The Homily that Caused an Outcry and the Priest to be Dismissed

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Aaron, welcome, I really appreciate the in-depth knowledge you exhibit with regards to the church teachings. Since after reading Rome Sweet Home, i have come to realize that the ones that come in, value what we have better than us. I have a number of convert friends too and they are so serious that they put me to shame.

I agree with you, a lot of times, our preachers try not to offend even here in Africa we get that a lot. In fact our case is so bad cause sometimes its because the offenders are the ones bringing 90% of the bulk of money for the church building projects. Dirty politicians who have amassed public revenue for their own selfish interest came to mass and are literally praised by the priest from the pulpit meanwhile everyone in the congregation know this guy is a thief!

The pill issue is so scary because as far as i am concerned, pills make murders of innocent sweet people. If only God will open our eyes to see the effect of abortions committed via contraceptives. As a purgatorian, it hurts us more cause the souls of these babies innocent but in need of the sacrament of baptism and so they don’t just go into heaven like that though they are not in a state of pain like most other souls in the state of purgatory. I know this is a deeply sensitive controversial issue and I don’t not want to spring up an argument. Anyway i am only saying that there is more to artificial contraceptives than just committing a sin. The issue of committing an abortion especially with regards to the soul of the aborted child is a very serious cause of concern.

Keep up the good work Aaron (how do you feel handing off those pills?)
 
Antithesis said:
The reason was not given. These two things may not even be related. The bishop might be trying to protect his sheep from scandal. IN NO WAY do I think this, I am thinking worst possible case, but what happened if this priest was having an affair, what would happen to his congregation after hearing such speeches that this was revealed. It may damage their eternal souls. If I was Catholic I would believe that this bishop was put here at the right time to do the right thing. I would trust his decision.
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UH?:rolleyes:
 
I get the feeling that this priest was a target of his bishop. He may have run counter to his bishop on other occasions.

The Homily was OK and very detailed and maybe it was the “graphic” points he made that gave the bishop what he needed.

That’s the way it is in some dioceses…some bishops, rightly or wrongly monitor some priest(s) who are not in lockstep.

The bishop here defrocked a few good priests when they reported irregularities on homosexual activities.

Sometimes it is the BISHOP that needs suspension and sometimes the reverse (priests). We are in very turbulent times in the Church,
 
No reason to roll your eyes I was giving the worst possible scenerio.

But something you might keep in mind that my father use to say:

Never trust anyone who speakes to loudly and harshly, for what they speak against might be the sins screaming in their own heart.

These are the question that this discussion raises in my mind.

What is the point of a hierarchy?

What is the point of your bishops, if they can not be trusted?

What is the point of authority if it is not guarded by God?

If I cant trust your bishop now, how can I trust any of the works they have written in the past?

Everything you may teach all may be lies since God has not actually given them there authority or this authority may or may not be valid.

Its sort of like OSAS in my mind in some denominations. You might be but you never know for sure if you are actually saved.

The hierarchy may be valid or it may not be valid you never know for sure. So just go with your heart.
 
Tietjen said:
There is no way in which I can answer this post with charity. Therefore, I will simply say that I am not a protestant, I do not “disregaurd” (whatever that means) the authority of the Bishops, and I do not reside in my own “world.” I suspect that the poster must be an adolescent (based on grammar and spelling) and I won’t be drawn into an argument with a child. God bless.
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As an adolescent myself, I am personally offended by that baseless, sweeping judgment of an entire generation. I recognize your right to hold whatever opinions you wish, however wrong they may be, and I will not demand any sort of apology for your insensitive statement. This generation to which I belong has other faults, prominent among which is sarcasm;)

As for the actual issue at hand, I am tempted to say that the bishop may have over-reacted to a refreshingly straightforward homily, but, on the other hand, it may have been a perfectly reasonable reaction to a truly tactless rant by an overzealous priest. I have nowhere near enough information to comprehend the full depth of this situation. I can only hope this issue is resolved soon.
 
St. John Vianney, I believe it was, said that the road to hell is paved with the skulls of bishops.

How many souls have been lost and nearly lost (including my own) due to the lack of leadership, lukewarmness and watered-down-to- nothing catechesis of those whose only job in life is to pass on the Faith? No wonder were the laughingstock of the world.

You can be sure this bishop will get an earful (or an eyeful) from me.
 
The shabby treatment of Fr. Bartolomeo by the Bishop of Rockford is no surprise to those of us who live in the Diocese. It is further evidence of the Chancery’s pattern of non-support of our priests. For information on another more shocking story of our Bishop’s behavior toward a priest in our Diocese check out www.ctlnyc.com.

Peace,
Alice
 
I’ve belonged to my parish for 45 yrs. and have never heard a homily about Natural Family Planning. This priest should be teaching other priests. 👍
 
I was angry when I read about Fr. Bartolomeo. I saw nothing wrong with that man’s homily. I am dumbfounded that the bishop listened to the whining and crying of two practicing lesbians. Does the man not know right from wrong? From what I understand the priests in the Rockford Diocese of Illinois tremble in fear of the man. I know there are many good bishops out there, Bishop Doran just isn’t one of them.

In response to Alice’s post, I went to the website she posted. Shame on Bishop Doran! He left the pastor of that parish hanging out in the wind. He left him to the wolves. I suggest anyone with a conscience visit the website Alice recommended. I read the articles and listened to the show by someone named Rocky and I really got an education. What is this world coming to?
 
I applaud the priest. I didn’t see anything wrong in the homily from what I read. As a leader in our parish RCIA program, and having a grandfather who was a Presbyterian minister, I know first hand that people have problems with homilies and sermons. If, and I say IF the homily is something objectionable, then I suggest speaking directly with the Priest or Minister directly after the service. This happened in our parish when a transitiional deacon gave a rather graphic homily regarding partial birth abortions. While factually and theologically his homily was 100% on target, the extremely graphic detail that was used was inappropriate for the number of young children who were at the Mass. A simple meeting with the deacon, as well as the pastor of our parish resolved the issue without anyone being removed from ministry.
 
Don’t jump to conclusions without all the facts.

Bishop Doran is a very very good bishop. There are few as rock-solid orthodox as he is. Understand that he very well may have transferred this priest so that the priest would not have to endure such unpleasantness.

Here’s one of my favorite quotations from His Excellency:
Many of the issues that confront us are serious, and we know by now that the political parties in our country are at loggerheads as to how to solve them. We know, for instance, that adherents of **one political party **would place us squarely on the road to suicide as a people.
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The seven “sacraments” of their secular culture are abortion, buggery, contraception, divorce, euthanasia, feminism of the radical type, and genetic experimentation and mutilation. These things they unabashedly espouse, profess and promote. Their continuance in public office is a clear and present danger to our survival as a nation.
Since the mid-1940s we have been accustomed to look askance at Germans. They were protagonists of the Second World War and so responsible for fifty million deaths. We say, “How awful,” and yet in our country we have, for the most part, allowed the party of death and the court system it has produced to eliminate, since 1973, upwards of forty million of our fellow citizens without allowing them to see the light of day. They have done their best to make ours a true culture of death. No doubt, we shall soon outstrip the Nazis in doing human beings to death.​

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It is the duty of every Catholic to support the work of the parish Pro-Life directors and commissions and to work for the extirpation from our society of all those who in any way foster or promote these things. I wholeheartedly endorse the activities of our Pro-Life Office in the sure and certain knowledge that divine justice will not allow those who act against human life to prosper. These unholy sacraments of our secular culture are the seeds of the destruction of our nation.
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These are not the words of a liberal.

When is the last time a bishop called for the “extirpation” of those of “one political party” who support such things? Has any other bishop so directly attacked the party of death?

Don’t judge Bishop Doran, there is probably more to this story than we know.
 
I am still comming up to speed on this, and am sure I am missing some of the facts in this case, but I do have some observations that I would like to share;
First off, nothing happens in a vacum. I would like to know what the relationship of Father was to the 2 “Gay Catholics”. Politics being what they are these days, many Bishops see themselves trying to protect the church against secular charges of Homophobia. Sad and discouraging things like this, can some times be the result of such an attitude
Following up on this, the fact the one woman stood up and said something in the middle of the hommily says to me that she felt he was talking specificly about her. This means either the Holy Spirit was touching her heart and she did not like it, or the two have a rather combative history. Not knowing the two I can not say rightfully what is the case.
Finally I agree our priests need to be free to preach the teachings of God as passed on in our Church. they need to do so with sensitivity and understanding, remember Jesus agreed the woman who was caught in an act of adultry should by the law be stoned, all he added was the one who is without sin should cast the first stone. It is a tightrope that is hard for most priest to walk, shoot, it’s hard for me to walk it and I’m a simple layman with a wife and 2 kids. I don’t have to get up in front of my fellow Catholics and share my faith every week.
:o
 
If the priest was dismissed or transferred after this, that looks as if he did something wrong and he did not. We need priest to stand up for truth. Too many in the church worry about keeping the peace and should not. Jesus never said he came to keep peace between friends, family or church members… As a former protestant, I seen ministers preach what the crowd wants to here until its to the point of being crazy. A few very successful ministers are preaching that God will make you rich and give you everything you want right here in this world if you believe and tithe. They have thousands of followers and are getting very rich themselves. All the poor souls falling for this are not hearing the truth and it could cost them their souls. We should support and pray often for all priest and bishops that will to stand up for truth.
 
WSD said:
I am still comming up to speed on this, and am sure I am missing some of the facts in this case, but I do have some observations that I would like to share;
First off, nothing happens in a vacum. I would like to know what the relationship of Father was to the 2 “Gay Catholics”. Politics being what they are these days, many Bishops see themselves trying to protect the church against secular charges of Homophobia. Sad and discouraging things like this, can some times be the result of such an attitude
Following up on this, the fact the one woman stood up and said something in the middle of the hommily says to me that she felt he was talking specificly about her. This means either the Holy Spirit was touching her heart and she did not like it, or the two have a rather combative history. Not knowing the two I can not say rightfully what is the case.
Finally I agree our priests need to be free to preach the teachings of God as passed on in our Church. they need to do so with sensitivity and understanding, remember Jesus agreed the woman who was caught in an act of adultry should by the law be stoned, all he added was the one who is without sin should cast the first stone. It is a tightrope that is hard for most priest to walk, shoot, it’s hard for me to walk it and I’m a simple layman with a wife and 2 kids. I don’t have to get up in front of my fellow Catholics and share my faith every week.
:o
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I doubt very much if The Priest spent so much time not only preparing his Homily but delivering it, that it was directed at just 2 people in attendance. Sorry but that nakes absolutely no sense, sounds to me that he was simply preaching The teachings of The Church!
 
janw said:
If the priest was dismissed or transferred after this, that looks as if he did something wrong and he did not. We need priest to stand up for truth. Too many in the church worry about keeping the peace and should not. Jesus never said he came to keep peace between friends, family or church members… As a former protestant, I seen ministers preach what the crowd wants to here until its to the point of being crazy. A few very successful ministers are preaching that God will make you rich and give you everything you want right here in this world if you believe and tithe. They have thousands of followers and are getting very rich themselves. All the poor souls falling for this are not hearing the truth and it could cost them their souls. We should support and pray often for all priest and bishops that will to stand up for truth.
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This is a very good post most particularly the referencing Of Jesus “going against the grain” with TRUTH.
 
And this bishop goes more against the grain than any other bishop in the US.

Does a bishop who says this about the **Democratic Party **seem like the type to cave into liberal special interests???
**
The seven “sacraments” of their secular culture are abortion, buggery**, contraception, divorce, euthanasia, feminism of the radical type, and genetic experimentation and mutilation.
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WE DON"T HAVE THE WHOLE STORY SO STOP ACCUSING THE BISHOP OF CAVING OR BEING SPINELESS.
 
Wow. From all reports Bishop Doran is a pretty good one. I wonder if anyone on the Forums has heard any thing more. There is nothing on the Diocesan Web site. There are no Father Bartolomeos pastoring any St. James Churches. There are no priest listings so you can’t tell where he’s been shipped. I hope someone from the Diocese reads some of the outrage here and responds. I have to tell you that I even tell our DRE and Youth Director when I make controversial statements to 6th graders such “Missing Mass is a mortal sin and sometimes I have to add --and if it’s your parents that are not taking you to Mass it’s their sin…” Then I offer rides (no takers so far).
 
The quotes from Bishop Doran are VERY encouraging. I hate to be critical of a man who seems to be standing for the truth so strongly. I am confused, however, at why a priest would be dismissed for teaching as he did. The evidence is unfortunately against the Bishop, regardless of what statements he’s made in the past or present… it is incumbent on him to explain the actions further and issue supportive statements of the priest in order to avoid appearance of scandal. The appearance of scandal is here… in the face of the facts we have access to, the priest was disciplined directly after giving the homily… and we have full text of the homily… and statement of the priest saying that Bishop Doran judged the homily to be imprudent. We all disagree with that.

Until there is more forthcoming evidence, we are obliged to stand up and pray for justice… pray for the Church… pray against those who would suppress Her Teachings.
 
I revisited the CTLNYC.com website that Alice posted. I think it’s a documentary of some sort. It would appear that Bishop Doran has a lot to hide. According to what I could gather from that website and it seems to me they did their homework and then some. Bishop Doran has a lot of explaining to do. I don’t think the Bishop is as orthodox or as good as everyone here seems to think. After going over the documents and listening to the show featured, it looks as if Bishop Doran tried covered up the abuse of two young ladies. One at Aurora Central Catholic High School and the other at St. Peter School in Geneva. From what I could surmise I think the Chancery Office in Rockford knew about all of it. The Monsignors Kagan and Barr along with Ellen Lynch the Diocese Attorney. Some of that info is vague but is coming out little by little on a daily update program. What the bishop has done to Fr. Bartolomeo and to the pastor of St. Peter seems to only be the tip of the iceberg. I think that according to this CTL website, something big is going to blow and in the very near future. I for one am going to stay tuned. I need to do more homework on this and get more facts to make a well informed decision. But it looks like it doesn’t bode well for the Rockford Chancery office and their attorney. This site also said something about Episcopal Abuse of Power. What ever that means. I need to look that one up.
 
BoBobby said:
I revisited the CTLNYC.com website that Alice posted. I think it’s a documentary of some sort. It would appear that Bishop Doran has a lot to hide. According to what I could gather from that website and it seems to me they did their homework and then some. Bishop Doran has a lot of explaining to do. I don’t think the Bishop is as orthodox or as good as everyone here seems to think. After going over the documents and listening to the show featured, it looks as if Bishop Doran tried covered up the abuse of two young ladies. One at Aurora Central Catholic High School and the other at St. Peter School in Geneva. From what I could surmise I think the Chancery Office in Rockford knew about all of it. The Monsignors Kagan and Barr along with Ellen Lynch the Diocese Attorney. Some of that info is vague but is coming out little by little on a daily update program. What the bishop has done to Fr. Bartolomeo and to the pastor of St. Peter seems to only be the tip of the iceberg. I think that according to this CTL website, something big is going to blow and in the very near future. I for one am going to stay tuned. I need to do more homework on this and get more facts to make a well informed decision. But it looks like it doesn’t bode well for the Rockford Chancery office and their attorney. This site also said something about Episcopal Abuse of Power. What ever that means. I need to look that one up.
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BoBobby - Episcopal Abuse of Power is a serious issue. You will also find info if you search “ecclesiastical abuse of power”. Basically it’s when a member of the Church’s hierarchy uses his office to try to influence or exert power over another. In this case it has to do with questions as to whether Bishop Doran used his office and position to control or punish or influence; it’s tantamount to any other abuse of power by someone in a position of authority over a subordinate but much harder to bring into the open when it happens in the Catholic Church.

Yes, Bishop Doran has a track record of being Orthodox. Yes, he has a track record of being pro-life. Yes, he has a track record of being a brilliant man. Sadly it appears that he now has a track record of abusing the priests of his Diocese - supposedly the “sons with whom he is well pleased.” No real father would ever allow his sons to suffer the way the priests of our Diocese do.

The priest who is the subject of the documentary by CTL is a Monsignor in good standing in our Diocese. His pro-life stance is well documented - he has been published in our local media. You can read his article in the “media” section of CTL’s Web site.

This is a very serious subject and one that all Catholics should educate themselves about - not only are our priests suffering the torment of clergy killers (another good term to Google) but they are also being “hung out to dry” by the hierarchy of our Church.
 
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