeasure with Sean’s treatment of Father. I did not say anything “crazy”. Also, I put up the following link in my post:

domusdei.org/2007/03/10/sean-hannity-the-heretic

I think it was the link and not anything else I said. Because the posting on Domus Dei really does tell it how it is. The Hannity Forums follow the style of his show… If he doesn’t like what you have to say you will be cut off.

Yet, Catholics will continue to watch his show and listen to him on the radio. That is one of the most significant problems we have, Catholics do not STAND.

 

[Kendy]

…then they should form a committee to weigh in the pro’s and con’s of confronting public disent from a self-proclaimed Catholic, invite a spectrum of orthodox to heretical laity to add thier (name removed by moderator)ut, consulted the legal department, figure out the financial costs options, … …thank goodness that St. Paul did not ascribe to such bureacratic notions of confronting public sin.

I don’t know where I promoted bureaucracy in this matter. The fact is that Father E is not Sean’s pastor and therefore, he will not be in a position to deny him communion. He is also not a bishop and can’t excommunicate anyone so the only thing he accomplish was making Sean mad. This is not necessarily a bad thing if it bears some fruit, but I am convinced that the only fruit it will bear is cheers of the small minority who long all day to see dissidents punished in some form.

Kendy

 

[setter]

I also happen to agree with at least the content of what Father E said. I just question his judgement. It seems that often “orthodox” catholics are so eager to see other people chastised that it doesn’t matter when, where, or how this is done as long as some cafeteria catholics get a good spanking.

Can you consider the possibility that whatever approach father had taken with Sean Hannity (and similiar established cultural, cafeteria Catholics) that it would be perceived as a punitive spanking …pride and sin have a way of subjectively interpreting charitable instruction and admonishment.

I know very well what it is like to be on the other side. And well, anyone can imagine how one responds when they are publically attacked.

 

[Kendy]

And like Sean Hannity that are guilty of refusing to consider the truth when plainly and charitably presented to them.

I can’t remember ever hearing a homily on birth control. I know it’s hard to believe but most catholics don’t sit around memorizing the cathechism. If Father E really wants to make a difference he might contact some priest, and hold a workshop on how to teach and preach about bc. It’s not fair to get mad for a lesson that is almost never taught. Singling out Sean is also unfair.

 

[setter]

How has he done this? Has he organized pro-ABC rallies. That Sean approves of ABC is simply too common to be singled out. Is Father E prepared to deny communion to 90% of the church?

One does not need to organize rallies to be a public dissident and guilty of scandalous behavior as a self-proclaimed Catholic.

BTW – He reaches more cross section of audience with his dissident comments than any rally could draw.

BTW – It was Sean Hannity who brought father’s column to the spotlight by inviting him to his show to debate.

 

[setter]

I can’t remember ever hearing a homily on birth control. …It’s not fair to get mad for a lesson that is almost never taught.

There you go again with that inflamatory language …who is “mad” about public dissent and scandalous behavior. It is simply a matter of attempting to instruct and teach and if necessary (as in the case of persistently defiant Sean Hannity) to admonish the sinner for the welfare of their soul.

Singling out Sean is also unfair.