Father Tom Euteneuer: his hour of spiritual warfare

By Jenn Giroux

It has been said that if you defend the cross, you better be ready to take up the cross.

Lately I have been reading many disturbing things about Fr. Tom Euteneuer's departure from Human Life International (HLI), speculation on where he is, and outrageous theories and accusations circulating on the internet. As I sort through the speculation, gossip and hearsay, I see clearly that Father Tom has been handed his cross and is carrying it in silence.

Those with eyes to see and a Christian heart will understand that he is engaged in spiritual warfare. Let us review what we know:

• As President of HLI, Fr. Tom traveled over one million miles around the globe to fight the culture of death.
  
  
• Under his watch, the organization grew from 40 to 100 countries, assisting the pro-life movements in many third world countries against their own governments.
  
  
• Fr. Tom initiated a campaign which led to the distribution of over 3 million "St. Michael the Archangel prayer cards around the globe.
  
  
• Fr. Tom not only fought abortion without compromise, but he also courageously defended the Church's related teaching against contraception, including one memorable televised confrontation with a popular prime time talk show host.
  
  
• Fr. Tom wrote two powerful books to help the faithful to better understand not only the power of Satan but, more importantly, the power and protection that we have through Christ's Church against him.
  
  
• In addition to helping thousands of people grow closer to God, Fr. Tom conducted an exorcism ministry that helped hundreds of troubled people and this required direct confrontation with the forces of darkness.
  
  

Surely most of us have no idea what that exorcism ministry really involved and how much Satan and his minions have targeted Fr. Tom Euteneuer for destruction. Few priests have so publicly and willingly taken on such controversial and morally difficulty challenges. If we forever remain ignorant of why Fr. Tom has been temporarily removed from public life, we can probably still assume that he is suffering the most intense form of private spiritual warfare.

While few know the details underlying Fr. Tom's removal from public life — I certainly do not — ignorance has not deterred imprudent tongues and keyboards from casting dark innuendos toward Fr. Tom, his Bishop, and others. It apparently does not occur to such people that, whatever the facts, there will be unnecessary collateral damage in the form of innocent victims. Whether Fr. Tom is blameworthy or completely innocent, you can be certain that he would respect the reputations of others far more than others are respecting his.

Maybe, just maybe, we don't need to know the whole story.

Is Fr. Tom Euteneuer above sin? Surely not. None of us are.

Is he entitled to his good name? Yes, all of us are. If in some way Fr. Tom has fallen from grace, he needs our prayers, not our unhealthy curiosities.

In the Gospel reading on the eve of this feast of St. Thomas Aquinas, Jesus said to his disciples "Take care what you hear. The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you."

We would all do well to take care not only what we hear but what we speak.

Please join me in praying for Fr. Tom. We trust that he is under the protection of Our Lady, The Immaculate, whom he loves so much.

St. Michael the Archangel, defend him in battle!

Jenn Giroux
Jenngiroux9@gmail.com

© Jenn Giroux