Denver Newsroom, Aug 11, 2020 / 01:47 pm (CNA).-
A Sacramento priest excommunicated last week says he stands by his claim that Pope emeritus Benedict XVI is the true pope. In addition to charges of schism, the priest is suspected of misconduct and improper relationships with at least two adult women; he confessed his love to one of them in a video message circulating online.
“I continue to regard Benedict as retaining the Office of Peter, as mysterious as that might be. Therefore, I do not regard Bergoglio as the Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church,” Fr. Jeremy Leatherby wrote this week in an open letter to the Sacramento diocese.
Leatherby added that although he was already prohibited from public ministry, he had been celebrating Masses in recent months in private homes, offered “in union with Pope Benedict, not with Pope Francis. Many who have joined me hold, like I do, that Benedict remains the one true Pope.”
On Aug. 7, Sacramento’s Bishop Jaime Soto announced that “by his words and actions” Leatherby was “in a state of schism with the Roman Catholic Church.”
Sote declared that the priest had incurred a latae sententiae excommunication. “This means that by his own volition he has separated himself from communion with the Roman Pontiff, Pope Francis, and other members of the Catholic Church,” the bishop said. He called on Leatherby to “repent of the harm he has inflicted on the Church.”
In a private Aug. 3 letter to Leatherby obtained by CNA, Soto urged the priest to change his ways.
“I have received a number of testimonies reporting that you have offered Mass publicly in violation of my withdrawal of your faculties…In the exercise of these illicit rites…you have preached against the Holy Father and omitted the inclusion of his name and mine from the Eucharistic prayer.”
Soto added that he had heard recordings of the priest’s sermons, and both spoken telephonically and corresponded with the priest about those matters.
“Do not heed the voices or sentiments that have driven you to do this. These are not the fruit of the Holy Spirit. You are wounding the Church you have previously promised to serve. Your actions have placed you and others in grave moral danger. Listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd, in whose name I speak with fraternal solicitude.”
After the excommunication was announced, Leatherby, 41, said that he accepts the bishop’s judgment.
“Bishop Soto’s sentence of excommunication against me is consistent with my relationship with Jorge Bergoglio (Pope Francis), with whom I cannot morally, spiritually or intellectually, in good conscience, align myself,” he wrote.
“I deservedly incur excommunication if Bergoglio is indeed the valid Successor of Peter, and I am guilty of causing great division within the Mystical Body of Christ. However, I could not in good conscience do otherwise….When all is revealed, if I am mistaken, I will humbly repent of my sin and error, for I love the Holy Roman Catholic Church.”
Leatherby has been without an assignment in the diocese since March 2016. At that time, he was removed from ministry at a Sacramento parish, amid allegations that he had engaged in an inappropriate sexual relationship with a woman at the parish. He was prohibited from public ministry and his sacramental faculties were withdrawn.
Leatherby’s supporters claim those allegations were trumped up, as retaliation against his family, because the priest’s father, a deacon in the diocese, reported to Church authorities that some priests in the diocese were involved in a homosexual affair.
The Diocese of Sacramento told CNA that claim is “not true.”
“The original matter regarding Fr. Leatherby was triggered by an allegation of a ministerial boundary violation with an adult woman. We have no comment on rumors, theories, or complex, alternate explanations of this matter,” a diocesan spokesman told CNA Aug. 11.
The diocese did not say why the canonical case against Leatherby has taken years to adjudicate.
In August 2018, Sacramento’s vicar general sent a memo to diocesan priests, to address ”speculation” and “the length of time it has taken to resolve this case.”
According to the memo, Bishop Soto formally initiated a formal canonical process — presumably a canonical trial or an administrative penal process — against Leatherby, shortly after he was removed from parish ministry.
That canonical process stalled, the memo said, because “it took longer than we would have liked to assemble a panel of canonical experts independent of the diocese to address this case.”
But the process began moving forward in January 2018, according to the memo. The case “is still continuing, and is in the hands of other ecclesiastical authorities,” Soto said this week.
The diocese has declined requests from CNA for details regarding the status of the case, or the exact canonical crimes of which the priest is accused.
While the diocese has not commented on the allegations against Leatherby, parishioners say the charges have divided the Sacramento parish community, Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, that Leatherby led as pastor until he was removed in 2016.
Leatherby had garnered a large following at the parish, especially attracting devoutly Catholic families as he worked to renew the parish school. But some parishioners say the priest’s leadership was marked with problems from the beginning.
Becky Jennings was a volunteer and parent at Presentation’s school during Leatherby’s tenure there. She said her family, like a lot of families, was attracted to the school because of the priest’s orthodoxy, dynamism, and pastoral attention to parish and school.
The Jennings trusted Fr. Leatherby, at first. They thought he was a faithful priest, and they were impressed by his courage and his kindness.
“In retrospect, there were a lot of things that should have been red flags. There were cult-like elements with Fr. Leatherby and his family,” Jennings told CNA.
She said that because Jennings was pastorally available and engaged in parish and family lives, a “huge cult of personality formed around him.”
“We would have followed him off the end of the earth and trusted him.”
The priest “used to promote himself as an expert in women’s spirituality and women’s spiritual direction,” Jennings said, and the women he directed were fiercely loyal to him.
In her judgment, Leatherby “formed a ‘harem’ of spiritual directees around him, and used the idea that someone has to be loyal to their spiritual director to abuse and manipulate them,” Jennings said.
The diocese has not identified the woman who alleged misconduct in 2016. But parishioners, talking to one another on social media, have said she was a part of the parish community, a daily communicant, and a former employee of the parish.
When allegations regarding Leatherby emerged in 2016, Jennings said, many people had a hard time believing them, including her family.
It was “devastating,” she said. “We felt like he was the heart and soul of the community.”
But eventually Jennings started hearing stories from parishioners about inappropriate behavior from Leatherby, and those gave her pause. She said she began to believe that “Fr. Leatherby had us all taken in.”
Jennings added that even in his parish leadership, the priest had tried to sow suspicion of outsiders. In early 2016, she said, “there seemed to be growing paranoia that the diocese was out to get our school.” Leatherby, she said, was especially paranoid about losing control of decisions at the school.
Division in the parish is now stark, Jennings said, with some describing Leatherby as “narcissistic” and controlling, while others maintain the priest was persecuted by the Sacramento diocese.
She said she doesn’t believe that Leatherby was removed as an act of retribution. “I think that was invented out of whole cloth,” Jennings told CNA, “or exaggerated.”
She emphasized that in her view, Leatherby’s family members, many of whom have been connected to the parish, are a “pr machine,” trying to promote the idea that the priest is the victim of persecution, “like a mafia,” Jennings added. Leatherby’s defenders, Jennings said, have smeared the reputation of the priest’s alleged victim within the parish community.
Jennings and her family eventually moved away from the parish, she told CNA.
Soto’s letter this week said the excommunication of Leatherby was not related to the 2016 canonical case. That case is not the only instance of suspected misconduct.
Earlier this year, a video circulated online in which Leatherby, who appeared to be driving a car at night, recorded a video message for an unidentified woman, who, according to Leatherby, is not the subject of the 2016 allegation.
“Hey, Baby Doll,” Leatherby says, as he begins the video.
“I love that without mascara that you are still strikingly beautiful. I love that. I love it, like, a lot. A lot a lot. I loved it earlier when I saw you, and you didn’t have it on, and I loved it all night long. ‘Til the present time, and you still don’t have it on, and you’re still gorgeous.”
After discussing an event he had attended that evening, Leatherby says in the video, “I love you, I love you, I love you, you’re my girl. I imagine I’ll still say a ‘good night’ before I really, really, really go to bed, but I love you, even now, before then. Ok, goodnight, I love you.”
Leatherby said this week that he accidentally sent that message to an unintended recipient, and acknowledged the video “appears to some as a confirmation that I must be guilty of every sensational detail that has been alleged about me,” the priest said.
The priest said his behavior in the video was inappropriate, but denied it is evidence of a sexual relationship with the woman.
According to Leatherby’s open letter, the video was intended for “a woman who is a friend and who has assisted me significantly to, literally, survive and persevere these last few years and to fight for my priesthood,” and was recorded “after too much to drink.”
“I spoke in inappropriate ways, unbecoming of my priestly state, even if on leave. Thus, it can be taken totally out of context. I do not have a sexual relationship with that woman,” he said, claiming that those circulating the video “are spreading one side of a story that you don’t know the truth about.”
His letter said that a “handful of detractors who are out to destroy me,” and are using the video irresponsibly. He also claimed that if he were inclined towards sexual immorality, “those pathologies would have been detected at the Saint John Vianney Treatment Center in Downingtown, PA, which I was required to attend for five months after being placed on leave. They dissected every aspect of my life and person.”
In 2018, Leatherby wrote to his former parishioners, whom he reportedly had been instructed by the diocese not to contact.
“At this time I feel called to exercise my spiritual fatherhood to a number of individuals like yourselves, for whom I have been a Pastor, spiritual father, or priest friend/acquaintance at one time or another. I believe that the times that our Lord, through our Blessed Mother, has been preparing the Church and the world for over the course of many years are hastening upon us. She has said that it would be a time of great confusion and darkness, which we have all experienced in ways,” the priest wrote.
“My sense is that the times are going to get progressively darker. There will be a cacophany (sic) of voices pulling us in one way or another. We will be seeking to hear the voice of Christ in the midst of the clamor. Stay close to sources that will offer authentic Catholic teaching,” he added.
This week, Leatherby said he plans to petition for laicization, because he is no longer “in union with the church over which Bergoglio reigns.” The priest said that he will “live out
my priestly promises independently.”
If the priest is laicized, the canonical cases against him would likely conclude without formal resolution. The Sacramento diocese told CNA it will support Leatherby’s petition for laicization.
Through his canon lawyer, Leatherby declined CNA’s interview requests.
[…]
I support Fr. Altman for speaking the truth at a time when we are being silenced! I feel like he is leading a flock much larger than he can imagine. Love catching his homilies and podcasts on various programs. He has made my Faith come alive again! At a time America needs so much Hope for its future. He has given so much encouragement. On of the most Holy Priests I’ve been honored to know. Fr. Parker is another one. God renew the Church by filling it with Holy Priest. God bless Fr. Altman and Fr. Parker!
So many of Catholic Faith proponents support Fr Altmen’s position on these topical issues; but Altman is bound by his sacred vows including obedience to his Bishop! Obviously the Bishop must act based on his perception of the consequences of Altman’s actions!
It’s not a popularity issue! Sit back quietly and observe
observe! I’m sure we will all learn something!
Well said, but it carries with it the assumption that we the laity accept that the Bishop is a wise man whom we can trust to do the right thing in Fr. Altman’s case – by silencing him.
This is not the case.
WATCH: Fr. Richard Heilman’s FANTASTIC Response To Fr. Altman’s Cancellation
What part of his nutty demagoguery is the Truth? His excuses for lynching as “capital punishment”? His claim that Warsaw Jews deserved the Holocaust? His ugly stupid lies about vaccination that have helped kill nearly a million Americans? He needs to be laicized.
Sincere question…Would you please quote the sources that you’re using to make these comments about Fr. Altman? I’m not familiar with the accusations that you’re making, and I’d like to find out the entire context of your comments. Thank you!
Last time I bothered looking up any of the bile emitted by Shea, he was praising George Soros. His comment here makes it clear that he is untroubled by the use of vaccines derived from research on aborted babies. Yet, this character, last I heard, is still invited to lecture at Catholic parishes.
He made none of those statements, but the Eighth Commandment has meant little to those directing venom towards defenders of orthodoxy for decades.
And Bishop Callahan might want to consider the Gospel before taking refuge in cliche words of libCatholicspeak and pseudo-Catholic cowardice.
“Unity” is not, never has, and never will be a Catholic value. Jesus preached that his disciples be divisive when truth was on the line. A man’s enemies will be members of his own family.
The statements saying lynchings were somewhat justified like “capital punishment” are around minute 46 in this recording: https://youtu.be/AjeWSYzbxiE
In this show https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13oaWClB9oM at minute 6:20 you’ll hear him state how the “Jews in Warsaw, the doctors” would, by performing abortions, bring about their demise (i.e. the Holocaust, although he doesn’t speak this specific word, only that “they had it coming”)
This is one of the sermons where he derides science and Covid-19 deaths: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVj_zejxIRo
There’s a lot more, but this should already show you that these accusations are based on things Fr. Altman does publicly say or preach.
Georg, Thank you for taking the time to put the links up so that I could listen to Fr. Altman’s comments in context. I appreciate it!
Your citations only support your dishonesty. Father said nothing that implied that actions of individual abortionists had any direct connection to the Holocaust. And, as a scientist, I’ll point out that there is a sound basis for not being impressed by the propaganda that affirms the unproven efficacy of the serums, falsely called vaccines, or that they represent sound “science,” and sanity requires skepticism regarding manipulative government statistics regarding deaths from Covid.
Please speak clearly. It is not at all clear to whom you refer when you slander a person named “he.” Further, you make no sense whatsoever. Your questions are without any reason, without explanation, and they lack correct syntax.
If someone helped kill a half million people, what have we to do with that? Why didn’t you call the police?
There is only one truth and you will find it. If you not familiar with the Scriptures read the word of God in John 14:6
” I am the way, the truth and the life , no one goes to the Father except through me.”
So are disputing the Word of God ? by asserting that Fr Altman is author of truth? I hope not. Read St Paul letter about preachers Appolos versus St Paul
1 Corinthians 3
We all have different gifts from the Holy Spirit but that does not makes us superior to others.
As for COVID-19 vaccines, again Fr Altman is mistaken in his interpretation. I suggest you read Galatians 3:1 St Paul’s letter should be encouraging for those who are being misled by ignorance of Science and the Scriptures. Read the Bible and don’t follow others in ignorance.
Our Catholic faith teaches us to be obedient and accept criticism from our elders or superiors and God demands this of us. This is called humility. You don’t have to prove that we are the only ones who speaks or knows the truth. Again , you must be familiar with our Lord Jesus Christ and His Mission. Remember His victory on the Cross, an innocent man, but obedient to His Father’s will. The list goes on, Abraham and Isaac another good examples of obedience. On the other hand you have the opposite, which is pride. Father Altman has been given time to reflect on his vocation, and the sin of pride.He needs to ask himself whether he is a priest, or a politician. Only Fr Altman can answer with the help of our prayers. Give Cesar what is due to Cesar. He does not belong to this world as we children of God, we only should focus on spiritual growth especially those of the people he is condemning. Jesus was always in the company of sinners, Matthew, Zacheus, Mary Magdalene to name a few. We have duty to pray for conversion rather than to condemn.
Don’t be the first to throw the stone. Fr Altman has lost his way. He needs our prayers, especially that of St Francis of Assisi. The pride of Lucifer led to his downfall and I think gathering a crowd of totally blind followers is not the way forward. The crowd should be following Jesus Christ not him. We are followers of ONE man. Only God and noone else. I suggest he donates the money raised to the poor. He has made an error and has allowed Lucifer to misguide him in disguise. As for you, focus on the Bible and that is truth. Jesus said to Nathaniel “I saw you reading the Scriptures under a fig tree.” When you read the Bible everyday, every hour, every second, Jesus, your High Priest will reveal the truth and transform your life. Not a mere misguided, disobedient Priest who has lost his way and needs healing of inner wounds. God is good.
Silence father Altman but put “ father” Martin along with Tobin and cupuch and their homosexual agenda on a pedestal. This is why the church hierarchy is becoming irrelevant!
“Becoming” irrelevant?
I would argue that they are already there, but they just haven’t got the memo yet.
Another gibberish report by the bishops’ lapdogs at Catholic News Agency.
More lies and slander from Mark Shea. Nothing new here, for sure. Fr. Altman does not need to be laicized. Mark Shea needs an exorcism.
And Fr. James Martin, SJ will be removed from his office when???
Good call! My question exactly!
What we will learn is that there are two sets of rules. If there is a problem with Fr. Altman, it is clericalism, the same clericalism that plagues the hierarchy and perhaps his bishop too.
Altman Fr. Giving sermon on pentecost day looks a problem, give details on his sermon? Which his bishop asks him to resign?
‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for my sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”.
Father Altman speaks the truth!Abortion IS murder!Beleive me,anyone that supports abortion is list to the fires of Hell
Our Lord called this man from being a lawyer(12 yrs)to the priesthood to administer to his people.Father Altman followed the call although he could have ignored the call and kept making money being that lawyer.The reason that father Altman became a priest?Our lord wanted him to speak loud and clear as to what is going on in the states and all the sins and transcriptions being committed!His bishop I think works for the higher ups that don’t want to hear the truth!They will listen someday when it will be too late for all concerned who don’t like to hear father Altman tell the truth get their just reward.
The episcopate is unhinged, drunk on its own juices. There is not a priest of any perspective who does not know this to be true. We learned to live without our parish priests last year because of inane episcopal rationalizations. It would serve the USCCB well to see the diocesan priesthood withdraw from ministry for an indeterminate period to bring the reckoning to the episcopate’s reckless stewardship not only in financial administration but in their scandalous theological and moral inadequacy as well.
We need to be cleaning house and it starts at the top. The laity have learned to “do without” in critical matters for a long time.
Yes, but Fr Altman needs to pray for better ways to get his points across than just spue out accusations. I agree with what he says but thoroughly did agree with how he is going about it. Perhaps he can consult Bishop Robert Barron, whose methods get people to think and listen rather than divide and turn their backs. In addition, he should NOT make his remarks from the pulpit. The pulpit is for the spreading of the Good News of Christ and only the Good News of Christ, in other words, the Gospel. Other means can be devised to speak the truth of what Fr Altman is saying. I pray that he will find these ways.
Fr. Altman is a Saint speaking the truth.The truth I was truth I was taught in Catholic schools.It is very had for me to continue in my faith,with Bishops that are evil.I believe the bishops and the pope are distorting our faith . They are helping the anti Christ.
We have become so used to platitude homilies of “God loves you, have a nice day” that when a priest preaches like the early apostles and Fathers of the Church, we think he is overdoing it. I have seen nowhere in these articles about Father Altman where the bishop has said that this statement of his is not true. His bishop’s initial statement was that he objected to Father Altman’s manner and tone. Even on topics, like the abortion tainted vaccine and climate change, he is as qualified to talk on the subjects as the Vatican.
Although this article says that father Altman’s statement on the democrats is because the party’s leadership supports abortion, the situation goes far beyond that. They not only support it, they push to expand it. Not only the leadership, but 99-100% of democrat members of congress vote for abortion. Their platform calls for abortion anytime, any place, for any reason, up to birth, paid for by the government.
We have bishops and cardinals who give communion, and state that they will continue to give communion, to militantly pro-abortion politicians, in violation of canon 915, and nothing at all is done about them.
I have no doubt that father’s bishop came under pressure from other bishops and cardinals. But this is no excuse for what he did. In my state three of the four bishops are registered members of the democrat party – the party of death. I am sure they did not like his statement that you cannot be a catholic and a member of the democrat party.
I admire and support father Altman.
Fr. Altman is the best thing to happen to the Catholic Church since Bishop Sheen. Altman speaks the truth and is concerned with saving souls. He is unlike the bishops, interested in money, who speak vague political correctness in order to keep their huge government contracts for providing NGO services.
Sad but not unexpected news. Fr. Altman helped me through the toughest time of my life. His 90yr old parents and Griffin his dog are also going to be uprooted. I pray for Fr. Altman every day. I think he’ll go forward just fine.
The bishops can’t remove Joe Biden from the Communion line but they can remove Fr. Altman from his priestly duties for the crime of pointing out that Biden is in violation of biblical teaching as reflected in Canons 915 – 916 of the Catholic Church’s Code of Canon Law. Got it !
AMEN
I think it is well past time this Priest who has publicly on utube suggested contrary to Christ’s teaching – judge others. I agree abortion is an abomination and as part of the Pro Life Movement I protest it but I have to wonder Where was his voice when the Republicans under Trump were praising neo nazis. white supremicists, attacking the poor, refugees – this definitely is not Christ’s teaching that he is perpetuating. Sadly there are many within the church who are attacking her and the chosen head of the Church Pope Francis. The Holy Spirit made that choice and I am content that the Holy Spirit knows best. No Priest, Bishop or Cardinal has the right to dictate that anyone who is Catholic must hold the same view point as to his. It’s time he took the log out of his own eye before telling his brother to take the speck out of theirs. Thankfully Christ assured us that the gates of hell will not prevail against Holy Mother Church. God bless and protect Holy Mother Church and Pope Francis and bring an end to abortion.
How dare you trade in bald-faced lies to support the framing of your caricatures? When did Republicans “praise” neo-Nazis or white supremacists? Are you referring to your forerunners in bald faced dishonesty in the media who merely claimed they did when they did not? At great length President Trump, for example, condemned those who were motivated by racism at Charlottesville. And yet, in order to manipulate the dishonorable, extracted his comment of good people on both sides referring only to the peaceful demonstrators to try to create the impression he was referring to the racists. They knew what they were doing, just as lib Catholics always reduce conservative Catholics to caricatures rather that act honorably with a fair hearing. Incidentally, Father Altman has given dozens of homilies condemning the sins you say he never mentions.
contrary to Christ’s teaching – judge others. (sic)
Time for you to brush up on Scripture, madame.
“And why even of yourselves, do you not judge that which is just?” Jesus Christ, Luke 12:57
After you slowly and deliberately ponder that for a few days, take a gander at Matthew 18 and read Christ’s explanation on how to excommunicate the unrepentant from the Church, an act which requires judging another.
The Holy Spirit made that choice(sic)
Assumes facts not in evidence and also commits the serious sin of presumption on your part.
“I think it is well past time this Priest who has publicly on utube suggested contrary to Christ’s teaching – judge others”
You do seem a tad bit irony challenged.
“Where was his voice when the Republicans under Trump were praising neo nazis. white supremicists, attacking the poor, refugees”
He was nowhere, because that didn’t happen.
“The Holy Spirit made that choice ”
The Holy Spirit doesn’t make the choice of Popes.
“No Priest, Bishop or Cardinal has the right to dictate that anyone who is Catholic must hold the same view point as to his.”
Are you demented? On matters of faith and morals they most certainly do.
If Fr. Altman had preached far left-wing policies and beliefs; would he have received the identical treatment as he is getting now? Truth comes from revealing both sides of an issue, and discerning which has the greater argument. Faith will guide your mind to ascertain which side has the greater truth. But, in our democracy, both sides must be allowed to express themselves fully without fear of severe punishments.
Its interesting how a priest of the church can be silenced for being faithful to church teaching. Even when that teaching comes out in an abrasive manner. Yet the same Bishops are afraid to call out a “Catholic” public figure for his blatant pro-abortion stand, which should be in itself a sin.
Perhaps Bishop Callahan could better spend his free time by turning off CNN/MSNBC and reading a good, thought provoking novel (such as ‘Father Elijah : an Apocalypse’ or ‘Lord of the World’). His action begs the question: “To whom does he answer: the Democratic National Committee, the USCCB or the Holy See?” I pray that there are still distinctions between them.
For some time it has confounded many of us commoners as to why our church leaders refuse to make clear statements and take proper stands against the current evils of our society. Well, there’s no more use to give them the benefit of the doubt. It’s time to accept that the actions of the prelates are not just influenced by, but are effectively directed by the same destructive ideologues that are reducing our culture to sludge. Accepting that fact clears away the fog of confusion, after which we can redirect our energy toward praying ever more fervently that the Holy Spirit will finally crash down on their corrupt network and strangle the writhing worm that it truly is.
I previously fully supported Fr. Altman but upon reading this article Fr. Altman holds some views of a madman. One thing I do somewhat support him on is that no Catholic can be a Democrat. I don’t totally agree, some people vote Democrat because of some of the lunacy of the Republican party’s intentions. There is a correlation between the Democratic party and Freemasonry, namely, DESTROY THE GOOD!! There is a strong semblance between the Republican party and Bergoglio and his henchmen. I do question the intentions of the Bishop, Is this true for the good or is he out to just destroy a popular priest? In the last 50 years destroying holy priests has been a fun sport of many Bishops and Modernist priests and laity enjoying it all as spectators.
Let’s pray for both men, Fr. Altman and Bishop Callahan. Let’s respond to the facts as best we can know them.
Given the available information from readily accessible primary sources online, a reasonable person could conclude that the bishop’s objections lack a basis in fact. Nothing that Fr. Altman is on record as saying has been unfaithful to the Gospel. Has Fr. Altman’s manner or delivery been intense, blunt even? Sure. So what? That people get bent out of shape because criticism merely offends them, and to their way of thinking (which avoids substance and integrity) justifies calumny toward another, toward Fr. Altman in this instant, suggests that those offended by Fr. Altman’s criticism are merely bullies who imagine themselves to be victims.
The decree invites him to make a 30-day spiritual retreat to allow him “the possibility to spiritually heal and recharge and to address the issues that caused the issuance of this decree.” Maybe it’s time for this bishop Callahan and others of his ilk, like james martin, sj, attend a spiritual retreat.
I watched the first two videos cited by Georg. Neither suggests that Father Altman implied support for either lynching or the Holocaust. He simply mentioned some uncomfortable and unpopular ideas concerning ownership of slaves by blacks, The Democratic Party’s fierce resistance, to the point of war, of slave emancipation, and the alleged performance of abortions by Jewish doctors in Warsaw. He merely made a suggestion about Divine Justice, which, of course is unfathomable.
Altman suffers from the modern societal dysfunction of an attempt to suppress free ideas. His bishop should be ashamed of himself. Little courage on his part.
Mark Shea’s comments are entirely erroneous, deliberately or otherwise. Watch the video.
God bless courageous clergy like Father Altman.
We have maybe come to the bottom of the Slippery Slope? At 88 yrs old, I do have a copy of Humanae Vitae packed away, and not too many ears ago, I was caring for one of my Neighbors who had a Priest Nephew, and Niece caring for her. the Niece was engaged and I offered her a copy of Humanae Vitae, And, the reply was: Oh you are one of those. Father Forgive Us — We do need your Intervention.
Having been in the Health Field for over 60 year, and assisted in the Military Maternity Ward for a couple years, and then after having had 7 children who had to struggle through college because of an absent father, and spending another 20 years trying to DISCERN the meaning of all that is happening — I keep thinking about my Favorites. like C.S. Lewis. Bishop Sheen, Pope John Paul II. and lately Archbishop Chaput’s New Book on things worth dying for — could only read parts , as Macular degeneration limits all of us to some degree. Archbishop quotes from Doc Scott Peck’s book — people pf the Lie. and I do wish to listen once again to Doc Pek’s Farther down the Road Less Travelled, and His work with a Catholic Exorcist — Who came to our country after Pope Paul VI released him from his jesuit vows, I m now thinking of that so called Interim Pope who Opened the Windows f Vatican II — Did Satan enter the Sanctuary? Having been educated by those School Sisters of St Francis who taught the Baltimore Catechism, I do believe that we have come to the Bottom of the Slippery SLope that Pope Paul warned us would happen when so many rejected Humanae Vitae. “Father Forgive us, We do not know what We are Doing”!!
Fr. Altman’s angry self-righteous “blame” of others (a tool of the devil) tirades that championed Trump but scourged Pope Francis and other bishops is now coming to a halt. Fr. Altman doesn’t speak now for the Catholic Church or his diocese but is just a sad reflection of his own egotistic ambitions to be another prophet like John the Baptist. Unlike Jesus who was silent before his accusers. Fr. Altman would be a good champion of King Herod as his shouts crucify in response to Christ.
Don’t need his voice. Another voice that blames others but can’t take responsible for his behaviors is another victim hoax we don’t need. Blaming others is a tool of the evil one starting in the garden. Our Lord didn’t blame, He took responsibility for His creation.