Much of the criticism of Fr James Martin and his book Building a Bridge is part of a “cancer of vilification” in the US Church, a bishop has claimed.
Bishop Robert McElroy of San Diego said the criticism was often based on “homophobia”, and also served as a “veiled attack” on Pope Francis.
Two talks by Fr Martin were cancelled last week, while an address to Cafod in the UK was also postponed. Fr Martin said this was “a result of anger or fear over my book Building a Bridge,” although Cafod said their decision was due more to scheduling issues.
In an article for America magazine, Bishop McElroy accused Fr Martin’s critics of a “campaign of distortion”, adding that a “cancer of vilification is seeping into the institutional life of the Church”.
Fr Martin’s critics, he added, are driven by “homophobia” and have a distorted view of Catholic moral teaching. He also accused them of making a veiled attack on Pope Francis and his “campaign against judgmentalism”.
The US Church, Bishop McElroy said, has a “long-standing bigotry” against members of the LGBT community. The attacks on Fr Martin’s book Building a Bridge show it is time for the Church to “purge itself” of this bigotry, he adds.
The bishop also accused them of distorting Church teaching, saying that while Christians should model themselves on Christ, chastity is “not the central virtue in the Christian moral life”.
“Many times, our discussions in the life of the church suggest that chastity has a singularly powerful role in determining our moral character or our relationship with God. It does not.”
Finally, Bishop McElroy says many of those criticising Fr Martin are unable to forgive Pope Francis for “uttering that historic phrase on the plane: ‘Who am I to judge?’”
Full story at Catholic Herald.
“Ism-Obia” did not Bankrupt so many Parishes and Diocese, but rather the Homosex Ephebophile Targeting of Adolescent Boys and Coverup by ‘church leaders’ not only cost huge $ sums, but Ruined countless Lives of those who trusted said alleged Leadership
SEE
Top Vatican official: Gay sex in Vatican ‘never been worse’ than under Francis
monsignor, Luigi Capozzi, who was allegedly arrested some two months ago in the act of hosting a cocaine-fueled homosexual orgy in an apartment of the Holy Office, the same building in which the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith operates
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/top-vatican-official-gay-sex-in-vatican-never-been-worse-than-under-francis
&
Vatican reiterates that homosexuals…
As the saying goes, “Birds of a feather flock together.”
Vatican reiterates homosexuals Shouldn’t be Priests
https://cruxnow.com/global-church/2016/12/07/vatican-reiterates-homosexuals-shouldnt-priests/
The Sick story of disgraced Boston ‘priest’ Geoghan is huge red flag warning to all of us that just because an Imposter can memorize and play act the Mass, does not mean that He Believes any part of it
SSADLY – Imposters have infiltrated the Priesthood (small numbers, but Huge Harm) for the purpose of obtaining a cloak under which to engage in Evil.
McElroys Refusal to address this disgrace, is itself a further disgrace, and Harms the Victims of the Abuse
BishopAccountability.org
https://www.bishop-accountability.org/assign/Geoghan-John-J-History.htm
https://www.podles…
How low can you go Bishop?
BTW – Where did the denunciation of ‘Ism-Oobia’ discuss the real world harms of Treatment Resistant STDs vectoring from the Homosex playground get discussed?
SEE
UPDATE: MassResistance book on LGBT health risks gaining endorsements from physicians and conservative activists
https://www.massresistance.org/docs/gen3/17c/Health-Book-reviews/index.html
Still the only book covering this crucial subject that no one wants to discuss
– The Health Hazards of Homosexuality.
It’s the subject that no one on the Left wants to talk about – and most conservatives are afraid to talk about. But it’s one which must be talked about.
Our groundbreaking MassResistance book, The Health Hazards of Homosexuality, is really getting people’s attention…
Thank you, Michael McDermott. Surgeon General Koop and many other doctors and nurses tried to tell them this when Koop was in office, but many in San Francisco listened to men like Harvey Milk instead, and they died at a very young age. Any one with half a brain should know that sodomy is not safe, condom or not.
The bishop and the priest are both demonically deluded and screech with indignation at being reminded of it. Opposition to the acceptance of evil activity is not homophobic, but what we as Catholics are called to do. Sadly, and scandalously, these men have lost their moral bearings and must be resisted.
The word “homophobic” was coined by the same dark forces who coined the phrase pro-choice. It reveals an emptiness for a Catholic Bishop to use made up phraseology that cruelly denies any individual from charitably being taught the full truth. Bishop McElroy is wrong! The uproar from the laity and faithful priests is first and foremost a desire to not see these bishops and priests go to hell for leading many souls astray. That is not being the fictional term “homophobic”! The uproar is the true charity being shown when shepherds go astray and lead many to hell with them.
Pro-Gay Priest to Speak in Diocese of Orange, California
https://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/pro-gay-priest-to-speak-at-diocese-of-orange-event
“Homophobia”? Really? By Gina Miller
https://www.renewamerica.com/columns/miller/140331
Bishop McElroy points out that there is “legitimate and substantive criticism” of Fr. Martin’s book.
This edit left that part out. He is addressing here what used to be called ‘sins of the tongue.”
His statement about sexuality is misleading. Temptations of the flesh can be very strong and we live in a culture that no longer considers sex to be a moral issue. Mortal sin does alter one’s relationship with God and it is very easy to fall into mortal sin if one does not hold strictly to chastity.
Think this Bishop has a strong case of chasteophobia!
it i should rather be said that critics of fr martin are ‘heresiophobes’, marked by fear of heresy, a corollary to ‘fear of the Lord’ and fear of the dissemination of false doctrine leading to the harm of souls.
Words like “imbecile” and buffoon” and “fool” are insufficient to accurately paint the picture of the defects in Bishop McElroy and his lap dog Fr. James Martin. B. McElroy is clearly a careerist and he is seeking the main chance in salivating over the Vatican’s open door policy on the “gifts” oi homosexual sex.
San Diego Catholic people, stand up. Complain to the heavens about this man, and STOP giving him any money. Give to wonderful Traditional orders, like the Benedictines of Mary and others. No respect is due to heresy.
The Ms.Use of the term Phobia is part of the dis-information campaign necessary to push the Pander or Perish agenda of the GILBERT Gaystapo
Websters defines a Phobia as: “an exaggerated usually inexplicable and illogical fear of a particular object, class of objects, or situation”
Given the massive Harm to the Church wrought by Homosex Ephebophiles (both Ruined Lives & Loss of Treasure that could be used for Good, as opposed to 40% for attorney fees), the Insult of claiming rejection of such Intrinsically Aberrant & Objectively Disordered Behaviors is Un-Good, shows how depraved so many of the Clergy have become
There is nothing Phobic about Rejection of such Evil
So, to disagree with Rev. Martin is to be hateful, fearful and to vilify him?
Who is Bishop McElroy to judge the motives of those who disagree with Rev. Martin?
So, according to the bishop, the Pope has a “campaign against judgmentalism.” Yet, it’s okay to be judgmental with those who criticize dissenters, even to the point of judging the motives of their hearts?
This is strange and sad.
This Bishop needs to read the Holy Bible to know exactly what the word of God says about the issue of homosexuality. Is God homophobic in his condemnation of this practice? Was Sodom and Gomorrah not destroyed because of this practice? There is no such thing as homophobia. This term is simply used to intimidate and silence people from speaking the truth about this deadly mortal sin. Woe to you inhabitants of America and the western world who call evil good and good evil. Repent and convert! Pray America pray.
Right, right, Big Mac.
This really isn’t working anymore— to stigmatize any critic as “_____-phobic”. Homophobic, Islamophobic, xenophobic: The last refuge of the demagogue.
Of COURSE this is what McElroy would set. Defending the INDEFENSIBLE by name calling! How original and mature. Thank you Bob for once again proving that you have yet to exceed our lowest expectations of you as bishop. Well at least you are consistent in your ability to disappoint.
PS: If this “chastity isn’t important” stuff is part of the modernist’s approach at undermining the Church should someone at least send a box of cocolates to notify ALL THE MAJOT RELIGIOUS ORDET of Christendom? And please “Bob” don’t repeat the tired line that the chastity of Christ wasn’t important or real or whatever put down you want to place on that tremendous virtue of Our Savior.
Sad to say but true, Bishop McElroy is a disgrace to the Episcopate! He is supposed to make sure that the Faith in his diocese is nourished and that the people have the opportunity for siritual growth. Much of what is contained in Father Martins book goes against traditional Church teaching. Yet Bishop McElroy endorsed this new book of
Sodom and Gomorrah and San Diego? Pray and protest to the bishop!!
This is so unhealthy – disciples of Christ, priests and bishops, arguing in public like children.
Get together over coffee, talk to each other, bring the Truth to the table, and let charity and mercy also be present.
These outbursts hurt the faith community.
No, the attacks are driven by Fr. Martin’s refusal to answer pointed questions about whether he upholds all of Catholic doctrine. Questions such as: does he affirm that homosexual acts are intrinsically evil? Does he affirm that homosexual unions are immoral? Does he affirm that marriage is only between one man and one woman? Fr. Martin has refused to answer such questions. If he would simply affirm that he believes and upholds all that the Catholic Church teaches as true in its doctrine, then the controversy and criticisms would cease. However, were Fr. Martin to affirm that he upholds Catholic Faith entirely, he would then be attacked and rejected by his rainbow darlings.
He doesn’t dissent from the teachings. If you had read the book you’d know that.
YFC you are a liar, I saw his video at Fordham U where he states gay sex is an act of love…
Homophobia is a term invented by those who practice and promote the unchaste behavior of homogenital sex. Dictionaries call phobia is an extreme fear. Psychology treats it as a mental problem. Homophobia exists only in the minds of practicing or promoting homosexualists to attack and silence those who rightly reject homogenital sex. My fellow Catholics you are not a cancer because rejection of homosexuality is biblical, Christian, and Catholic. Tolerance of people with homosexual desire and practice is Christian when accompanied by prayer and urges for Robert McElroy, James Martin, and others to live chastely while God helps them to accept their sexual identity as male or female ordered toward the opposite sex, CCC 2333.
Well said, Father Rich; well said. Thank you for proclaiming the truth, something that our San Diego bishop does not do.
Thank you Father Rich.
Part of me wants to hear what you actually know about Fr. Martin and Bishop McElroy. But I know from Catholic teaching that the one who listens is a guilty as the one who gossips.
Stop tempting us.
The Perfidious James Martin SJ
https://www.crisismagazine.com/2017/perfidious-james-martin-sj
Let us get something straight (excuse the pun) here. Cardinal Ratzinger, as Pope Benedict XVI, wrote in his encyclical, Deus Caritas Est (God is love), that St. John and other writers of the New Testament always used the Greek words “philia” and “agape” for the love between Christ and His disciples. “Philia” and “agape” are a brotherly and/or Christian type of love. They did not use the Greek word “eros”, which mean a sexual type of love. You can google the encyclical on line, scroll down to Part One, number 3 or read the whole encyclical.
I wrote my last post because on other blogs some people were questioning or trying to make Christ’s” love” for St. John something it was not. All I can say is that God is super smart because he made sure the Old and New Testaments were written in languages that had more than one word for different types of “love”, unlike English.
Counter-Disruption is a dish best served droll.
A Positive & Hopeful Analysis:
“The LGBT Movement Will Self-Destruct
Within my lifetime, the LGBT movement will die. It will be remembered not as a Selma moment, but as a Salem moment: a period of collective insanity
Rachel Lu https://thefederalist.com/2016/05/31/the-lgbt-movement-will-self-destruct/
Perhaps the most important thing is to avoid despair. It’s difficult when our culture seems to keep finding new lows on almost a daily basis. Still, when the wheels start coming off completely, it’s worth remembering that a wheel-less vehicle is no longer able to drive. That might factor into our calculations if the vehicle in question is a critical part of our opponents’ vanguard
Future generations are sure to ask: how could the…
I would never have heard of this book if CCD had not published Cardinal Sarah’s WSJ op-ed. As the saying goes, “You can’t buy this kind of publicity.”
Offline for a day-and -a-half. I just got the book. I think I’ll read it before commenting. Everyone else might
There is no need to read the book C&H Martin, does not believe in Catholic moral teaching. His angle to get same -sex marriage (so called) blessed by the Church. He is an evil man that is leading souls to Hell, C&H do believe in Hell? if not why and if not why did Christ sacrifice Himself at Calvary? these are questions I like to ask liberals to see where they really and if they are really Catholic.
Same sex marriage does not exist in the Catholic Church. Same sex civil marriages cannot be “blessed” by the Church whatever that means. I do not believe that is Fr. Martin’s endgame. I hope he is not misleading LGBT people into thinking that will happen.
Anon …Don’t worry … None … I mean absolutely none … of the lesbian and gay Catholics I know believe that same sex civil marriages will ever be recognized by our Church, nor perhaps should it.. All we hope and pray for is that we don’t get kicked out of a ministry or our children will be denied the sacraments or denied a Catholic education because we entered into one.
Nor should it ever be , it is an abomination. If you defy the laws of God and the Church you should suffer the consequences, just as I a married man would be rightly denied the Sacraments if I was a serial adulterer. What is it with your LGBT crowd that makes you think your actions are above the laws of Christ and His Church, I really want to know the answer.
Saint Alphonsus Liguori said that those shepherds who abandoned the true faith to teach a new gospel in order to validate certain sins by trying to rationalize their own consciences, then their punishment was to be locked into their own blindness until death.
Today, St. Alphonsus’s words are not quite as sobering as they should be because the fullness of Catholic Truth is NOT taught, guarded or upheld in many of our Catholic Institutions and parishes. Instead of guarding and upholding the true faith, we are witnessing a well orchestrated network, behaving, no differently, than a powerful cocaine dealer boss rationalizing the benefits of a deadly drug in their jurisdiction or hoods.
Leaders in the fields of mediine and psychology have a responsibility for HONESTY and INTEGRITY to the public whom they serve– and to place the “LGBT” disorders, back on their professional books of scientific diagnosis and treatment– or even to say, diagnosis — and research is pending, for effective treatments of such illnesses and disorders. The government also has the responsibility to classify some people suffering from LGBT disorders, according to scientific medical diagnosis– as “temporarily” or “permanently” disabled— and such people may receive certain benefits, due to disability. Children with some disorders, such as “gender dysphoria”– may require Special Ed. classes, in school.