Two things us Catholics needed. A priest confusing Catholics about the Church’s teachings on sexuality. And more namecalling!
Fr. Bill Kenneally, Pastor Emeritus of Saint Gertrude Parish in Chicago, wrote a letter to the editor that appeared in The Chicago Tribune where he not only comes out in support of gay marriage but compared Bishop Paprocki to a Muslim terrorist.
I am a retired pastor of a Catholic church in Edgewater where there are many gay and lesbian couples, many of whom are doing their best to raise children as a family. I admire their constancy and care while they continue to belong to a church that “officially” seems wrongheaded and bizarre in its resistance to legalization of same-sex marriage.
Lobbying and liturgical pyrotechnics are both costly and embarrassing. At times I have wondered why faithful Muslims do not distance themselves publicly from their fellow believers who perpetuate violence. I wish to distance myself publicly from the misguided efforts of Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield and his rite of exorcism. God bless Gov. Pat Quinn and all who are trying to live a life of faithful love.
— Rev. Bill Kenneally, Pastor Emeritus, St. Gertrude Parish, Chicago
This kind of verbiage does so much damage. The interesting thing is that many people think that this is evidence that the Church is changing. That it’s become modern. But so many of these outrageous statements comes from retired priests or nearly retired priests. This kind of stuff, I suspect, is the last gasp of the 60’s. Fr. Kenneally was ordained in 1961.
When he retired the Chicago Tribune did a story on him that had this:
Inspired by the reforms of Vatican II between 1962 and 1965, he enjoyed his first several years serving in city parishes. “There was this open window that looked out on a church that looked very, very progressive at the time,” he said. “For a priest, those were the golden days where all these things that liberal theologians talked about were now part of the agenda of the church.”
But during the papacy of John Paul II, Kenneally, then an associate pastor at St. Nicholas Church in Evanston, sensed a new conservatism taking shape, and his frustrations began to fester. “The deck is stacked now. That’s what’s frustrating for me,” he said. “I don’t think liberal Catholics are considered anymore by the hierarchy. They’re thought of as some kind of pestilence or irrelevant.”
Despite his angst, Kenneally remained a priest. When he arrived at St. Gertrude in 1984, he immediately added a contemporary worship service in a gym that featured jazz, dance and other creative expressions–an effort to give lapsed Catholics and seekers an alternative point of entry into the church
Kinda’ makes sense, right?
December 3, 2013 at 9:24 pm
I thought lapsed Catholics and non believers had a smooth and entertaining entry into the church. It's called Protestantism. You can go from bible believing flavor of the week, to episcopalian, to Methodist, to Lutheran, to apostolic Lutheran and if you then want to decide how The Holy Spirit wants the church to function, you go Catholic. Already in place.
December 3, 2013 at 10:57 pm
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December 3, 2013 at 11:37 pm
"I wish to distance myself publicly from the misguided efforts of Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield and his rite of exorcism."
Why didn't Keneally "distance" himself all together from the RC Church during his "unease" under the papacy of JPII? Possibly because it would've been hard to "distance" himself from the 3 hots and a cot he gets "for free" and earn his keep 9-5? Now, like Keneally himself acknowledges, he’s too old. He asserts with vile hubris the Church needs him more than he needs the Church:
"I don't have to be politically correct or religiously correct or anyway correct. I've got three more years [until he turns 70 and can retire]. I have total job security. There's no one to take my job. The barrel — we're at the bottom. Now what's happening is that, when you turn 70, they say, "Can you stay longer?"
Even though Keneally is saying and doing his will, he doesn’t sound like a happy man.
May this man be open to the corrective wing-prompts of the Holy Spirit. We need to pray for this priest and others like him. He's in danger of dragging the souls entrusted to him to their damnation with his alb.
December 4, 2013 at 12:43 am
We have a moral duty not to entertain impure or evil thoughts/desires. The more we try to overcome evil desires the easier it becomes, until there is no impure desire.
December 4, 2013 at 12:48 am
Lynda, that is according to your beliefs. But that doesn't excuse disrespect or foul language.
December 4, 2013 at 9:28 pm
No, that's not according to my beliefs, but objective moral reason.
December 4, 2013 at 4:19 pm
Once again: "Pay attention to me! I'm not just anybody, I'm Rev. Bill Kenneally, Pastor Emeritus!!! The title shows I'm an authority. But don't pay attention to the bishops! Don't pay attention to the popes! We have surely outgrown deference to titles!"
December 4, 2013 at 7:20 pm
Could the moderator please read Steve Dalton's filthy vitriol and let us know if the gloves are off and if we should reply in kind? Thanks.
December 5, 2013 at 12:06 am
Lynda, what your beliefs tell you what is moral, makes it "objective" to you. It does not necessarily apply to everyone. Your beliefs do not govern the world Additionally, it doesn't excuse disrespect or foul language..
December 5, 2013 at 8:10 pm
No. Objective moral truth exists by dint of human nature and is accessible by right reason. Who acknowledges or denies that unchanging truth is irrelevant. The morals upheld by Christ's Church are those knowable to all men by dint of our rational God-given nature.
December 5, 2013 at 4:32 am
The Archdiocese of Chicago has a severe seminarian shortage. I suppose this priest is one reason why. God bless the Bishop of Springfield.
December 5, 2013 at 4:53 am
Supertradmum, regardless of the marriage issue, why do you glance over the disrespectful comments left by some "Catholics"?
December 5, 2013 at 9:00 pm
Lynda, that is still according to your view. Your arguments are circular. Natural law is defined by God who is known to all through the Catholic church. Therefore, Catholicism is the only way because teaches "natural law" and that God created natural law. The premise that the Catholic Church is objectively morally truthful is flawed due to that teaching. If you step out of the belief system for a moment you will see it. You also fail to address the disrespect issue. Can you please comment on that, unless you have some animus against gay people as well.
December 5, 2013 at 10:12 pm
With respect, if you don't recognise the Natural Law – the objective universal truth, including moral truth – there can be no logical basis for your assertions. Without knowing it, or at least acknowledging it, however, you are invoking the objective moral law when you expect others to recognise rudeness or disrespect on the part of a person towards another person. Of course, rudeness or disrespect for a person is objectively wrong. However, using crude language about intrinsically evil behaviour is not gravely wrong where that intrinsic evil is being imposed on people across many areas of public life. Moreover, rudeness simpliciter is not of great significance when set against the widespread refusal to accept the objective truth that homosexuality is gravely disordered and a threat to the personal and common good, nay, when the objective falsehood that it is good or natural, is imposed on people, including children, by certain state agencies, Media, etc. Hope this clarifies. God bless you.
December 5, 2013 at 9:10 pm
I entered full communion with the Catholic Church in 2007, coming from a Presbyterian childhood and then a brief time in the Episcopal church – had I walked into a Catholic Mass and saw jazz and dancers, I'd still be a Protestant today. What ridiculous rubbish!
December 5, 2013 at 10:59 pm
Sadly, too many commentators have not learned how to argue points logically and use ad hominem false thinking. We should not be attacking persons but ideals which are contrary to the Teaching Magisterium of the Church. To engage in arguments using insults and bad language is not what Catholics should do, but raise the level of the discussion to natural law philosophy, the long teachings of the Western Civilizations and the Judeo-Christian tradition. Stick to the facts, the CCC, the many writings of recent Popes and stay away from personal attacks.
When one has the Truth one only has to lead others to that Truth with respectfulness and dignity.
December 6, 2013 at 12:41 am
Supertradmum, thank you for your observation and statement. It is unfortunate that many people don't realize that. Lynda, regardless of what is being imposed where and what you think objective morality is, rudeness is still not necessary at all.
"However, using crude language about intrinsically evil behaviour is not gravely wrong where that intrinsic evil is being imposed on people across many areas of public life. "
Calling people "faggots" for living a different life than what the Church teaches is not necessary and is not justified. That is what Steve did and you still refuse to admit that. You still haven't stepped out of your bubble yet. The Church has also imposed its religious beliefs on people and still does. Does that make it right? What about different religious beliefs? Would you suggest that they are completely flawed perspectives?
December 13, 2013 at 3:27 am
As Supertradmum made clear, there exists the Truth; if one refuses to accept the Truth, one is in error, or may have a "flawed perspective" as you say.
December 6, 2013 at 5:22 pm
Pat, if you think my language is "filthy and vitriolic", concerning those poor, put down, swishes, you ought to read what the prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel said about the whoremongers of their days!
December 8, 2013 at 3:36 pm
If there are such Priests the laity themselves are to some extent responsible for it for they do not report about such ones to the Bishops and the Pope in writing.