Back in the 40’s and 50’s the Catholic Church in Boston was plagued with scandal, but of a much different nature that the recent ones.
A priest named Fr. Leonard Feeney was teaching that only Catholics could be saved. This was and is in direct contradiction to Catholic teaching. He spread these teachings through the St. Benedict’s Center.
The Church took action in 1949 to suppress this doctrine and finally after repeated attempts to get him to recant excommunicated him in 1953.
And that round about method brings us to my Jehovah Witness neighbors across the street.
Before I could even offer to help they had not only cleared their front but with a snowblower and a shovel started to clear mine. Within 5 minutes the three of us had the front all done.
When I came back from the wings I was shocked to see that my driveway (which is on another street our property is an “L” was ALSO snowblowed including a path all the way to my back stairs and door.
This is on a day when they have a million things to do, and this behavior is so typical of them that I can’t even express it.
Theologically their doctrines are not sound but I’ll tell you this, they have the basics, love of God and love of neighbor down pat.
Fr. Feeney would not have cared for them, but I’ve got to say God has blessed them.
For a clearer understanding of the points that refute Feeney see the Catechism of the Church on Baptism here and on Mortal sin here.


