Fr. Joe and Cardinal Bill
Gerald has a copy of a letter that Father Joseph Patrick Breen has sent to Cardinal Levada, who he refers to as "Cardinal Bill", who he went to seminary with. The letter is typical boilerplate dissident advocacy talking points. On of Gerald readers wondered how the letter was leaked - whether it was the CDF or someone in his parish. I pretty much doubt that this letter was leaked at all. There is a full story on him in his advocacy in his local newspaper. The newspaper also has a PDF of his letter.
The article included:
In 1993, Breen was asked by former Nashville Bishop Edward Kmiec to sign a pledge refraining from advocating that the church's celibacy rule be changed to ease a priest shortage.
The prohibition came shortly after Breen had mailed a letter to Catholic bishops outlining his views. The year before, 780 members of Breen's church signed a petition to the pope with the same request.
The gag order was quietly lifted two years later, and Breen continued his fight, writing to Catholic newspapers and talking with fellow priests.
Then last month, Breen celebrated the 45th anniversary of his ordination in Rome with fellow seminarians, including Cardinal Bill Levada, who now heads the powerful Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which sets policies on faith and morals for Catholics worldwide.
Breen handed Levada a letter that said there was consensus among Catholics for married priests, artificial birth control, a greater acceptance of divorced people and women deaconesses.
In Athanasius time there was also a consensus among Catholics that God the Father and the Son were not co-eternal and that Jesus though a divine being was created and inferior to God the father. This only goes to show that modern dissidents are much more boring than previous ones like Arius.
The headline of the article is "Priest not afraid to advocate change." Exactly what would he be afraid of? He is not exactly a martyr and will get headlines not a headsman's axe. In the modern climate dissent is punished by indifference.
Known as 
Nice analogy to St. Athanasius. Too bad Paris Hilton is better known.
"In the modern climate dissent is punished by indifference."
At worst. Much more likely, dissent is "punished" by promotion both in the hierarchy and in the media.
One is reminded of the "episcopal ghost" in Lewis' The Great Divorce, who claims that his denial of the doctrine of the resurrection was courageous. He is answered: "Courageous? What was likely to come, other than what did? Publicity, sales for your books, and ultimately, a bishopric?"
That is the dire fate of dissenters in the Church today.
Moron alert. This Fr. Breen needs a job which suits his talent better than the priesthood. How about we defrock him and make him the garbage man?
Is there a link to the "local newspaper article"?
"Breen handed Levada a letter that said there was consensus among Catholics for married priests, artificial birth control, a greater acceptance of divorced people and women deaconesses."
Feh. There will never be any such consensus as long as I, for one, live and breathe. What irritating smugness.
I'm not really sure who Fr. Breen has been talking to, but this Catholic from the Diocese of Nashville is NOT part of his "consensus". I'm pretty sure Bishop Choby isn't either.
I am from his diocese also and Fr. Breen should get ready for a smackdown! His consensus is probably he and his brother who is a priest and very much like him theologically and, unfortunately, also in this diocese.