Wow. This is truly unbelievable.
This is a video by the Rev. Joseph Patrick Breen, pastor of St. Edward’s Catholic Church in Nashville TN. This video is posted by the pastor on the parish website.
In this video Fr. Breen, as communicated to us by a reader commits multiple counts of video heresy and hits most of the heretical bases.
Women’s ordination – Check!
Reversal of the Church’s teaching on artificial contraception – Check!
Divorce – Check!
He then goes on to slam (married) former Protestant clergy who convert and are ordained Catholic clergy,
He shows open disdain and insults the Pope, the Roman Curia, today’s bishops, today’s seminarians. About the seminarians he says they are intellectually inferior to those of yesteryear and are probably from dysfunctional families.
And there is even more! Watch!
As it turns out, Fr. Breen is a serial offender and a promise breaker.
Back in 1993, Fr. Breen disseminated a letter covering much of the same territory. He was sanctioned at the time by his Bishop, Bp. Edward Kmiec ordering him not to speak publicly about “optional celibacy or other issues involving church teachings or discipline.” Bishop Kmiec went so far as to have Fr. Breen sign a pledge that he would not speak again to the media or media representatives.
So much for promises.
In 2006, Fr. Breen sent a letter to Cardinal William Levada – who he addresses as Cardinal Bill, once again covering much of the same heretical territory.
It is time for Fr. Breen to go.
If you are interested, you can reach Fr. Breen’s Bishop here and let him know what you think of Fr. Breen’s statement.
The Most Reverend David R. Choby
Bishop of Nashville
The Catholic Center
2400 Twenty-first Avenue South
Nashville, TN. 37212
Bishop@dioceseofnashville.com
Update: Father Breen Retracts Statements — Saves Job
Update: As of Sunday August 9, 2010. Fr. Breen’s heretical video has been removed from the parish website! That’s a start!
August 11, 2010 at 8:25 am
…except for Catholics.
Just finishing "deelew" sentence.
Fr. Breen is the reason we need the Inquisition (CDF) to be active in every diocese.
August 11, 2010 at 8:30 am
Yes, Fr. Breen has his feet firmly on the ground which is of course another way of saying attached to the world, where it is where you want to be while everyone else is making their way to heaven… oh wait that's not it.
August 11, 2010 at 8:35 am
To Katie,
Yes he is having his "Here I stand, I can do no other moment." famous words said by another Catholic maverick a heretic in fact a certain Martin Luther.
Pride what a wonderful virtue Fr. Breen has cultivated.
August 11, 2010 at 10:51 am
I don't know G's experience with Protestant churches, but Catholics are welcomed in mine. Heck, Catholics can even take Communion in my church. Nobody checks your papers at the door. Isn't that awesome?
August 11, 2010 at 1:11 pm
Anoynomous said…
"He is an example of the reason that over the past 30 years, many morally and culturally conservative Catholics have left the Church to try to find decency and common sense in a conservative Protestant denomination or in Orthodoxy, and very few morally and culturally conservative Protestants have entered the Church."
The key word is conservative… after all, a liberal cannot be Catholic, that is the very clear message here… yet "conservatives" can support wars of choice and the death penalty, clearly agianst the teachings of our faith… clear heresy, but that doesn't matter because they are conservative.
Giovanni A. Cattaneo said…
"Pride what a wonderful virtue Fr. Breen has cultivated."
You seem to be guilty of the same thing you accuse Father Breen of… with no specific knowledge of the situation and no knowledge of the man being discussed… go ahead, continue to judge from afar, I'm sure that pleases our Hevenly Father greatly.
August 11, 2010 at 1:27 pm
To Jeff
I don't know what your experience with Catholic churches has been but they don't check your papers either. So if that is your "gold" standard you are welcome there too, I guess. As far as communion is concerned in Catholic church that is for your protection and benefit not ours. Again nobody will looking you over so relatively in that instance your are also "welcome."
To Anonymous
I can only act on the facts given, and those seem to have merit the minute that changes I will change my tone. As far as what God thinks, I know he does not want me to adhere to teachers that lead us astray.
August 11, 2010 at 1:58 pm
To jeff and deelew,
I thank God every day that I converted to Catholicism. It doesn't mean that I hate protestantism, it just means that I love the Jesus in the Eucharist. Just because I had to spend a year waiting, praying, preparing, and learning in order to receive the Eucharist does not mean that I wasn't "welcome." Christ calls his children to joyful wisdom.
Priests are called to teach Christ's children, to pray with them, and to prepare them for the Eucharist. Sometimes, their own agendas may get in the way of this. It's our Bishop's job to help priests lead their flock.
August 11, 2010 at 3:58 pm
To Mary's Image
I may not be from Nashville, but Father Joseph Patrick Breen has touched a big part of my family's life and has become part of the family. He was the priest at the Saint Rose of Lima. My family still communicates with Father Breen.
However, my family believes that all denominations are the Body of Christ. My family is a mixture of Protestants and Catholics. I love them even though they are Christian (Protestant and Catholic). So, what you have said has hurt my feelings. I just thought I would let you know.
Sincerely,
Melissa C.
August 11, 2010 at 5:02 pm
Melissa C.,
I am a Catholic in a Protestant family. I love them all dearly and feel a very large connection to them. They believe that Christ has died for our sins and that He will come again. In this, I feel a kinship with them. Even so, truth does not accommodate logically inconsistent views. They say that Christ is not in the Eucharist. I say that he is. We cannot both be right. Because Christ is in the Eucharist, being a protestant is like bathing without soap and water. I LOVE my family. And because I love my family, I tell them with charity where we part.
deelew,
Again to your post. What do you make of the fact that a committee of men decided, through the Holy Spirit, which books were to be in the Bible? What do you make of the fact that Jesus came to this world a man and picked Peter, a sinful and sometimes doubting man, to be the "rock" of his Church? What do you make of Acts, and the laying on of hands, and the fact that the Scriptures have been interpreted so many times, and can be read in so many different ways? I put no faith in men, but I have faith in God. He can use even sinful men as tools.
August 11, 2010 at 6:16 pm
Jason pretty much speaks for the relativists in Nashville with this comment:
"Thomas Aquinas and St. Augustine can't hold a candle to your [Breen's] wisdom."
Kathy M
August 11, 2010 at 6:37 pm
I grew up in a Primitive Baptist home and it never quite felt right. I converted to Catholicism 5 years ago. I went through all teachings from A to Z and attended mass for an entire liturgical year before making the decision. I have attended all faith's religious "celebrations" and found that Catholicism fit like a shoe. I am what some would refer to as "old school" and enjoy attending mass at the Church of the Assumption. I have attended mass at St. Ed's only a couple of times. There are several reasons as to why I will not be returning. What irked the most was when Fr. Breen stated that all should participate in Communion even if they had been to confession. I have not returned since because I left feeling confused about so many things that were practiced and said. I almost felt as if I needed to rush to another mass because I had not met my Holy Obligation at St. Edward's. Some may like the "touchy feely" changes that are happening within the Church, but I am not one of them. I pray for St. Edward's in it's entirety daily.
August 11, 2010 at 6:43 pm
To A Nashville Resident….
I think you missed my point. I never said that God could not use man to accomplish his good works. He has and does. What I said was that my faith/obedience was not in man (or the pope), but in the Lord.
August 11, 2010 at 6:46 pm
to a Nashville resident:
Yes, if you are on birth control, are divorced, or not a Catholic – you are not welcome in the church or at the table. Known fact – I was raised Catholic. I am not speaking out of turn.
August 11, 2010 at 6:52 pm
A quote from above… "What irked the most was when Fr. Breen stated that all should participate in Communion even if they had been to confession. I have not returned since because I left feeling confused about so many things that were practiced and said."
There are many Catholic churches that have allowed this, do you run from them too? When President George W. Bush participated in communion at a Catholic church, did you run from there as well?
Great double standard going on here. Frankly, that is wrong on both sides of this debate.
The unjustified attack on this good priest is sick. Enjoy piling on and I hope you feel better about yourself as you sit in judgement.
August 11, 2010 at 7:11 pm
I meant… He said all should participate even if they had NOT been to confession. I was taught that if we have sinned and are conscious about it, we should not partake. I am definitely not saying everyone should believe the same, especially as I do. I just thought that was common practice. We all are sinners and must confess. If Bush went to confession beforehand, then no, I wouldn't "run" as you say.
August 11, 2010 at 7:11 pm
I have known Father all of my life. When I started reading the posts I could not help but to break down and cry. I am dumbfounded that some of these anonymous Christians can live a Christian life yet wish such harm on another human being.
I have seen the video and I understand it. Father has always worried about Catholics falling away from their faith. He worries not only for the catholic religion but the happiness of others. I have seen this man take the coat off of his back and give to a stranger in the cold. He lights up the room, looking strangers in the eyes showing them love by calling them brother or sister, asking how they are today. He has given money out of his own pocket to make sure that children get an education they deserve and want.
When I spoke to Father about reading the posts and was so angry that these anonymous Christians could say such things, he responded with its okay Joy. They are just very conservative, it’s okay. Do not have hate in your heart for others, always forgive. I felt bad for once again trying to show him love and support and he ended up giving me guidance.
I want to more for him during this trying time and was trying to find out who the administrator of this website was, yet alas, I could not-he must be anonymous.
My name is Joy Kennedy I have known Father Joseph Patrick Breen for 35 years. He is my priest and my friend. If you would only just spend a few moments with him you would know that you all are making a mistake in bashing him, and he would embrace you regardless of all of your anonymous threats and comments, because he loves and does not hate.
You can support Father Breen by sending positive letters to
The Most Reverend David R. Choby
Bishop of Nashville
The Catholic Center
2400 Twenty-first Avenue South
Nashville, TN. 37212
Bishop@dioceseofnashville.com
oh an by the way http://www.creativeminorityreport.com if you take this post down it shows what a true coward you really are.
August 11, 2010 at 7:13 pm
I'm proud and honored that Fr. Breen is my pastor and a dear friend of my family. Regardless of his views and outspoken ways, he is a man of great faith and loves everyone unconditionally as Jesus does. I love it that he tells it like it is. He is 75 years old and continues to do amazing things for the community as a whole.
I believe he will go to his grave fighting for what he believes. So bash him or praise him, but be prepared because he will never give up! Thanks for serving God and his people so beautifully, Fr. Breen! PS: for those who don't approve of the "blue sport coat"- I wish you could see how it brings out his smiling Irish eyes!
August 11, 2010 at 7:25 pm
I want to more for him during this trying time and was trying to find out who the administrator of this website was, yet alas, I could not-he must be anonymous.
I am sorry- I had originally deleted this but it still picked it up-
please do not allow my mistake to take away from my message
thank you
Joy Kennedy
August 11, 2010 at 7:43 pm
Deelew,
I got your point. I was merely pointing out that we are obedient to the Holy Scriptures, yet the books of the Bible were first written by men though God. After that, these same Books were selected by men through the Holy Spirit. The point is that it is overly simplistic to say that your faith not in men, but in the Lord. The Lord uses men. Not only to do good works, but to declare His Word.
Also, the fact that you were "raised Catholic" means little to me. No, I was not "raised Catholic." I AM Catholic. I was not always Catholic, yet at that time I was welcomed with open arms to attend the Catholic Mass. I was welcomed after prayer and preparation to receive the Holy Eucharist. That's all it takes: prayer and preparation. People who have taken birth control are welcome with preparation. People who have been divorced are welcome with preparation. All people, everywhere must undergo preparation. For, although we will never be worthy to have Christ "under our roof," there are signs of preparation everywhere in the scriptures, including in Christ's parables.
Now, we may disagree over whether certain people NEED preparation because artificial birth control, you may think, is not a sin. But I urge you, my friend, to think about the Theology of the Body and about the sin of Onan in the Scriptures.
In the Scriptures, Jesus always welcomes people as they are, but then urges them to become holy and to "sin no more." Sometimes, urging people to change is not a sign of unwelcome, but a sign of charity and love in Christ.
August 11, 2010 at 7:46 pm
One can simply look at the coffers at St Eds to see how Fr Breen has affected the lives of those in the parish. I'd venture a guess that St Eds is more "in-the-black" than most other parishes. Before Fr Breen, St Eds was mired in spiritual and financial mediocrity. A tour of the grounds and facilities is a testament to his success. And all of this in one of the least desirable parts of town. Perhaps this is why he has not been "disciplined". A "by-the-book" priest? Maybe not. A great man and spiritual leader? Absolutely. Everything he does he does for the people and the faith.