The RI Independent reports this very revealing article in which young students and their parents are horrified by orthodoxy. And then comes the apology and hand wringing.
The Rev. Francis “Rocky” Hoffman, a priest of Opus Dei, an orthodox division of the Roman Catholic Church, and executive director and radio host of Relevant Radio, a Catholic radio network that broadcasts on 33 stations in 13 states and online, had spoken to a school-wide assembly at The Prout School, where Anna is a junior. The speech was being taped to be broadcast on Relevant Radio at a later date.
“She was most upset about the divisive and offensive language regarding divorce, homosexuality and even adoption,” Kathleen Schlenz said. “None of the parents or faculty knew it was being taped to be aired. They were essentially held hostage and told to clap after this man’s responses to questions, even when they didn’t agree with them.”
Father Hoffman was on retreat and unavailable for comment before the Independent went to press Wednesday.
On April 10, parents received a letter of apology from Principal David Carradini since Friday. In the new letter, Carradini announced he would not resign.
“People in our community are calling for my resignation, seeing in this event the culmination of frustration with my leadership,” Carradini wrote in the April 10 letter. ”I have taken this call very seriously, deliberating with myself for days and seeking counsel from others. I sincerely believe that my resignation as Principal is not in the best interests of The Prout School. I have this discussed this option with diocesan officials and they, too, believe that I should continue in my position as the leader of our School.”
“Many have questioned why I did not stop Fr. Hoffman when I sensed things were going badly,” Carradini wrote. “I have offered three explanations to various audiences; the truth is I do not know why I did not stop him:. Though I sensed, and shared, the distress of your daughters and sons, and of the faculty, I did not see its depth, as I was in the front of the auditorium. I desperately hoped that things might right-end themselves, and in that hope I did not stop him. Parents who are crisis management professionals have instructed me after the fact in what I ought to have done. I am grateful for their guidance.”
Students discussed staging protests and pickets in response to the speech. On Monday, fliers that read “Homosexuals are bullied because of apathy. Divorced people are bullied because of apathy. Adoptive children are bullied because of apathy. Are you apathetic?” appeared around the school.
Several Prout students and alumni tweeted about the matter.
“Prout is now an unvibrant uncatholic community,” one said.
“All the good things built up by The Prout School today just came crashing down around us with that assembly,” read another.
It’ a horror to me that young people IN CATHOLIC SCHOOL are surprised, stunned, and horrified, when they hear actual Catholic teaching.
My suggestion is to have a required course called Catechism 101 in which students are required to read the Catechism.
April 15, 2014 at 2:07 am
I do not disagree that memorization is important but not more so than also being able to think critically. Generations were taught to believe a certain way because that is what Fr. or Sister taught them. When Vatican II closed and Fr and Sister started telling them, "this is what we believe now" they went along with it.
April 15, 2014 at 5:26 am
I can't imagine Fr. (Rocky) Hoffman would have said anything that wasn't the truth…and the truth stings those who aren't open to it. We need to pray for our good priests who are in the line of fire from Catholics who choose to be influenced by the relativistic, progressive, secular world. What a battle.
April 15, 2014 at 4:00 pm
Steve, I've googled around for this and I'm not finding what you're referring to. Do you have a link with an explanation?
April 15, 2014 at 8:19 pm
Maybe. I haven't listened to his program and no one (as of my commenting) had anything to say about it one way or the other. So I just don't know.
By all means give the benefit of the doubt to the good Father. But I think we should extend the same courtesy to the school (although I would be critical of the mushy mouthed response in an of itself, regardless of the other circumstances) and not jump to any conclusions .. unless we have more to go on than this post.
April 16, 2014 at 5:11 am
Relevant Radio is available on the web and as an app. It is wonderful.
April 16, 2014 at 1:46 pm
Maybe all involved need to be given the benefit of the doubt. Many comments here speak about people being upset because the priest spoke about topics that are in line with Catholic teachings. But perhaps it is the manner in which he spoke, or the wording used. It mentioned above a student being upset by adoption? I doubt we'll ever hear the broadcast, but what if Father forgot for a moment that 12/13 year olds were there? Could he have made a comment about same sex adoption? Maybe some children were confused or upset by the idea that adoption could be "bad"? There is a reason we begin with the basics when teaching our children, building up to more complex ideals as they are intellectually ready. It's not wrong for parents to expect that the content be age appropriate, nor is it inconceivable that the priest used language some children may not be ready for.
April 16, 2014 at 3:03 pm
Where is the Bishop in all this? He is the leader, he is the one that must guide Catholics to correct beliefs. I fell away from the Church for 30 years due to this wishy washy way of acting. The Principal in his statement indicates that the priest said something wrong. Today you will say something wrong when speaking about 70% of Catholic teaching. Until we are willing to stand up for our beliefs, we will continue to see our children walk away from the Church and the Catholics ignore God's will. May we all pray for our holy mother Church and her leaders.
April 17, 2014 at 2:22 am
My suggestion is to start telling them the truth from the beginning, instead of waiting until the world has catechized them with its own morality.
This whole thing is utterly ridiculous. Do you mean to tell me these kids don't know what the Church teaches at this age and they have been going to Catholic schools?
Also, I am sick to death of the word bullied. That word gives excuse to approve any kind of wrongdoing at the expense of the one telling the truth.
April 17, 2014 at 2:26 am
Tell him to stick to the truth and bring it to the kids regardless. They need the truth…clearly no one else is telling them.
April 17, 2014 at 12:56 pm
I agree, the truth. As well, the truth spoken with charity.