Wearing the uniform of the priesthood
A Catholic priest in Mesa has resigned as a pastor because of "aggressive anti-gay positions" coming from the pope in Rome and bishop in Phoenix.
The Rev. Leonard Walker, 58, who as pastor was chief executive of Queen of Peace church, is the first priest in the Phoenix Diocese to resign over church treatment of gay men, specifically a new Vatican document aimed at keeping gay men out of the priesthood.
Walker declined to disclose his sexual orientation, but he said he was no longer comfortable "wearing the uniform" of the priesthood.
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" It's like a Jew wearing a Nazi uniform," Walker said. "I could no longer stay in that institution with any amount of integrity."
His decision comes on the eve of the release of an instruction from the Vatican that limits entrance into seminaries primarily to heterosexual men. [Source]
And so it begins now that the document is officially out [PDF]. I don't want to see anybody leave the Church, but it is for the better for those who have internally already left the Church and are in positions of authority to admit the reality of their position until such time as they have repented. Much better than those who will act as saboteurs of Church teaching while in charge of the flock. The funny thing about what has been called a witch-hunt is that in this case the witches our outing themselves and I don't mean this is a derogative way to demean those with same sex attraction. The talk has been of inquisitions and purges, but it is the individuals that are resigning themselves. Once again they are only proving the need for the document when you have priests with SSA who obviously don't hold to Church teaching on homosexual activity in the first place. When you have a unreasonable reaction to what is really a very reasonable document you only prove the need for it. Especially since this is no hardening in Church position in any way and what he calls "aggressive anti-gay positions" is nothing different than what the Catechism basically says or any other documents in recent years.
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It would seem that some folk need to feel that they are victims and therefore justified in their sin. You'ld think the Church's stance with regards to homosexuality were a recent inovation that was just sprung on an unsuspecting world.
The skreeds will not cease until the Church gives full approval of all homosexual activity. There now is a line in the sand, the faithful should be ready for martyrdom...white and red.
"It's like a Jew wearing a Nazi uniform,"
Now that? Is just offensive.
"It's like a Jew wearing a Nazi uniform,"
I have two names for this clown: Maximilian Kolbe and Edith Stein. They could tell him plenty about fidelity, perserverance and sacrifice- three qualities that this man obviously lacks. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.
"I could no longer stay in that institution with any amount of integrity."
And he said this not of his own accord, but because he was high priest that year...
He sounds like a whiny child.
How unutterably sad that anyone would forfeit their eternal soul for the sake of their genitalia.
We don't need priests like that, anyway, with a sinful agenda on mind. No wonder why so many souls are lost, with priests who would resign on the drop of a hat to support their heterodox theology.
You know, they always say "You're being anti-gay!" but you never hear "you're being anti-Catholic!"
Also, may I point out Ezekiel 18 in which God basically says "you say 'your ways are unfair!', but I ask if I truly am unfair, or if YOU are the ones being unfair."
"he changed his mind after what he called "mistreatment" by Adamson, who told him that he could not celebrate Mass for the final time at Queen of Peace and that his health insurance would be cut off immediately."
I don't know about the health insurance - though would it be any different if he resigned a middle management position at, say, Sears? Such priests often fancy themselves as "middle management-types", which makes it all the easier for them to hold onto (and preach) a dissenting position while still drawing salary and benefits from the Church! - actually this didn't work for the Allstate employee who objected to his company's corporate sponsorship of gay-pride events. Neverhteless, I ask, how is it mistreatment when a priest who says he doesn't want to be a priest anymore is given his wish - that he no longer wants to represent the church or functions as a priest. If he tells the V.G. he doesn't want to do it anymore, then it should take effect immediately - thank you, goodbye! End of story. "But I really wanted to have one final farewell Mass." No! I am sorry, it does not work that way! I am reminded of a seminarian who left the seminary a number of years ago (under similar circumstances) His departure was publicly announced in the refectory at dinner on a Thursday night and he did not leave until the following Monday morning - apparently he wanted to wrench the pity for its full effect!
"Walker, a member of the Salvatorian religious order, said he also took a leave of absence from the order."
Huh!?
"Priests serve in a variety of roles. Walker said he will continue to work as a hospice chaplain until he decides whether to leave the priesthood."
So he is resigning his pastorate, but has not yet decided to "leave the priesthood." He can "wear the uniform" of a priest so long as he is not a pastor? This leaves me confused!
I think Gretchen said it best:
"How unutterably sad that anyone would forfeit their eternal soul for the sake of their genitalia."
The only thing I wonder is if the Catholic Church ought to be better about the insurance (giving him a month or two to get it on his own). Aside from that, I think it's better if men who can't assent fully to the Church stay away from the priesthood. The whole idea of being a priest is not some cool uniform (and I'd bet he doesn't wear it unless he's celebrating Mass or doing something official) but to totally surrender yourself to Christ and His Church! If you aren't ready to do that, then you aren't ready to be a priest.
I don't recall who said it, but we have a couple of generations who have gotten a weakened form of the Catechism (see Jeff's post on Eucharistic Celebrations v. Mass) and, as a result, have been innoculated against the True Faith! And it's REALLY hard to play catch-up!
I agree with you Jeff. I wish that this would be the cause of this priest's conversion, not of his departure and continued dissent. But only the Holy Spirit can cause conversion in the hearts of men.
And I pray that the priest I know who has these same issues will convert, not leave. We need priests, and something called these men to the priesthood, I hope God, as a way for them to work out their salvation. I hope and pray for priestly conversion from all of this. And I believe that is what our Pope is calling them too, as well.