Behind the Exodus

PowerBlog!

An issue of major concern in the Catholic Church these days is the lack of Priests available to serve the faithful. As older priests retire and few young men enter seminary, the very future of the Church leadership is at stake. Is it the sheer number of other denominations and Catholic bigotry that are drawing men away from the Catholic Church or is it something more? While many parishes (including my own) are searching for ways to cope with the shortage, very few are asking how this developed in the first place. An examination of the possible causes reveals some shocking facts.
Some are attempting to dismantle the Church from the inside out. No, this is not some wacko conspiracy theory. There was a time when men who wished to become Catholic priests in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati were first assessed by a Masonic "Worshipful Master". Participation in Masonic sects is condemned by the Catholic Church, so why would they have anything to do with choosing Priests? Was this a simple oversight? I’m afraid not. When area Catholics complained about the idea of a Masonic master passing on candidates for the priesthood, Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk defended him.
The homosexual agenda has made its way in the front door as well. Dr. David J. Brown screened candidates for the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown in Pennsylvania. Dr. Brown has argued publicly that “the sin of Sodom was inhospitality” and homosexuality is perfectly normal. Testifying before a public school board in State College, he argued on spiritual grounds for legitimizing homosexuality as an alternative lifestyle in the public schools. There are numerous reports that mental health professionals who do not support the teachings of the Catholic Church on sexuality have been chosen to evaluate candidates for the priesthood and reject candidates who do accept the church's teaching on grounds that they are 'rigid.' There are also reports that some mental health professionals do not report homosexual attractions and conflicts in candidates for priesthood to diocesan officials or religious superiors. So they weed out the Godly men and replace them with those who do not even come close to following Church teaching. That kind of atmosphere would deter any Godly man from continuing to study and prepare for the priesthood. For how can anyone expect any seminarian to be properly formed and prepared for the priesthood when constantly subjected to that, which is so clearly contrary to Church teaching and discipline?
While some of these issues have been exposed, it is impossible to calculate the damage already done and we are now paying the price for leaving the front door of the Church unguarded for so long.