Prayers for Fr Z.

7 Responses to Prayers for Fr Z.

1. Paul G says:

   June 27, 2011 at 7:22 pm

   Hello David,
   Fr Z might be talking about the statement from Fr Corapi that he is leaving public ministry:
   http://theblacksheepdog.wordpress.com/
   Apparently, Fr Z and Fr Corapi were ordained together:
   http://ingodscompany2.blogspot.com/2011/06/about-fr-john-corapi-by-fr-john.html

   Reply
2. Jim Ryland says:

   June 29, 2011 at 12:16 am

   I am sure that the Corapi affair is included in Father Z’s prayers but I doubt that it is at the core of the problem. Conservatives and those that espouse our traditional values and practices have been under an increasing virulent series of attacks. Those priests, deacons, and bishops who have a prominent public face have been hit the hardest and the heaviest battle seems centered around the Holy Father. The really terrible part comes from the fact that most of the attacks come from areas that are fully or nominally within the church herself.

   Father Z makes no bones about his disdain for the National Catholic Register (read “Fishwrap”, as Fr. Z says). The Fishwrap has taken on Bishop Robert Finn, a truly pastoral cleric and the man presiding over the diocese in which the “Fishwrap” is housed. Other conservative bishops in the USA have been the target of the “Fishwrap”, the New York Times, The Washington Post, and several video journalists.

   We see stumbling blocks placed by liberal bishops to prevent the celebration of the EF Mass which amount to defiance of the Vatican decrees. Some of the most nasty detractors lie within the Curia itself. The bishops of Scotland seem bent on open warfare over the “reform of the reform” and moves within the ranks of the RCC in England called the “magic circle” have interrupted the process of ordination of noticeably traditional an learned Anglican clerics who have responded to the Ordinariate provisions. Fr. John Hunwicke (Oxford) is about as erudite a liturgist and theologian as one can find and he is as Catholic in his theology as the Pope. His ordination has been “put on hold” thus robbing mother church of a rich resource and contributor. The reason was a nebulous insinuation that there was “questionable content” in his widely-read blog. The content might be questionable if one is bent on eradicating the fundamental doctrines of the church and the writings of her founding fathers.

   No, I fear that the venerable Fr. Z’s troubles run much deeper than empathy for a fellow ordinand.

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   • William Tighe says:

     June 29, 2011 at 1:20 am

     “The Fishwrap” is NOT the “National Catholic Register” (an orthodox, but IMO very dull, Catholic publication operated by the Legionaries of Christ), but the “National Catholic Reporter.”

     Reply
     • Jim Ryland says:

       June 29, 2011 at 5:45 am

       Thanks Dr. Tighe. I stand corrected with apologies to the Register.

       Reply
3. jules says:

   June 29, 2011 at 9:53 am

   Hi David, it seems many ‘traditional’ ‘orthodox’ Catholics are under attack every which way you look. Even the Holy Father can not escape. I hope Fr Z’s call to stop donating to the ‘Fishwrap’ was not a cause for any legal repercussion(?).

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4. matthias says:

   June 29, 2011 at 11:22 am

   Was informed that the celebration of the EF at a Catholic school chapel, was stopped because the order of priests that runs the school asked them to. Uhm perhaps they want to eb seen as being culturally relevant-the first sign of spiritual decline

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5. Paul G says:

   July 7, 2011 at 9:05 am

   My original hypothesis (which I still think is correct), was that Fr Z’s concerns relate to the accusations against John Corapi. To be honest, I was a little concerned that this generated a series of complaints about conservative Catholics being attacked.

   Corapi’s order has just completed an initial investigation and released a statement saying in part:
   “He did have sexual relations and years of cohabitation (in California and Montana) with a woman known to him, when the relationship began, as a prostitute; He repeatedly abused alcohol and drugs; He has recently engaged in sexting activity with one or more women in Montana; He holds legal title to over $1 million in real estate, numerous luxury vehicles, motorcycles, an ATV, a boat dock, and several motor boats, which is a serious violation of his promise of poverty as a perpetually professed member of the Society.”
   http://soltnews.blogspot.com/2011/07/press-release-concerning-fr-john-corapi.html

   Of course we must not judge, and John Corapi needs our prayers. However, we have to address the very real danger of “celebrity priests” who develop their own following and who act somewhat independently of their order and bishop. It is not an issue of conservative vs liberal

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