How are we to work out our salvation? Philippians 2:12-13 "...work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." This is why it really ROCKS me at my core when I come in contact with a priest who is leaving the Faith to follow his convictions; convictions that are not consistent with what the Church teaches. Case in point is the case of Father Geoffrey Farrow from Fresno, CA. This priest left the Church because he could not support the Church's teaching on homosexuality. Father Geoffrey Farrow admits that he is a homosexual and states he is following his conscience on this matter. One can't but help admire his courage in following his convictions BUT still feel great sadness for what he and the Church has lost. Click here.
Numbers 32:23, "But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure your sin will find you out." Back in 2007, CNN reported that a gay priest was found in the Vatican. What an embarrasment after the Pope just expressing the clear teachings of the Church on this matter only to learn that a priest under his nose had gotten caught soliciting sex from a young man on the internet. Click here.
What is even more upsetting for me are the priests I have come into contact with who do not uphold the teachings of the Faith, yet they stay under the "radar" and simply live their lives as heretics!! We see them going through the motions and see where they rebel in small ways against certain practices. One can't help but wonder as to why they choose to stay in a Church that simply does not recognize their ideas of LOVE. Most likely it is because they are cowards simply waiting for their pensions to kick in. Click here.
The line is being drawn in the sand these days and the Church is using a strong finger to draw that line. This is the time that the good priests will shine all the more brighter. This struggle between the "cultural" catholics and the faithful followers will not be pretty. Sean Hanity had a run in with a well known Catholic Priest. Click here.
What do you think about this matter? How do we respond in a loving way to this very difficult matter? Did Father Geoffrey Farrow do the right thing to go public with his convictions or should he have privately left the Church?
Whatever your thoughts, never forget to pray for those who go up against the Pope.
Create in me a pure heart, oh God ~ Psalms 51:10 Click here.
Phil Brady
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Friday, October 16, 2009
Believing in God and His Church
I just found a priest name Edward on youtube who left the Church back in the mid 60's. He lost his faith in GOD and in His Church from what he calls a problem he has with God allowing so much pain and suffering in the world. Here is what I shared with him and give me your comments:
Yes there is a God, Edward. To believe there is no God is to give into great sadness. I too have served in the Church and have found many priests, theologians and others who serve rejecting many important teachings of the Church and who serve in quiet rebellion against the Holy Father. I lost so much respect for many priests and fear they quietly lead many astray with their "tickle the ear" theology and their unwillingness to uphold very important teachings of the Catholic Church. Yet I believe in God despite the many sad things I see in the world and in His Church because if I rejected His existence now, I would be really hopeless.
I choose DAILY to believe in the Eucharist despite the fact it goes against my rational thinking but fits perfectly with the challenge our Lord demands for us to trust in Him. It is very easy to rationalize our Faith away and it seems you have done this. You will always be a priest for all eternity so why not be a great one who believes despite what the natural mind holds on to! Be brave and DO NOT BE AFRAID to trust Him with all that is not normal, or rational or easy to understand.
Take that step out of your atheistic 'comfort zone' of your own making and get back in the Church so your testimony will stand as that of Christ in the Garden, when He too asked for a different cup that seemed to make more sense than the one He was being given to drink from. Be brave and come back so you can show others how to take a risk worth taking, the risk to be what God is demanding us to be: FAITHFUL FOLLOWERS OF THE CRUCIFIED KING! His victory waits for us on the other side, we just have to take hold of it and know that IT IS FINISHED. Your doubts only are opportunities to become what God intended you to become, HIS CHILD. Look at the doubting Thomas who was given the opportunity to believe without seeing the risen Lord and how sad it was for him to lose such a blessing to believe without proof! This is the kind of Christian our Lord is calling you to become. Don't miss the opportunity.
Phil Brady
Yes there is a God, Edward. To believe there is no God is to give into great sadness. I too have served in the Church and have found many priests, theologians and others who serve rejecting many important teachings of the Church and who serve in quiet rebellion against the Holy Father. I lost so much respect for many priests and fear they quietly lead many astray with their "tickle the ear" theology and their unwillingness to uphold very important teachings of the Catholic Church. Yet I believe in God despite the many sad things I see in the world and in His Church because if I rejected His existence now, I would be really hopeless.
I choose DAILY to believe in the Eucharist despite the fact it goes against my rational thinking but fits perfectly with the challenge our Lord demands for us to trust in Him. It is very easy to rationalize our Faith away and it seems you have done this. You will always be a priest for all eternity so why not be a great one who believes despite what the natural mind holds on to! Be brave and DO NOT BE AFRAID to trust Him with all that is not normal, or rational or easy to understand.
Take that step out of your atheistic 'comfort zone' of your own making and get back in the Church so your testimony will stand as that of Christ in the Garden, when He too asked for a different cup that seemed to make more sense than the one He was being given to drink from. Be brave and come back so you can show others how to take a risk worth taking, the risk to be what God is demanding us to be: FAITHFUL FOLLOWERS OF THE CRUCIFIED KING! His victory waits for us on the other side, we just have to take hold of it and know that IT IS FINISHED. Your doubts only are opportunities to become what God intended you to become, HIS CHILD. Look at the doubting Thomas who was given the opportunity to believe without seeing the risen Lord and how sad it was for him to lose such a blessing to believe without proof! This is the kind of Christian our Lord is calling you to become. Don't miss the opportunity.
Phil Brady
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