The following comes from a September 8 Catholic News Agency article:
After 14 years of serving the Church’s apostolate for men and women with same-sex attraction, Fr. Paul Check will step down from his current position as Executive Director in order to take up his new position as rector of the seminary in his diocese.
“I will leave my current role with a measure of both peace and sadness,” Fr. Check wrote in an announcement. “I am peaceful because I trust in my Bishop’s decision, and I am grateful for and humbled by the confidence that he has placed in me.”
“At the same time, however, I will be sad to leave what is such a unique and vital apostolate in the life of the Church today – ‘a light that shines in the darkness’ – and one that offers hope to many. Pope Benedict once wrote that Jesus is both logos and agape. I believe the Courage/EnCourage ministry reflects that twofold character of Christ in its clarity and charity, even as it remains a ‘sign of contradiction’ to the world, all in fidelity to the Master.”
Courage, founded in 1980, aims to help Catholics with same-sex attraction in their spiritual growth, including life in chastity. Its partner organization EnCourage is an apostolate for parents, friends, and family members of those with same-sex attraction.
Fr. Check has been involved with both organizations for 14 years, serving as Executive Director of both groups for almost nine years. He will be transferring to his new position as rector of St. John Fisher seminary by December 31, having received the appointment from Bishop Frank Caggiano of the Diocese of Bridgeport, Connecticut.
He said he also believes the apostolate has prepared him well for his new assignment at the seminary, and that he plans to share what he’s learned through his involvement with the ministry with the students under his charge.
Paul Check’s brother, a married layman, Chris Check, heads up Catholic Answers based in El Cajon, California.
I have no doubt Fr. Check’s expertise and convictions will be most useful and necessary as rector. of the diocesan seminary.
He will be a GREAT BISHOP!
“He said he also believes the apostolate has prepared him well for his new assignment at the seminary.” (Because the seminary is packed with homosexuals.)
…and Dave, you know this how??
“He said he also believes **the apostolate has prepared him well for his new assignment at the seminary**, and that he plans to **share what he’s learned through his involvement with the ministry with the students under his charge.**”
…..and Dave, you know this how?? = Read the obvious! He did NOT clarify, or say, that due to the horrific sex abuse scandals, Pope Benedict XVI was right about homosexuality being incompatible with the priesthood. It is precisely because of the scandals that this should have been clarified.
continued…
continued…It IS important to build crucial trust factors for parents, families and silent observers who will take these words as an acceptance of homosexual seminarian candidates as long as they are prepared to attend Courage meetings as seminarians and while then serving as future priests.
A very wise, and holy priest, who was once in charge, of seminarians, told a group of Catholics, “You don’t place lots of boxes of tempting chocolates in rooms with chocoholics.”
Criteria for the Discernment of Vocation for Persons with Homosexual Tendencies
https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccatheduc/documents/rc_con_ccatheduc_doc_20051104_istruzione_en.html
It would be gravely dishonest for a candidate to hide his own homosexuality in order to proceed, despite everything, towards ordination. Such a deceitful attitude does not correspond to the spirit of truth, loyalty and openness that must characterize the personality of him who believes he is called to serve Christ and his Church in the ministerial priesthood.
Just because there is a rule, doesn’t mean people follow it.
“Just because there is a rule, doesn’t mean people follow it.”
Dave N., Now, where, in the world, would you get such a silly idea! You see, after 50+years of Springtime bliss and obedience, rules were made to ignore. It is also interesting how dissenters for years have ignored the (rules) teachings in the CCC, but it’s sure interesting that ever since Pope Francis became Pope, dissenters and trolls, all of the sudden, now love to cite the CCC because they foolishly think that this makes their other disobediences sound so “official.”
Catherine – One must wonder just how many parishes have been scandalized (if not driven to Bankruptcy by the Epheboiphile Abuse of Adolescent Boys) by the failure of those in leadership to follow basic (and wise) doctrine such as this?
Criteria for the Discernment of Vocation for Persons with Homosexual Tendencies
https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccatheduc/documents/rc_con_ccatheduc_doc_20051104_istruzione_en.html
“One must wonder just how many parishes have been scandalized (if not driven to Bankruptcy by the Epheboiphile Abuse of Adolescent Boys) by the failure of those in leadership to follow basic (and wise) doctrine such as this?”
Thank you, Michael McDermott, for your much needed, male leadership, and for telling the truth.
From: JonathanK@
http://www.CaliforniaFamilyAction.org
Now that the legislative session is over, we want to direct your attention and action to a few bad bills that have passed through the State Assembly and Senate, and await the Governor’s signature. One of these is SB 524, another attack on religious liberty from Senator Ricardo Lara (the author of SB 1146).
California-based FACESS (Freeing American Children from Exploitation and Sexual Slavery) is one such program that has done incredible ministry helping the victims of sex trafficking, working in conjunction with local and federal law enforcement officials.
SB 524 would place private, religious nonprofits like FACESS under the same regulatory regime as secular foster care and group…