The following comes from an August 4 Thousand Oaks Acorn article by Stephanie Bertholdo:
Monsignor Paul Albee was welcomed as the new pastor of St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church in Westlake on July 1.
Albee, the pastor at Holy Cross for 11 years, joined St. Max after the Rev. Jarlath Dolan retired.
Albee has worked in numerous California parishes since he became a priest over 32 years ago.
He talked briefly about Pope Francis, who by many accounts has captured the hearts of Catholics and the faithful from other denominations around the world for his generosity of spirit.
“I think that people are very excited about the Holy Father’s ministry in the Catholic Church,” he said. “It seems to be a different approach than others, but (actually) it’s all based in Catholic traditions for centuries.”
The tenets promoted by the pope, he said, are based on “treating people with honor and dignity.”
“That’s always been part of Catholic theology and tradition,” Albee said. “I think it’s exciting and refreshing to hear it being reiterated in the Catholic Church.”
He said his philosophy jibes with the pope’s in that he would never deny Holy Communion to anyone, including members of the gay community.
“To quote Pope Francis, ‘Who are we to judge?’” Albee said.
For now, he is focused on getting to know the St. Max community. He is particularly pleased with the congregational outreach done at the church, including participation in Habitat for Humanity.
Ordinarily, priests are moved from parish to parish every six years. But Albee, who is just shy of 60, said he expects to be the pastor at St. Max for far longer.
“Given my age, this is the last stop of the journey,” he said.
Glad he’s not my pastor. It will be a superficial, modernist, Francischurch parish, not an authentic Catholic parish. Anyone willing to put up with him must be willing to stick it out for about a decade. That’s a long time to languish in spiritual, doctrinal, liturgical and theological mediocrity, at best.
The pastor needs some remedial education in Canon Law; first of all, Canon 915, but there are others that pertain to who may be admitted to Holy Communion and who must not be. For him to say what he did is irresponsible of a priest.
Wow. So we are eager to apply Canon Law to someone when it suits our agenda, but ignore the same Canon Law when it pertains to us, such as 1373. Right. Good work.
Keep wowing, jon. Your agenda to use the law to destroy the spirit of the law is clearly communicated with your banal posts. Banal because as intriguing as ti may sound about moles within the Church, the reality has become so commonplace as to become little more than a buzz of flies on rotten fruit.
If only there were a real “wow” with you. That would be true enlightenment or, at the very least, proof of life.
Mon. Albee is an idiot and should not be a priest. If he is presented by an active homosexual in the communion line, Mon. Albee should impart a blessing, a hug, or a fist-bump, but never communion. Not that Christ lacks mercy, but He stands for love. Recall that Christ said that the “narrow way” to Heaven is difficult and not used by most people (meaning they wind up in Hell).
Like the adulterous woman, Christ would surely say, “go and sin — not have sodomy — any more.”
The shepherd who knowingly permits a homosexual, who he knows is sexually active, to teceive the Eucharist, commits a grave sin.
This priest said “his philosophy jibes with the pope’s in that he would never deny Holy Communion to anyone, including members of the gay community”. I don’t recall the pope discussing ‘he would never denying Holy Communion to anyone’? Did Francis say that? I think he assumes too much from the Francis comment ‘who am I to judge.’ And by his own words, this priest condemns himself if he presents Jesus in Holy Communion to ANY ‘known un-repentant sinner’. How long will Jesus suffer His priests’ offending Him? At each mass, pray to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for reparation from any unholy reception of Holy Communion. God help them if they truly ‘know’ what they are doing.
Father and Everyone………
WE ARE TO JUDGE ‘ACTIONS’ !!!!!!
I think this is true of most Catholic clergy in the Bay Area, although they aren’t as open about it as this priest is.
If Father is unable to judge, he shouldn’t hear confessions. Perhaps he doesn’t.
A man who says “Who are we to judge?’” has already judged. He has judge the sodomite, adulterer, thief, liar, abortionist, etc. as not worthy of salvation. Any man let alone a priest of God who would let a man continue in sin and remain on the road to damnation is an accomplice to the spiritual death of that person. Better our actions be “judged” now and our lives turned from damnation.
I know Fr. Albee personally. I went to Seminary with him. Don’t judge him by this article, please. What we have here are a few sentences, not any explanation of what he has said in full. Just like Pope Francis who didn’t just say “Who am I to judge?” but “If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?” — Interview aboard the Papal Plane after World Youth Day in Brazil.
Someone who is searching for the Lord and has good will is on his/her way to rejecting the sin and seeking God. We are not to judge that person. We always must judge actions, but never people. We don’t know if someone has just gone to the Sacrament of Reconciliation or not. The only person I would turn away from Holy Communion…
Fr. Higgins, that is what others have explained, too, about what Pope Francis was saying on that plane that day. When I read the full interview in English on some blogs, it sounded to me that the only thing the pope was saying is that if someone comes to him, especially in confession, and is seemingly repentant of what they had done and is trying to do better, the pope can not judge his sincerity if he seems sincere.
The Holy Father does leave us “hanging” at times with incomplete statements, but often he clarifies it in a later sermon, etc. He does need to clear up the eight chapter and some other things in Amoris Laetitia, though, and needs to be more careful as often the media loves to twist what people say for their own agenda.
Well, I’m glad you posted this here, if only to defend the reputation of a priest, because this article, printed in this blog, coupled with the kind of comments it will sure attract given the “spirit” of this crowd, may damage the reputation of the priest. All of us, including clergy, have the right to a good reputation (even Canon Law I think says as much). So yeah, hopefully your words will caution the vociferous and eager-to-castigate-Novus-Ordo-priests crowd here to reserve their castigations and judgment.
What does this mean, “jon” and “Fr. Higgins”?: It seems that Canon 915 is on point here: “Those who have been excommunicated or interdicted after the imposition or declaration of the penalty and others obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to holy communion.” Where Mon. Albee knows that someone is acting against Church doctrine, he must deny them communion. He should also take steps to privately counsel them, of course. Nope, M. Albee cannot put the burden of avoiding scandal all on the individual.
WRONG! You quote the Canon and then you forward a position that is unsupported by the same Canon. Note your subtle “departure” from the Canon: “When Mon. Albee knows that someone is acting against Church doctrine….” It is NOT “acting against Church doctrine” that Canon 915 addresses, but those who have actually been excommunicated or have incurred excommunication. The former doesn’t always necessarily mean the latter.
My earlier comment means that before folks here condemn the priest, get the full story from him and the context of his words. WHy don’t you write the priest a letter and voice your concern? Seems more responsible than what some folks here do.
That is very kind of you to support your friend❤️
He is a example of the decay that is occurring in todays Church.
“Moderns times are DOMINATED by Satan, and will be MORE SO in the future.”
… Saint Maximilian Kolbe, 1917
The Good Book also quotes Christ Judge not lest ye be judged.
You are right. Judging Fr. Albee on these short remarks is irresponsible.
What is irresponsible is speaking off the cuff while using the words “never” and “always”. Sorry, Fr. Higgins, but the collar and ordination places an individual, as you well know, in a position of serious responsibility.
The sheep are exhausted in the necessary effort of teasing out the truth from those who should know and preach it in full. The spotlight is definitely on. And while that is a great burden, to be sure, it is necessary.
Yes, Anne Malley, you get to the heart of the matter. The article says that the priest would “never” deny communion to “anyone, including members of the gay community.” That stance is incompatible with priestly responsibilities concerning the Eucharist and needs to be either retracted or clarified (since it isn’t a direct quotation). Priests have a duty to withhold communion from some people. To state that you will never withhold communion from anyone is to say that you will not do what the Church expects her priests to do.
When it comes down to enabling someone to lose their eternal life, then the enabler can be viewed as being irresponsible.
“Enabling: Removing the natural consequences of someone’s behavior. ”
!.” Once the enabling stops, the recovery is given an opportunity to start. ”
2.” The only people who are mad at you for telling the truth are those people who are living a lie. Keep speaking the TRUTH!”
3. “Understand the difference between helping and enabling. Don’t participate in someone else’s behavior. ”
4. Loyalty to God come first. It is God or Nothing! False compassion enables!
This priest, like so many Catholic clergy of our post-Conciliar era– has made a big mistake! He is not doing his job, is he! His job is to first thoroughly teach his Catholic laymen and their children, their Faith and Morals, and help and encourage them to maintain an excellent, daily practice of their religion! Next, he should encourage them all to go to Confession, and be available for lots of personal spiritual help and guidance! With a well-catechized, enthusiastic parish of Catholic laymen and their families– he will no longer have to say anything at all, regarding reception of Holy Communion– everyone will know, including himself, the priest! Now– why can’t the Pope do likewise? That’s his job!
So many Catholics of today, no longer go to Confession. And many are very confused, with poor religious and moral training! For example, if a Catholic is confused about how to lead a good moral life, and is struggling with sexual feelings–why not go and talk to the priest, in the Confessional? Tell the priest about your struggles, and ask for guidance! How does a Catholic lead a good, chaste life, if single– and if married, how does a Catholic cultivate a good Catholic (not pagan!) Sacramental marriage?? And if one has the “LGBT” inclinations– what do you do?? A good priest should always be there, eager to help!
The Left in the Church deliberately misrepresent the terms “judgmental” and “tolerance””–probably educated in secular schools without Catholic formation. .
St Max is a parish of wealthy people with influence. If Catholics there don’t like
the priest, they can prevail on Archbishop Gomez to out him. One can only imagine the perverted teachings that will happen there, given that his very first introductory sermon was a scandal.
“Judge not that ye be not judged” is often taken out of context. In context all the Lord Jesus meant is that we are to make fair, impartial and just judgments after getting all the fact and to make sure we are not doing the same things ourselves. It is humanly impossible not to judge; in fact many times it is our duty to make judgments and is a dereliction of duty not to do so.
I became a Catholic shortly after marriage for reasons that were pragmatic rather than a matter of my heart. However, my true conversion occurred about 19 years after joining the Church (2015) at the beginning of my homeschooling experience with my four children (and is ongoing). My vocation was revealed to me by the Holy Spirit. My husband and I chose a Catholic homeschool program that is loyal to the magisterium, Ignatian in method. I’ve learned more about the Church, doctrine, and theology since embarking on this path with my children, and it has changed my heart and my family. Admittedly, I’ve caught myself “nitpicking” things I’ve seen others do and not do during, before, and after mass. And then I stopped myself. Because had I…