Members: Login | Register | Member List
Previous: So which is it?Next: Questions about IHS Press
Back to main
Quebec priests attack the Church’s teaching
Here’s a prime example of why we need guidance from Archbishop Levada. A group of 19 priests in Quebec have issued an open letter denouncing the Church’s teaching on homosexuality. (A French version is available; they are promising an English translation soon.)
The priests are trying to undermine the Canadian bishops’ conference’s recent attempts to lobby Parliament to prevent federal legislation creating same-sex marriage. They claim the teachings of the Church are “homophobic” and outdated. The priests are from Montreal, Joliette, Saint-Jean-Longueil, Gatineau, and Gaspe. None are from Quebec City where Cardinal Marc Ouellet, a Ratzinger disciple, is archbishop and who has been an outspoken defender of the Church’s teachings.
The leader of the group is Father Marc Gravel and he has an ... interesting background. According to some news articles that Diogenes linked to, Gravel was male prostitute and barman in a leather bar before becoming a priest. Now I have no problem with people who leave behind lives of sin and dissolution for forgiveness in Christ. But that’s the key: “leave behind.“ Gravel has continued to be a constant critic of the Church’s teaching on homosexuality (and abortion, incidentally) and advocate of gay priests violating their vows.
Father Gravel said the Vatican is wrong to say that homosexuality is a deviance. “Everyone knows that sexual deviations are not exclusively related to gays, but to everyone who has to live his or her sexuality clandestinely. In this matter, the clergy has become masterful, as numerous priests frequent parks, saunas and public washrooms to let off steam,“ he said in his letter.
Challenges to the bishop’s authority goes unanswered
Technorati Tags: bishops, Canada, Catholic, homosexuality, priesthood
This wasn’t the only time Gravel has publicly challenged the Church’s teaching. From the first story linked above:
When in 2003 Gravel wrote an open letter condemning then-newly issued documents on homosexual unions, LifeSiteNews.com readers expressed their concerns to his bishop, Joliette Bishop Gilles Lussier. The following year, Fr. Gravel appeared on radio saying, “I am pro-choice and there is not a bishop on earth that will prevent me from receiving Communion, not even the Pope.“ After the incident a pro-life leader in the province publicly called on Bishop Lussier to intervene. Campagne Québec-Vie president Luc Gagnon asked the bishop to suspend the priest or “at the very least to publicly admonish him.“
So the question is not what will Gravel’s bishop do to discipline him, but why hasn’t his bishop disciplined him yet? Why is Gravel still wearing a Roman collar, carrying on priestly ministry, and using the name “Father”? Or as Diogenes put it:
So why is he still in good standing, still in active ministry, still writing open letters signed “Father”? There are two obvious explanations.
1) Fr. Gravel is blackmailing his superiors, or their superiors, whom he as a layman knew in his professional capacity.
2) Fr. Gravel’s superiors, or their superiors, really think he’s a good priest.
Uncle Di would like to hear from the “better to light a candle” bunch here. Tell me, which of the two possibilities reflects a more positive view of the episcopacy? Which is the more charitable opinion? Which explanation should a dutiful Catholic try to convince himself is the true one?
-->
COMMENTS
The Gravel case—and so many other examples—show that some of the worst enemies of the Faith are weak, compliant bishops. As the Bible observes—noone is going to follow an uncertain trumpet—and all that comes across from some dioceses is total spinelessness—especially with regard to clearly renegade (or immoral) clergy.
There will come an awful accounting before the Judgement Seat of Christ for these cowardly shepherds. For many souls are led into believing gross sins and error are no big deal by their bishop’s inaction or actual complicity.
No wonder Dante put so many hierarchs in some of the hotterst places in Hell in his Inferno.
Posted by
on 02/28/06 at 08:53 PM This is scandalous – in the original meanings of the term scandal: “causing offense”, “shameful” and “harmful”.
Yes, where are their bishops and why are they cowering in silence? One has to wonder… Significantly, none of the priests is from Cardinal Marc Ouellet’s diocese. I think Peter Vere is right, this is an international scandal and it is up to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to act.
Let’s see if Cardinal-designate Levada will step up to the plate on this.
Posted by
on 03/1/06 at 08:49 AM Dealing with this issue may set the tone on how Cardinal-designate Levada will perform the duties of his office. As a possible clue, does anyone know what was his track record in regards to disciplining the priest under his espicopalian watches?
Dom, summarizing some statements you have made here on your ‘blog, you would like to see less a pastoral approach and more discipline applied. (If this is not accurate, I apologize for putting words in your mouth.) I am of a like mind, especially since the pastoral approach seems not to be working. (Disclaimer—I have a rigid enforcement mindset. Rules are rules. Not good at times, but I prefer to bring black and white out of gray.)
Commenting is not available in this weblog entry.
Comments are being moderated. After you submit your comment it could take up to a couple hours, but usually only a few minutes, before it will appear. Thank you for your patience. If you have any questions, you may contact Domenico Bettinelli.
