Facing a shrinking and aging group of priests in active ministry, the Paulist Fathers on March 13 announced that the missionary society will close three national offices and leave two campus ministry programs, including its 117-year ministry at the University of California at Berkeley.
The historic community of U.S. Catholic priests also said it will change its pastoral staffing model for three communities: Immaculate Conception Church in Knoxville, Tennessee; Old St. Mary’s Cathedral in San Francisco; and the Paulist Center in Boston. Instead of having two full-time active Paulist priests assigned to them, those communities instead will be served by one full-time priest, who will be assisted by senior Paulist priests in residence.
Fr. René Constanza, the president of the Paulist Fathers, said in a prepared statement that the society decided on implementing those changes after heeding the “advice of external lay professionals” during a “comprehensive discernment process.”
“We are responding to where we believe the Holy Spirit is calling us to serve, considering the changing landscape of the Catholic Church in the United States and the shifting demographics of our own members,” Constanza said.
In a chart that accompanied a previous letter written by Constanza, the Paulist Fathers said the number of priests in active ministry had fallen by almost half in 20 years, from 98 in 2004 to 50 in 2024. And of those, almost two-thirds — 62% — are in their 60s, 70s and 80s.
By 2034, the Paulists predict they’ll have only 31 members in active ministry….
From NCR Online
See the 2014 story of Bishop Barber removing two Paulist priests in Berkeley.
They can’t get new people in 10 years?
They won’t. The young don’t want the liberal Catholicism that the Paulists peddle. The Newman Center in Berkeley is mostly old people who live in the neighborhood, not students from the university.
Great that the legacy of liturgical abuse is closer to an end at Berkeley. I might have heard some very weird things about the Paulists’ 32-year reign at UCSD, but I don’t know if anyone has any corroborating accounts. It’s certain though that the Paulists are per capita worse than the Jesuits.
It’s embarrassing that they invoke the Holy Spirit as inspiring them instead of squarely facing the brute fact of their total collapse and failure as a religious society.
Bye, Bye, Boomers.
Here’s where the dying Paulist community is:
“The Missionary Society of St. Paul the Apostle (“The Paulist Fathers”) is a community of Catholic priests that seeks to introduce the Good News of Jesus Christ to people beyond the Church walls, and to accompany Catholics who feel apart from the Church. Rooted in hopefulness, the Paulist Fathers trust that the Holy Spirit is not only present in the world but is actively breathing life into all things. The Paulist Fathers’ mission priorities include appreciating and using the gifts of people of color in the Church; welcoming those who feel excluded; inviting more women into leadership and ministry; and engaging young adults in their 20s and 30s. To accomplish our mission goals, the Paulist Fathers realize the importance of addressing the toxic polarization plaguing our Church and society.”
Here’s where one growing men’s religious community is:
We are… men of the Eucharist, truly devoted to Mary, loyal to the Magisterium, empowered by the Holy Spirit. To be a Companion of the Cross means to follow Christ all the way to Calvary, to stand faithfully with him by the Cross.”
The latter community actually attracts young adults to their parishes and to joining their religious community, including men of color.
It seems the Paulists have lost sight of the vision of their founders.
Like the Jesuits the Paulists have completely abandoned the very mission they were established for. Servant of God Father Issac Hecker started the Paulists for one reason…to Catholicize the United States of America. That’s right…to make The U.S.A. a Catholic nation. They used to hold an annual national “Novena for Conversions” in the last nine days of October leading up to All Saints Day. They were passionate evangelists for their own countrymen and them alone. The apologetics pamphlets they used to put out were magnificent. Before Vatican II they were nearly 300 priests strong! And now…so sad. I have prayed at Fr. Hecker’s tomb many times, entreating his intercession for his order’s “return to mission”, as well as the conversion of our nation.
Sad, sad, so very sad.
Now there’s a big mess to clean up, starting with the spectacularly ugly church. Look at a picture here:
https://www.stephendestaebler.com/newman-hall-intro.html
An uglier church I’ve never seen. I think it looks like something Klingons would use, not Catholics.
I think you owe us an apology. Looks more Romulan or Federation to me.
Why would anyone who has an ounce of appreciation for beauty want to celebrate Mass there?
It was based on the Bedrock cathedral which Fred and Wilma Flintstone attended.
At the time, they thought it Rocked!
Regarding the “Klingons”. I agree. Perhaps their goal was to drive people away from the Church so they could spend more time doing “important stuff”.
Here’s an inspiring story about a community of Brothers who serve in campus ministry:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrUoEbvw0wI
If you’re going to a place of worship based on the buildings physical appearance check yourself at the door because you’re there for the wrong reason. Alas we’re all sinners. Since it’s approaching Holy week let us bow our heads in prayers and stop looking around distracted.
A church is a holy place, and it ought to be constructed in a holy manner for the Glory of God– and greatly inspire worshippers. Go to these churches to enrich your faith. Many modern church architects are not people of deep faith, such as the builders of great and small churches and cathedrals of long ago– including the beloved Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.
So beauty is not a consideration? The people who designed and approved the brutalist, modernist, ugly sanctuary at Berkeley’s Newman Center created the least inspiring worship space imaginable. Nothing about that space is conducing to prayer. Nothing in that design lifts the human spirit to contemplate God except the crucifix. It is better to worship in a beautiful space than in an ugly space.
Stop pretending that aesthetics don’t matter. They do.
Just because you don’t like it, doesn’t mean it is not beautiful to someone else?
How did Jacob make his altar?
It is objectively ugly. Don’t pull any modernist relativist claptrap. Jacob worked with what he had available. The Newman Center had all the history of Christendom and all the technological means of 20th century construction available to it. The designers chose an ugly, monochrome, minimalist, cement, modernist, empty, depressing design.
Mordor wouldn’t have anything so ugly in it.
It’s so ugly it looks evil.
The next pastor’s number one priority should be to redesign that terrible church to make it beautiful.
I posted a video below that explains that it was supposed to be like Christ’s tomb.
Some modernist people are so tragically alienated from God, have no graces of God, no sense of beauty, nor the appreciation of the exquisite, Heavenly, Divine Beauty of Almighty God. They are blinded and tone-deaf to God’s tremendous, Heavenly, Divine Beauty, Holiness, Goodness, Love, Virtue, and Truth. They have no recognition that the Catholic Mass is extremely holy, that the great miracle of Transubstantiation takes place on the holy altar of God, that Christ is Truly Present– and Truly Present in the Catholic Tabernacle, with the Blessed Sacrament, too. Some young people say that they are “not interested in organized religion,” that they love to worship God when they are “out in Nature,” beholding the Glory of God in all His beautiful handiwork of sublime Beauty, in Nature. Give these young people exquisitely beautiful, holy churches that evoke God’s Divine Beauty! Even a tiny, beautiful, holy Adoration Chapel, where they may adore God, in all His wondrous Divine Beauty and holiness– is better than a huge, ugly-as-sin, modernist building, hypocritically designated as a “Catholic” church or cathedral, or campus Catholic student chapel.
See the video I posted below.
For many years, the Paulist Fathers have been radically liberal, shamefully supporting every immoral liberal cause. I recently saw an impressive interview with Harrison Butker, in which he discussed his devout Catholic faith. The FSSP sends priests to travel with the team, and say Mass for Butker and other Catholic team members and their families. They are all very strong Catholics. Of course, the FSSP only say the beautiful old Latin Tridentine Mass. Butker has two small children, a son and a daughter. He and his wife say the Rosary every night, with their children, in English, and have also taught them Latin prayers, too. His son, age four, keeps saying that he wants to grow up and become a priest! The little boy loves to go to the old Latin Mass with his family. Recently, the family attended an FSSP ordination, which deeply impressed the little boy. This is what has always drawn believers to Mass, and has made Saints — all ages, even children — all through the centuries, and will continue to draw devout Catholic believers — all ages– to Mass. Some will always become Saints, in every generation. Butker has been participating in events to encourage and support manhood and being a good, traditional Catholic husband and father. Wonderful that other young men are blessed to have such a fine role model in him, and similar young, outstanding Catholic men. Young Harrison Butker was only born July 14, 1995– and will be age 29 this summer. He is contributing a great deal to not only football, but to the Catholic Faith and Family– and to our country!
Of course, other forms of the Mass are good, too.
“He is contributing a great deal to not only football, but to the Catholic Faith and Family– and to our country!” I agree, and this is why I find Traditionis Custodes so harmful to a Church already sick from the infection of the Lavender virus. If the TLM forms such men as Butker, it should be revered. Benedict XVI had it right, and I find it incomprehensible that any posters here would fail to see this. I hope and pray that Francis would repudiate TC and honor Benedict’s wisdom.
If he was a really great Catholic, you wouldn’t know that he goes to Latin Mass or pray the Rosary.
He obviously is getting publicity for it.
He is 29 year old with a holding company.
Ever think it is just one of his marketing strategies?
Look at his IG.
Yes, Pope Francis has criticized Catholics for spiritual worldliness.
Don’t be a poser Catholic.
Harrison Butker and his lovely wife, Isabelle, and their lovely family, are all very sincere, devout, practicing Catholics. They have a wonderful group of devout Catholic friends, involved in football, along with their wives and families. Every honest, sincere Catholic reader on this website, should highly praise and support them and all they do for Christ. We are so blessed to have them. They are all very good role models too. Harrison Butker and his wife and family, and fellow devout Catholic families, are all sincere. They are not posers, or phonies.
If you love them, do not do this to them.
Young families have enough problems without having to be “perfect” Catholics.
Stop it.
Fastest way to harm their faith is to do what you are doing.
I can’t believe these tired, cynical words of yours. You should rather be thanking God for the grace He has accorded Butker. How very sad.
I watched an interview with him. He says he goes to Mass when he can.
I think what he means is that because he only goes to Latin Mass, if he can’t get to that, he does not go.
Kansas City Mo has at least 25 Catholic Churches.
He says he is not that good of a husband or father. But he wants to be better. He’s trying.
He’s a football player.
We need to put people on pedestals.
We need to not put people on pedestals.
God and religion– especially Catholicism– are certainly not worldly and trendy, effective marketing tools for shallow young male sports stars, seeking worldly fame, money, and glory. You should praise all fellow Catholics, seeking to utilize their talents and newfound fame and money– simply to glorify God. These are fine male Catholic role models for you, and for your kids– especially, for your sons.
You can idolize whoever you want. I will not be joining you.
We are all servants of no worth.
Jesus said so.
There is some new weird, adulterated, weakened version of Christianity that seeks worldly power and money. It is trying to re-write the Gospel into a socio-cultural formula for change. Evangelicals believe “once saved, always saved.” Catholics do not believe that. “Go away, I never knew you.” Matthew 7:23
My son did not idolize sports figures.
NFL players are not known for being great role models.
He liked some music artists and I told him “We imitate Christ, not musicians.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLvJS6jFaP4
The Francis Papacy is drawing to a close. In another decade, I will probably not be here. But thankfully— documents like “Traditionis Custodes,” “Fiducia Supplicans,” etc. will probably be invalidated, discarded and forgotten.
“… discarded and forgotten.” I too will not be around another decade, if current health trends continue. I hope to see a repudiation of TC during my remaining years, so those souls drawn to the TLM may blossom thereby. And as Benedict desired, I pray the two forms of the Mass will enrich each other, but especially that the beautiful chant with organ might find its way to the Novus Ordo with greater frequency.
Nothing wrong with “Traditionis custodes” or “Fiducia supplicans.”
“Traditionis custodes” will only be reversed when the divisive people who belittle the Ordinary Form and Vatican II have repented of their divisiveness.
And “Fiducia supplicans” will be workable in the continent of Africa when certain nations there will have repealed laws criminalizing homosexuality.
Traditionis Custodes cannot be reversed because Pope Francis has definitively committed the Roman Church to the full liturgical implementation of Vatican II’s liturgical reforms. The post-conciliar liturgical books are the unique expression of the Roman Rite. They are normative. We’re never going back to a bi-Missal Roman Church.
“Traditionis Custodes cannot be reversed …” I must confess I don’t run things in Rome but that notwithstanding I fail to see any substance to your argument. If Francis can destroy the legacy of Benedict, then a new pope can undo the damage and restore Benedict’s legacy. Seems a trivial conclusion to me. However, if you, normative, or jon are able to peer deeper into such matters, I would be glad to know where I am wrong in my thinking.
Well, on the one hand, technically “Traditionis custodes” can be reversed inasmuch as a future pope can reinstate the policies in “Summorum pontificum” where priests can just offer the Extraordinary Form without permission from their bishop. So, “technically” a reversal is possible. After all, this is a matter of liturgical discipline, not a matter of divine faith.
Yet in the other hand, I agree with you that Pope Francis has committed the Church to the full implementation of Vatican II, and that the use of the Missal of 1962 is a mere accommodation. We must all hope that future popes will stand firm with Pope Francis’ support for the liturgical reforms of Vatican II.
“Traditionis Custodes” and “Fiducia Supplicans” are heavily criticized by professional Catholic theologians– and laughed at by everyone else. Such extremely poor, laughable documents can and will be eventually invalidated, laughed at, and discarded. The Second Vatican Council is not as definitive as you may think. It is of only one tiny era in Catholic history, the current, modern, 20th century era. The theologians who were the Pope’s architects of this Council, were very particular to this era.
There was not a time in Church history where the Latin Rite had more than one form. For twenty years there was not extraordinary form in the Church unless you has permission from the Vatican.
We do not need two missals. Nobody needs to be indulged in their personal preference. That is completely not traditional.
The Vatican Councils both I and II are ecumenical councils of the Catholic Church. Once promulgated by the Pope (which they have been) the documents from those councils are infallible.
Ler’s get a clearer vuew. The truth is, there are many “progressive” modernist Church leaders, who want to annihilate the past. That’s all. I think Pope Benedict had a much better idea, with his “Summorum Pontificum.” Pope Benedict was a highly educated, brilliant pope, deeply spiritual — and strongly upheld Catholic teaching– as all popes should do. Every pope is different. The next pope will be different, too. You just have to make peace with that, and follow Jesus as best you can. No one can have any say in this matter. Especially, laymen. The liturgy is not ours, either.
“Reply’s” assertions is simply false. The suggestion that the Church has many “progressive” and “modernist” Church leaders that want to “annihilate” the past is simply unproven. There may be a rogue bishop or priest here or there, but not at many and as vociferous as the “radicalized traditionalists” who are divisive.
Those who are gung-ho for the New Mass– the Novus Ordo– and who adore all things modern— often despise anything of the past, and belittle the past, our great heritage,
My comment of March 24 at 4:46pm was edited. What I basically said was that jon had it backwards. Those who love all things new and modern, who want to “cancel” the past and our great religious heritage, always belittle and condemn the traditional Tridentine Latin Mass– and all things traditional. Many of these people view our great religious heritage as “old fashioned” and “boring,” and want it “cancelled” and destroyed. They just want all things new and modern to replace it all.
As mandated by Vatican II, there are many elements in the Ordinary Form that come from ancient times, from the early Church.
You see, “Reply”, the things you think are “new” in the Ordinary Form, are actually restorations of liturgical traditions that pre-dated (note that, “predated”) the Tridentine Mass, (that’s the 1962 Missal for you protestants out there).
An example is the offertory procession. Another example are the Prayers of the Faithful.
So, “Reply,” it is a myth that Catholics today who are being spiritually nourished by the Ordinary Form want to “cancel” or “throw away” tradition. That’s a falsehood. Give that narrative up because it doesn’t hold water.
The whole point is, in today’s Church, many “progresssive” leaders despise anything of the traditional Catholic heritage– and want to aggressively, entirely “cancel” or “delete” it.
Again, “Reply’s” point is a myth. There may be “progressive” Churchmen, but they are few and far in between, and they are dying away.
The real threat these days to Church unity are the “radicalized traditionalists” who want to cancel and delete the Ordinary Form and Vatican II.
Nobody is belittling the Mass.
Most people who grew up with the Latin Mass like the changes. Some did not.
All the people I knew who wanted the Latin Mass back are dead. So are all the people who never wanted to see a Latin Mass again. As are the people who would like to go to a Latin Mass just one more time.
But most Catholics of that era also understood that what the Church says goes, that what the Pope says goes.
Even if they would have liked more variety, a different kind of music, better sermons, whatever, they did not agitate for what they wanted. They did not church hop.
Traditional Catholicism is submissive and uncomplaining.
Traditional Catholics choose from the Mass times at their geographically assigned parish. They might say “Hey, Father, can we do this?” And what Father says goes.
“uncomplaining’s” point that “no one is belittling the Mass” falls apart when you look at the reality all around you.
Look that the continued existence of the beloved SSPX, who are not in communion with the Pope. Their founder himself called the Holy Mass a “bastardized” rite or something to that effect. It’s very disrespectful and abhorrent what he said. And the beloved SSPX is being looked up to by many people.
Look at the various ex-Ecclesia Dei communities (like the beloved FSSP and the beloved Institute of Christ the King) who’d rather not have anything to do with the Ordinary Form if they can help it.
Look at the laypeople who exclusive go to the Extraordinary Form and who consider it a “sin” to go to a Mass using the Missal of Paul VI.
There are many such people. And by their actions and beliefs they have effectively “belittled” the Ordinary Form of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in the Roman Rite.
Nobody here, belongs to the SSPX– so what is your problem with that? So the current pope hates Catholic Tradition and persecutes everyone who loves it. And so, that is his persinal, weird, unusual little prejudice. Just like King Henry VIII, former gung- ho Catholic, who turned hIs back on the Catholic Church, suddenly, when he did not get a male heir –and made-up his own church, and persecuted all his Catholics, who still cherished the Catholic Church– now strangely disfavored– and illegal. The King killed everyone who did not agree with him. He “unified” his country that way. A person like “jon” apparently does not uphold honest, true beliefs and convictions. If the next pope loves the old Latin Mass, then jon will change his tune, declaring his love for it, too. And if the Novus Ordo Mass ever is denounced, for some reason, and even is declared illegal by Canon Law– then, people like jon will avoid it— and strongly declare that they truly despise it. What would jon do, if the pope had secret lovers and illegitimate children? Jon is always the copycat to the pope, blindly believing a pope has superbatural powers and God-like knowledge, straight from Heaven. All popes are just Catholic prelates only managing the Church that Christ founded– until He returns for us, His flock. Christ never expected too much of St. Peter’s leadership– just manage the flock as best you can, until Christ’s return. And some popes will be Judases. But the Church will survive, despite them. Not because of them– they are ignorant, and wicked. Christ will always take care of His true sheep, spiritually, from Heaven. I bet the parents of the current pope, Mr. and Mrs. Bergoglio, were very proud of their lovely old Latin Tridentine Mass, lifelong. And their son ought to be proud of it— and proud of his Catholic heritage– too.
I meant the Latin Mass.
There are some people who avoid the Ordinary Form.
There are a lot of websites that spread false beliefs about it.
My lack of clarity.. Sorry.
Well, kiddo, I never had a computer or device, as they call it– until past age 60. My generation never grew up being “taught”– or rather, “babysat”– by a dumb computer. We were all taught by live, mature people– with good minds.
Never make generalizations regarding people. Many Catholic laymen really do not care much about the Catholic Church– nor even believe in the Real Presence. Maybe that includes you, also. Those with deep religious faith, a deep interest and education in the Catholic Faith and its beautiful and rich traditions — are not the ones you described. They are always very few, in evety generation– and are deeply blessed by the grace of God. Some become priests or nuns. Many of today’s gifted, religious young Cathollc men and women– are led by God, to join traditional orders that cherish the deeper and richer aspects of the Catholic religion– and lead a deeper and richer life with God. Others, who simply put up with going to church out of habit, or for social needs– have no interest in, nor understanding, of the pathways of these gifted young Catholics– and no doubt, neither do you. Some of these gifited young Catholics may even have a calling to become holy saints.
Traditional orders, like FSSP, are great and submit to the Pope.
Why would they be?
The Paulists just re-established a community in the Diocese of San Diego after being gone 20+ years. Two of their priests now minister at St. Gregory parish in Scripps Ranch.
Many years ago, I had a shocking experience with the Paulist Fathers. In the mid-1980s, on a quiet weekday afternoon, a small group of ladies, all dressed up in nice dresses for work, including myself, decided to go into a church run by the Paulists, and say a Rosary for a special reason — and light a votive candle. The church was empty. We asked the sacristan if it was okay, for us to just say a quiet 15-minute Rosary. Hopefully, there were no other events scheduled, so we would not disturb anyone.So, it seemed fine. We knelt to say our Rosary, quietly– but lo and behold– a Paulist priest suddenly appeared in the church and strode right over to our church pew and told us he was the pastor– and that we must all leave. He explained that we must all become feminists, not “dumb Catholic housewives”– and we must not pray the Rosary anymore– because that was how it should be, with Vatican II. He was stern. “Get those rosaries out of here.” So we got up quickly and left– and never went near that Paulist church again. We knew that the Paulists were very Americanized, meant to evangelize America, and progressive — but surely their saintly founder, in NYC, Fr. Isaac Hecker (the son of German immigrants, a Catholic convert, originally a Redemptorist Father) —- would never have allowed such beliefs, regarding feminism, Vatican II, and Our Lady and her Rosary. He would surely have sternly reprimanded that particular Paulist Father. We learned later, that this church was very gay-friendly, with some gay couples, and gay staff members hired, too, who had boyfriends, or partners. I asked about that, and was told that the Paulists of that church accepted gays who had “just one” steady boyfriend, that was a permanent sort of arrangement, or commitment. The Paulist pastor had a personal secretary, who was a gay young man, with one permanent boyfriend. It was a big church, with many priests, and a big staff, too.
Be honest. The pope hates Catholic Tradition. So what else is new?
The Pope upholds Catholic Tradition.
No, he wants to change it. He says it is “too rigid” for him. This pope does not like anything that he considers to be “rigid ” That is his personal viewpoint. The next pope will have a different viewpoint. Did you know, that this pope even picked out a different, non-traditional burial place for hinself– and he lives in a non-traditional hotel suite, at Santa Marta’s– not the Apostolic Palace, which he didn’t like. That is just how he is. The next pope will have different ideas.
Reply to- you are confusing Catholic Tradition which is sacred and infallible with simple human traditions.
https://www.orlandodiocese.org/e-scroll/archive/catholic-culture-whats-the-difference-between-tradition-and-tradition/
Catholic Tradition handed down through the centyrues, from the time of Christ and His Apostles, is sacred, not to be thrown out and discarded, as merely “human” traditions. A good Catholic scholar for you to read, would be the fine works of Dietrich von Hildebrand and his lovely wife, Alice. Dietrich von Hildebrand was called the “Twentieth Century Doctor of the Church” by Pope Pius XII.
When was the Mass first said in Latin…and why?
Have you personally read any of his books?
Where the Pope is buried doesn’t matter. Pope Leo XIII was not buried at St. Peters. He was called the Marian Pope. 6 other popes are buried where the Pope wants to be, St. Mary Major. This is not significant.
The Pope says to be firm in the faith but not rigid. He uses the example of Jesus with the Canaanite woman.
He is not anything about Tradition.
He is bound to uphold Tradition.
Make sure you get your news about the Pope from the Vatican News Source and not from his enemies online.
Bearing false witness is a sin. Bearing false witness about the Pope is a grave sin.
No one here is bearing false witness about the pope.
I don’t trust the Paulists.
A lot of the problems among certain lay Catholics is that they have trusted people who they should not have trusted.
Get a catechism and read it through several times.
You have the Internet so you can verify things.
They say if you spend 18 minutes a day learning something in a year you will know more than 95% of most people in the world about the subject.
However, that has limitations. If I spend 18 minutes a day learning to play guitar at the end of a year I will play guitar better than 95% of the people in the world-the other 5% will be guitarists.
I see that Paulist Press has a lot of good selections. There may be some that are questionable.
Better to completely avoid the Internet. Instead, read good literature– the classics– and read good books in subjects that you are interested in. If you want to learn to play a musical instrument– find a good teacher and take lessons. You may also find some good courses taught at your local diocese, in Scripture and related subjects. You will find that you want to devote much more time to learning a subject well, than 18 minutes a day. Turn off the TV and all media– and spend hours, on your favorite subjects.
This pope hates Catholic Tradition, period.
One must always be careful to follow Jesus Christ– first and foremost. Follow Him before any Catholic cleric, who might tell you to do something that you think Christ would never want you to do. For example– if a Paulist, Jesuit, or Dominican priest (etc.) tells you to come to their LGBT Mass, and support gays with lovers; or if a Holy Cross Father at Notre Dame Univ. tells you to attend then-Pres. Obama’s graduation speech, and a few years later, tells you to attend a Drag Queen Mass and performance after the Mass, and support the gays; or if a cleric like Cardinal “Tucho” gives you some pornographic books he wrote, as a gift for your kids; or if a Jesuit priest tells your kid attending a Jesuit school, to sign up for a summer internship at Planned Parenthood; or if a pope instructs your son, who is a Vatican priest, to say Mass at the Vatican for the adulterous then-Argentine President, and give him and his mistress Holy Communion; or if the pope tells your son, the Vatican priest, to say Mass for Pres. Biden and his wife, and Rep. Nancy Pelosi and her husband– and give them all Holy Communion– and give a “Fiducia Supplicans” blessing after the Mass to ex-Catholic, Notre Dame grad, Pete Buttigieg and his gay lover, Chasten, who are traveling with Pres. Biden’s group– or if the pope gives you, a California priest, a Pachamama idol, along with a set of instructions to incorporate it into your Mass at your parish, which is full of indigenous Amazonian immigrants; or if a pope tells you, a priest, to give absolution to all the penitents, who are without sorrow for sin, with no desire for repentance of sin — and for you, the priest, to give no penances after Confession– well, what do you do? Whom do you follow? A flawed man, who is not living up to his vows to Christ, as His earthly representative, as a Catholic cleric– but is falsely protected by the Church, and by the respectful public– because of his sacred role? Whom do you follow? Think carefully. And always stand up forJesus Christ– your unseen Divine Spouse, in charge of His Church that He created, Who dwells in Heaven. He really does not operate an earthly religious institution, a flawed administrative bureaucracy of some sort, dubbed the “Roman Catholic Church” (Christ never named it) and institutionalized formally, as a religious arm of the Roman government– a state religion, replacing the old pagan religion– several centuries after Christ’s death and resurrection. (Christ never mandated this, for His Apostles and followers. And He was a Jew, the long-prophesied Jewish Messiah– not a big, important Roman government official, helping to establish a new State religion). What Christ actually does– is save souls. He does so through that flawed earthly structure. But be careful. One must always honestly, faithfully seek to follow Him– and only Him– above all earthly things. Even if there are a few bad, faithless clerical leaders– a few Judases. You will always have a few Judases, who will try to charm you, con you, trap you, like the wily Devil, with fancy, charming, but deviant, deceptive speech– and twisted, dangerous evils lurking, underneath. A big challenge for you! Just ignore them, and follow Christ.