They’ve done it. They’ve actually gone and done it. One of the parishes slated for closure has hired a law firm to fight the archbishop. I think they’ve forgotten Matthew 18:16-18, where Jesus is giving his apostles the power to bind and loose on heaven and earth: “If your brother sins (against you), go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that ‘every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church. If he refuses to listen even to the church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector.” [emphasis added]
St. Albert’s church in Weymouth, one of the three loudest complainers headed by one of the three most heterodox priests in the archdiocese, has hired a law firm which is seeking grounds for an injunction and to file a lawsuit. A lawyer has told them that he may have such grounds. What a load of bunk. Parish closings have been challenged in court for years, with at least a half dozen in Pittsburgh in the early 90s alone. In every case, the federal courts have declined to wade into a church-state minefield.
Considering who the pastor is, it would not surprise me in the least if he and a contingent from that parish went the way of the Spiritus Christi schismatics in Rochester. After all, there’s got to be some dead or dying Methodist or Episcopelian congregation in Weymouth willing to make room for them.
[Father Coyne] has said that Catholicism, with its dwindling number of parishioners and priests, must look to its Episcopal brethren for its future. “We have to deal honestly with the issue of married priests, with women being ordained and with gays in our society, our church and the priesthood,” he said.
And:
Another issue that has prickled the chancery has been Coyne’s comments on confession. He’s noted the lack of people confessing and has preached that the fear of God has taken a back seat to “God’s unconditional love” in people’s lives today. “I’m not telling people not to come to confession,” he said. “They’re just not coming. They’re not worried about going to hell.” Does he believe in hell? “No.” But he does believe in heaven and eternal life. “We used to think having all the answers was the right thing. My role as priest is not to give all the answers, but to help people figure out the right questions.”
He doesn’t believe in Hell.
What does he mean then when he prays, “save us from final damnation…”
What about mortal sin? Does he not believe in mortal sin, either?
What about his parishioners who trust in him? I feel so sorry for them…so in need of a shepherd. Lord, have mercy.
Kelly, where did you get this? I’d like to be able to cite the documentation when I quote him on this.
Dom,
Check the Living/Arts section of today’s Globe for a profile of Fr. Coyne entitled “Man in the Middle”.
Living/Arts D5, Thursday, August 12, 2004
Lemme try to find the link again…it was there a few hours ago.
http://www.boston.com/yourlife/articles/2004/08/12/man_in_the_middle/
The de facto schism becomes more visible. At some point it will become visible enough to be finally called de jure.