Father François Schneider is prohibited from celebrating public Masses for four weeks. His crime? He has declared that abortion has killed more human beings than the First World War.
There seems to be no place here for the exceptio veritatis, that is, the absolving fact that what he has said is true: Father François Schneider, the priest responsible for 17 parishes in eastern France, has to pay for his boldness.
Father François Schneider made the controversial statement in his homily at the Armistice Day Mass on November 11 in the small town of Bertrimoutier (pop. 307), near Epinal in the Vosges mountains. “Abortion has killed more people around the world than the Great War,” he said, adding that French politicians would be well inspired to “follow the example” of Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban, who promotes a policy in favor of birth and “takes courageous measures.”
Schneider’s statements coincide with the attempt to make abortion a constitutional “right” in France, a measure that has been presented by President Macron’s party and is being debated in the Assembly. Another bill with the same objective but using more “inclusive” language – it does not refer to women to defend the rights of transgender people – was also presented last week by the far-left party La Francia Insumisa. Both texts will go through the legislative process. Macron himself suggested that the “right” to abortion be included in the European charter of human rights.
Schneider’s graphic condemnation of abortion was quoted in the local press and on social media by people who had heard his sermon, creating “commotion.” Vosges deputy for Macron’s party David Valence called the priest’s comments “shameful” on Twitter, adding that they were “evidence of a complete aberration” on his part.
Three days ago, a statement condemning Schneider was published on the website of the diocese (currently headed by Bishop Didier Berthet, who has serious health problems, and administered by Bishop Denis Jachiet, who presides over the neighboring diocese of Belfort-Montbéliard).
The above comes from a Nov. 24 posting on InfoVaticana (Spanish).
“….Victor Orban, quien promueve una política a favor de la natalidad….” ….please double check the translation
so the google translator selected ‘birth” instead of “birthrate”. no one is being led down a dark alley here. .
On Friday the English translation said “abortion”, not “birth”
Cardinal McElroy said that more babies died from climate change than from abortion. He still has privileges.
He said the long term death toll will be greater.
https://www.cal-catholic.com/mcelroy-climate-change-death-toll-greater-than-abortion/
Either way, the good Cardinal is out of his depth. Unless of course he’s been graced with the gift of prophesy. Right.
I know nothing at all about climate change.
“Father François Schneider made the controversial statement …” If a statement is true it should not be considered controversial but should be accepted as fact by all rational people. It is easy to check the accuracy of the statement by comparing the numbers, and if the comparison holds up, then our obligation is to embrace the truth. Why then does the bishop embrace falsehood by denying the truth? Is not his job that of defending it at all costs? And this David Valence calling the priest’s comments “shameful”– is not this deluded politician projecting his own shame onto this poor priest whose only crime was telling the truth? And what of the catholyc parishioners who cried “foul” to the spineless bishop? They have disowned Christ and brought true shame on themselves. Where is the bishop’s concern for their souls? I am thinking all this synodality business is, as the Germans say, unanwenbar, or beside the point– irrelevant. The Church needs a deeper conversion to Christ, from the top down. This French fish stinks, from head to tail.
I think the issue is that it was Armistice Day (in US we changed it to Veteran’s Day in 1954) when you are supposed to honor those who died in WWI and by comparing it to abortion, changed the subject, trivialized the war dead and caused controversy.
Might it be the context of his stating that truth, “in his homily at the Armistice Day commemorative Mass?” Would one publicly say at a Vietnam War Memorial Mass or a Memorial Mass for Fallen Police Officers or Firefighters that more have been killed by abortion? While true, it would be insensitive to those attending. Would one make that point at a wedding Mass or baptism? Just because something is true does not mean it should be spoken under every circumstance. Context matters. That truth might be appropriately preached at many other times. While I’m sympathetic, I think Fr. Francois had a lapse of good judgment. At least he is only prohibited from public Masses for four weeks.
WWI was over 100 years ago. Abortion is now, ongoing, and the government is poised to enshrine abortion in the constition. Killing yet more French people. Those with courage speak up, “we must stop this madness!” It’s a mockery to be sad over the loss of life 100 years ago, and to look away and say hush-hush over what’s happening to the innocent today. This was the exact moment for Fr. Schneider to speak it.
The French Bishop has failed his responsibility to Christ to uphold Church teaching on Pro Life for all unborn children. The Pro Life priest should receive high praise. It makes no difference, the exact numbers of babies aborted, compared to the dead of WWI. A priest should always be very free to give sermons, the way he feels is best– and everyone should respect that. As long as he is preaching Church teaching, that’s fine. Nobody should be a smart-aleck, and fact-check over trivia. That is the good priest’s sermon, and all should listen to him, and respect him. Shame on Macron and all others, who want to legalize baby murder– abortion.
This article has serious problems and mistakes in translation, which ought to be corrected. My grandfathers and great uncles all fought in WWI. I have a great-uncle who was sent to war, but died quickly in 1918 of the Influenza Pandemic, and he is buried in France. Europe suffered terribly, and there are many horrible scars, from,WWI and WWII.
there are NO serious problems in the short excerpt of the article. yes, it does say ‘birth rate’, but no one will see a twisted attempt to hide that with ”births” and feel they have been misled~. And yes, “conmocion” really mean ‘shock’ , but ‘commotion’ is still falling in the ballpark.
I will explain. When you are translating something, it is important to make sure that readers can clearly understand what was written or said. Otherwise, readers will be confused. That’s all
This article needs some serious proof-reading as the lack of editing is very confusing and mis-leading.
The article was very straightfoward and covered the issue well. I am glad to see pro-life solidairity across dying Europe.
The prohibition is an admonition that he crossed the line… NOT comparing factual numbers … but because he added the political statement that French politicians should… “follow the example” of Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban, who promotes a pro-abortion policy. the birth rate and “take courageous measures”.
Does the Bishop not understand that the average young/middle age parishoneer see his action in suspending the priest as a green light for abortion?
I believe inserting Victor Orbans name was the cardinal error that earned him the reprimand. Bringing the name of a controversial politician into the homily was unwise.
Like mentioning that Trump attended the March for Life in this country.