With respect, I find it hard to believe what is written in this article is universally true across the board.
I volunteer at my parish, and one of the areas I am active in is taking care of our priests and the seminarian who is on his year-long pastoral intern assignment. I do their laundry, buy their groceries, and prepare a meal weekly with enough leftovers to carry them through the week so they do not have to resort to eating a sandwich over the sink or a bowl of cereal for supper. I am in the rectory every day of the week and I know what goes on when other parishioners are not around.
My pastor puts in 12- to 16-hour days on a regular basis. He has one day per week "off", although he often works on that day as well and is *always* on call, 24/7, 365 days/year. He barely has time to sleep, get his oil changed, buy socks when he needs them, visit his beloved family, or anything else we in the laity take for granted. He is pastor to 2 inner-city parishes. He supervises 2 parish staffs, oversees the maintenance of 2 antique churches which constantly have some kind of repair work needed, oversees a parish school, is chaplain to the local Newman Center, as well as a daily hunger program which serves the food and clothing needs of 100+ street people daily. In addition to the usual duties of all parish priests - daily and weekend Masses for 2 parishes, Confessions twice weekly and more by appointment, Sacramental preparation for Baptisms, Confessions, Communions, and Marriage, counselling for parishioners and non-parishioners, funerals and consolation for those left behind, sick calls, is chaplain to the Knights of Columbus, endless phone calls and paperwork, and far, far more - including teaching religion weekly at the parish school and to OCIA and Newman students. The very *last* person he thinks of is himself.
Our resident retired priest is also busy, covering Masses and Confessions at our parishes and neighboring parishes. Because of the priest shortage, he is very much in demand to give active priests a break when needed. He is also active in the Knights of Columbus and other Catholic organizations. For a retired man of 82, he has very little down time.
Our seminarian is busy assisting at both parishes, teaching the children, assisting in parish ministries, studying seminary assignments as well as Spanish and business subjects, and far more - as well as commuting to our Diocesan seminary as necessary.
*None* of these men has a spare moment for what is described in the article because they seldom have a spare moment to think of their own needs. They are far too busy working for the Kingdom of God, and it is second nature for them to think of what God wants and serving us in the laity and our bishop.
I am not calling the author a liar. But I think it is a mistake to think *all* priests have fallen to the place he describes, nor does every bishop and Diocese have such low expectations of their priests.
There are good, holy, priests I know who have not left the priesthood whom I will certainly mention in my third article in the series, "Why Priests Stay." Remember, this article is entitled, "Why Priests Leave." You are blessed if you have a truly dedicated priest and seminarian. When I was a transitional deacon and served in a parish I later served at as a priest, the pastor, two older associates, and I were all very dedicated, moral, healthy, heterosexually oriented men who all gave up marriage and family life because we felt we were called by Christ to serve him and the People of God. Later, when I returned to that same parish as a priest, the pastor was glad to have me back and we were as busy and dedicated as you described in your comments above. However, neither the pastor nor I knew that the other young priest in our rectory was a homosexual predator who was abusing our altar boys. Tomorrow I will be attending the funeral of the mother of one of the altar boys he abused. As you probably know, most abuse victims take decades before revealing that they were abused. The average age is 52. Some people think they know their priests, deacons, and seminarians very well, but that is not always the case. Remember, I had absolutely no idea that the young priest in the parish with me who was abusing our altarboys was a homosexual predator even though I studied with him for three years in Rome and worked with him at that parish day in and day out. Unfortunately, predator clergy are very good at hiding their behavior. Pray that your priest and seminarian are as authentic, holy, and deicated as you and your fellow parishioners perceive them to be. Have them over for dinner and remember them on their birthdays and at Christmas as if they were members of your own family!
While your observations expressed here may be true, what has happened to me at the hands of Msgr. Edwards Staub, has been faithfully and truly reported here: I have a signed Agreement that was negotiated PRIOR to the disposal, and if you wish, I will be more than happy to send you for your review or you can read it online at www.gomulka.net/Walawender.pdf
Just awful. I’d like to think following the Eastern Orthodox lead of allowing married priests would help, but Orthodoxy struggles with closeted homosexuality too. There are deeper, more fundamental issues at play, apparently. What a sad state of affairs, especially for those who look so piously to their “holy” priesthood for counsel and guidance.
I agree with your comment: this is far beyond pure sex but it is about the principles and powers! Why did God punished Sodom and Gomorrah? In my seminary time they told me it was for the lack of HOSPITALITY, but the truth is: it was the rampant practice of "certain" acts that was not pleasing to God and this type of behavior --and its consequences --could have only been cured by Brimstone falling from the sky and burn hot! To this day, both sites consists small, ping-pong sized balls made of sulfur: PURE Form, with the highest concentration found anywhere on Earth. Any guessing yet? Saw documentary from years back (video camecorder VHS tape) that showed those balls buried in the remnants of the buildings (dust) that can be lit and burns pure hot fire; to me there is no guesswork on this one
It’s been proven that celibacy does not turn someone into a homosexual, or a pedophile. I one dated a woman who’s ex-husband left her for another dude. He even had three children with her. These creeps were homosexual pedos before they ever entered a seminary. If it was proven that celibacy actually did cause pedophilia, celibacy would have to be made illegal.
some are so far gone, they do not care or have a clue that God is watching! They know who their master is...they bowed to him long before they grabbed another child or vulnerable adult, or even "consenting adult". Those in Sodom and Gomorrah were consenting, right, yet fire and brimstone fell on them all!
I hardly have the words to say how much this ongoing injustice and perversion of our Church angers me. There are certain bishops--especially one mentioned in this story---who amaze me by their utter inability to feel shame when their shamefulness if screamingly obvious to those of use who dare to stare at their records (and their blatantly disordered appearances). May God have mercy on me for my anger and may he have mercy on them for their obstinate refusal to stop polluting the Church.
I was not familiar with Gene and his work. Please continue to spotlight the truth. Growing up, I was in several different parishes. As an adult, I learned that every single one of those parishes had a credible case of priest abuse of minors. Somehow, I have clung to my faith despite this.
All this is beyond sex; it is about the extraction of the innocence of the young, and ultimately successful, and life lasting, damage to the mind, soul and body. The effects of acts of sodomy are beyond anything you would ever hear in the public. Until true effects are objectively appraised, and understood in both medical and spiritual terms, there is no healing, but only a patch work on the STIGMA that comes back. True Bishops and priests MUST clean up their ranks from all those that damage people, and no religious organization representing the will of God and his Son Jesus Christ, can afford such scandalous, demonic, soul, mind and body destructive behaviors. As subject to this myself, not as a child but a vulnerable adult, 29 years later, I know full well the true effects of this.
After Vatican II a lot of good men were turned away from seminaries because they were homophobic or seen to be too rigid. In addition, many seminaries had completely inappropriate “teaching” materials that had basically pornographic pictures of homosexual activities. This has all been done to create a crisis and shortage within the priesthood so the ordination of women and married men could be allowed to fix the problem. This is all highlighted in a book called Goodbye, Good Men.
Fr. Gomulka. I am sure you are too busy to read my short essays, but I did not comment on predatory behaviors. My essays are about the lack of supernatural faith in priests who self-identify as homosexual and the damage done to souls by unfit men under holy orders who are serially destroying divine and Catholic faith by their "ministry."
Reverend Father Gomulka, God bless you for speaking up and speaking out. I served in the US Army Chaplain Corps 1993-2018 as an enlisted soldier (chaplain assistant). Thank you for serving our Sailors and Marines.
You may disagree with my theology but I have written two essays on the theological implications of this ecclesiastical disaster here and here:
As unspeakably horrible as the deeds of these sons of Satan are upon the lives and psyches of their most unfortunate victims, their vicious and perfidious spiritual acts upon the souls under their 'care' is 1,000 times worse.
Thanks for writing John and for exposing that harmful effects of homosexual predation and behavior. You entered active duty service around the time I testified before Congress. See: www.gomulka.net/Congress.pdf
No, because seminary officials cover up the homosexual cultures like they do their own closeted lives.
May God turn the Roman Catholic Church back to Himself & still the hand of the Adversary & his minions within the Church!
With respect, I find it hard to believe what is written in this article is universally true across the board.
I volunteer at my parish, and one of the areas I am active in is taking care of our priests and the seminarian who is on his year-long pastoral intern assignment. I do their laundry, buy their groceries, and prepare a meal weekly with enough leftovers to carry them through the week so they do not have to resort to eating a sandwich over the sink or a bowl of cereal for supper. I am in the rectory every day of the week and I know what goes on when other parishioners are not around.
My pastor puts in 12- to 16-hour days on a regular basis. He has one day per week "off", although he often works on that day as well and is *always* on call, 24/7, 365 days/year. He barely has time to sleep, get his oil changed, buy socks when he needs them, visit his beloved family, or anything else we in the laity take for granted. He is pastor to 2 inner-city parishes. He supervises 2 parish staffs, oversees the maintenance of 2 antique churches which constantly have some kind of repair work needed, oversees a parish school, is chaplain to the local Newman Center, as well as a daily hunger program which serves the food and clothing needs of 100+ street people daily. In addition to the usual duties of all parish priests - daily and weekend Masses for 2 parishes, Confessions twice weekly and more by appointment, Sacramental preparation for Baptisms, Confessions, Communions, and Marriage, counselling for parishioners and non-parishioners, funerals and consolation for those left behind, sick calls, is chaplain to the Knights of Columbus, endless phone calls and paperwork, and far, far more - including teaching religion weekly at the parish school and to OCIA and Newman students. The very *last* person he thinks of is himself.
Our resident retired priest is also busy, covering Masses and Confessions at our parishes and neighboring parishes. Because of the priest shortage, he is very much in demand to give active priests a break when needed. He is also active in the Knights of Columbus and other Catholic organizations. For a retired man of 82, he has very little down time.
Our seminarian is busy assisting at both parishes, teaching the children, assisting in parish ministries, studying seminary assignments as well as Spanish and business subjects, and far more - as well as commuting to our Diocesan seminary as necessary.
*None* of these men has a spare moment for what is described in the article because they seldom have a spare moment to think of their own needs. They are far too busy working for the Kingdom of God, and it is second nature for them to think of what God wants and serving us in the laity and our bishop.
I am not calling the author a liar. But I think it is a mistake to think *all* priests have fallen to the place he describes, nor does every bishop and Diocese have such low expectations of their priests.
Susan,
There are good, holy, priests I know who have not left the priesthood whom I will certainly mention in my third article in the series, "Why Priests Stay." Remember, this article is entitled, "Why Priests Leave." You are blessed if you have a truly dedicated priest and seminarian. When I was a transitional deacon and served in a parish I later served at as a priest, the pastor, two older associates, and I were all very dedicated, moral, healthy, heterosexually oriented men who all gave up marriage and family life because we felt we were called by Christ to serve him and the People of God. Later, when I returned to that same parish as a priest, the pastor was glad to have me back and we were as busy and dedicated as you described in your comments above. However, neither the pastor nor I knew that the other young priest in our rectory was a homosexual predator who was abusing our altar boys. Tomorrow I will be attending the funeral of the mother of one of the altar boys he abused. As you probably know, most abuse victims take decades before revealing that they were abused. The average age is 52. Some people think they know their priests, deacons, and seminarians very well, but that is not always the case. Remember, I had absolutely no idea that the young priest in the parish with me who was abusing our altarboys was a homosexual predator even though I studied with him for three years in Rome and worked with him at that parish day in and day out. Unfortunately, predator clergy are very good at hiding their behavior. Pray that your priest and seminarian are as authentic, holy, and deicated as you and your fellow parishioners perceive them to be. Have them over for dinner and remember them on their birthdays and at Christmas as if they were members of your own family!
While your observations expressed here may be true, what has happened to me at the hands of Msgr. Edwards Staub, has been faithfully and truly reported here: I have a signed Agreement that was negotiated PRIOR to the disposal, and if you wish, I will be more than happy to send you for your review or you can read it online at www.gomulka.net/Walawender.pdf
Appreciation and blessings from Sydney Australia.
Thanks Kaylene! It’s nice to have a friend in Australia! Blessings to you and yours too!
None of us can ever have enough blessings. So many thanks for yours.
Sad commentary.
As a pastoral counselor of thirty years I am not surprised.
"Bad company corrupts good morals."
I heard about McCarrick at Mount Saint Mary's Seminary.
No one would listen in those days.
As a counselor I listen, support, and reinforce healthy behavior.
As a miracle worker I Rosary millstones.
Too harsh?
Jesus waited only 37 years before he let Roman soldiers to destroy Jerusalem.
Blessed be the name of the Lord.
Just awful. I’d like to think following the Eastern Orthodox lead of allowing married priests would help, but Orthodoxy struggles with closeted homosexuality too. There are deeper, more fundamental issues at play, apparently. What a sad state of affairs, especially for those who look so piously to their “holy” priesthood for counsel and guidance.
I agree with your comment: this is far beyond pure sex but it is about the principles and powers! Why did God punished Sodom and Gomorrah? In my seminary time they told me it was for the lack of HOSPITALITY, but the truth is: it was the rampant practice of "certain" acts that was not pleasing to God and this type of behavior --and its consequences --could have only been cured by Brimstone falling from the sky and burn hot! To this day, both sites consists small, ping-pong sized balls made of sulfur: PURE Form, with the highest concentration found anywhere on Earth. Any guessing yet? Saw documentary from years back (video camecorder VHS tape) that showed those balls buried in the remnants of the buildings (dust) that can be lit and burns pure hot fire; to me there is no guesswork on this one
Absolutely correct you are.
It’s been proven that celibacy does not turn someone into a homosexual, or a pedophile. I one dated a woman who’s ex-husband left her for another dude. He even had three children with her. These creeps were homosexual pedos before they ever entered a seminary. If it was proven that celibacy actually did cause pedophilia, celibacy would have to be made illegal.
Thank you for exposing the darkness.
Wow! This is so much more pervasive than suspected! They forget that God is watching…
some are so far gone, they do not care or have a clue that God is watching! They know who their master is...they bowed to him long before they grabbed another child or vulnerable adult, or even "consenting adult". Those in Sodom and Gomorrah were consenting, right, yet fire and brimstone fell on them all!
Like the Devil, they do not care. Until they are caught.
I hardly have the words to say how much this ongoing injustice and perversion of our Church angers me. There are certain bishops--especially one mentioned in this story---who amaze me by their utter inability to feel shame when their shamefulness if screamingly obvious to those of use who dare to stare at their records (and their blatantly disordered appearances). May God have mercy on me for my anger and may he have mercy on them for their obstinate refusal to stop polluting the Church.
I was not familiar with Gene and his work. Please continue to spotlight the truth. Growing up, I was in several different parishes. As an adult, I learned that every single one of those parishes had a credible case of priest abuse of minors. Somehow, I have clung to my faith despite this.
All this is beyond sex; it is about the extraction of the innocence of the young, and ultimately successful, and life lasting, damage to the mind, soul and body. The effects of acts of sodomy are beyond anything you would ever hear in the public. Until true effects are objectively appraised, and understood in both medical and spiritual terms, there is no healing, but only a patch work on the STIGMA that comes back. True Bishops and priests MUST clean up their ranks from all those that damage people, and no religious organization representing the will of God and his Son Jesus Christ, can afford such scandalous, demonic, soul, mind and body destructive behaviors. As subject to this myself, not as a child but a vulnerable adult, 29 years later, I know full well the true effects of this.
This pierces my heart.
After Vatican II a lot of good men were turned away from seminaries because they were homophobic or seen to be too rigid. In addition, many seminaries had completely inappropriate “teaching” materials that had basically pornographic pictures of homosexual activities. This has all been done to create a crisis and shortage within the priesthood so the ordination of women and married men could be allowed to fix the problem. This is all highlighted in a book called Goodbye, Good Men.
Is Fr. James Martin, SJ a Homosexual ?? Seems so…
Where Do Homosexual Activists Want the Church to Go?
https://www.tfp.org/where-do-homosexual-activists-want-the-church-to-go/
Fr. Gomulka. I am sure you are too busy to read my short essays, but I did not comment on predatory behaviors. My essays are about the lack of supernatural faith in priests who self-identify as homosexual and the damage done to souls by unfit men under holy orders who are serially destroying divine and Catholic faith by their "ministry."
It seems that we are both playing off of the same sheet of music! Don’t give up your position without a fight!
Reverend Father Gomulka, God bless you for speaking up and speaking out. I served in the US Army Chaplain Corps 1993-2018 as an enlisted soldier (chaplain assistant). Thank you for serving our Sailors and Marines.
You may disagree with my theology but I have written two essays on the theological implications of this ecclesiastical disaster here and here:
https://destroyerofheresies.blogspot.com/2018/08/the-impossibility-of-gay-catholic-priest.html
https://destroyerofheresies.blogspot.com/2019/03/the-myth-of-chaste-homosexual.html
As unspeakably horrible as the deeds of these sons of Satan are upon the lives and psyches of their most unfortunate victims, their vicious and perfidious spiritual acts upon the souls under their 'care' is 1,000 times worse.
Thanks for writing John and for exposing that harmful effects of homosexual predation and behavior. You entered active duty service around the time I testified before Congress. See: www.gomulka.net/Congress.pdf
There’s no such thing as a “homosexual” you really shouldn’t use modern terminology if you reject modern philosophy