Monday, July 18, 2005
STORY OF WHISTLEBLOWER PRIEST IS A STORY IN CONTRASTS
This story linked by New Oxford Review tells the tale of a Scottish priest who was abused, and who wrote a book to tell about it. He has decided to leave the priesthood and the Church even though his heart is still Catholic. He has simply given up trying. I can sympathize...
UPDATE ON FR. GILHOOLEY
A reader sent in a link to this editorial at Catholic Truth. It presents a less sympathetic picture of this priest:
Public dissenter, Fr Gilhooley, miffed that, under pressure from the Vatican he had to give up his media work, took a sabbatical. He has not remained in the middle of the road. No, he is somewhere on top of an Irish mountain shouting that he is leaving the priesthood now that the Conclave Cardinals ("Shame on them") have elected Pope Benedict XVI. (Irish Times, 9 May 2005).
Seems like only yesterday we reported on Fr Gilhooley's press conference to announce his membership of Tommy Sheriden's Scottish Socialist Party (SSP) which supports abortion and terrorist groups in Northern Ireland (Sunday Herald, SSP slammed over link with Irish terrorists, 29 May 2005).
We mention this here because Fr Gilhooley revealed that other Scots priests are members/vote for the SSP. Scandalous.
None of our "middle of the road" bishops have publicly corrected these dissident priests. Nor has any bishop or priest come out to contradict the dissenters mentioned in the Sunday Times "survey" demanding an end to celibacy, the "ban" on contraception and male only ordination. (Sunday Times, 40% of Scots priests want end to celibacy" 10 April 2005).
Pope Benedict must address this kind of scandalous clerical behaviour as did the truly great Popes who defended the faith prior to Vatican II.
Seems like they have the word over there on Archbishop Levada as well.
Unfortunately, the appointment of Archbishop Levada to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith does not inspire confidence.
He believes that the right place for a bishop is "in the middle of the road". Whereas the right place for any bishop is obviously in defence of the truth. It is the only reason we have bishops in the first place.
