Posted on 05/07/2002 12:09:14 PM PDT by Armando Guerra
Memo to Catholic priests everywhere: If you plan on attending a future Mardi Gras, try not to be photographed shirtless next to a drag queen and some chiseled guys in biker shorts. Because that photo op just cost Rev. Thomas Bouterie his pastor's post at a church outside of New Orleans. The 47-year-old Bouterie--unknowingly snapped at last year's New Orleans bacchanal--appears in "Masking and Madness: Mardi Gras in New Orleans," photographer Kerri McCaffety's vibrant study of the annual Crescent City celebration. Following a meeting with diocesan brass, Bouterie announced Saturday (5/4) his decision to step down after 13 years as pastor of St. Louis Church in Bayou Blue, about 40 miles southwest of New Orleans. While no allegations of abuse have been made against Bouterie, a church spokesman said "these photographs could be a source of scandal for some and, thus, prevent Father Bouterie from effectively exercising his ministry." Bouterie said that his resignation was not "reflective of the current problems" in the Church, but more indicative of his "personal growth as a priest."
A giant bump for Kerri McCaffety. I've known her many years, and think the world of her.
I don't know, but maybe we should ask Cal.
I didn't post the other pic b/c you couldn't see his face.....but you *could* see where he had his right hand.
I feel dirty now. Time to re-boot, run disc cleaner.
In his biography of Pope John Paul, Tad Szulc, who also wrote bio of Fidel, says this pope is tough. He'd rather have a smaller congregation of those who refuse to practice birth control than a larger congregation of those who do. He has to start applying his "tough" standards to the priesthood or the Church will disappear altogether.
Fine. Decimate away. If knocking out one in ten isn't enough, get rid of more. Perverts out! Where's Tomas de Torquemada when you really need him?
AB
For more than some, I suspect.
Remember now the Homosexual Lobby's "Talking Points":
1. Homosexuals are being "scapegoated"
2. They are "100% behind" the victims
3. When all else fails, shout the name "Matthew Sheppard" very loud and very fast.
What a riot!
The Church kicks this guy out over a "could be a source of scandal" and they do NOTHING to pedophiles??????
The Church leadership are doing more damage to Christianity than the Romans ever dreamed of doing.
I'm not sure this is terminology they would use. "Support" maybe.
The real problem is that this Pope is routinely ignored by a number of bishops and priests. They figure he's gonna die soon, (they rejoiced when he was shot) so why bother listening to him? I overheard a priest say to another that when John Paul dies "we'll get someone in who really knows how to pope". With that kind of a prevailing sentiment JPII can bust a few heads and will still have problems with them. He is on record telling them what they need to do to clean up everything, and they just yawn and go on.
The only solution is for the cardinals and bishops grab their guts and do what's right. Finishing cleaning up the seminaries, kick out all gay priests and if any of them have abused CALL THE COPS. But most importantly, they must make it priority number one to get each other in line. The morals of the Church are not the problem, the leaders have been lax on the job.
When they have cleaned up their acts, God will reward the Church with an abundance of good men who will have at their heart to serve God faithfully. Our Holy Father said one time that there are many young people who are looking to priests to show them the way to Christ and that these young people would joyfully enter the service of the Lord if they are shown a proper example.
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