Editor’s note: After this report was posted by Catholic News Agency/National Catholic Register, Dr. Edward Peters, who teaches canon law and Latin at Sacred Heart Major Seminary, announced on X: “My Sacred Heart Major Seminary teaching contract was terminated by Abp. Weisenburger this week. I have retained counsel. Except to offer my prayers for those affected by this news and to ask for theirs in return, I have no further comment at this time.”
National Catholic Register, Jul 25, 2025 / 13:53 pm (CNA).
Prominent Catholic theologian Ralph Martin says Detroit’s new archbishop told him he fired him from the archdiocese’s seminary faculty over undefined “concerns about my theological perspectives.”
Martin, 82, who had taught at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit since 2002, said Archbishop Edward Weisenburger told him Wednesday he “was terminating my position at the seminary effective immediately.”
“When I asked him for an explanation, he said he didn’t think it would be helpful to give any specifics but mentioned something about having concerns about my theological perspectives,” Martin said in a written statement Thursday afternoon.
“This news came as a shock,” Martin said. “I have contributed much to the seminary over more than 23 years. I even helped introduce and lead, up until yesterday, our flagship pontifical degree program, the Licentiate of Sacred Theology Degree in the New Evangelization.”
Martin did not offer comment about the archbishop, who was installed March 18.
“I want what I say about this situation to be truthful, but I also do not want to unnecessarily contribute to current polarization in the Church,” Martin said.
A spokesman for the archbishop declined comment on Thursday.
Martin and another theologian, Eduardo Echeverria, 74, were fired on Wednesday. Echeverria, who taught philosophy and systematic theology, confirmed his firing Thursday when asked by the National Catholic Register, CNA’s sister news partner, but declined further comment, citing a nondisclosure agreement.
Both men have criticized Pope Francis in the past for what they described as his theologically ambiguous or even misleading public statements.
In January 2024, Martin wrote a column for the Register arguing that an oral statement by Pope Francis during an interview expressing hope that hell is empty “plays into a widespread sympathy towards a heresy called ‘universalism,’ which teaches that perhaps — or certainly — everyone will eventually end up in heaven.”
Martin is the host of “The Choices We Face” on EWTN, which owns the Register and CNA, and has appeared on or hosted other EWTN programs.
He is also the founder and president of Renewal Ministries, which sponsors international missions and holds evangelizing events in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Toronto each year.
In his written statement Thursday, Martin described a busy summer schedule that continues despite his firing from the seminary.
“As I write this, I have just returned from a national deacons’ conference in St. Louis, Missouri. Tomorrow, I will leave for a conference in Birmingham, Alabama. Then, Bishop Scott McCaig and I will leave on Monday for a priests’ retreat supporting hundreds of priests in Cameroon,” Martin said.
When Pope Francis died April 21, Weisenberger called a press conference, during which he praised the late pontiff for his statements on climate change and immigration, among other things, and called Francis “the perfect man at the right time” and suggested he was “a saint.”
The archbishop also praised Pope Francis for his informal speaking style.
“No one could be that transparent and not be authentic,” Weisenburger said. “So many people in the world today, especially on the international stage, measure every word. He didn’t measure anything.”
“He spoke from the heart,” Weisenburger continued. “He spoke what was on his mind. And in that way, I think he kind of just reflected something of the great prophets of Scripture, who would allow the Holy Spirit to well up within them, speak the words, and let it fall on whatever ears would listen.”
A reporter asked the archbishop about how he deals with Catholic conservatives and traditionalists who thought Pope Francis was too liberal.
“Whenever anyone speaks prophetically, they’re always going to rub some people the wrong way,” Weisenburger said.
He said that when he ran into Catholics who didn’t like Pope Francis, they nevertheless accepted him as pope and prayed for him.
“Even the Holy Father himself would say the arms of the Church are broad and wide, and there’s a place for almost everybody. And so I think he was OK with people who ask questions,” Weiseburger said. “And I’m kind of OK with them, too.”
This story was first published by the National Catholic Register, CNA’s sister news partner, and has been adapted by CNA.
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On February 11, 2025, Weisenburger was appointed as Archbishop of Detroit, succeeding Allen Vigneron. His installation occurred on March 18, 2025.
Faculty Upheaval at Sacred Heart Major Seminary
In 2025, Weisenburger terminated three prominent professors of theology and Canon Law, Dr. Ralph Martin, Dr. Eduardo Echeverria, and Dr. Edward Peters, from Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, effective immediately without explanation.
Dr. Ralph Martin had been a faculty member since 2002 and was instrumental in developing the seminary’s Licentiate of Sacred Theology Degree in the New Evangelization. A prominent figure in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal movement, Martin is the founder and president of Renewal Ministries, which organizes international missions and evangelization events in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Toronto, Ontario. He is also the host of The Choices We Face on EWTN and the author of several books, including Will Many Be Saved? What Vatican II Actually Teaches and Its Implications for the New Evangelization. Martin served as a consultor to the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization. In a statement, Martin expressed shock at his dismissal, noting that Weisenburger cited “concerns about my theological perspectives” without providing specifics.
Dr. Eduardo Echeverria taught philosophy and systematic theology at the seminary. A respected scholar, he authored works such as Jesus Christ, Scandal of Particularity: Vatican II, a Catholic Theology of Religions, Justification, and Truth. Echeverria confirmed his dismissal to the National Catholic Register , but declined further comment due to a nondisclosure agreement.
Dr. Edward Peters, J.C.D., a professor since 2005, and has been a leading canon lawyer known for his orthodox approach to ecclesiastical law. The first lay referendary of the Apostolic Signatura, he upholds orthodox Catholic doctrine through works like the English translation of the 1917 Code of Canon Law and Incrementa in Progressu 1983 Codicis Iuris Canonici. His website, canonlaw.info, and blog, In the Light of the Law, offer doctrinally sound commentary on issues like excommunication and marriage law, earning praise for his rigorous, faith-driven scholarship. On July 25, 2025, he publicly announced his termination on his X account: “My Sacred Heart Major Seminary teaching contract was terminated by Abp. Weisenburger this week. I have retained counsel. Except to offer my prayers for those affected by this news and to ask for theirs in return, I have no further comment at this time.”
The professors had previously critiqued certain statements and teachings of Pope Francis, particularly regarding theological clarity. For example, in January 2024, Martin wrote a column for the National Catholic Register arguing that Francis’s remarks expressing hope that hell is empty could inadvertently support the heresy of Universalism, which posits that all will be saved. The lack of a public explanation for the dismissals, particularly after the “Archbishop’s Gala,” an annual seminary fundraiser, led to speculation among Catholics about the motivations behind the decision, with some suggesting it reflected tensions over theological perspectives Weisenburger is personally at odds with while taking advantage of donors before terminating highly respected faculty members. A spokesman for the archdiocese declined to comment on the firings.
Positions
Extraordinary Form of the Mass
A month into his tenure as Archbishop of Detroit, Weisenburger announced that as of July 1, 2025, parishes would be prohibited from celebrating the Tridentine Mass, citing Traditionis custodes. The Mass will still be allowed in non-parochial settings like St. Joseph Shrine, which is under the care of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest as well as 4 other designated non-parochial settings. Weisenburger’s decison sparked deep backlash among Catholics, who called it a “bloodbath” and “a personal assault.”
On June 12, 2025, Weisenburger issued a decree, accompanied by the Traditionis Custodes Implementation Norms for the Archdiocese of Detroit and a list of designated regional locations for the liturgy. The decree restricted public celebrations of the liturgy to four non-parish sites: St. Joseph Shrine in Detroit (Central Region), St. Irene Church in Dundee (South Region), Our Lady of Orchard Lake Chapel in Orchard Lake (Northwest Region), and St. Joseph Church in Port Huron (Northeast Region). St. Joseph Shrine, was allowed to continue as a personal parish offering daily liturgies. Priests not assigned to these sites could request permission to celebrate the liturgy on weekdays in non-parish settings, but only without lay attendance and under strict conditions, including annual renewal and a written affirmation of the validity of the Novus Ordo liturgy.
Despite any universal liturgical precedent, the decree also prohibited the ad orientem posture in the Novus Ordo liturgy, mandating the use of freestanding altars in all parish churches within 180 days.
Additionally, despite the rubrics of the liturgy, Scripture readings in the liturgy were required to be in the vernacular using translations approved only by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. These norms were framed as balancing pastoral care for the faithful attached to the liturgy with fidelity to Francis’ call for the Novus Ordo to be the “unique expression of the lex orandi of the Roman Rite.”
Weisenburger’s actions sparked significant controversy. Critics argued that the measures marginalized vibrant communities, limited access to the liturgy, and suppressed legitimate liturgical diversity. Some expressed hope that Leo XIV, elected in April 2025, might relax these restrictions, as noted by Cardinal Raymond Burke’s appeal. Weisenburger defended the decree in a June 13 letter, emphasizing the need for unity under papal and episcopal leadership while acknowledging the “rich expressions of the Catholic faith in southeast Michigan.”
A report that a hamburger cafe in Detroit now offers ‘Big Beef Wisenburgers’ has not been able to be confirmed . . .
blessings and thanks.
What a great loss to those of us seeking the Truth. Why is it ok in the Church to end livelihoods of great followers of the Lord. I don’t understand how this improves Christ’s Church.
Exactly 💯 I personally met Ralph Martin in the early days of the Charismatic Movement in Newark ,NJ. St. Antonio’s Church the founding fathers bless his name Fr. Jim Ferry. My wife came into the Catholic Church as a result. She was of the Jewish faith. I’m saddened but now aware of the New Papa in Rome. Another liberal. But it was prophetic. We are in the end times
IT’S ANTONINUS
At the beginning and the end of the day, there is only ONE way to celebrate our sacred liturgy in the Roman Catholic Church and that one way is called the Novus Ordo Mass. Again, at the end of the day, there must be UNITY in our One Holy and Apostolic Church. Criticizing the Novus Ordo Mass only serves to divide the Church.
Dana, you simply don’t know what you are talking about. Already in the Catholic Church there exist MULTIPLE LITURGICAL RITES. Do some research and read up on the topic.
Sorry, Dana, that’s just not the case, nor has it ever been.
Not to mention the evil assumption that the Church is about unity. No, we don’t unite with evil theology, and the implimentations of evil theology.
“A man’s enemmies will be membes of his own family.”
That would be OK, but the Novus Ordo celebrated these days is far from what Vatican II intended. Guitars, amplifiers, pop like shallow lyrics, shouting into microphones and absolutely no Latin is what passes for Mass these days. No reverence for the Creator of the Universe. People dress accordingly for Mass – shorts, flipflops, and tee shirts.
Thanks for the honest sharing, dear Phil Daigle.
It’s certain that GOD sees our heart.
Traditional music & liturgies can be excellent and full of praise & worship & heartfelt adoration of our LORD Jesus Christ. They can also be moribund, with congregants simply aiming to fulfill their obligation, & enjoy being soothed by the familiarity.
“We didn’t come to sing, we’re here to see the priest do his thing!”
Whilst modern music & liturgical innovatin can be shallow, disonant and not inducive to proper worship, it can also be incredibly moving, calling forth our worship with heart, tongue, dance, & a wonderfully mutual joy. A bit like we are frequently urged in Psalms.
Here’s an example of great modern heart-committed praise at The Mission of Franciscan Juan Capistrano. The saints in Heaven were joining in . . !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tf8Qjev0hjg
Let’s welcome old & new, as Jesus taught; seeking, in both cases, to give with all our heart to Christ Jesus, our One-and-Only!
Always in the love of The Lamb; blessings from marty
It would seem that there being no contradictions to Scripture, presented, that this is an administrative change.
I am not a Catholic but one of several of my dear friends, including a very senior priest, and I find it unfortunate that orthodoxy in philosophy is rejected by the left wing, socialist philosophy of the former Pope. I commend Leo for lowering the temperature. I know not where he lands on philosophy but he appears less divisive than Francis.
I agree completely with your assessment.
The fact that you are not a Catholic means you really don’t have a dog in this fight, so to speak. Our late blessed Pope Francis was in no way a socialist and to say otherwise is simply slander.
Once again, Dana, you’re simply being an apologist for the Church of Woke. To say that a thinking person, despite not being Catholic, cannot have an opinion on a Church-related matter betrays your narrow-mindedness. I thought you progressives were supposed to be open-minded. Guess not.
I agree that Pope Francis was not a socialist. He was a neo-pagan Marxist.
Right-on, dear Timothy J. Williams:
“Pope Francis was . . . a neo-pagan Marxist.”
The Holy Spirit of GOD, inspiring Saint Paul, warned us all:
” . . fierce wolves will invade you and will have no mercy on the flock. Even from your own ranks [that is bishops] there will be men coming forward with a travesty of the truth on their lips to induce the disciples to follow them. So be on your guard . .” Acts 20:30
Yes, this is the first Francis like movement I’ve seen since his passing…May Leo be our saving grace and Shepherd of reason…
Thank you, Dr. Martin James Rice, for posting these further details. Sad. This new archbishop needs many prayers after having treated these good scholars so crudely.
You really must not be aware of the fact that these educators and the dozens of others work at the pleasure of the Archbishop, who frankly doesn’t owe an explanation to anyone. That’s why he’s the Archbishop.
Really, now, Dana. You’re tripping over yourself defending the indefensible.
McCarrick was an archbishop who invited seminarians to his bed. I suppose you’d defend his actions in that regard because, after all, he was their archbishop and, according to you, “didn’t owe anyone an explanation”. Yikes!
The “Dana” sounds like a diocesan plant, maybe even an embittered ex-nun who revels in the decadence and chaos in the Church today.
For those who have noticed, Scripture “translations approved only by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops” are now very woke. For example,the Bishops go to great lengths to eliminate male pronouns. They have even changed the words of Our Lord Jesus’s “Our Father” prayer. Attend the Latin Mass.
You are spot on.
Every year, I notice new, subtle changes in translations popping up in the Mass readings. Today’s 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time is just such an example with St. Luke’s gospel verse with an awful, no, an absolutely vomitable translation of the Lord’s Prayer. It is so disheartening. I know that God is in control, but when will it ever end?
I agree. It is very disturbing.
It’s so ridiculous that whenever someone doesn’t like something or disagrees with something either religious or political, they throw the word “woke” around. In the old days, it was called being politically correct, now it’s called being woke. The use of that word really has to do with summarily dismissing someone or something.
Dear Dana please be just.
Marc Crotty did not say or imply that at all.
Whether we call it ‘pc’ or ‘woke’ or whatever is irrelevant because the intention of these sincere and well-informed Catholics is to protect The Church from the diabolical influence of the world.
Read James 4:4 – just one of many such examples employed in good Christian catechetics: “You are as unfaithful as adulterous spouses; don’t you realise that making the world your friend is making GOD your enemy?”
So: ’tis not a matter of terminology but of betrayal by the hierarchs.
Agreed! It’s a matter of adherence to doctrinal , magisterial instruction , as delivered throughout the previous ages.
Would you please provide an example? The version I found at the USCCB website seems pretty standards to me.
Ticks all the boxes concerning a continuation of Francis vindicated paranoia from beyond the grave! A hatred of a popular exposition of Catholic thought and action, plus a hatred of traditional catholicism, etc. etc!
J Mcallion: Not a “hatred of traditional catholicism”, I’m afraid. Just a hatred of orthodox Catholicism.
I find, however, when you really scratch below the surface with those who are inclined to tear the Church asunder, you find sins and agendas we’re now much too familiar with in the Catholic Church; we find the “Ghosts of McCarrick.”
So, you really believe the Archbishop “hates” those educators and what they stand for?
Dana, you seem to lack all comprehension. Think before you write.
I said that the Archbishop hates ORTHODOXY.
YES!!!!!!!!
A word to all seminarians at Sacred Heart Seminary: Before it’s too late, I’d encourage you to transfer out of Sacred Heart Seminary. If you stay, you will work for an Archdiocese that will constantly wage war against orthodoxy. Instead, make application to one of the better religious orders/congregations – ones that are noted for their orthodoxy. Just remember one simple fact: if you get ordained for the diocesan priesthood, you never will get to have a say in who your bishop is. Popes like Francis will be choosing your bishop. And be very clear, certain kinds of bishops can make your life hell. On the other hand, if you are a priest in a religious order and are fully professed, you will gèt a say in the election of your superiors. Now is the time to opt out of the diocesan priesthood.
Take care! You advocate disobedience to God’s call? God’s absolute control
Is questioned?
Samuel, God is Father. A Perfectly Good Father who loves His children by adoption.
Sorry, dear SHBJ, DR is right – the seminarians call is to minister The LORD Jesus Christ to His sheep. DR is councelling them how that can best be done.
Love in King Jesus Christ; blessings from marty
Samuel H Bess jr.: I would hope that you are not advocating a mindless, slavish submission to a bishop by someone who is a seminarian. And, whether God is calling someone specifically for priesthood in a diocesan vs religious community, that would be a matter for discernment in prayer and in counsel with a Spiritual Director. But, I tend to think that God is not a recruiter for an ecclesial Human Resources Dept. God wants our love in the best human way we can imagine our giving it to Him.
As to any slavish relationship to a bishop is concerned, I’d like to remind you that there were many, many seminarians who were under the authority of (Arch)bishop McCarrick in a number of dioceses (Metuchen, Newark, Washington). McCarrick would ask his seminarians to join him at his beach house on the Jersey shore. Some he would ask to sleep with him in the same bed. Some did, I am sure out of obedience to what the bishop expressly desired. Would you suggest seminarians obey his bishop in all instances? There are times when good judgment requires one to walk away from a bishop and follow another path. Remember,what God asks of us is that we love Him with our whole mind, heart and soul.
A Bishop is also a human with free will.
Hmmm, no.
Not to God’s call, not at all. Just a commonsense reminder of the diocesan cesspool that awaits those good seminarians in Detroit.
They will be working for a bishop who acts like a thug. It is what it is.
I totally agree, how sad these is.
I agree. Dr. Ralph Martin is a wonderful theology teacher and wonderful author. His book “The Fulfillment of All Desire” is a favorite of mine. I am sad to hear that this new archbishop has fired/dismissed him. May God bless Dr. Ralph Martin as this is totally unjustified. Pope Francis’ statements caused many Christians, Catholic and otherwise, to question what exactly what was going on in the Catholic church & whether or not Satan had truly been influencing this Pope’s mind. I pray justice prevails through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as this archbishop, in my opinion, has gone too far… just as Pope Francis did.
With the exception perhaps of a large part of the Dominicans, what other male religious orders — especially the larger ones — do you find not in worse theological shape than the average diocesan presbyterate?
Benedictines for one. They not only are a contemplative order but some do parish work and teaching as well. Then there are the Augustinians. One of them was actually a bishop in SA who was elected Pope. I’m sure there are a number of others who are not as inundated with homosexuals as are some religious orders or even among the secular clergy.
The Fathers of Mercy come to mind as well.
How about the Oratory?
Obedience to one’s bishop or archbishop will always be among job one for a diocesan priest. And, if one can’t or won’t accept that one shouldn’t become a diocesan priest.
Dana, once again you seem to have a firm grasp of the obvious.
That’s EXACTLY my point: Seminarians ought to think twice about entering the diocesan priesthood since they will be expected to pledge obedience to (in far too many instances) incompetent, unorthodox or frankly immoral bishops – like McCarrick. I’d suggest to these seminarians that they select a religious order where they’d have a voice in electing their superiors.
This is exactly why I counseled my son AGAINST going to a diocesan seminary. There are not a half dozen dioceses left in America that are not led by modernists, degenerates, or apostates. In America, the Catholic Church is “CINO.”
This is a quote from James Comey’s daughter who is a lawyer on the Epstein Case, but was fired. Substitute the phrase of “career prosecutor ” for faithful canon teacher and educator and this applies to the firing of Ralph Martin and his colleagues….the Bishop there is a tyrant…!! “. ……………………..But we have entered a new phase where “without fear” may be the challenge. If a career prosecutor can be fired without reason, fear may seep into the decisions of those who remain. Do not let that happen. Fear is the tool of a tyrant, wielded to suppress independent thought. Instead of fear, let this moment fuel the fire that already burns at the heart of this place. A fire of righteous indignation at abuses of power. Of commitment to seek justice for victims. Of dedication to truth above all else.” If in the political realm , this is a recognized TRUTH, the all the more we need to take heed of it , and respond accordingly.
Thank you, dear Mary T.; what an apposite quote! Spot on!
One might imagine a progressives mini-synod, with the newly appointed Archbishop of Detroit, ever so keen to please . . .
“How do we continue Francis’ alterations, when so many learned Catholic academics will be sure to publicize that as anti-Apostolic?”
“Maybe we can terrify them into silence? There are 3 eminent professors, whose heads can roll. Should be enough to freeze the academics!”
This and similar stuff might make a sensational novel & movie.
The public are hungry for more dirt on our beloved Catholic Church; and it’s being provided in heaps by every crafty scheme of our hierarchs.
When did our leaders cease learning from true Apostles: we MUST always be in The LIGHT (see Ephesians 5:8-17; etc.)
Many appear to need basic catechesis – e.g. as in this classic song: “Come Into The Light” by Australian musician TAYA –
https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=taya+gaukrodger+come+into+the+light&&mid=5DD928CE365ED677DA8F5DD928CE365ED677DA8F&FORM=VAMGZC
Always in the love of King Jesus Christ; blessings from marty
The spongy theology of “l’m okay, you’re okay.” Recalling, here, the nun of years gone by who had just met favorably with her bishop—a successor of the apostles…
Said she with dewy eyes: “he affirmed my okayness!”
Not a problem. Francis is most likely being subject to the same scrutiny.
Jeremiah 23:2
“Therefore, thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, against the shepherds who shepherd my people: You have scattered my sheep and driven them away. You have not cared for them, but I will take care to punish your evil deeds.”
The Archbishop has provided a perfect example of Synodaling:
All are welcome! Let’s talk. Blah, blah, blah…
Purge the opposition.
Promote and protect sycophants.
Are we witnessing the rise of Franciscus II?
I sure hope so!
Are you hoping for more purges, the promotion and protection of sycophants? Yikes.😳
If you meant that the Archbishop of Detroit could become Franciscus II, oh dear. I’m not sure he is all that. To reach that level, the Archbishop should have at least hidden his agenda until he was a Cardinal, or better, after his papal election.
“Even the Holy Father himself would say the arms of the Church are broad and wide, and there’s a place for almost everybody. And so I think he was OK with people who ask questions,” Weiseburger said. “And I’m kind of OK with them, too.”
Except if you’re asking questions as to why you got fired…. Sorry, couldn’t resist
Dear TIC – Spot On!
The spirit of ‘Divine’ Caesar still rules – and must not be questioned . . .
That’s right! Obedience will always and continue to be a notion in the Roman Catholic Church.
Dear ‘Dana’, when a pope or other person in authority in The Catholic Church is manifestly and scandalously DISOBEDIENT to the instructions of our LORD Jesus Christ and His Apostles, it is clearly mandatory (i.e. not optional) for faithful Catholics to obey GOD in Christ, and thus DISOBEY the unfaithful hierarch disobedient teachings.
Think: two negatives make a positive.
Please read how Paul had to correct Pope Peter our first pope.
Read in all the Gospels how our LORD Jesus Christ – who was a layperson in the Jewish church – constantly upbraided the leaders of that church for their disobedience to GOD’s Word.
None have lightly criticized the heresies of the pope or his lieutenants – it is a most serious matter and very worrying to us all, that it has become so necessary in our times. It’s not a good look to those outside.
Always in the grace & mercy of King Jesus Christ; love & blessings from marty
Dear ‘Dana’, when a pope or other person in authority in The Catholic Church is manifestly and scandalously DISOBEDIENT to the instructions of our LORD Jesus Christ and His Apostles, it is clearly mandatory (i.e. not optional) for faithful Catholics to obey GOD in Christ, and thus DISOBEY the unfaithful hierarch’s disobedient teachings.
Think: two negatives make a positive.
Please read how Paul had to correct Pope Peter our first pope.
Read in all the Gospels how our LORD Jesus Christ – who was a layperson in the Jewish church – constantly upbraided the leaders of that church for their disobedience to GOD’s Word.
None have lightly criticized the heresies of the pope or his lieutenants – it is a most serious matter and very worrying to us all, that it has become so necessary in our times. It’s not a good look to those outside.
Always in the grace & mercy of King Jesus Christ; love & blessings from marty
“Asking questions” is another cowardly euphemistic slogan in which one can take refuge for not thinking intelligent thoughts, not really asking serious questions, and not really listening to the answers God has provided from eternity to eternity.
The need for reform is urgent when it is better to be a priest convicted for distributing child porn films working at the Vatican than a layman fired for faithfully teaching for decades at a Seminary.
Pope Leo, the ball is in your court….🎾
God’s Fool,
I agree. The need for reform is urgent. There are many synodaling members of the Uncle Ted McCarrick fraternity in the hierarchy.
Praying for Pope Leo to address this need in a prudent and effective way.
I am also praying for Pope Leo and his brother bishops. May they have the “ardent desire to restore the balance of justice.” (2 Corinthians 7)
What is the goal if not salvation from our sins for union in Jesus Christ?
Excellent point. One can hope that, as Pope Leo is a canonist, the firing of Ed Peters will get his attention. (Firing three highly regarded professors at a major seminary at one swoop should in itself get the attention of the Pope, but you never know.)
As far as Archbishoo Weisenberger, the expression “tin-pot dictator” comes to mind. He wouldn’t be the first one.
Thanks dear GF, dear TiF, and dear ME –
The expression: “Cutting his nose off to spite his face!” comes to mind.
I swear the slander around here is absolutely unbelieveable!
Dana, you ought to know that frank criticism is not slander. Be careful of your characterizations.
Thank you. (Assuming that Dana was referring to my comment.)
Agreed. If that is a confession Dana, I forgive your slander about my statement of facts demanding urgent reform by the pontificate of Pope Leo.
1. Three laymen who faithfully served the Church in Detroit for decades were FIRED for no reason.
2. A priest who was convicted by the Vatican for possessing and distributing child porn videos while on vacation in Canada is being protected from prosecution in the USA and Canada and is EMPLOYED at the Vatican. https://www.osvnews.com/priest-convicted-of-distributing-possessing-child-pornography-said-to-still-work-at-vatican/
You really are not very well educated as a Catholic, if indeed you are Catholic. Try reading the writings of some of the greatest saints. Or try reading Dante, the greatest Catholic poet ever. You will discover that your veneration of the hierarchy is not Catholic. It is a Protestant parody of mindless Catholics.
It is indeed in Leo’s court. He seems reluctant to address and act on the two most pressing issues: TLM and Rupnik.
I pray he has the courage to correct the damage left over by Bregoglio.
I simply can’t believe all of the disrespect being shown to the late Pope Francis. I was never a big fan of Pope Saint John Paul, but I still acknowledged and respected him as the leader of the Church. Many here should take a lesson.
Were you sleeping the entire time of the Bergoglian Papacy?
I think you are giving Pope Leo too much credit when you imply that he is merely “reluctant to address and act” on the crises unleashed by the Bergoglian Captivity of the Church. On the contrary, he gives every indication of fully embracing the worst of the Bergoglian tyranny and heterodoxy.
Traditional Catholicism, Sacred Tradition, Sacred Scripture, And The Teaching Of The Magisterium, Grounded In Sacred Tradition And Sacred Scripture, The Deposit Of Faith Christ Has Entrusted To His Church For The Salvation Of Souls, Is From God, the counterfeit magisterium that is attempting to subsist within The One Body Of Christ, while denying The Deposit Of Faith is from man, and is ipso facto anti Christ.
“Penance, Penance, Penance.”
“It is a sin to accommodate an occasion of sin, and cooperate with evil”, by accommodating a counterfeit magisterium that is anti Christ and calling it Catholic.
So now young people will have another reason to not attend a seminary – get rid of the thinkers that teach there!
“Excellency” Weisburger is unjust and untruthful, in imitation of the late Pontiff Francis.
He is a fitting successor in the long line of false shepherds presiding for decades in the AD of Detroit, the spawn of the false shepherd Bishop Deardon.
These three Catholics are hardly far-right sedevacantists. They are widely respected, established, orthodox, faithful Catholics. I had a feeling that Dr. Peters was next. The firings say more about the archbishop than they do about those who were fired. I can only hope and pray that Pope Leo starts to rein in those on the far left, and that any other bishops who send their seminarians to Detroit will pull them out of there before it’s too late.
So, far right is good, but far left is bad? Is that your position?
Dear Dana please be just.
Andrew Saucci did not say or imply that at all.
At one point in recent years, the former Pope Francis warned der Synodal Weg that we don’t need two Protestant churches in Germany. And, now, today we’d like to think that HE would warn the Lone Ranger weisenheimer’s within the USCCB that we don’t need a wedge between a past pope and the current Pope Leo XIV. An ecclesial “Saturday Night Massacre”.
Two points:
FIRST, one task facing the American-born Pope Leo is to reconcile a legitimate “ecclesial assembly” (not a “synod of bishops”) with a real Synod of Bishops in conformance with the “hierarchical communion” proclaimed by the Second Vatican Council (Lumen Gentium, Ch. 3).
So, about the three dismissed theologians in Detroit, maybe the Cardinal Archbishop Cupich can clear things up. Or, maybe Cardinal McElroy in DC, whose appointment is otherwise seen by many as simply a political maneuver to offset a Presidential Election in the secular domain.
SECOND, about the secular domain, another and broader challenge for Pope Leo is to maintain the crucial doctrinal distinction between proclaiming the Gospel in its entirety and, yet, morally influencing related matters of urgent prudential judgment to be made by those directly responsible for the common good (Gaudium et Spes).
SUMMARY, about the papal election last May, someone in the USCCB please make sure that Bishop Weisenburger (appointed earlier in February and who is surely acting alone) gets that memo.
As for “acting alone”:
From The Detroit Purge
July 26, 2025
[Conclusion]
The movements are evil, and the intent is clearly to tear down one of the most faithful dioceses in America. There will be much more evil coming from the top. Our prayers for the faithful and the clergy now subjected to a bad 1970s rerun of a horror movie.
*For instance, Josh Mansfield on X says the following, which Rorate has been able to corroborate independently: “In regards to the Detroit/Weisenburger/Sacred Heart seminary situation, what I’ve been told from people with the connections to know is that the Archbishop did these firings extra-juduically, going over the head of the Rector and without consulting the Board of Directors in the removal of multiple professors. In addition, the other bishops of Michigan are LIVID at the situation!”
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/detroit-archbishop-fires-renowned-conservative-professors-from-sacred-heart-seminary/
Is Detroit and Weisenberger a red flag warning of greater darkness or marker for papal intervention? Or silent approbation?
Abp Weisenberger is avowedly in his own words a convinced progressive in the mold of Francis I, which produced Cdls McElroy, Tucho Fernandez. It’s not productive to go into a detailed quai treatise in defence of three of our [those of us beleaguered Apostolic traditionalists] finest. Assuredly there’ll be an avalanche of unfavorable response to Weisenberger’s despot decision. Surely a milepost for good or evil worthy of repeated address.
These men Martin, Echeverria, Peters are orthodox and fair minded, meaning they were willing to embrace homosexuals under condition that they repent. They were willing to admit divorced and remarried outside the Church under condition that they abstain from receiving the Eucharist. Obviously Weisenberger rejected the conditions. What he advocates is Queerdom and cohabitation as legitimate forms of living Christianity.
Pope Leo, in the interests of unity, which he avows cannot remain silent or issue a meaningless rationalization. It’s a watershed moment for the Church. He has openly admitted to being a Francis I follower. Now it’s time for him to clarify exactly what that means. And for us to pray, sacrifice, and hope.
It’s not Weisenberger. Weisenburger.
Dr. Martin has been vocal in his criticism of Pope Francis’ lack of clarity, but, in his own work, he has not shown the clarity that a philosophy and theology professor needs to exhibit.
Take this quote from the above article: “a heresy called ‘universalism,’ which teaches that perhaps — or certainly — everyone will eventually end up in heaven.”
Universalism asserts that we can be certain that all will eventually be in heaven. Holding open the possibility that each person may choose redemption is a different idea entirely and is not heretical.
This may seem like a minor point, but philosophy is essentially the business of making distinctions and seemingly small inaccuracies lead to erroneous conclusions.
Maybe the bishop had entirely different reasons for firing Dr. Martin, but Dr. Martin ‘s inability to see such a simple point on the nature of universalism, about which he wrote extensively, is reason enough to think that it was at least time for him to retire.
I suspect that if bishops were to examine every professor that carefully and fire all who made similar errors, that they would have no professors left in seminaries.
Eye roll.
Dearest Lucy – sorry – Professor Ralph Martin & his colleagues are careful scholars of The Word of GOD. (Please remember how we all stand at Holy Mass to welcome this Word, sign our heads, lips, and heart with the Cross of Jesus, and sing out: “Glory to You, O LORD!”) (Note ‘The Catechism of The Catholic Church’ cites the Word over 3,500 times, in support of Catholic doctrine).
The bullying episcope & his heresy-prone past-papal hero are conspicuous (to protestants & pentecostals as well as to scripturally-informed Catholics) in their flouting of GOD’s Word & corrupting our Catechism. They effectively make King Jesus Christ and His Apostles out as liars. See for example Matthew 7:13-14.
What don’t you understand about this?
“Enter by the narrow gate, since the road that leads to perdition is wide and spacious, and many take it; but it is a narrow gate and a hard road that leads to Life, and only a few find it.” This IS the Word of GOD!!!
Always seeking to hear & obey King Jesus Christ; love & blessings from marty
A very gentle response to Lucy, indeed. I believe there are a multitude of scripture quotations you could have chosen…Universalism is quite an easy loophole to heaven..gee whiz…
If that’s the case then why have a church? So I can copy Hitler and will eventually end up in Glory – guaranteed? Come on man!
Jesus talked about the nether world and we say it in the creed every week.
If he indeed made a mistake he should not be fired just for that – but why in the world did the prior pontiff even utter those words? – shouldn’t he have checked his comments like the professor? – my dad used to have a sign on the wall “be sure brain is in gear before engaging mouth.”
https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2024/01/18/on-the-relevance-and-reality-of-the-development-of-doctrine-today/
Those whose competence it is, must call for a Council to declare the authority of Jorge Bergoglio null and void, as according to Catholic Canon 750
And
Canon 188 §4 states that among the actions which automatically (ipso facto) cause any cleric to lose his office, even without any declaration on the part of a superior, is that of “defect[ing] publicly from the Catholic faith” (” A fide catholica publice defecerit“).
I am deeply dismayed by the continued attack on Tradition, foundational truths, and the Holy Spirit under Pope Leo. By his own words, he seems intent on following the path of Pope Francis, which has often been one of confusion and heresy. Who will be drawn to this degenerate, new gospel? It will attract those who claim to believe in Christ but whose hearts are far from Him. This is the Lord’s Church, and He is Master and Lord. Those who act against His will shall face His judgment. Let us hold onto faith, knowing we still have reason to rejoice in our God.
*A Letter to Your Holiness Pope Leo XIV*:
Dear Holy Father,
Many of us Catholic Faithful have suffered greatly under the heavy weight of the papacy of Pope Francis. Many of us have been saddled with bishops who fail to teach the Catholic Faith as handed down to us for over two millennia. We have long suffered with bishops who have sexually abused the Faithful- including children under age eighteen. We have suffered with bishops who have been involved in homosexual relationships. We have suffered with bishops who have shielded priests who sexually abused minors among the Faithful. We thought, Holy Father, that our suffering under Pope Francis would end with your election. We had hope. But now we learn that one of the Archbishops appointed by Pope Francis has summarily fired three faculty of the Archdiocesan seminary of Detroit. These were faithful men who have long served the Church. They did nothing to justify their being fired by one of your Archbishops. Holy Father, an injustice has once again been done to the Faithful.
Dear, Holy Father, we the Faithful of the Catholic Church will be watching closely to see how you handle this injustice. When elevated to the papacy, you prayed for peace. However, there can be no peace in the Catholic Church as long as we have bishops who gravely and unjustly abuse the Faithful. We are like sheep without shepherds.
In peace,
A Catholic Faithful
“I hope no one goes to hell” who does? Everyone should praise God in Heaven for all eternity. For those committing sins on earth is “to err is human and to forgive is divine.”
Dear RR,
What don’t you understand about Matthew 7:13-14 ?
“Enter by the narrow gate, since the road that leads to perdition is wide and spacious, and many take it; but it is a narrow gate and a hard road that leads to Life, and only a few find it.” This IS the Word of GOD!!!
More accurately weisenheimer.
I have heard that the bishops of dioceses near Detroit (who probably send seminarians to Sacred Heart) were… extremely displeased with the firings.
I know bishops have a say in which seminary they send seminarians from their diocese to, but I don’t know if it is 100% their choice.
Possibly they should look into exercising that choice. These firings will almost certainly have a chilling effect on orthodox teaching at the seminary.
A Diocese north of Detroit, which is desperate to correct both a laity (de)population bomb–Mass attendance has dropped 40% in the past ten years–and rapidly worsening priest shortage–sends two of their four seminarians to Sacred Heart.
it may not be too long where these communities rotate weekly masses between locations and you may not be able to attend every weekend if you live in the rural areas; or it will just be a prayer service with already consecrated hosts from E ministers
mathematically & logistically it won’t work for broader coverage, let alone community priests like the ole days
Oh, they’ve already done that. Most priests there appear to have two or more parishes or “communities.”
They hope to have 20 seminarians by 2030, but I have a really hard time believing they will make it without poaching form outside the diocesan borders
I’m talking driving 40 miles
This Archbishop sounds like he is conducting a purge. Further he appears to be cut from the same mold as Francis, which is unfortunate. However the new Pope is probably free to call him in and set him straight. It would be exceedingly unfortunate if the Pope did nothing, and will allow the same reign of terror to course through the church as we have experienced these past several years.
Those who rightly hold to Catholic orthodoxy should not be treated as extremists, nuts, or anything else. To allow Bishops to conduct their diocese as a personal fiefdom is not only bad policy but makes it seem the Pope fears exercising authority and discipline. Even for a Bishop, “do whatever you want” is not an acceptable attitude.
Perhaps the Detroit Archbishop is trying to reflect positions suggested by the Pope or imagines that he is going to achieve them; and considers that the outlooks of those he fired from Seminary, are not only incompatible and contrary but will intrude and divert.
But we do not know; and from where things are at the moment can’t tell what he’s thinking. Which are also parts of the trouble.
See the CWR links concerning tips for priests and for Pax Christi, from the Pope.
Perhaps these comments by the Pope DON’t foil or upend Weisenburger’s firing moves?
What a time it is indeed, that we live in, that coincidentally is disproving that mad-hat quibble and fixation, “Time is greater than space”.
https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2025/07/25/pope-leo-xiv-gives-priests-3-tips-to-build-a-solid-catholic-formation-on-rock/
https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2025/07/26/pope-leo-xiv-tells-u-s-pax-christi-group-spread-peace-in-neighborhoods-parishes/
Perhaps this will be a wake up call for those who still aren’t sure if Leo is a continuation of Francs. To make it more apparent- the seminary also offers what are called ecclesiastical degrees, which means their theology department/program is overseen by Rome, barring any unusual exceptions in their case. It is almost certain that this was run by Rome, if not their official permission obtained, especially for such a major move- firing three long time professors, at once. (The hiring or firing of faculty is usually subject to the approval of the Holy See; though the degrees at sacred heart are issued through affiliation with the U. of St. Thomas/Angelicum in Rome, but which in turn is subject to the Holy See.) As such, there’s also a good likelihood, especially since this is in America, that Leo was made aware of it.
Even otherwise, Weisenberger would probably not do so unless he knew rome had his back. The same goes for his actions toward the “TLM.” Further, it makes no sense unless Leo is a continuation of Francis- if the problem was criticism of Francis, but Francis is gone, and Leo supposedly is different and will amend things…But if the objects of criticism are going to remain- Amoris L., F. Supplicans, etc., and the aim is to eliminate american voices of criticism in particular- it makes perfect sense.
Insightful and helpfully informative: thank you dear David.
Some of us are worried that Bergoglio struck a deal with certain cardinals to neutralize public outrage against clerical sexual depredations and to open seminaries to sexual deviants, simply by normalizing pornography, fornication, adultery, and every sort of sexual deviance. Accompanied by defaming, blocking, dismissing, neutralising, and even excommunicating all sincere Catholics who want The Church to live by the rules of King Jesus Christ & His Apostles (as readily available in ‘The Catechism of the Catholic Church’ 2nd Edition).
Our hopes and prayers are that Pope Leo XIV may not have also made such a ‘pact-with-the-devil’ in order to court favour with cardianl electors.
Time will tell. Matthew 10:26 reports GOD’s promise:
“Do not be afraid of them, therefore. For everything that is now covered will be uncovered, and everything now hidden will be made clear.”
Ever prayng our Pope be true to our LORD Jesus Christ; blessings from marty
With much less precision and erudition than you, David, I have been making the same argument. Despite his different “style” of appearing on the loggia, Pope Leo does not give the slightest indication of being any different than Pope Francis. On the contrary, the pope (indeed, the Catholic) he quotes most frequently BY FAR is Pope Francis. I believe that all of these actions in Detroit were fully vetted in Rome before being implemented.
The Church of Abandonment strikes again!
Leave the diocese and go elsewhere. If you can’t give money to any charity. Nothing for the diocese. Evil gets nothing
How do you go to Mass on the weekends? travel to the Grand Rapids or Saginaw diocese? not really practical.
I imagine these professors were friends with many of the priests in SE MI.
We read: “…I think [Pope Francis] kind of just reflected something of the great prophets of Scripture, who would allow the Holy Spirit to well up within them, speak the words, and let it fall on whatever ears would listen.”
A “great prophet of Scripture”? Papolatry? But who are we to judge?
So, no comment here about any pope as a possible “great prophet” of old; just noticing that at another time and place the Christian cousin of Khadijah (Muhammad’s wife) suggested to Muhammad that his intense experiences in the cave of Mt. Hira (A.D. 610) seemed a lot like the prophetic revelations of “the law” by an “angel.”
Muhammad, thusly, discovers that he’s a new prophet (!)—chosen to restore a monotheistic religion said to have been abandoned by apostate Jews (the Golden Calf thing), and then corrupted by polytheistic Christians (Muhammad’s triadic misunderstanding of the Triune One). T.E. Lawrence wrote of Arabia: ““The fringes of their deserts were strewn with broken faith . . . .The Arabs said there had been forty thousand prophets: we had record of at least some hundreds” (Seven Pillars of Wisdom). And one of these today has 1.8 billion followers.
That went well. But, unlike Muhammad, and unlike a modernday anointing by Bishop Weisenburg, there’s no record of Pope Francis ever thinking of himself as one of the “great prophets of Scripture.”
SUMMARY: The singular Incarnation and the Mystical Body of Christ—inseparable from the Father or from the Spirit—replaces any cinematic rerun of the prophets of old. Yes?
To all commenters here: May God Almighty 🙏 pour out His grace upon each of you, drawing you back to the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. Do not despair over the language of the Mass—whether Latin or the vernacular—for the Holy Eucharist remains the same divine miracle, the true Body and Blood of Christ, transcending all human speech. The Lord hears the prayers of His faithful in every tongue, for He is the Good Shepherd who understands every heart.
Yet let us also remember that Christ established His Church upon the rock of Peter (Matthew 16:18), granting the Pope—the successor of St. Peter—and the Magisterium, in union with him, the full authority to bind and loose (Matthew 18:18). When the Pope speaks “ex cathedra” on matters of faith and morals, or when an Ecumenical Council teaches in union with him, their authority is absolute, for they are guided by the Holy Spirit (John 16:13). To reject their God-given authority is to risk schism and error, for as St. Ignatius of Antioch wrote, “Where the bishop is, there let the people be; even as where Jesus is, there is the Catholic Church.”
Let us submit with filial devotion to the successors of the Apostles, praying always for Pope Leo XIV and all bishops, that they may shepherd the flock with wisdom, fidelity to Tradition, and the courage to uphold the Deposit of Faith.
“He who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me.” (Luke 10:16)
Read some Dante.
Perhaps Rafael ought to just…read! Then, after having read, think! Then, after having read and thought, he ought to make reasoned, prayerful judgments.
Or even:
Eamon Duffy “Saints and Sinners – A History of the Popes” Yale University Press
If we learned anything during the last century it is that “just following orders” doesn’t cut it. Evangelical obedience requires adherence to the Truth by all of us. The episcopate itself need exhibit the highest degree of obedience to the Gospel, the Apostolic Tradition and the Perennial Magisterium of the Church. Absent that obedience any bishop of any rank places himself either on “the peripheries” or plainly outside the Church. Haven’t we observed that grotesque reality multiple times over the last sixty years, to say nothing of the last dozen.
Court protocols don’t do the trick.
Your security blanket of blind acquiescence to any notion — truthful or erroneous — just or unjust — is simply threadbare. Lay it aside.
A parishioner, a deacon, a priest, a religious, a bishop, an archbishop, a cardinal, a pontiff all are human, with free will. They all likely have a Guardian angel and are of course guided by the Holy Spirit but they are human – and many are quite old with brains that do not function as well as they used to. People in Biblical times had a much lower life span than our current, often over prescribed, medical drugs and procedures support.
Who among the above list are not allowed to go to confession?
What about St. John Henry Newman? See:
https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/what-comes-first-conscience-or-the-pope-2812
Unthinking obedience is uncatholic; it is childish instead of “childlike.” (Matthew 18:3-4)
Catholics can have a filial obligation to confront the grave injustices of ministers, like former Cardinal McCarrick.
Right on, dear GF.
Ezekiel 3 seems to require us to speak truth to error, on pain of being judged responsible for it if we do not! How many of us understand that?
Saint Paul reinforced that in his Ephesians 5:11 urging to expose wickedness.
Let’s never tolerate priestcraft condemning us for speaking truth in love.
They do, and until the error of Vatican II, The failure to use The Charitable Anathema of Christ for The Salvation of Souls, is anathema and The Charitable Anathema is affirmed by those “whose competence it is”, those who have remained in commmunion with The One Body of Christ , we will not have a validly elected Pope in the Vatican and The True Church of Christ will be Eclipsed by the conciliar counterfeit church with its counterfeit magisterium, that is accommodating both a denial of The Sanctity and Dignity of human life from the moment of conception until natural death, and a denial of the Sanctity and Dignity of the marital act within The Sacrament of Holy Matrimony, which affirms Christ’s teaching on The Sanctity and Dignity of all human life.
Better, read St. John Henry Newman, DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH!
(Sorry for the text shouting. That’s not the thing when speaking of St. Newman. Who could imaging him doing such a thing?;)
Begin to make sense. Discern the road to hell, lit by skulls of brainless bishops. I agree that you read Dante and “…see those who suffer eternally because they lost the good of their intellects.”
By all means, list off the infallible, ex cathedra statements of Pope Francis that people here are failing to submit to…
Otherwise, perhaps you should hold off on implying that anyone here has failed in submission to the Roman Pontiff.
The corruption within the Catholic Church has attained sufficient momentum to bring about schism followed by heresy.
We continue to hope and wait for Pope Leo XIV to slow the juggernaut down if not bring it to a complete standstill.
Will he do something, do little or do nothing?
The breach is too wide for anyone to maintain a fence-sitting posture, even for the Pope.
Dear Paul, thanks for so many perceptive & helpful comments.
Re: SCHISM, please think about this –
NEVER GIVE IN (see Colossians 1:11-12).
STAND FIRM (see James 1:12).
IT’S VIRTUOUS TO SUFFER FOR RIGHEOUSNESS (see 1 Peter 3:17).
BE PATIENT AND READY TO SUFFER FOR JESUS’ NAME (Revelation 2:23).
See what Job put up with from family & co-religionists! The brilliantly faithful prophet, Isaiah, had to put up with being sawn in half by the clerics!
In Australia, our great & beloved Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop was persecuted both by some of her own nuns, the clergy, and even excommunicated by the bishops (some of today’s tall hats still hate her!).
She never even dreamed of a schism!
Jesus taught us that few find the narrow gate and hard track to His Kingdom; many take the broad way to Hell.
It seems that this rule applies WITHIN the Church and has done so from the beginning (see for example John 6:66; Acts 20:30: etc.).
Jesus did not want us to be disturbed by unbelieving & heterodox brothers & sisters, Matthew 18:7 and Luke 17:1 record His advance warnings to us that such offences are CERTAIN to happen.
Let’s always ‘hang-in there’, knowing many un-Christian people have always been in The Church, at all levels. GOD knows them & asks us to carry on regardless!
Take heart: we are promised a time when the hypocritical ‘bad fish’ will be removed.
Hoping this helps. Ever in the love of King Jesus Christ; blessings from marty
A clear and imminent danger lies ahead of the direction of the Church. These three Catholic professors may have flaws as some attest, although they were opinions not outright heresy. All and all they were solidly Catholic. That we shouldn’t question. Furthermore, minor flaws were not the reason Weisenburger abruptly dismissed them. It was precisely because of their adherence to Apostolic tradition and perennial doctrine.
Imminent danger lies in the growing German concept of Synodaler Weg as an instrument of radical change of revealed doctrine to accommodate cultural digression in social mores. What took place in Germany became the template [R Royal’s word] for the world Church, as already seen in Malta, to an extent the Philippines, and in the United States.
In the US we have several Archbishops who promote the progressive ideals of Francis’ former pontificate. If Abp Weisenburger is not corrected it sends a clear message that these radical divergences from Catholic tradition, revelation itself is in a process of reformation more complete in its betrayal than the Protestant. Bishops who had questions are apt to succumb, those who hold fast will question whether what’s occurring, considering two pontiffs in succession have supported the heterodox process may well be correct. The pressure will be great to ‘get along’. If unity is Pope Leo’s goal, the response to Weisenburger’s dismissals will indicate the kind of unity if orthodoxy is at best held optional.
Another conclusion is that Archbishop Weisenburger is unconcerned with displaying public disrespect for his predecessor, Archbishop Vigneron, who allowed Ralph Martin to teach at the Seminary for so long, and for his neighboring bishop of the Diocese of Lansing who has so much respect for Mr Martin that Martin’s image appeared (along with a glowing article) on the cover of the Lansing Diocese’s magazine just a few months ago. Such public disrespect for brother bishops so early in this episcopacy isn’t a good look. BTW, if such things matter, Sacred Heart Seminary has been turning out solid, impressive priests, so let’s disrupt that culture. Huh??
Perceptive discernment, dear Tom.
Maybe add: spiteful envy of and malicious attacks upon married lay Catholic eminent academics by our second-rate, heterodox, homo-erotic, lilac-mafia, pseudo-celibate clerks & their camp followers.
Difficult to answer good protestants when they say: “I’d become a Catholic right away, except for your tolerance of hypocritical priest-ridden mindlessness!”
Happens in Australia as well as in the USA. May GOD have mercy on us.
I’m not a Catholic. I was confirmed in the Episcopal Church 40 years ago. I’m born again and baptized in the Holy Spirit. Have attended several mainline protestant churches and various nondenominational ones as well. Always felt something was missing so I decided to check out the only Catholic Church in my neighborhood. I liked the reverence there and I enjoyed reciting the creeds again. The words have such special meaning. I made an appointment to discover how to become Catholic. The meeting was informal and I was asked if I had been baptized. I said yes I was baptized in a lake in Portland but I was never given a certificate. The Pastor’s wife had taken a picture to show me. It was a misty overcast day yet the second Pastor laid me down in the water and raised me up the clouds parted and the sun came right down on my head. It was a pretty picture. I told the counselor at the Catholic office that I was enjoying the Daily Mass and had received the Eucharist several times. She scolded me and said “Don’t be doing that.” She told me I had not been received into the Church and I was not allowed to participate in the Eucharist. For a minute I thought she was going to label me a heretic and I’d be burned at the stake. I respected the order not to again receive the Eucharist even though after I had initially received it, I was healed of vertigo that I had suffered for 4 years. I was then given a 700 page catechism (small print) to study along with a syllabus of the RCIA classes to start in the fall and how to prepare for each week. I was also given a pamphlet of how to prepare for each Mass and the words to recite. I wasn’t sure she was going to ask me for a blood draw or if there was a color code I should wear to each Daily Mass.
I still intend to attend the RCIA classes and will decide after if being a Catholic is for me. But excuse my rambling. I was just finding your comments about the firing of Ralph Martin (I’ve read several of his books) and the two others quite interesting. I did have a chance to read up on Pope Francis’ off-handed remarks about all paths lead to God and other head-spinning comments. So I’ve concluded that the Catholic Church is about as messed up as the Protestant Church. But praise be to God. His mercy is everlasting and His grace is sufficient. So don’t give up in spite of our miserable imperfections.
It’s too bad no one explained why you shouldn’t receive the Blessed Sacrament yet , but I bet there’s a NCR here who can explain it better than I can.
Hang in there and God bless!
🙏
Dear Susan Farnsworth, your story gives joy to this 82 year-old Catholic.
Your experiences of the ungodly side of our Church are not unique! Sadly.
Jesus taught us that Buried Treasure is found in a shabby field; that the Precious Pearl is to be found in a smelly, chaotic marketplace.
Yet The Treasure and The Pearl are very real –
Holy Mass is structurally a perfect way to worship our Wonderful GOD (even when mangled by unbelieving clergy & attended by careless congregants).
To welcome each other as brothers & sisters in The LORD Jesus Christ; to openly confess our pervasive sinfulness & call out for Trinitarian mercy for each other; then, once shriven, to unite in the mighty ‘Gloria in Excelsis Deo’; to hear The Living WORD of GOD pronounced and to stand to hear the great good News of Jesus Christ’s Gospel; to announce to the world ‘The Creed’ that is absolute Truth, beyond the powers of science or sociology; to be joined with all true Christians past & present in singing-out ‘The Sanctus’; then, joy of joys, to be welcomed by THE LAMB at His table (just as if we were there at The Last Supper and by His Cross on Calvary); then (unworthy as we are) to be incorporated in the Holy Flesh & Precious Blood of our Redeemer, our promise of eternal happiness; and, all the time, singing-out our hearts’ joy in praise & adoration. What an extraordinary privilege! A true foretaste of Heaven, amidst a world that is in desperate need.
You’ve surely been called to be one with us in The Church, Susan.
I’ve had to learn, over decades, not to be put off by church members, (including clergy) who have minimum comprehension; just to pray for them. Jesus himself warned us that obstacles are inevitable (Mt 18:7; Lk 17:1).
Always seeking to hear & obey King Jesus Christ; love & blessings from marty
Very simply, no one should receive Communion unless they ARE IN communion.
Even a baptized and confirmed Catholic may not receive Communion if they have committed mortal sin. Mortal sin places us out of communion until we receive the Sacrament of Reconcilation.
As as a non-Catholic, once you enter into full communion with the Church, then you can receive Communion. We’d love that you join us.
Return to Tradition video (14 min. 54 sec.): Wicked Bishop FIRES Catholic Theologians Being Too Catholic
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, we are all called to be Saints. The Lord has put it in my heart to mention, as a common priest, we are to admonish the sinner, instruct the ignorant, etc. The laity (Common priest) have not done this for each other for decades. We have allowed the “obedience” mentality to make us cowards . Obedience to the Truth is our call. The Pope pius X oath for the Clergy, was ignored. This watered down, misguided compassion and false so-called compassion for disordered thinking is a result of our lack of praying for discernment and divine love to correct the stupidity even if it means being persecuted and death. We must imitate the way of the cross. I would recommend passing out Ralph Martin’s renewal ministry booklets. I would recommend going to Lepanto institute for Catholic Charities not to send your donations to. Mostly to be public, by wearing a crucifix , make the sign of the cross and pray at meals in all public situations. ask Jesus to send you seekers to evangelize-be brave. Be joyful knowing the Holy Trinity is alive and with us. Pray the Holy rosary with heart. Our blessed Mother has many graces to give -Ask. Pray for the conversion and deeper conversion of The Pope, Cardinals, Bishops, Clergy, religious, The Church militant. We were born for this! Fight like the sons and daughters of The King of kings. To Jesus through Mary! Your loving sister in Christ, Deborah
Spoken like Deborah of old. Praise be to Jesus Christ, inspirer of both old & new!
The removal of Martin, Echeverria, and Peters was not some papal vendetta, nor about loyalty to Francis versus Benedict—it was about fidelity to the Church’s Magisterium. These men repeatedly, publicly, and unapologetically contradicted the Church’s teaching authority, particularly in Pope Francis’s ordinary magisterium: Amoris Laetitia, the revision on the death penalty, and Fiducia Supplicans, among others. That’s not “debate”—that’s dissent.
Their defenders confuse ideological rigidity for orthodoxy. Real Catholic orthodoxy isn’t about preserving a curated list of timeless doctrines frozen in amber—it’s about communion with the living Church, guided by the bishops with and under the pope. The false traditionalist “orthodoxy” peddled in many U.S. circles is just fundamentalism with incense. These professors helped normalize anti-papal narratives, warping seminarians’ formation and undermining trust in Church authority.
If you reject the ordinary Magisterium, twist papal documents into strawmen, or insinuate the pope teaches error, you are dissenting from the Church—period. The irony is that those loudly claiming fidelity to tradition are, in truth, dangerously close to schism. The Church doesn’t need gatekeepers to the past—it needs faithful witnesses who journey with her into the future, in unity with Peter. This was a necessary course correction, long overdue.
As usual, you are full of rash, hyperbolic accusations, tenuous claims, and shoddy theology. Like Austen Ivereigh, Mike Lewis, and Co., you are adept at slinging mud and quite poor at providing evidence and rigorous arguments. First, Pope Francis (like every other pope) did not have a “magisterium.” Furthermore, in the cases of Echeverria and Peters, who I’ve read extensively (and I studied canon law under Peters), there was never any contradiction of the Church’s teaching authority. Further, and more fundamentally, they sought (as any reasonable reader knows) to be completely true to the deposit of faith (cf DV, 10), and to what the Church actually holds to regarding the ordinary and extraordinary magisterium. So, to quote Peters, from his August 2018 CWR essay on the death penalty, etc.:
That is not “dissent”—unless, of course, you’re an ultramontanist who thinks the magisterium began c. 2013.
Thank you, Mr. Olson, for so effectively countering Deacon Dom’s groundless popesplanation of this outrageous persecution of Catholic scholars.
We CWR habitués who are not as versant in theological matters rely on solid input from educated observers like you to put the Deak’s regurgitations of Bergoglio’s foulness into proper — i.e., Catholic — context.
This is particularly important because it is urgently important that Bergoglio’s diabolical legacy die with him.
Well said, dear ‘Brineyman’.
And, Catholics who love The New Testament will recall that Jesus taught us to obey The Commandments if we hope for Heaven (e.g. Matthew 19:17).
We are also taught that it needs single-minded effort (e.g. Luke 13:24).
Then, Saint Paul gives us some spiritual basics – in this world we’ll always be opposed by Stoikheia (Principalies, Powers, Dominions, Rulers, Authorities, Governments, & Thrones). Despite any worldly good Stoikheia do, they’re intrinsicaaly renegades, a whole host of evil in high places.
Lord Acton called our attention to their, often concealed, corruption.
Stoikheia deceive us into thinking WE will build Heaven on Earth. They don’t like the good doctrine that our Heavenly home has long been prepared by GOD, in the unseen eternal Spiritual Realm of the holy Angels, where Jesus ascended to & to where our Most Blessed Mother Mary was assumed to (see Hebrews 11:13-16). The everlasting abode of all who love GOD.
Stoikheia and their servants particularly object to the good doctrine that all who obey GOD’s commands (in the way Jesus Christ taught), are children of GOD, gifted with The Holy Spirit, incorporate in Christ’s Body and so natural inhabitants of the eternally perfect New Jerusalem, on high.
Our Redeemer put it very simply: “If you love Me, obey My commands!”
Ever in the love and mercy of King Jesus Christ; blessings from marty
The Apologist for the Church of Woke weighs in. Hackneyed.
Evangelical obedience is absolutely important, but “just following orders” doesn’t cut it. Infantilism is a false security.
About pandemic “infantilism,” this from Georges Bernanos:
“The modern world will shortly no longer possess sufficient spiritual reserves to commit genuine evil. Already . . . we can witness a lethal slackening of men’s conscience that is attacking not only their moral life, but also their very heart and mind, altering and decomposing even their imagination . . . The menacing crisis is one of INFANTILISM” (Interview with Samedi-Soir, Nov. 8, 1947, cited in Hans Urs von Balthasar, “Bernanos: An Ecclesial Existence,” Ignatius, 1996, caps added).
Interesting how the bishop fired them, but did not bother to correct them for heresy or to warn others, even though they are under his spiritual care.
Or perhaps you are just inventing things to ascribe to the bishop.
We read from De conman Dom,
” The Church doesn’t need gatekeepers to the past—it needs faithful witnesses who journey with her into the future, in unity with Peter. This was a necessary course correction, long overdue.”
Said the lemming to the tribe of “walking together” futurists…
Video: A Catholic Take | Janet Smith on Detroit Catholic Purge & Christian Wagner on Pope Leo’s NEXT Move
One is left surprised that he didn’t terminate Janet Smith in absentia.
James,
The archbishop might well have made such an additional absurd error, had not Dr. Janet Smith retired from Sacred Heart Major Seminary in 2019. She has a website at https://janetsmith.org.
No, after the University of Notre Dame fired Dr. Smith decades ago, she learned to anticipate a purge.
https://www.ncregister.com/news/janet-smith-fearless-defender-of-humanae-vitae
Thank you, dear Deborah.
Virtuous truth, straight from the heart of a genuine Catholic follower of Christ Jesus. And, around the world, there are millions of faithful sheep like you; praise GOD.
As for those goats – the corrupted deacons, brothers, sisters, priests, bishops, archbishops, & cardinals, etc. – let them listen to our LORD, tremble, & repent:
“For I tell you, if your virtue goes no deeper than that of the scribes & Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.” Mt 5:20
Well said, dear Carl.
Others have given up trying to speak with truth & reason to the so-called Deacon Dom, after realizing this is an alias for the dominating freemason hierarchy that utilizes the archdiocese of Brisbane. May GOD have mercy on us!
Lodgies and their dupies are the ones who cry “Judgmental!” and “Out of touch!” and the like, which they do when the faith is plainly presented or when their false ways and utterances are put on the spot.
Phraseologies and sly remarks are interchangeable, learn to identify the pattern and dynamics, eg., “Glass house and throwing stones” is a sub-in “kinder-type of treatment” for “Judgmental!”
If you insist on faith with emphatic strength they add “Mannerless!” and if you are gentler in the approach they list you as “Still young at heart”.
They boast about being themselves masters of “The way of the world”. Truly messed up as in “That’s the way of the world”. But for their over-confidence they would stone you to death just as was done to Stephen. Today it is about destruction and invitation.
They crave your turned around “witness”. Quite immediately just like the Devil preying on ambiguity, weakness and ignorance and what else they can let fly.
He cannot fire the laity, cannot shut up the laity, cannot force the laity to financially support his agenda.
Tom in Plymouth: And neither can he force any layman to apply for the seminary/diocesan priesthood in his archdiocese.
Recalling how Pope Francis instructed Cardinal Muller (when still Prefect of the CDC) to fire three of his subordinates, and then declined to give reason: “I don’t need a reason; I’m the pope!” So, now with the mimic Archbishop of Detroit: “I don’t need a reason, I’m a weisenheimer!”
THE USE OF LATIN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH GBRIDGE. OES MUCH FURTHER BACK THAN IS BEING ADMITTED TODSY. LATIN HAS ALWAYS PROVIDED A COMMON TONGUE FOR THE CHURCH ALL OVER THE WORLD IN WHICH LANGUAGES ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO BRIDGE. ATTACKING LATIN IS AKIN TO FORBIDDING THE ISE OF SIGN LANGUAGE WHICH US AN IMMENSE BLESSING TO THE ENTIRE CHURCH WORLDWIDE. SOME OF THE HIERARCHY TRULY MIGHT LISTEN TO THE STORY OF SIGN LANGUAGE BEFORE THEY TROMP DOWN UPON LATIN WHICH GIVES UNIVERSAL UNDERSTANDING TO EVERY LITURGY IN THE VATICAN TODAY AND OVER MANY CENTURIES. THE REAL PROBLEM IS DENYING GODS PROVISION FOR THE WHOLE CHURCH TO SPREAD GODS WORD EVERYWHERE. IN JESUS NAME
DONNELLYMJJD@GMAIL.COM
Well said. If we can have Spanish language Masses in the USA, why not Latin?
When I travel to Spain, I have absolutely no idea what’s being said. I say my rosary during the homily. As for the readings, I look them up on line beforehand. With regard to the Canon of the Mass, I know them by heart because I’m a weekly Mass attender.Same goes when I travel in Italy, Germany, Portugal, Czech, Slovakia, Switzerland, France, Norway, Sweden, etc. Latin would universalize our very fractured Church.
Many thanks, dear Timothy J. Williamms:
“The “Dana” sounds like a diocesan plant, maybe even an embittered ex-nun who revels in the decadence and chaos in the Church today.”
Another poss: Detroit Archbish Nuncio Anon . . a Darner all the way . . !
JOY is the flag flown high from the castle of my heart, from the castle of my heart, for The KING is in residence here!
Someone who walked the face of the earth many centuries ago preached Socialist ideas across many lands. He spoke often in favor of Socialist/Communist concepts like “feeding the hungry” and “caring for the sick”. I believe His name was Jesus Christ, and he saved us. He was a True Socialist. He was not as Capitalist. Christianity is all about being a Socialist. Also if you are contributing to, or collecting Social Security or Medicare, you are also a Socialist – a follower of Jesus Christ. Please think about it.
Only a socialist/communist could say something so intellectually bankrupt and theologically illiterate. Even Richard Dawkins isn’t this silly.
Luke, we are Catholic. We don’t see our faith through the lens that you present. Think again. Better yet, prayer that the Holy Spirit enlighten your mind and release you from the narrow definitions you offer. Our goal is deification where there are no categories.
I was also raised to be a believer in the Holy Roman Empire Catholic Church. Went to Catholic High School (Catholic parents with 8 kids couldn’t afford the grade school). Nuns beat the living shit out of us regularly. One brother had his none broken by holy Nun. Dad said, “If i ever hear of a nun hitting you guys again, I guarantee that you’ll get it twice as hard, when i get home”. And he did – in the name of the LORD. Nuns preached daily that if you weren’t a practicing Roman Catholic (meaning sacraments, etc, but mostly MONEY) then you were going to BURN in HELL for ETERNITY. but God loves you. Really? And you still believe this stuff? And you give them your money?
Sadly, there are those who attend the Latin Mass, who believe that the Novus Ordo is not valid. Sad to say, the music ministry in so many NO parishes is ghastly and indeed, downright insulting! However, do we not give ammunition to those who would close down all Latin Mass parishes, by not speaking up for the validity of both forms and making the necessary ‘corrections’?
Dear Luke, thanks for sharing with us your mistreatment under supposedly Christian Catholic rule. I hope & pray you find help in deprogamming the hurt.
Shamefully: serious abuses aren’t rare. Those who work in the healing/deliverance ministry could share thousands of similar, scandalous accounts of horrors inflicted by supposed-to-be Catholic followers of The King of Kindness and Loving Mercy, Jesus.
My own life has had its share of nasty experiences with clerical & lay Catholics.
The Australian ABC radio programme “Trace” has a particularly horrific case:
https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/trace/a-million-dollar-reward-maria-james-bookshop-murder/103975122
Nothing should surprise us! In fact Jesus forewarned us that such offences had to happen (see Matthew 18:7 and Luke 17:1). Several times He exhorted the religious of His day: “How dare you call me LORD, LORD, & brazenly flout My commands!”
Ministering to those who have been treated so badly takes a lot of prayer & time & effort. Prayer ministers try to come to a point when they can ask a victim to pray for the conversion of their abusers, even to pray GOD’s blessing for them!
Sounds crazy, I know, it’s a difficult place to get to but from much experience I’ve seen this work miracles for the abused person.
Maybe read Corrie ten Boom’s book: “The Hiding Place” describing years of horror after being thrown into a Nazi concentration camp. Yet, after the war, and after a big struggle, she was able to forgive even the worst. Corrie became a role model for many of us in need of peace and spiritual healing.
Hoping this is useful.
Ever in the grace & mercy of The Lamb; love & blessings from marty
Revealing:
https://thecatholicherald.com/article/detroit-archbishops-new-appointment-sparks-controversy