Matt C. Abbott
Thomas Groome's assault on Catholicism; Ex-seminarian rekindles faith; Sour 'Milk'
By Matt C. Abbott
Eamonn Keane wrote:
Roger Grant wrote:
Once again, the USCCB's chief film and television critic Harry Forbes is heaping praise on a homosexual agitprop movie. This time it's Milk, starring Sean Penn.
© Matt C. Abbott
December 7, 2008
Eamonn Keane wrote:
-
'I have noticed for some time your uncompromising defense of the Catholic Faith and pray that God will strengthen you in your resolve to continue with this holy task.
'My name is Eamonn Keane and I live in Sydney, Australia. In 2002 I had a book published by Hatherleigh Press titled A Generation Betrayed. The preface to the book was written by Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz; foreword by Donna Steichen; introduction by the late Monsignor Michael J. Wrenn. The book dealt with the contribution of Thomas Groome (Boston College professor) and Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenza (Harvard Divinity School professor) to the deconstruction of Catholic education in the English-speaking world.
'I was raised and educated in Ireland and lately I have noticed that the Archdiocese of Armagh in Ireland has colluded with Groome and Boston College to present a course on his book What Makes Us Catholic via the Internet. This is the new wave as to how wayward Catholic universities in the U.S. are trying to extend their range and influence while getting more money into their coffers. I have just completed a lengthy review of WMUC against the background of Groome's other works and I hope to have it up on various Web sites around the English-speaking world in a few weeks.'
Roger Grant wrote:
-
'I enjoy reading your articles on Renew America and my thoughts resonate with many of the topics you address, especially with those issues that are clearly wrong with the Catholic Church today. Allow me to explain.
'I am a former seminarian for the Diocese of Joliet. I spent seven years pursuing the priesthood in college and studying theology under the leadership of Bishop Joseph Imesch. I spent my three years of theology at the notorious Mundelein Seminary. It was no picnic and it was probably the worst three years of my life! Now, I am not perfect by any means, but I resent the fact that many of the problems I experience are the result of many years of bad theology and horrible formation at the hands of 'newchurch' beauracrats.
'Ten years ago, I abandoned my vocation to the priesthood because I was frustrated, disheartened and disillusioned. Eventually, I moved to Tucson, Arizona, where Gerald Kicanas (who was the rector at Mundelein just before I started theology there) became the bishop of the diocese. I am happily married now and have been for six years. I have a four year-old daughter who is the love of my life.
'Two years ago, we moved back to the Chicago area to be closer to family. I still work for the Church, but not in a ministerial capacity, and I am just fine with that. I see a lot of things wrong with the Church today, including the presence of so many homosexuals in the seminaries and priesthood, as was my experience at Mundelein. The reforms of the Second Vatican Council have wreaked havoc on the faith of many Catholics, and I am a product of those reforms. I went to Catholic schools all my life. My faith life is no where near what it should be, though I do attend Mass weekly on Sunday. Slowly but surely, I am starting to realize the errors of my past and trying to correct or 'undo' them. It is no easy task! I was born after Vatican II ended and before the chaos and the havoc began. I never knew the traditional Mass, though I have attended in the past St. John Cantius Parish.
'I don't want to bore you with my life story. I do want to support you and let you know I agree with your position on these issues. I am not sure where the Church, or the rest of the world, is headed, but it doesn't look promising. I am trying to reignite my prayer life with praying the Rosary everyday, and I want to spend more time in Eucharistic Adoration. And I am hungry to learn about — or, perhaps, relearn — my faith, a faith not clouded with heresy and untruths, but the true faith of Jesus Christ as it should be presented, through the Roman Catholic Church.'
Once again, the USCCB's chief film and television critic Harry Forbes is heaping praise on a homosexual agitprop movie. This time it's Milk, starring Sean Penn.
© Matt C. Abbott
The views expressed by RenewAmerica columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of RenewAmerica or its affiliates.
(See RenewAmerica's publishing standards.)
