[NYer]

Coincidentally, this week, Alejandro Bermudez from Catholic News Agency, suddendly shut down his blog - Catholic Outsider. He said his goodbyes, departed and the blog has been completely removed.

[Salvation]

Thanks for this article, NYer!

[NYer]

Posted on Fri, Mar. 03, 2006

Archbishop silences priest's 'Voice'

Flynn forbids online, radio messages

BY STEVE SCOTT

Pioneer Press

The homilies and presentations of a St. Paul priest can no longer be published on his Web site or broadcast on a Catholic radio network by request of the archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis, according to the priest's Web site.

The Rev. Robert Altier of St. Agnes Church posted a message Thursday that said: "In obedient compliance with the expressed written request of Most Reverend Harry J. Flynn … Father Altier's homilies and spiritual presentations can no longer be published on www.desertvoice.org or broadcast on Relevant Radio.''

The archdiocese had no comment about the decision, and Altier could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Altier is a prominent voice in conservative Catholic circles and operates a Web site called A Voice in the Desert. He has spoken out against a sex-abuse prevention program being taught throughout the archdiocese, including to schoolchildren. Such programs were mandated in all dioceses by U.S. bishops as part of their response to the clergy abuse crisis.

Opponents — including the Twin Cities-based nonprofit group Catholic Parents Online, of which Altier is the spiritual adviser — say the programs are too explicit for children and usurp parents' roles in teaching their children about sexuality.

Archdiocese spokesman Dennis McGrath could not confirm the reason for Flynn's directive because the archbishop did not discuss any communication he had with Altier. McGrath said no impropriety had occurred. "Any communication between a priest and the archbishop is personal and confidential,'' McGrath said. "But obviously there is a point of disagreement there someplace in his homilies or some of the things on the radio.''

Relevant Radio is at 1330-AM in the Twin Cities.

Steve Scott may be reached at sscott@pioneerpress.com or 651-228-5526.

[Bigg Red]

It is Father Alitier's contention that there is a simple and real truth behind scandal. "I got sick and tired of all the lies. I just laid it out. There are three groups that have infiltrated the Church, the Masons, the Communists, and the homosexuals, who came in 1924," he alleges. "85 percent of all the abuse cases are homosexual. There is rank homosexuality. Homosexuals chose the best and brightest and best looking and put them into the priesthood."

**
I guess now we know why he has been silenced. Pray for our Church.

[Aquinasfan]

The "big tent" only seems to go one way. This reminds me of Cardinal Egan trying to send Fr. Pavone back to parish work.

[Solson]

To whom do we appeal to have ArchBishop Harry Flynn removed?

[DBeers]

Cached documents still available on Google for any interested.

www.desertvoice.org - Google cache

[Ozone34]

I managed to salvage this link to an archive of sermon audio recordings earlier today:

ftp://217.160.246.215/pub/audionet/Desert_Voice/

[Campion]

This one (linked from the article) is a must-read. Wanderer readers already know about this, but other folks may not.

Flynn is not doing the Faith any favors by silencing this brave priest; he's trying to save face for himself and other bishops. A bishop with guts (e.g., Bruskewitz) would promote him to Vicar General or something.

[marshmallow]

The word over on Dom's blog (scroll down) is that the main reason for Fr. Altier's removal is his outspoken opposition to the Virtus and Talking About Touching programs instituted by the bishops in the wake of the clerical abuse scandal.

Fr. Altier apparently riled Flynn last year when he weighed in on the Teresa Kettlekamp controversy in one of his published homilies. Ms. Kettlekamp is the Director of the USCCB's Office of Child and Youth Protection and guess who is the Chairman of the Bishop's ad hoc committee of the same name?? That's right, Archbishop Flynn. Kettlekamp is a former colonel in the Illinois state police, was/is a member of the advisory board of the National Center for Women and Policing, an arm of the pro-abortion Feminist Majority Foundation. It's worth noting that this wonderful committee is designed to protect our children from our very own priests.....but I digress. Kettelkamp fired off a four page memo to all US Dioceses last year about compulsory instruction for children (batted about at great length here on FR) and Altier ripped her and the memo.

Anyhow, Flynn was ticked big time, so the story goes and he fired off a vigorous defense of said lady. However, it would appear that this was not the end of the matter and Fr. Altier has just found out the depths of Flynn's anger.

Bottom line: US bishops will exercise their episcopal authority. But only when they are personally affronted and not to safeguard souls from heresy and heterodoxy.

[Barney Gumble]

There are three groups that have infiltrated the Church, the Masons, the Communists, and the homosexuals, who came in 1924," he alleges.

I think I can vouch for the Communists. On Ash Wednesday, here in Houston, the sermon was on GLOBAL WARMING and how Americans use of oil is going to destroy the Earth. It was a recommendation to give up driving a lot for Lent.

I was appauled. Why are American Catholics so liberal? Besides being inaccurate, it was inappropriate. There are many things that would be better to discuss or to recommend giving up. I never hear sermons condemning abortion or the homosexual lifestyle. The Pope does, but not American churches.

[redhead]

Harry Flynn used to be my bishop. From the beginning, he has shown a considerable love (or fear) of the homosexual lobbyists. When Human Life International had its international conference in St. Paul, Flynn at first agreed to celebrate the opening Mass, concelebrating with Cardinal Arinze, but the queer lobby got to him, and he withdrew his agreement, leaving other attendee clergy to do the honors. He has never made a single decision that I know of that has not made a gesture of conciliation to queers from all over the state. In Flynn's archdiocese, they are his pets, and priests like Father Altier are treated like redheaded stepchildren.

[TotusTuus]

Bump for later read exploration. Seems like a lot of good and interesting info is coming across on this one.

[Zionist Conspirator]

What are his positions on Biblical inerrancy and evolution?

[lastchance]

Reading the lives of some Saints I discovered that often they obeyed their Bishops or other superiors even when the Bishop was wrong in their views.
They obeyed even though it did cause great spiritual and mental anguish to themselves. Because they knew that their rightness was known to God. This priest is surely speaking the truth and no doubt God will make sure that in good time the priest's message will be heard and embraced. Especially by the Bishop. Meanwhile the priest should bear the duty of obedience he promised with grace and humility.

[Diva]

The priest has also harped on the need for deliverance.

"I did an awful lot of deliverance work, and the bishop shut it down," claimed Father Altier. "He said he didn't want any priest in his diocese doing this."

I'm wondering just what this part means? Was he performing exorcisms of some kind or just advocating the Sacrement of Confession?

[Salvation]

There are some new links here:

Pray for A Voice in the Desert

About Father Altier and the Desert Voice Website

A Statement from the Webmaster at Desert Voice
Is this the reason Father Altier was silenced?
Archdiocesan spokesman confirms Father Altier innocent of any impropriety

email@desertvoice.org

In obedient compliance with the expressed written request of Most Reverend Harry J. Flynn Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA Father Altier’s homilies and spiritual presentations can no longer be published on www.desertvoice.org or broadcast on Relevant Radio. This action of the Archbishop is not related to any scandal or sexual misconduct on the part of Father Robert Altier. We regret any inconvenience and humbly ask for your prayers. All concerns should be directed in a spirit of charity to: Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis  Most Reverend Harry J. Flynn 226 Summit Avenue Saint Paul, MN, USA 55102 (651) 291-4400 communications@archspm.org