After recent controversies involving apparently independent Catholic priests engaged on social media, experts have said Church law expects priests to be transparently and demonstrably subject to ecclesiastical authorities — and for good reason.
“Every Catholic has to belong somewhere, and that is doubly true for Catholic priests,” Fr. Pius Pietrzyk, OP, told The Pillar this week. Pietrzyk, who has a doctorate in canon law, is chair of the pastoral studies department at St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park, California.
“The Church’s law has wanted for centuries and centuries to avoid the phenomenon of wandering priests — priests who have no supervision, nobody to watch over them,” Pietrzyk told The Pillar.
The priest said the phenomenon in which priests are free to teach online without supervision or accountability speaks to a broader concern about social media use and the Church.
“It is a huge problem that the U.S. bishops have essentially ceded their roles as the primary teachers of the Church to certain figures on social media, including those who teach and preach contrary to the faith. And the fact that they allow those figures to have an outsize influence, and therefore basically cede their roles as the proper teachers of the faith, I think is one of the greatest scandals and greatest difficulties in the Church today.”
Pietrzyk spoke to The Pillar after the Diocese of Madison, Wisconsin, announced last month that popular priest Fr. John Zuhlsdorf would leave the diocese.
Zuhlsdorf, a well-known blogger and social media personality, has been at the center of controversy over his livestreamed exorcism rites, which were reportedly directed at allegations of voter fraud in the Nov. 3 presidential election.
When the rites gained attention, Madison’s Bishop Donald Hying clarified that the priest had permission to conduct “the rite of the sacramental of exorcism” only “for the intention of alleviation from the scourge of the coronavirus pandemic,” and not “in relation to partisan political activity.”
Shortly thereafter, the priest and the diocese announced a “mutual decision” for the priest to leave the diocese.
Pietrzyk told The Pillar he hopes the issue of functionally autonomous priests will be addressed by the U.S. bishops, and by the appropriate Vatican congregations.
Full story at Pillar.
Pavone is probably the first of these. He has been rejected by bishops who tried to rein him in. Do we even know where he is? Or, for that matter, his co-founder who has also become invisible?
Funny you should ask. Pavone’s out saving babies. Quite the overachiever I’m told.
Pavone is a loose cannon. Why does he think he’s exempt from obedience?
Priests for Life, Fr. Pavone’s organization, is located in Florida in the Diocese of Orlando. The diocese there indicates that Fr. Pavone does not have faculties (permission from the bishop) to celebrate sacraments there. It seems he is unable to produce a letter of good standing from any diocese or religious community. (He has been in one religious order and two dioceses.). In both dioceses he was previously part of, it seems his lack of financial transparency and accountability were issues. I’ve asked Priests for Life directly and numerous times for a letter of good standing for Fr. Pavone. They have not responded to me. His is a very unfortunate situation as Priests for Life and its associated ministries, like Rachel’s Vineyard, have done much good. If he is a priest in good standing and any reader here knows his bishop, please let us all know. Thank you.
Anonymous, do you mean Father Stephen Imbarrato? Yes, I wonder about him too. He used to be in New Mexico, but I don’t know about that now.
Crest, It seems Father Stephen Imbarrato retired from the Diocese of Sante Fe last year. (That’s according to the Diocese of Palm Beach, story linked below.)
There doesn’t seem to be anything indicating he is not a priest in good standing.
What made you wonder about him?
https://www.diocesepb.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=events.details&Content_Id=501173&returnTo=main
Colgate, I was replying to the first comment (Anonymous February 3, 2021 at 4:38 pm ) which inquired about PFL’s co-founder, who I thought was Fr. Stephen Imbarrato. Checking back, it turns out he joined PFL relatively recently, my bad. I just did some research and discovered that PFL’s founder was Archdiocese of SF priest Fr. Lee Kaylor who had an address in Tulsa, OK back in 2018.
Whatever Fr. Pavone’s faults are, and we all have them, encouraging people to kill their children in abortion or engaging in perverted sex thus confirming them in their sin, is not one of them. He was one of the first to say, “Until America see aborted children, abortion will not stop.” Well most Americans have no excuse any more — they have seen and many have turned away, but Fr. Pavone has done his duty. Vaccinations are still being made from aborted fetal material or from lines used in testing. Another “virus” will come along, most probably man made like this one, and the cycle will just repeat itself unless people refuses to co operate.
Has anyone asked Fr. James Martin’s bishop about his actions vis a vis celebrating ungodly and unnatural actions and relationships? A wandering priest for sure.
Never mind wandering priests. There’s a rumor that Pope Francis is going to move Cardinal Cupich to Rome and place him in charge of selecting bishops all over the world. If that happens, the die will be cast for the future of the church in ways that would make Job cry out to heaven for redress. Oh, Lord, why do you leave your faithful people to suffer for so long and so grievously? Why must everything be bad news in the world and in the church? Would that wandering priests were the worst thing we had to fear. We’re looking at a global church full of Cupichs, Tobins, Gregorys, McElroys, Tagles, Marxs, Kaspers, and Fr. Jimmy Martins. Woe is us.
“It is a huge problem that the U.S. bishops have essentially ceded their roles as the primary teachers…”
Exactly. Most of our bishops have abandoned us. Is it any wonder we look to others who will teach us the Truths of our Faith?
And how about the wandering laypeople with “no supervision, nobody to watch over them”? Who will guide us, protect us, and administer the Sacraments? The sheep are crying out for a shepherd.
Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us.
The open ended statement unsupported by any facts that bishops have ceded their roles as primary teachers begs the question of what exactly are bishops supposed to teach. I mostly hear bishops teaching advocacy for politics, sexuality, income redistribution, immigration, permission to vote for abortion promoting politicians, gun control, changes to the catechism to fit modern beliefs, equality, rights, justice, fairness, female clergy. What I don’t hear is that Jesus Christ died for our sins, rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, sent the Holy Spirit upon us for forgiveness and sanctification, for salvation, that Jesus truly is present in the Eucharist to renew us, and classic teaching. If these spiritual truths are not taught and woven into diocesan catechetical programs, someone will teach these. Nature abhors a vacuum. I experience this vacuum in teaching the faith.
I am reminded this time of the year of a how this contrasting view of life is on full display in Midtown Manhattan. Towering over the plaza at Rockefeller Center is the 45-foot, six-and-a half-ton bronze statue of Atlas. He carries the world on his shoulders under great strain. While his legs buckle, he manages to hold the globe aloft, thus celebrating the indomitable spirit of human industry and mastery — as the savior of humanity.
Yet, just across the street in St. Patrick’s Cathedral is another statue featuring another who is holding and saving the world. It is the Christ child, cradled in his mother’s arms. He effortlessly and serenely clasps the world’s sphere in his tiny hand.
The contrast between these two competing views of human life and salvation could not be starker. The question is, what inspires us and what shapes our lives? Is it the image of humanity saving itself by organizing life around the pursuit of human productivity and material success? Or do we stand in wonder and awe, ever watchful and attentive to how, time and again, God comes to save us all, a God, as the spiritual reminds us, who has the whole world in his hands?
Yes, like my small statue of the Infant Jesus of Prague, “He’s got the whole world in His hands”. We so often forget that and think it all depends on us when we are mere specks.
God is on a rescue mission! We see this theme as Holy Week and Easter get closer. Just as God rescued Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the furnace and rescued Jesus from death to Resurrection, He wants to rescue us from sin and death.
I am sorry if your bishop is like that. Mine is good. Most are good. They make the news when they are not.
Pietrzyk himself wandered into a job in the Obama administration – twice.
James Martin, S.J., reports to a Jesuit superior, not a bishop.
Amen
And the Jesuits report to nobody, least of all God.
I am not an attorney. If one of the posters is an attorney, perhaps they can opine on this. Can a Bishop get a secular court order prohibiting one from representing themselves as a Catholic priest?
The Church would have no standing. Courts have constantly held that they have no jurisdiction to say who is and who is not a minister.
Like Fr. Z… all he does is grift from people who donate to him. He’s not and never has been a parish priest. Has never done the work of a real priest. Just jet-sets to Rome and New York and the Napa Institute retreats. Why people give him money, I’ll never understand. His bishop should reign him in and assign him a parish. Bishop of Madison finally said Fr. Z had to leave from being in residence. Now which bishop is he residing under? His real bishop is in Italy. He should return there and do the work of a real priest.
It is rumored that the Suburbicarian Diocese in Rome to which he is attached has always been a place where misfit priests are given a place to, symbolically hang their birettas when no other Bishop wants them.
He wouldn’t have anything to do if he did return to Rome.
Excuse me . I am wrong. He would be busy. He would soon weigh 700lbs. from eating his way through the city.
That makes sense.
Gluttony is a sin. Why are so many clergy overweight?
Actually, I like to read Fr. Z’s website, although I cannot donate. I occasionally buy the website merchandise. For those of us who have never been abroad, and most likely never will go, it is interesting to see all the ancient churches in Rome and elsewhere. and to hear about the stations. Like seeing his recipes too. He does need to watch his weight, though, for his own good health
To each his own.
This article speaks about “wandering” priests online without supervision. The commentariat of this blog refer to priests like Pavone, Zuhlsdorf, and even Martin. But folks, many of the truly “wandering” priests out there are those who have been spawned by groups who have separated themselves from Rome, such as, you guessed it, the beloved SSPX. Many “wandering” priests out there are those who have left the beloved SSPX or groups like them, and are truly “wandering”. They run independent “chapels”. Anyone who goes to them are truly participating in sacraments that are illicit, illegal.
Your hatred for the SSPX is evident in your uncharitable, ironic use of “beloved” when referring to them. Maybe we should start referring to you as “beloved Jon” and see how you like it.
Anonymous, when reading beloved jons posts , think of the ” Spanish Inquisition” sketch from Monty Python , the Punchinello elements in his posts are always a delight.
How about ‘wondering Bishops’..some Bishops say it is fine to give Euvhsrist to sinners while others say sinners should not receive the Eucharist. No wonder some partishoners are confused
Maybe if Fr. Pius Pietrzyk, OP of St Patrick’s Seminary dropped by unannounced
at the Sunday Masses and School Masses at the parishes of the Priests
who teach at St Patrick’s Seminary
He would then beg F rZ or Fr Pavone to teach reverence and Catholicism at St Patrick’s Seminary
The author of this “pillar” article didn’t even assign his name,
A_P, why the cheap shot at St. Patrick’s Seminary?
It has become a very good seminary. I know some excellent and orthodox teachers there.
You complain about the Pillar article author not signing “his” name, but you won’t sign yours. Why?
I mean these as serious (not rhetorical) questions for you. My name is signed below.
Do you care to answer?
This article seems like an attack piece (censorship of thought and cancel culture )
It lumps reverend priests such as FrZ and Fr Pavone with New Jersey Priests ” run wild”.
Fr Z did an exorcism at election time for Truth, for the common good, for fairness in the elections, and for the repentance and report of any cheating.
It was not bipartisan and not against a particular party.
In the past he had discussed party platforms and responded to his detractors with prudence, good judgement, and reasoning.
This is probably the root of the bad press and the pressure put on his supervisor dioceses
Still, he should have asked his Bishop first.
He has been an assisting Priest at a local church.
He Offers the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass daily and discusses translations of prayers of Sundays, Memorials, and feast days. He is respectful of the Pope; answers reader’s questions; etc. He is probably the most instructive of all the bloggers (Clergy or otherwise)
He asks for donation – What blogger doesn’t?
He does not have a premium level; He shares all His research and knowledge with all, freely.
……
Fr Pavone Has a back story of a controversial abortion-related Video and also trying to save “restricted donations” from being absorbed into the general diocesan funds.
But didn’t the Venerable Fulton J. Sheen have similar concerns.
If they need to be settled in a new diocese, let’s pray for that and that they can continue their work.
Response to Deacon Saturday February 6, 2021 at 11:55 pm
Deacon,
I did not attack the St Patrick Seminary or Fr Pius who disparaged 2 good Priests.
I was defending those Priests as any good Catholic would do
and which I continued to do in my follow up comment entry at that time.
My point was that (1) Fr Pius doesn’t have to involve himself in fields afar as that,
He can look in his own backyard to see if the Catholic School Masses
as conducted in the parishes of his Priest Pastor Faculty are reverent.
(2) FrZ or Fr Pavone would be an asset to a parish or Faculty, not a target of disparagement.
I don’t need to sign my name because I am not promoting my name or a website,
not trying to take credit or make points.
I don’t have a blog purporting to show “News and Analysis covering the Catholic Church”
which disparaged good Priests and didn’t include the Author.
I would have expected a Deacon to be observing Saturday Evening Vigil for the Sunday Observances. Sorry if I had a part in interrupting you.
A_P, it seems you’re implying that priests on the faculty at St. Patrick’s preside at Masses that are irreverent. Is that true? It seems you’re being less than straightforward. (I’ve served with at least one priest faculty member and he is most reverent.)
Also, Fr. Pius was speaking generally about priests (and it also applies to deacons as clergy) and did not disparage any one particularly (though it seems you disparage him by name). Did you read the article?
I don’t sign my name because I’m promoting anything. I just don’t have anything to hide. And, of course, there is One who knows who we are and every word we utter and thought that passes our minds.
And, deacons do not typically serve at all Masses. I serve as my pastor and bishop direct and haven’t missed yet. So, no apology needed for interrupting me.