What does CAF think of Fr Ripperger?

[pnewton]

I have not read where he has condemned any individual. Presenting principles, even if they are rather extreme and only opinion, is still not condemning any person as a mortal sinner.

I find it hard not to call him a media personality. I do not know if he is humble or not, has contributed or not to this role, or has purpose or not to be personality, yet I see multiple threads on him, articles in the news on him, and a rather devoted following. I would say he meets the definition and needs to be aware of this situation. Cult of personality is a real issue whether or not it was sought.

 

[adgloriam]

I really appreciate this post @pnewton, because I share your opinion(reading) and couldn’t have written it myself.

I take Fr.Ripperger’s “rant” on “the moral sin of day care” as an exercise aiming to invite reflection, nothing more.

Fr.Ripperger does go “over the top” in objectively stating it as “mortal sin”, that is too each one’s conscience (and he knows it !!). Yet, the exercise can be a productive (and opportune) inviting to a reexamination of self and society in the larger scope. And I deem 1 or 2 such rants within a 30 minute exposition on morals that is otherwise “spot on” a reasonable “provocation”. [Incurring, although, the risk to shock the unwary or sow confusion.]

Most folks tend to forget that we don’t see or know the specific audience he was talking too. I was at a “fire and brimstone” homily with a bishop a couple of years back that left me scared out of my wits. And I deemed it a valuable experience.

 

[bobperk]

I listen to Fr. Ripperger’s and Sensus Fidelium talks all the time. I have to use the talks and homilies on there to fill in for the lack of any meaningful or spiritually helpful sermons in my parish.

 

[Roseeurekacross]

Or he retired due to his elderly condition

 

[TC3033]

Listened to my first (and last) talk by him yesterday on marriage / parenting and daycare. It’s fairly obvious he likes to sensationalize and/or either likes to make up his own fact, doesn’t do much homework or is totally disconnected from society (mainly thinking of how he said daycare is 30 kids to 1 adult…unless he’s talking about daycare in another country that somehow allows that ridiculousness).

Not someone who I’ll listen to again with the way he spoke about marriage and parenting, but hey…he sounds like the exact guy my wife’s church would try to bring in to speak so maybe I’ll hear him in person one day.

 

[twf]

Our son was with a parent or grandparent for the first 2 and a half years of his life (though I’m still not clear whether it’s considered sinful if it’s anyone other than the Mom…or if just daycare is the culprit here). He’s now in daycare and all of the staff are licensed, qualified early childhood educators. They also have webcams in every room so we can see him at any point.

 

[TC3033]

Where I’m at, in the states, I’m pretty sure the max is 8-1 and it lowers after that depending on how many infants/toddlers, etc…

 

[Canvas]

Not only has my daughter gone to a sinful daycare for years, but she will be attending a Novus Ordo Catholic School kindergarten soon that teaches modernist heresies.

 

[Roseeurekacross]

My daughter in law has been a daycare workers for years. The extent of her early childhood required education is at a high level, the extent of her pay, reflecting this, is quite low.

Her position and facility allows for parents to feed their families, to have respite from youngsters where there is no support, to offer community and friendship to isolated young mums.
Even, in times of emergency, such as bushfires, to be entrusted with and calm young children as fires sweep past.

 

[Canvas]

She is to be commended for the sacrifices she makes—it is hard, often thankless work, but if she does right by one child—she has done a wonderful thing.

My daughter has been going to a private daycare (a mother who is the daughter of a family friend runs it out of her house) for years. This woman has grown quite attached to our daughter too and my daughter has grown up with her and the other little ones who have been there over the last several years. in fact, rather than being a horrible thing, being in the company of other children has given her time to learn to interact with both older and younger children (and develop a strong immune system!)

 

[pnewton]

to have respite from youngsters where there is no support

One of the changes in society that makes taking documents and statements from 1960 back, and today, is the mobility of the workforce, and society in general. When most of the statements Fr. Ripperger relies on from Tan books were made, it was most common for a man to hold a job in his home town for decades, or life. The extended family was more available to help with children. While I understand the primacy of the parent, the mother is always disadvantaged who must go it alone. Even for spiritual upbringing we have godparents and the whole community is invoked to help raise a child.

Doctrine may not change, but how doctrine is to be practices most definitely changes with changes in society. In any case, while one priest here or there may believe that grave necessity is needed for a mother to work, they may even think it Church teaching, it is not Church teaching. There is a disadvantage in understanding doctrine if one only reads blogs and articles from a narrow sliver of the Church. Fr. Rippenger has a lot to offer, but the limitations of his rather singular point of view needs to be recognized.