Saturday, November 21, 2009 in Lewiston, Maine

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Letters

Sins of the fathers

By Dot McAtee
Published: Nov 06, 2009 12:57 am

Without being disrespectful, because I know that there are many very dedicated priests, I feel it necessary to express my opinion.

The last Masses at St. Joseph's and St. Patrick's churches were heart-wrenching and saddened me beyond words. Parishioners were told that diminished attendance and finance were the reasons for closure. Truth and accountability were not mentioned.

I don't believe that it is the fault of parishioners but, rather, the sins of some priests and the secrecy and silence that caused teachers to be fired and churches to be closed. The indiscretions have gone on for years in silence. The public will never know how much money was paid for those sins.

Today, Catholics are not just affected financially, but are being emotionally and spiritually abused by the actions of their leaders. Parishioners should not be made to feel guilty.

Archbishop Bernard Law from Boston was asked to resign because he chose to look the other way. He has been reassigned to a position in Rome. What kind of punishment is that? The people from Boston are still paying his salary.

I don't know much about Canon Law (Documents of Vatican II [1965], the Code of Canon Law [1983], and The Catechism of the Catholic Church [1995]), but I feel it prevents many honest, trustworthy and passionate priests from being the holy people they truly are, to do the work of God and serve their flock.

If people are fulfilled spiritually, they will give financially.

Dot McAtee, Lewiston

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Comments

Terras says

With great sorrow the Vatican II establishment has changed what was Catholic dramatically. We have witnessed major interior destructions, the confiscations and the selling of many beautiful Catholic Churches. That same hierarchy has abandoned the True Faith, the One Church established by Jesus Christ.

The gates of hell have prevailed in the Vatican II Novus Ordo, New Religion, People of God Church. However, the Traditional Roman Catholic Church continues exactly the same as it was in the days of the Apostles. Take heart, Holy Mother Church is still with us as promised. Legitimate Priests travel to Maine regularly to say the Traditional Latin Roman Catholic Mass promulgated by Pope Piux V "Pro Quimum".

Posted 1 week ago (permalink)

stangi says

Comments by people who know nothing about the Catholic Church. Catholicism was founded by Jesus and his apostles to lead all souls to salvation. Bishop Malone did exactly what Jesus expected him to do in the gay marriage controversy - to be on the side of God. Bishop Malone does not preach hate, rather, it's the pro-gays who preach hatred of God, Christians, and all they stand for. They hate the God who created them, who loves them, and who encourages them to obey him, so that they may have a reward of eternal happiness. And let the mansion bit die. The Diocese of Portland does not even own the mansion. The mansion is on loan from a family who donated its use to the bishop of the diocese. If and when the bishop decides to no longer reside there, the ownership of the mansion reverts back to the donating family. Our churches are empty not because the diocese doesn't finance them, but because Catholics are abandoning their Christ-founded faith by the droves, and seeking worldly happiness and approval, rather than heavenly happiness and the approval of God. The large number of Catholics who voted no on 1 are prime examples of the moral and spiritual decay of Catholics who refuse to follow the faith that Jesus left them.

Posted 2 weeks ago (permalink)

devoutmainecatholic says

Well said stangi. Well said. However, I am afraid that those outside the Church, whether scismatic traditionalist, or liberal secular humanist, will never understand. They think only politically. As for the faithful, while we may be obliged to engage in the political arena as responsible citizens, we do not place our hope in it. "Our hope is in Christ!" as the holy father testified during his visit.

Posted 1 week ago (permalink)

joeziehmer's picture

joeziehmer says

Wrong Stangi Catholicism was founded long before Jesus it dates back to the days of Aaron and his sons, long ago priests were allowed to marry, and even in that centralized conflict, which means by those commandments the Church has deserted the true word of the father, and if you review it does state Priest. Even in the New Testament there are mentions of priests as well so what then does it mean? That in the Old Testament priests married to carry on the blood line? Your churches are empty because of pedophile priests and denial of God's true words and the worldly happiness and approval; met a few Catholics who converted to Baptist because of the churches hatred of Jews and other Christian sects. I voted yes on one however not to appeal to the Catholic church, or the Mormon church, and or even the most over-zealot Baptist but it is because of what is printed in the Bible.

Joseph Ziehm
Lewiston, ME
"Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a master in heaven. Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;" Colossians 4: 1-2

Posted 1 week ago (permalink)

mckinnley says

The small issue of the mansion is costing the Diocese over a million a year for upkeep, so for an organization that is crying poor, I am not buying it. People are abandoning their faith not because they are godless and seeking worldly happiness, they are searching for a faith that can understand their struggles and needs, and the church can no longer do that. The men in charge sit in their ivory towers thinking that all is right with the world and that they are above the law. If I did what some of the the priests did to the young men I would be in jail for the rest of my life, instead, these men were moved around in hopes of hiding their dirty deeds, and those that tried to cover it up were rewarded justly, like a plum position in Rome. To assume that I know nothing of the Catholic Church or that I am godless, or that I do not have faith is so off the mark.

Posted 2 weeks ago (permalink)

mckinnley says

The church would rather spend its money garnered on the backs of its faithful to continuously allow priests to violate and irrevocably destroy its youth, who by the way was the future of the church on causes of hatred and bigotry. Why does one person need a several bedroom mansion on Portland’s west end??? That money could have been better used to support its infrastructure then to preach hate. I was educated by the Catholic Church and even attended a Catholic College, but I learned very early the hypocrisy that was spewed by these people. The losses of these beautifully designed architectural gems were left to be ignored because the church was too busy burying its preverbal head in the sand. Even my grandmother who was a devout catholic her entire life would be ashamed of the way her church, the church that provided her faith is acting.

Posted 2 weeks ago (permalink)

John 28 says

Dot,
A very written article. But the greatest sin of all during this last election was Bishop Malone spread of lies and hate of all of God's children and keep asking for more money, while he still lives in that multimillion dollar mansiion. Incredible. His brainwashing us no longer works!

Posted 2 weeks ago (permalink)

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