If you read this blog at all you might guess that I’m not all torn up about losing Fr. Cutie to the Anglican Communion:
A popular U.S. Roman Catholic priest photographed frolicking with a woman on a Florida beach announced on Thursday he had joined the Episcopal Church to pursue the priesthood in a faith that allows married clergy.
The word that comes to my mind is addition by subtraction. We had a situation like this in my Parish, a very nice priest wanted to leave the priesthood to get married, he struggled with this and talked to the diocese and eventually left the priesthood and got married but remains in the church. To me that is still really bad; but he remained in the church worked through the diocese when he left and with confession is forgiven and is a Catholic in good standing and is bringing his family up Catholic.
There is an interesting contrast here as well. The Archbishop of Miami (via the Curt Jester) touches on it during his pastoral letter on the subject:
I must also express my sincere disappointment with how Bishop Leo Frade of the Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida has handled this situation. Bishop Frade has never spoken to me about his position on this delicate matter or what actions he was contemplating. I have only heard from him through the local media. This truly is a serious setback for ecumenical relations and cooperation between us. The Archdiocese of Miami has never made a public display when for doctrinal reasons Episcopal priests have joined the Catholic Church and sought ordination. In fact, to do so would violate the principles of the Catholic Church governing ecumenical relations. I regret that Bishop Frade has not afforded me or the Catholic community the same courtesy and respect. (emphasis mine)
Without meaning to the Bishop hits on something. Over and over when I read about Anglican priests becoming Catholic we hear about the study of doctrine and the conclusion that the Church is true and right. On the other side we hear the I wants. The church doesn’t allow something that the person whats or objects to a sin that the person does, so they find a different church.
One group looks for truth and goes toward it, the other has sin and wants justification to allow it.
This is why Fr. Cutie is pathetic. He will be celebrated for his failure and will lead people away from truth for his own desires. It’s a sad thing but it’s on him and he has the rest of his life to repent…
…after that he’s on his own.
