Story: Boston Catholic priest apologizes for a social media post in which he said he believes in the “right to choose”

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He had said he believes in the “right to choose” and endorsed former vice president Joe Biden.

Cardinal O’Malley, Archbishop of Boston, issued a statement saying that Catholics have “the right to expect the priests of the Archdiocese and those entrusted with handing on the faith to be clear and unequivocal on the Church’s teaching concerning respect and protection for life from the first moment of conception to natural death.”

“This teaching is of the highest priority for the Church,” he added.
 
Aaaag! Listened to one of his homilies. The real miracle in the multiple of the loafs was that shared with each other. He was careful not to say it directly but round about "but Maybe there is also another miracle that we might want to reflect up on …when they heard the message of Jesus…and maybe the fold that day had brought some food with them…when the sharing took place everyone was able to eat…isn’t that a miracle.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=2725342534457095
 
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His comments that he was pro-life and believed in the “right to choose” abortion is breathtakingly irrational. Beyond the fact that it was a priest who said this, what is disturbing is the number of other Catholics who must have the same belief. It is delusional to believe both positions can be held simultaneously, yet there must be millions of Catholics who have convinced themselves otherwise.
 
Good that he apologized.

His original statement quoted in that article is insane.

Eyes glaze over reading it insane.

As if it would make sense to vote for someone on the basis of what you think they secretly internally feel rather than what they’ve openly promised to politically do. And as if it’s possible to simultaneously believe a certain group of humans have an inalienable right to life, but another group of humans should have the “right to choose” to kill them.

But at least he apologized. If presumably under discipline by his superior. And hopefully it’s being made ever more clear to him and others that such statements as his original statement are not. ever. appropriate.
 
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hope said:
He was careful not to say it directly but round about "but Maybe there is also another miracle that we might want to reflect up on …when they heard the message of Jesus…and maybe the fold that day had brought some food with them…when the sharing took place everyone was able to eat…isn’t that a miracle.
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I thought the Church rejected that Protestant (didn’t it originally come from the Lutherans?) interpretation years ago.

This priest definitely needs help. I will pray for him.

Edited to add, I am heartened that at least he is not a young priest, but comes from the generation with the usual high propensity for pushing such wrong ideas. Sadly the generation of clergy I grew up with.
 
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😐

Wow.

I read that link… and wow.

I’d wonder why Msgr. Garrity didn’t seek to convert to Eastern Orthodoxy, with a view on divorce and remarriage like that…

But presumably the Orthodox wouldn’t want his ministry if he’s going to subvert teaching on the sanctity of life too.
 
Yes, this poor Father has had a few tilts at the windmills of orthodoxy, as it were. I pray he hasn’t led his flock too far astray.
 
StudentMI said:
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Tis_Bearself:
Edited to add, I am heartened that at least he is not a young priest, but comes from the generation with the usual high propensity for pushing such wrong ideas. Sadly the generation of clergy I grew up with.
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I hope no one, including you, takes offense at this but I’m happy to see the older generation of clergy being phased out. I’ve encountered far too many with bizarre ideas that are at odds with Catholic dogma.
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Yeah it’s hard to figure out how to express happiness for a trend driven by deaths (if also new births), haha. “Phased out” is a nice euphemism for it.

Hopefully they all live good long lives into old age – long enough to be fully supported by the younger clergy into recovering from any particularly damaging errors they fell into in their own youth.

And in the meantime agreed all 'round: Praise God for the clearer and committed witness we seem to be seeing from the next generation of priests! I’m also heartened by certain trends towards more vibrancy and orthodoxy among religious communities that are thriving (it’s increasingly thrive or die, not just survive or die), and even among laypeople.
 
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I agree that the monsignor crossed the line.

But, of note about the linked article’s statement from the diocesan general counsel, it is unconstitutional to link the Church’s tax exempt status to not endorsing candidates.

The IRS doesn’t enforce that provision of the tax law. Hasn’t for years. For years, hundreds of protestant ministers endorse candidates on a certain day, and send recording and transcripts to the IRS daring them to sue.

They never do.
 
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MNathaniel said:
Oof. Praise God that you turned out so well, Tis.

🙂
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It was mostly through the grace of God and the efforts and prayers of my old-school mother (who sadly didn’t live to see me get myself back on track), helped along by several very sane and orthodox old-school sisters and priests. That’s not to say I never met a “modern” clergy or religious who wasn’t likable or helpful or even reasonably orthodox, but there were more of those who were uninspiring at best and a little “off” at worst. At this point, nothing surprises me.
 
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PaulinVA said:
The IRS doesn’t enforce that provision of the tax law. Hasn’t for years. For years, hundreds of protestant ministers endorse candidates on a certain day, and send recording and transcripts to the IRS daring them to sue.

They never do.
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The Church is a bigger target than most of those ministers. It’s my understanding that many if not most Protestant churches don’t have deep pockets, in fact, many are barely keeping the lights on. They’re way more judgment-proof than the Church.

The Church in USA is also not in a position to be dealing with potential lawsuits on yet another front when many dioceses are going broke already with the sex abuse settlements and the pandemic-related drop in donations on top of that. Best to avoid risks that can be easily avoided, because all it would take is one suit going badly in one diocese to open the floodgates.
 
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Social media has a way of revealing darkness that was always there but before was hidden. One of the good aspects of it. I’m glad the Cardinal addressed this.
 
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