Laudate_Dominum Posted November 3, 2007 Share Posted November 3, 2007 There is a thread here that talks about this (although it is mostly just people tossing around their opinion): [url="http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=195457"]http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=195457[/url] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alicemary Posted November 3, 2007 Share Posted November 3, 2007 Priests are men too, and these things happen. Not sure if he should have announced the reason behind his leave, but it is done now. Prayers for this priest, and all those struggle with chastity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theologian in Training Posted November 3, 2007 Share Posted November 3, 2007 I hate to say this, and I am not going to air dirty laundry, but this seems to be happening more frequently. We just lost our bishops secretary last summer for him to further discern his vocation. Prayers definitely Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laudate_Dominum Posted November 3, 2007 Share Posted November 3, 2007 If you have realplayer click this to hear the Life on the Rock statement: [url="http://www.ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/resolve.asp?rafile=lr_11012007.rm"]http://www.ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/resolv...=lr_11012007.rm[/url] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thy Geekdom Come Posted November 3, 2007 Share Posted November 3, 2007 [quote name='Theologian in Training' post='1413481' date='Nov 3 2007, 12:30 AM']I hate to say this, and I am not going to air dirty laundry, but this seems to be happening more frequently. We just lost our bishops secretary last summer for him to further discern his vocation. Prayers definitely[/quote] It's unfortunately no surprise in the world we live in, what, with the way most of us have been raised to view certain issues and such...our whole worldview is messed up, even for those of us who know better, we perceive things as they often are not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil Red Posted November 3, 2007 Share Posted November 3, 2007 [quote name='Seven77' post='1413383' date='Nov 2 2007, 07:30 PM']Something i picked up: There's a battle going on---humility is the weapon. 1. Father needs all the prayers he can get and is asking for ours. 2. Bringing things to light is satan's defeat.[/quote] AMEN! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laudate_Dominum Posted November 3, 2007 Share Posted November 3, 2007 Another discussion for the interested: [url="http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=195503"]http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=195503[/url] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laudate_Dominum Posted November 3, 2007 Share Posted November 3, 2007 omgosh.. this is so sad.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary-Kathryn Posted November 3, 2007 Share Posted November 3, 2007 I think Fr. Francis will go in whatever direction God takes him. I'm not rooting for one way or the other. Only whatever is best...and that is between him and God. As far as I see it, there is no scandal--though I've read elsewhere where the gossips want to get going. He's been honest {don't know if I could be that public} and I think the man needs to just be a man. How often we put people on those pedastals and then shake our heads when they can't measure up. Let him have his two feet on the ground. He'll be alright. I'll pray for him, that God gives him the best answer, not just the one people want. It can be hard when we are shown the very human face of our priests. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laudate_Dominum Posted November 3, 2007 Share Posted November 3, 2007 I hope and pray that he does not betray God and the Church and end up in the fires of hell. Whatever is going on it is clearly a very serious matter. I don't think the other priest on EWTN would have emphasized that no sinner is beyond God's mercy et cetera (following the letter that was read) if they were not deeply concerned about the soul of their brother priest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veritas Posted November 3, 2007 Share Posted November 3, 2007 [quote name='alicemary' post='1413480' date='Nov 3 2007, 12:30 AM']Priests are men too, and these things happen. Not sure if he should have announced the reason behind his leave, but it is done now. Prayers for this priest, and all those struggle with chastity.[/quote] + These things may "happen" but it doesn't mean it's okay! It's definitely not over either! He is still a member of the community and still a priest. His time "away" is not final. That is why he needs our prayer so very much! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary-Kathryn Posted November 3, 2007 Share Posted November 3, 2007 [quote name='Laudate_Dominum' post='1413750' date='Nov 3 2007, 04:54 PM']I hope and pray that he does not betray God and the Church and end up in the fires of hell. Whatever is going on it is clearly a very serious matter. I don't think the other priest on EWTN would have emphasized that no sinner is beyond God's mercy et cetera (following the letter that was read) if they were not deeply concerned about the soul of their brother priest.[/quote] You are doing alot of assuming. If a man were to leave the priesthood {I assume by being released}, where's the betrayal? If a man stumbles in his life, why do you think he's going to hell? Is your ear pressed to the confessional? As I said before, it's not really up to those who push folks on pedastals, it's up to God. None of us knows where God is calling Fr Francis and frankly it's not our business. He's discerning his vocation and I don't see what's wrong with that. It takes alot of guts to face yourself and not just drone on in what's familiar and comfortable. If God calls him elsewhere, so be it. If he stays in the priesthood, so be it. I'm not praying that he simply goes back to his life. I'm praying he does what God asks. And sometimes doing that, takes us in directions we never dreamed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noel's angel Posted November 3, 2007 Share Posted November 3, 2007 (edited) Mary-Kathryn, you're spot on in your comments. As I said before, may God's will be done. This must be a very difficult time for the poor man and all we can do is pray that he makes the right decision, whatever that may be. Edited November 3, 2007 by Noel's angel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maggyie Posted November 3, 2007 Share Posted November 3, 2007 Where people feel "betrayed" is because there are vows involved... it would be, well, disconcerting, if a man told his wife after many years of marriage that he needed to take a break to discern his vocation to married life. Of course, in this case, the vows are to God, and since He has dealt with fallen men and women of both priestly and lay varieties for a very long time, we can count on His taking good care of all the poor people involved. I think a lot of people are reacting the way children do when their parents separate, and I don't think there's anything wrong with that. In his message, he apologizes, and you don't apologize unless you recognize that there is a hurt that's been done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noel's angel Posted November 3, 2007 Share Posted November 3, 2007 This is a bit different to children being upset when their parents separate. 1. We're supposed to be adults. 2. We aren't his children. We don't have the emotional ties a child would have to a parent. Yes, if he left the priesthood, it would be a terrible shame to lose such a good man, but none of us have the right to feel 'betrayed'. The decision is obviously difficult and what he needs is support and prayers, not chastisement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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