Repentance, Reform and Fraternal Correction
Because the error besetting us is an anthropological error about
Fatherhood, fraternity and manhood, it is the duty of fraternities
of Catholic laymen as well as the ordained to establish order from
this chaos.
To cleanse the Catholic priesthood, we must start in the chanceries
with the priests assigned to administer justice and organize priestly
life. Chancery offices are not “administrative positions” of a bureaucracy.
They are offices of fatherly authority meant to maintain the priestly
brotherhood that fosters fatherhood. The Church has mechanisms for
the fathers to discipline the erring brothers. What if the Vicar General
of Superior had been as interested in justice as the detectives of
Hudson? Dan O’Connell and James Ellison would be alive today.
As Catholic fathers we observe the devious and immature homosexual
cliques that have infiltrated so many of the diocesan chanceries and
seminaries of our Church in America. We want the collar back. We have
taught our children to respect “Father,” and we want to be assured
that Father will protect them. Fathers do not have sex with their
children. Fathers do not have sex with other men. These are the oldest
taboos in human history, and they are central to the purity code that
defines the Catholic family.
The war against fatherhood, which has torn the fraternity of our
local priesthood apart, has now left a widow and orphans in Wisconsin.
We sympathize with men who find themselves with homosexual tendencies
but our sympathy does not include calling them our spiritual fathers.
We stand in fighting opposition to men who celebrate these tendencies
as healthy or natural. We have to admit the ugly truth about many
officials in our diocese, and we have to name names. The storyline
of “the victimized homosexual” needs a reality check with the comfortable
powerbrokers of urban politics, mainstream media, nonprofit foundations
and church bureaucracies.
The incestuous network of homosexuals polluting the Catholic priesthood
have convinced themselves and their secular allies that “fighting
sexual repression” in the Catholic Church makes these spoiled white
boys into Rosa Parks. She sat on the bus. They kiss in the rectory.
It’s all about human rights. Well, Ryan Erickson is no Rosa Parks.
The homosexual activists in the Church are not prophets of social
justice but craven collaborators with a metro culture of moneyed narcissism.
The ordered priestly communion which forms the model for civic and
universal brotherhood is worth dying for. Dan O’Connell paid the ultimate
price to defend our purity code. He spoke truth to a predator. He
is our prophet. The “gay” clergy is our Vichy Government.
The Catholic Church calls all men to repentance and communion with
Christ. We must reform the priesthood so we can show His face to the
world. It is His church, not ours. We must stop accusing the Church
and start accusing individual criminals. It is distasteful to name
names, but it is individuals who are responsible for the corruption
of the priesthood, not the Church itself. It is better to name the
traitors than to dishonor Christ’s reputation and the purity of the
ancient priesthood.
“For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen,
disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder for even
Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is not strange
if his servants disguise themselves as servants of righteousness.
Their end will correspond to their deeds.” 2 Corinthians
13-15
From the erring priests, we hope for confession and repentance.
Their brother priests might remember the apostles scattered in fear
after the crucifixion who fifty days later, lifted by the wind of
the Spirit, found the courage to preach Christ. Today’s good priests
must gather in bands to stir their courage to correct those who abuse
the collar. This can be done face to face, in presbyterial synods,
and through a justice driven use of diocesan tribunals. Christ loves
the Light: only Satan benefits from the continuing culture of deceit,
cliques and double-speak. From bishops we hope for personal and brotherly
confrontation, that they will demand resignation and repentance from
fellow bishops and Vicar Generals. A very few bishops with courage
could initiate a Eucharistic communion of men reforming one another.
Be fellow fishermen. You are called to brave the open sea not hide
in an office cubicle. Be not afraid!
This is the fraternal duty and synodal form renewed at the Second
Vatican Council —no press, no laity, but all hearts open to the Holy
Spirit so fellow bishops speak with courage to one another by name.
Brotherly love unveils the masqueraders. Remember the stage which
could not hold both Ryan Erickson and Dan O’Connell. Brotherly love
knows when to forgive Peter, strengthen Thomas, and expel Judas. Let
us love one another as brothers.
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