Vassula Ryden and Wikipedia. The truth.

In this video, Vassula defends herself and her mission against certain editors on Wikipedia who, knowingly or not, have presented inaccuracies and distortions about her whilst, at the same time, refusing to allow more positive comments and details.

The suffering of Scotland's Catholics; "Priesthood in Crisis" by Fr. Matthew Daspard

I read this book in less than two days. I skipped some of it, but the main facts are nothing less than horrendous. Of course, some people are asking if Fr. Daspard is really telling the truth as it was and is. With our human frailties the sincere desire to tell the truth may still involve overly subjective and distorted views. With the best will in the world, it is still easy for us to "colour" our accounts because of pain, misunderstanding and distorted memories. Allowing for all of these things, there are "facts" in this book which common sense insists are either  basically true or are simple lies. As they are presented, some things, even with all that is said about human frailties, cannot be complete distortions or fabrications. There are reports here of altercations with priests and bishops and examples of gross injustice that are either substantially true or not; in some cases at least, there is no middle ground; you either believe him or you don't. Having read the book, with the reservations noted (and which I would apply to similar exposes) I believe him.

The fact that the Vatican is refusing, at this time, to fill in the episcopal gaps in Scotland until a proper investigation has been carried out suggests that the basic information in Fr. Daspard's book is not without real substance. When the book arrived on the Kindle site, there was a clear intention, on the part of his bishop, to press for Fr. Daspard's canonical suspension. We are told that an announcement was made through the Ad Clerum in the Diocese of Motherwell  (normally a confidential document, but in this case, clearly not regarded as such by some people!)  that no action is to be taken  against Fr. Daspard. When a reporter asked someone close to the curia why this is so, the answer was, "He holds all the aces!"

Apart from Fr. Daspard's account there are other books and articles dealing with the main subject of this book. (That is homosexuality and related corruption in the Church). A book was published in Italy by a priest suggesting there was (or is) a strong homosexual lobby at work in the Vatican. A report commissioned by the Polish hierarchy was published recently revealing that the same situation exists in Poland.

Fr. Daspard. more than once, refers to homosexual priests (that is with a homosexual orientation) who are good priests and remain faithful celibates. He praises such men for their devotion. I will also do the same. As we know the Vatican advises, strongly, that homosexuals should no longer be admitted to the priesthood. Given the seriousness of the recent scandals (and there seem to be more to be discovered in the pipeline) this cannot be judged as overreaction. Besides, there are theological questions to be asked about the quality of the "maleness" of candidates for the priesthood. At the same time, there are always exceptions to the rule. We must allow for the action of the Holy Spirit. It is entirely possible that someone with a homosexual leaning could become not only a very good priest, but a saint. However, a very high quality of discernment seems to be required on the part of seminary professors and bishops to avoid serious mistakes.

In my time as a seminarian and a priest I can name many who were and are known to be homosexuals. (I am not going to name names here). A few of them have become very good priests and the sad thing is that a scandal such as we are seeing now in Scotland can damage all such men by association. On the other hand, like Fr. Daspard I witnessed very worrying scenes of conflict and jealousies in the seminary that I realised, even then, were based on homosexual relationships. Some of those who became priests were subsequently involved in sexual abuse scandals (either with children or young men). We can argue that the statistics show that such men are in a minority, but in my experience it is a big minority. It is true that in some dioceses homosexual priests form a kind of support group. Whether this just happens because they get on well together or whether something else is happening is for others with more knowledge to judge.

Because of the nature of homosexuality, which sometimes is linked to emotional instability, homo-eroticism and narcissism, there is a danger that relationships between priests will, at least, encourage bitter resentments, jealousy, obsession and mutual condemnation. Such emotional disturbances are bad for the priests involved and are also bad for the people they are appointed to serve. Where such emotional "rages" and such  episodes of resentment lead to bullying, intimidation and gross injustice, we have a recipe for disaster in the parishes and wider church. The Holy Father and his council must act to purge the Church of this poison. Fr. Daspard's book has helped to shine a spotlight onto some very disagreeable aspects of the Church of the last 40 years and into the present. The time has come for some real house cleaning. 

ADHD; a fictitious disease (according to the man who "discovered" it)

Here is an interesting article about ADHD. There is growing evidence that it does not exist. Certainly there is a condition in some children of a lack of attention and hyperactivity, but many believe that drugs are certainly not an answer. Read this.

"The Warning" and "Maria Divine Mercy"; False private Revelations; an increasing danger?

As readers of this blog can see, I am not against private revelations. In fact, theologically and purely on a Scriptural basis, we cannot dismiss mystical experiences from Christian Tradition and hagiography. To deny the miraculous, mystical and ecstatic aspects of personal faith and religious experience is simply dishonest. There are numerous examples from the Scriptures of such things which have been of central importance to the early spread of the Gospel (e.g. Saul's experience on the road to Damascus). There are, as we know "authenticated" apparitions of Our Lady (this just means, "worthy of belief" - as far as the Magisterium will go as regards public statements). Popes have signalled, time and again, their belief in certain revelations and apparitions (e.g. Pope Pius X11 and Fatima, Blessed Pope John Paul 11 and the Divine Mercy). In these times, when there is so much turmoil in the world and at a time in our Christian history when we are receiving, almost every day, reminders of certain apparitions, "messages" and locutions (e.g. those given to Don Stefano Gobbi)  there is a possibility that there will be more and more false "messages", so-called apparitions and the like. One of the worst of the current bunch is from someone called "Maria Divine Mercy". These things are well produced on the internet and books have been published. A few Catholic commentators have criticised them and warned us against them. Some devotees of this (MDM) person have tried to link Vassula Ryden with these "messages". Vassula has strongly repudiated this and wants nothing to do with MDM or anyone else offering dubious, lurid "prophecies" about future events. Those who read the TLIG messages (or for that matter the locutions given to Fr. Gobbi) know that we have been warned not to give credence to so-called revelations which claim to know, in some detail, when certain things are going to happen (even if this is given as, "within a few weeks" or "months"). Here is a good article by Dr. Mark Miravalle, a respected theologian from U.S., warning us against the writings of "Maria Divine Mercy" (on the internet known as "The Warning");

Christos Anesti! Alleluia! To all my brothers and sisters in The Eastern Churches (Orthodox etc)

Christos Anesti! Christos Voskresi! Alleluia, Alleluia!

World-wide Eucharistic Adoration for the Year of Faith, led by Pope Francis

On Corpus Christi Sunday, June 2nd, all Catholics are invited to share in an hour of Eucharistic Adoration in union with the Pope. How this will be worked out in relation to time differences I do not know, but here is the announcement on the Year of Faith website. It would be a good idea to spread the news.

Michael Voris again, but speaking the truth. We need a renewal of the hierarchy and the priesthood!

This report by Michael Voris from Australia speaks the truth. I feel in my bones that a sweeping reform of the priestly life is needed. I have to deal with my own failings, true, but as Voris points out, for many years now, really going back to the time before I was ordained (1975) there has been a growing dis-ease in the clergy of the Catholic Church. I was reflecting a few days ago how some of the men I knew at seminary (but a significant number in one person's acquaintances) either became alcoholics, left the priesthood to marry OR were accused of some form of sexual abuse. Some of those cases have been tragic (two early deaths through alcohol related diseases) and when I think about these people, some of whom I counted as good friends, I am led to ask myself who is to blame. Of course I blame satan first of all. It is his desire to bring all priests to hell or, at least, to make them ineffective or sick. Some of the blame (of course!) must be attributed to those priests who sinned, lacked discipline, did not pray etc. BUT some of the blame must be placed higher - with bishops and seminary staff.

I was fortunate - and my contemporaries were fortunate - in that most of the staff at my seminary were exemplary priests. Some of them were holy men. The Rector in my time was a man of high standards who was also understanding and wise. The Deputy rector was also an outstanding priest, and there were others, thank God, who gave a great example of priestly life to the students. BUT something was happening in the wider Church and it found its way into the seminary, through books, theological studies, a certain worldliness, a moral and spiritual laxity, a lowering of standards and a complacency which, I think, was related to a certain arrogance and a lack of faith in some areas. Self-indulgence has a part to play, which means a lack of self-discipline.

Before I was ordained a friend of mine who was older than me, and at a different seminary, was ordained. I was in awe of him - or of his "priestly glow" (can't think of another way to describe it), but there were problems right from the start. No sooner had he been ordained than he began discussing what happened to priests who fall by the wayside. They fail to pray is what we agreed, but he was not praying as he should have been - he admitted it in a way. I felt sad for him. The demands of the priesthood, centred on the idea of self-sacrifice - were, in the end, beyond him, and he left before, I think, being a priest for ten years. he married and I understand is now deceased. I could go on, discussing the merits of different seminaries (staff problems with alcoholism, neurosis and homosexuality, or a laid back attitude to that etc).

I have already posted before on sexual abuse so there is no need to address that again, but what has been clear to me for many years (and this includes looking at my own lifestyle) is that a deep and challenging reform of the priestly life is needed. For some years now I have had questions about the lifestyle of some bishops and parish priests. There is need for a greater accountability where money is concerned. There has been too much worldliness, too much complacency, too much television and too much food and drink. Some celebrations of the Liturgy have been slapdash and irreverent. Priests (and some religious) have given bad example in their behaviour in church, chatting away as though the Lord is in no way present in that sacred place. Church plate has been treated badly. Dirty altar linens and unworthy vestments (or none) have been part of the scene. New churches became clinical and cold, showpieces for architects and parish priests but inhospitable to the laity. Church music became sickening banal and all the time there was a subtle denial of some of less popular parts of the faith, especially those connected with sexual morality. The false god of enjoyment or pleasure found a seat somewhere on our sanctuaries and in our presbyteries and in most Catholic homes. Family prayer, never a major feature in most homes despite the books, pamphlets and sermons, became worse than a joke. One of the worst aspects of all of this was the outstanding failure to teach the full Catholic faith in our schools - a failure that has had horrendous repercussions which continue to this day in the shape of young people not attending weekend Mass but receiving Holy Communion as and when they like, young people living together before Marriage (because they know nothing about Catholic morality except being nice to each other and helping the poor - which they don't really do anyway)

This post is too long and all of this has been said before, many times, but NOW, NOW, is the time to address these things. Please God the Pope will lead us and please God we priests, bishops and cardinals will delve into our consciences and repent more deeply of the mistakes and laxity of the past. if we truly want the Church to be renewed we have to start with ourselves, and that means, first of all, making more serious confessions and showing a great reverence for the Blessed Sacrament. It means - for ALL priests, the daily Rosary. It means more fasting and abstaining, self-discipline and an austere manner of life. It means little or no television. it means cleaning up our act as regards language, dirty jokes and smutty remarks. I had hoped that Pope Benedict would have set this reform off, but in a way, he did. Now we must follow Pope Francis who knows what must be done.

Some will look at this and see me as a "kill-joy" or some kind of fanatic. But what are we here for?  Mother Angelica who is now 90 says we are all called to be great saints. Not a new thought but one we need to hear, often. Saints find their joy in God and in serving others. They find pleasure in the things of God and are able to see the beauty in creation in spite of the smudges; they share (perhaps unconsciously most of the time) in the joy of Christ who smiled, laughed and wept as he encountered the people and nature itself. Where is our joy, our true joy, in this world? I suggest we start with that question and see where it leads us, as priests.