Rev. Thomas J. Euteneuer,
President, Human Life International
Posted on 11/08/2007 1:08:45 PM PST by Pyro7480
On Sunday, November 4th, Rev. Thomas Brennan, S.J., revealed publicly to a parish at St. Joseph University in Philadelphia that he was a homosexual. The priest chose to “come out” during a so-called “Diversity Week” allegedly dedicated to honoring Jesuit founder, St. Ignatius Loyola. The following is Fr. Euteneuer’s open letter to Fr. Brennan.
Dear Father Brennan,
Faithful Catholics are so accustomed to being scandalized by Jesuit priests and universities these days that your public announcement of your same sex attraction during the Mass last Sunday does not really surprise any of us. It does, however, increase the indignation that people of faith have toward such shameless displays of clerical irresponsibility like this. There is something just plain wrong about abusing people’s trust in the priesthood in such a public way, and since you chose to “go public” with this matter, a public response to your outrageous “outing” is merited.
First of all, Holy Mass is not a forum for your self-expression. You chose the sacred liturgy and the pulpit reserved for preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the launching pad for your personal testament to homosexuality, when by your own admission this was hardly a secret to anyone. One wonders if you would have inflicted details of your personal life on a friend while officiating at his wedding or any other sacred occasion. The effect would be the same: the derailing of the focus of attention from the host to you. You’ve read the same documents I’ve read about the liturgy, and all of them say the Mass is not your personal stage.
Secondly, since you brought up the matter of sexuality, please consider what the sacrament of Holy Orders represents. A priest is “another Christ” (alter Christus) both sacramentally and existentially. That means the priest witnesses in his very body and person the Bridegroom who loved His wife (the Church) giving Himself up to death for her (Eph 5:25). In light of that, what, specifically, do you as a homosexual man witness? I am not talking about celibacy here. That is a form of Christian chastity to which you and I are called, and I trust that you are faithful to it. I am asking a more direct question about the sacramental witness of your gift of sexuality. A heterosexual celibate renounces his natural desire for wife and children in order to serve the Bride of Christ in a direct spousal relationship. A homosexual celibate renounces an unholy desire for members of the same sex: that is a renunciation of a disorder, not the embrace of a Bride.
When even a celibate priest chooses to go public about his homosexual identity as an expression of “diversity” or “pride,” the faithful are rightfully confused and scandalized. Not only do you owe them an apology, you owe them a better example of priesthood. They deserve a priest who is clear about the Church’s teaching on homosexual acts and who teaches it unambiguously. They need a priest who personally witnesses the same teaching without feeling the need to make statements about himself or inserting ideology into the Gospel. If you do not clearly witness the Church’s teaching about your own vocation, how can you teach others to be faithful to theirs?
I would ask you, in the Name of Jesus, to go back to your congregation and offer them a renewed witness to your masculine love for Christ’s Bride the Church. Assure them that you will defend them in a manly way from all wolves that attack them, Jesuit or otherwise, and that you will be a strong and loving father for all their needs. , not a man pre-occupied with his own orientation.
If you are unwilling to do that, I recommend that you make a thirty-day Ignatian retreat at Tyburn, England, where dozens of your Jesuit brethren were hung, drawn and quartered in the English Reformation—all for the sake of Christ’s Bride. That would be a good refresher course in both theology and priestly love.
Sincerely Yours in Christ,
Rev. Thomas J. Euteneuer,
President, Human Life International
Catholic ping!
Go get ‘em Father.
The Jesuits have come a long way, baby. These used to be the guys that ran the Inquisition.
I think we ought to start lumping them with the Wiccan nuns and the womenpriestesses out there on the lunatic fringe.
"Are you a good Jesuit, or . . . the other kind?"
Sheesh, the older Jesuits must be ashamed of their younger brethren. These guys used to be the Pope's shock troops, real soldiers for Christ. Withstood the most hideous tortures the Iroquis could contrive -- now they can't even resist carnal temptation.
St. Isaac Jogues, St. Jean de Brebeuf, and your holy companions, please pray for your misguided brethren!
That suggested Ignatian retreat at the end sounded like a good idea.
Excellent letter from Father Euteneuer. As to the other priest I have a number he should keep handy, 815.
bump. Love this guy.
Oh, the Jesuits always had their failures, just like any other group of men ... some who gave in to sexual temptation; some who couldn’t handle the climates, the cultures, and the languages in the missions; some who couldn’t handle the torture.
The difference is that the old Jesuits were sorry about their failings, instead of celebrating them.
I’m reading a biography of Bl. Peter Favre right now. Very interesting!
These guys don't seem to understand where that nonsense leads, even with the Awful Example of ECUSA right in front of them . . . (or maybe they DO, which is even worse.)
Right you are! If this character wants to “celebrate” his “diversity” so bad, and does not want to repent, let him depart and go to the ECUSA, where they “glory” in their “diversity”. Everyone sins and falls short of the glory of God. But some decide that sin isn’t sin anymore and “celebrate” it and throw it in everyone’s face like its “OK.” That is far worse, IMO, than the original sin in the first place.
"You wanna piece of this...........??.....:-)
My Pastor went to Rome with five other Priests and met John Paul II in his personal Chapel. When they were introduced,it was noted to the Pontiff that one of them was a Jesuit. The Pontiff responded, “Yes, but are you a Catholic?”
The Jesuits failed last week. There is no way they should have lost to Florida State. They can repent by beating Maryland.
Amen, Father! Preach it! The Mass isn't about Father Flake ("I'm Father Flake, and I'll be your presider, today."), or Sister Silly ("I'm Sister Silly, your Minister of Music. Our Song of Coming Together will be 'You Make Me Barf', No. 666 in the Music Issue."), or even about us, the congregation (aren't we wonderful?). The Mass is all about God.
**Homosexual Jesuit Needs Refresher Course in Priestly Love (Catholic Caucus)**
It’s called Obedience to the Holy See.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.