Fr. Brian Costello, the pastor of the notoriously pro-homosexual Most Holy Redeemer parish wrote in the parish bulletin this week (March 3, 2013) that he removed a portrait of Pope Benedict XVI for fear of offending gays.
Here’s what he wrote:
“Two weeks ago, after Pope Benedict XVI had announced to the world that he would be resigning the office of Peter as of February 28th, I put the Pope’s picture, that usually hangs in the rectory, in the church. A handful of people told me that they would rather it not be there. They explained that the feeling was while he was Pope, as well as his time as a Cardinal, Pope Benedict had made hurtful and hateful statements regarding the LGBT Community and thus, his picture should not be placed on the altar of MHR. I was also warned, many parishioners would walk out of Sunday Mass if the picture was not removed. I spoke with a close priest friend of mine, and even though both of us were saddened by this, the wisest course, I felt, was to remove the Pope’s picture.”
I continued to think and pray about this and started to think about the bigger picture: How do we deal with the Pope, the Archbishop, Priests, Family and Friends that don’t understand or accept us as we are? Do we banish them from our lives, or do we pray as Jesus did while dying on the cross: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” I think in learning to forgive, and embrace the Pope and the Church, even when they don’t accept us, we learn to do the same for our own family and friends, and in the end, grow to be more accepting of our own failures and limitations. I find that forgiving people’s shortcomings, including the Pope’s, makes it easier for me to forgive my own shortcomings.
During this Lenten Season we need to remind ourselves of the Lord’s Prayer, especially the part that reads “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those that trespass against us.” I pray for Pope Benedict XVI, who is now retired, as well as for the Cardinals of our Church who will be gathering in Rome to choose his successor. May the Holy Spirit guide them and continue to bless and guide the good and holy people of Most Holy Redeemer.
Happy Lent!
Fr. Brian
Happy Lent, huh? But don’t worry about changing yourself. We’ll just pretend to change Church teaching so as to make you feel better about your sins.
Gibbons Coney wrote of this incident, saying:
Because the real lived religion at MHR is the celebration of homosexuality, things or persons that support this celebration will be experienced as orthodox; conversely, things or persons that assert Catholic teaching when it conflicts with the celebration of homosexuality will be experienced as blasphemous. Observe MHR’s variety of ecumenism. Like all religions, the religion at MHR is quite willing to practice ecumenism when there is nothing vital to its identity at stake. As long as that’s the case, MHR is perfectly happy to accommodate other denominations.
March 6, 2013 at 7:40 pm
Gibbons Coney's description of the nature of what is believed at MHR is dead on target. Sad to say.
That is the amusing – and ironic – thing about the vast majority of progressive Christian ecumenism. It's every bit as intolerant and aggressive as they think that the Catholic Church used to be back in the Bad Old Days. It just won't admit it. There's no room in such ecumenical kaffeeklatches for traditional Christians who oppose, say, same-sex marriage. Orthodoxy has merely taken a new form, and it takes its cues from progressive urban elites.
March 6, 2013 at 7:47 pm
Path to Hell is paved with good intentions, pray for this Priest
March 6, 2013 at 8:00 pm
Im fairly sure that passages from St. Paul on the issue are not read in the Ordinary form, for whatever reason, something to take up for the next edition
March 6, 2013 at 8:29 pm
They need to read I Corinthians……But now I think we are pretty sure that the priests in this church are GAY…..We have known this for some time now….
March 6, 2013 at 8:33 pm
Most Holy Redeemer parish is held in trust for all people. Why are only the militant gays considered?
March 6, 2013 at 9:30 pm
Yes Joe, the behavior of several extreme Priests and parishes….
Paul, do some research on the Papal Pornocracy, St. Peter Damian and "Liber Gomorrahianus."
Given that you've publicly advocated the nuclear destruction of entire cities in the Islamic world, Joseph, you needn't be concerned that many of us worry about what you think about the Catholic Church.
And that has to do with…what, exactly? You don't think that Islam is an evil religion? You don't think that a holy, righteous God will destroy these outposts of evil at the right time?
People who think that the Church is "kaput" are clearly lacking any true understanding of Catholicism…. The gates of hell have tried to destroy it and continue to do so now.
Tomperna.org, I understand Catholicism far better than you realize. Do you seriously believe that the Second Person of the Most High God, the Holy One of Israel (as Isaiah called him) would found a church that effectively encourages sexual deviancy (see my response to Paul Zummo earlier in this post), rejects Jesus' call to service in John 13 for monarchistic trappings and institutional arrogance and sacrificed its spiritual patrimony for power, wealth, secular influence and prestige?
Whatever Jesus founded, it certainly wasn't this apostate imitation. He certainly didn't intend Catholicism to be as pervasively corrupt as it has become.
Hell doesn't need to destroy Catholicism. Hell has taken over Catholicism! Remember what Pope Paul VI said: "The smoke of Satan has entered the sanctuary." Also, do some research on the vision of Pope Leo XIII.
March 6, 2013 at 9:32 pm
Whata. surprise? San Fran…….Christs' TRUE Church will never die! These liberal parishes are going down in flames all over the world! How sad they still don't get it!
JM
March 6, 2013 at 9:48 pm
A little hiccup like this, and Joe the Amazon Queen is calling the Church "kaput"? Things have been worse. They were worse in the 18th century and in the Avignon papacy. You whine so much from such a little problem, bucko, what'll you do when a real crisis comes along?
Interestingly, both the 18th century crisis and the Avignon papacy came from precisely what the Amazon Queen wants: enslaving the church to worldly aims. But Uncle Joe is sure that this time it'll work—just like the academic Marxists say about Communism.
March 6, 2013 at 10:11 pm
Lets all thank the Springtime of Vatican II. Did everyone get a look at the latest NY times poll of American Catholics? Women priests, married priests, abortion, homosexuality, birth control, all ok! It's not just San Francisco. It's the whole country. At least apostates and heretics on Europe just stop going and identifying as catholic. Here we maintain the illusion so we can rot the institution from within.
March 6, 2013 at 10:57 pm
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March 6, 2013 at 10:58 pm
I wonder if he heard the cock crow.
March 7, 2013 at 1:18 am
Who is his bishop?
Or, is this not really a Catholic Church?
Susan Peterson
March 7, 2013 at 2:14 am
I would be inclined to relieve this priest of his duties. It appears that he may be emotionally compromised (at least).
March 7, 2013 at 4:28 am
If they can't stand the sight of a picture of our Pope Emeritus, I think they have greater problems with hate and pain than they realize.
If they really want faith, they'll figure out how to follow it.
Put the picture back up and let them walk, Father.
March 7, 2013 at 6:10 am
This priest should be sent packing from the priesthood not to mention the Parish by new Archbishop Cordileone.
March 7, 2013 at 6:44 am
A little hiccup like this, and Joe the Amazon Queen is calling the Church "kaput"?
SF, this is not a "little hiccup." This reflects the lack of serious discipline and internal accountability in the church. It doesn't matter whether it's this incident or Pope Emeritus Benedict refusing to discipline Cdl. Wuerl for refusing to invoke Canon 915 in his archdiocese.
the Amazon Queen wants…enslaving the church to worldly aims.
Just where have I ever suggested that, let alone said that, in any of my posts on this blog?
The problem with Catholicism is that it's been too worldly for too long, even to the point where the "leaders" have lost sight of their ultimate mission.
In your always-lengthening reach to insult me, SF, you embarrass yourself. Feel proud?
March 7, 2013 at 6:51 am
That priest should be disciplined by his bishop immediately. This is another example of the real issue in the Church. There is NO obedience to Church teachings and clergy and religious actually believe it's all about THEM! Shut him down I say.
March 7, 2013 at 4:11 pm
" his picture should not be placed on the altar of MHR."
I agree. The picture of Pope Benedict should NOT be placed on the altar.
NOTHING should be on the altar except what is needed for the Eucharistic Sacrifice.
Now, there would be nothing wrong with hanging his picture in the narthex, though now it should not be done as he is no longer our Pope.
March 7, 2013 at 6:59 pm
Most Holy Redeemer Parish (enter in the rear)
March 8, 2013 at 1:02 am
OK, where is the bishop of this parish & what ever happened to admonishing the sinner?
"In today’s society, someone caught fornicating or getting drunk all of the time will tell his or her accuser, “Who are you to judge me?” And the accused sinner will then feel morally superior to his accuser for having pointed out to him that he is not God, and how dare he, with all of his sins, “judge me”? But this action flies in the face of the spiritual work of mercy that commands Christians to admonish the sinner. To admonish the sinner means to caution him or her about a particular sin they are committing. This is the job of all Christians, to warn others about sin and where it will lead them."
http://www.catholicbible101.com/judgenot.htm