JOLIETTE, QC, November 1, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The Diocese of Joliette has issued a press release after the mainstream media erroneously reported that the Vatican had given permission for a Catholic priest who supports abortion and homosexual ‘marriage’ to run for public office.
Both a Canadian Press story, published in several papers, and a CBC story claimed that the Vatican granted Fr. Raymond Gravel special permission to run for politics. Gravel is representing the Bloc Quebecois, a separatist party which is also known for its support of abortion and homosexual ‘marriage’.
The first line of the press release from the diocese states: "No ‘green light’ was given by the Vatican." It continues, "The Bishop of Joliette did not receive any permission from Roman Authorities regarding the plans of Fr. Raymond Gravel."
Of course I truly doubt that there will be as many news stories correcting storiest saying the priest had Vatican permission as there were to assert this.
The openly gay Gravel, 54, is a former male prostitute who decided to enrol in a Catholic seminary after suffering a beating that left him near death.
He also supports legalized abortion and the ordination of homosexuals (in 2005, he told a Montreal magazine that 50 per cent of priests in Quebec are gay and that priests in general don’t take their vow of celibacy seriously).
He also once received a disciplinary letter from a cardinal named Joseph Ratzinger, better known these days as Pope Benedict XIV.
The outspoken Gravel, who has also run afoul of his church because of his support for gay marriage, wants to run for the Bloc in Repentigny, a staunchly sovereignist riding just off the eastern tip of the Island of Montreal.
The Star was unable to reach Gravel for comment, but he told Radio-Canada that if the Catholic authorities objected to his desire to run, he would continue in his current vocation.
To have believed the original stories in the first place means that you are also probably corresponding with someone in Nigeria concerning a windfall financial transaction. This premise of the story was so ridiculous in the first place and it just shows you how stupid the MSM is. Sure they have editors, but wouldn’t a story like this require that someone check with the Archdiocese first?
Fr. Gravel saying he would continue in his current vocation is Church authorities objected is a not unsurprising lie. At the time he already knew not that there was no way he was ever to get such permission. Or that he lied about the Vatican permission in the first place is the sure sign of a dissenter. On this rock I will build my Church, sorry it was not on this Fr. Gravel I will build my Church. Even though every dissenter considers themselves infallible.
Update: Diogenes comments on the story and asks the obvious questions.
4 comments
Looks like LifeNews.com also had a type-o, as our pope is currently Benedict the 16th – XVI and not the 14th – XIV.
I also have a question…How did he get ordained in the first place? I certainly understand and have known the power of grace and redemption in my own life, but doesn’t a life as a former prostitute prevent admission to the seminary?
Lourdes, if it didn’t stop Mary Magdeline from becoming a saint (yeah I know she was later cleared of the hooker allegations), why would it stop someone from being a priest?
More importantly, how does one explain this”
a disciplinary letter from a cardinal named Joseph Ratzinger, better known these days as Pope Benedict XIV”? That’s gotta be a career killer not matter the occupation.
What the problem was of his ordination was his obvious lack of repentance. Grace covers a multitude of sins. Ordaining him was highly imprudent considering that he has been an activist from day one. And of course now with the seminary document released there could not be any reason to ordain him.