A retired priest who was ordained in 1966 is speaking out against the Church because clearly attacking the Church and questioning the role and authenticity of sacraments was on his bucket list.
Seriously. He’s speaking out because he didn’t want to die before he really gave it to the Church but good.
Check this out from The Journal Standard:
The Vatican rules the Roman Catholic Church through indoctrination, control, and fear, rather than through nurturing love, service, and freedom, according to Father Emmett Coyne, a Roman Catholic priest. His new book, The Theology of Fear exposes how far afield the highest church authorities have strayed from the gospel of Jesus Christ. The book is available on Amazon and on www.emmettcoyne.net
“I’m on the last lap of life and eternity is facing me. It’s my last chance to speak up and speak out,” said Father Coyne, who was ordained in 1966 and is retired at age 73…
He believes Catholics learn more about how to go to hell than how to get into heaven, and that, historically, the sacraments were established as a way to control church members through guilt and fear. “Jesus proclaimed the kingdom of God. He didn’t proclaim the sacraments,” he said.
Theology of Fear further asserts that seminarians for the priesthood are ordained based on their ability to follow doctrine without question, while activist priests are viewed as risks to church authority. “They [seminarians] drop out when they discover they can’t think for themselves,” said Father Coyne, who once was chastised by his superiors for adding the words, “Jesus, our good shepherd,” to a prayer.
What does this long-time priest hope to accomplish with his book The Theology of Fear? The 50th Anniversary of the Vatican Council will occur in October, and Father Coyne believes change, reform, and transparency of the church’s highest echelons are crucial. He wants everyday Catholics to rediscover Jesus’ teachings that it is the person who is absolute in God’s eyes, not an institution. Jesus emphasized the spirit of the law grounded in love, never the letter of the law based on punishment. Father Coyne expects church authorities will not be happy with his book. “One has to follow the truth wherever it takes him,” he said.
To get an idea of where his head is, all proceeds of his book will reportedly be donated to non-profit Partners In Health (www.PIH.org),a social justice organization that while does do some good, also emphasizes “family planning” and “contraceptive options,” counseling.
Another webpage discussing Partners in Health’s efforts to support women’s health in temporary settlements indicates: “All mobile clinic staff will also be attending ‘refresher’ trainings in women’s health basics—particularly the use of emergency contraception and management of victims of rape.”
So I guess it’s no surprise that Fr. Coyne isn’t a fan of the letter of the law because he doesn’t seem to like the laws.
August 29, 2012 at 5:04 am
May I humbly remind the good Cardinal Dolan,
as he parades and pontificates under the spotlights,
on the stages of the political conventions:
Cardinal- there is room for really only ONE super-star in your religion.
As the Cardinal addresses and blesses the Republicans and their billionaire buddies,
as he smiles upon those who would destroy Social Security and voucher Medicare to death,
as he joins with those who readily admit they they “don’t care about the very poor”……
it would be good, it would be very good …for the dear Cardinal
to remember -and take to heart- the words of his boss,
who once said “What you do for the least of these – you do for me”.
Unless perhaps, just perhaps,
the Cardinal is working for someone else these days?
As our Founding Fathers so wisely realized:
Politics, secular power, and Religion do not mix.
They bring out the worst in each other.
And ultimately…..they would destroy each other.
August 29, 2012 at 5:11 am
Stanchaz, perhaps you should learn to write a good, clear sentence and clarify your thoughts; you're just babbling here.
So, apparently, is poor Fr. Coyne.
"Holy Michael Archangel, defend us…"
August 29, 2012 at 5:36 am
Mr. Stanchaz is an apologist for the terrorists.
August 29, 2012 at 5:37 am
Hmmm who pays Father Coyne's retirement? I certainly hope it is SS and he is not included in the retired priests collection. As our dear Holy Father said Judas could have been an honest man and walked away but stayed to betray the Master. If you don't believe what Christ's Church teaches…walk away.
August 29, 2012 at 5:44 am
Stanchaz is off-topic.
August 29, 2012 at 7:59 am
What he has to say is not new. It's called the Reformation. He had the option of becoming a Protestant pastor all his adult life and decided not to. No one made him stay.
August 29, 2012 at 10:45 am
He would have left the Church if he were honest but he stays to betray… http://wdtprs.com/blog/2012/08/judas-could-have-left-as-many-of-the-disciples-did-he-would-have-left-if-he-were-honest/
August 29, 2012 at 10:55 am
He would have left the Church if he were honest but he stays to betray… http://wdtprs.com/blog/2012/08/judas-could-have-left-as-many-of-the-disciples-did-he-would-have-left-if-he-were-honest/
August 29, 2012 at 10:55 am
He would have left the Church if he were honest but he stays to betray… http://wdtprs.com/blog/2012/08/judas-could-have-left-as-many-of-the-disciples-did-he-would-have-left-if-he-were-honest/
August 29, 2012 at 12:25 pm
I apologize and have no idea why post three times
August 29, 2012 at 2:15 pm
Fr. Coyne is a product of the 60's…. hopefully when that group of priests is gone, we can get back on track.
Stanchaz, perhaps someone should tell Obummer that religion and politics don't mix and the government should stay out of the business of the Catholic church (and others).
August 29, 2012 at 2:26 pm
Every time I see that a priest who was ordained in the 60's has something to say I cringe a little bit. I know there's tons of wonderful priests who were ordained in the 60's but when that generation speaks in the media it's bad news quite a bit of the time.
August 29, 2012 at 2:48 pm
He believes Catholics learn more about how to go to hell than how to get into heaven
???
Really? I haven't heard the word "hell" at mass in twenty years. I seriously doubt most Catholics today know anything about hell, let alone how one gets there—since that requires also learning about sin.
What a dinosaur.
August 29, 2012 at 5:52 pm
So does Fr. Coyne think that Saint Thomas Aquaintas was wrong in his understanding of the sacrament of the Eucharist? or Saint Augustine on the great grace of reconsiliation? Sad story, pray for this man.
August 29, 2012 at 8:19 pm
Amen to Michael. I too have not heard hell mentioned in a sermon and I sometimes think that people do not even know what hell is let alone that it exists.
As I was reading this, all I could think about was that he was trying to sell a book. I do find it interesting that he said that Jesus proclaimed the Kingdom of God but not the sacraments. Then why did Jesus establish them? Fo us to ignore them? I highly doubt that.