Scandalous parish in @ArchdioceseSPM – public celebration of homosexuality, IVR and surrogacy

UPDATE Jan 18:

It’s a good thing that people took the time to download that video. The parish (I assume) pulled it. However, we still have the proof that it happened as described.

I think LifeSite has the video.


Originally Published on: Jan 17, 2019

Several priests and laypeople have written to me about this.  It is troubling enough to merit wider attention.  It pains me in the extreme that this concerns my native place.

In the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis there is an infamous parish, St. Joan of Arc, which perpetrates weird and sacrilegious offences, especially liturgical, against the Faith.

I understand that, as advertised in the parish bulletin and enshrined in a video, there was the public baptism of a child – conceived through in vitro fertilization and with surrogacy – of a homosexual couple.

Rumors are one thing.  VIDEO is a “proof”.  Someone should grab the video before it is removed.

“Jesus also had two dads, and he turned out okay.” (cue applause)

Sentimentality aside, this is scandalous.

Baptizing a child living in this situation is a tough pastoral call.

However, exalting the circumstances as they do in this video, publicly, is scandalous.

Apart from the baptism, this is a complete public embrace of homosexual “marriage”, in vitro fertilization and surrogacy.

St. Joan of Arc – my heavens how insulting to this great saint! – has been a disaster for decades.   As a seminarian I went there a couple times to see what was going on – thirty years ago.  Lots of parishes have coffee and donuts, but not usually in church, during “Mass”.  I was fairly sure that the “Mass” was not valid, because of the substantial bread they had.  It is unfathomable to me that something hasn’t been done to deal with the abuses at this place.

I’ve written about this disaster parish for years.  HERE (2009) HERE (2008) HERE (2006)

One of the people who contacted me about this was from a different part of the country, not near Minneapolis at all.  Hence, I think this merits greater attention because of the scandal that it causes and the harm to the souls of those involved.

Concerned members of that Archdiocese might make their thoughts about this known to the chancery.

If anyone reading this decides to do so, be sure to be brief and be respectful.  I have some tips for how to write to priests and bishops, etc. HERE

I’ve turned ON the moderation queue.

UPDATE:

Check out the pastor’s profanity laced raving in the current parish bulletin HERE.  Just because he used Yiddish words, that doesn’t mean that those words are not off-color.  Was his intention to mock Jews, or was he just trying to be cute?

Frankly, I don’t know what an Archbishop could do to … what?… clean up that place.  The appointment of any reasonably faithful priest as pastor would trigger immediate revolution.  What to do?  Suppress the place and sow the ground with salt?  Let it remain so that all the crazies concentrate there rather than trouble other parishes?  I have great sympathy for the Archbishop.

About Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

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42 Comments

  1. rwj says:

    To any bishops and chancery staff: please never think you can overlook this stuff when it first reported. Act decisively and quickly. The longer it goes on the bigger monster you have. Now public blasphemy as a funny joke about Our Lord’s Father to make a joke about how normal gay stuff is. Further, they were willing to buy a child at the sacrifice of so many others (embryos killed in IVF). Everything that cries to heaven for vengeance all rolled into one- promoted in a Church!

    No faithful priest deserves this parish: let the bishop go and clean up his own mess, let him preach, and if they no longer have ears for the truth and aren’t willing to do penance and convert, suppress the parish and do penance for it.

    If this is too hard, please take off the Mitre and Crozier and let someone faithful do it.

    [What people who are not from there don’t get is that this parish was EXACTLY what was being prepared via seminary formation. One prof in my day, who wound up quitting, a true heretic and moral slime, said that the Reformation didn’t work but that this would.]

  2. Mark says:

    I feel sorry for the child. He’s an innocent victim in all this. I will pray for him, and for his “dads”, that they may come to know the love of Christ and His truth.

  3. Georgemartyrfan says:

    The bulletin also mentions gluten-free Communion is available. Valid?

    [So long as there is a tiny amount, even very very small, the matter would be valid. Of course who knows what “consecration” form is being used.]

  4. aquinasadmirer says:

    This post only prompts follow-up questions, and alas no answers..

    What would happen if either Abp Hebda or Cozzens would regularly concelebrate Mass there for a year? Perhaps having Benediction before Mass? [That’s an interesting suggestion.]

    What actions would we see a shepherd do if he fears for the loss the souls in his charge? What actions would a father do?

    Upon thinking, I’m reminded of a story in my own family. My dad’s baby brother went missing (aged 18 or 19), and they didn’t know where he was. Grandpa took time off of work, and went looking for him. Eventually, after a couple of weeks, my uncle was found 1000 miles away, living on the street in Florida, high on drugs (I don’t know what kind). Grandpa brought him home. My aunts told me that if Grandpa hadn’t gone looking for him, my uncle would be dead. This is the love of a father.

    We need zeal for souls. We need to hold up the arms of our leaders as the arms of Moses were held up by others.

  5. Dan says:

    The first sign that this was going to go south were the giant projection screens at the front of the parish. I didn’t even have to click the link to the bulletin to know they called them selves “St. Joan of Arc catholic community” instead of Church.
    This is a perfect example of how lack of proper catechesis and teaching of the faith has led people astray. The comment “Jesus had two dad’s” is so offensive and sacrilegious implying some sort of homosexual relationship between God the Father and St. Joseph.
    It is a congregation of moral volunteerism wherein we imagine ourselves as dictators of moral law. Instead of obedient to truth.
    I do feel for the Archbishop and it is clear that the two men have some desire to seek God but have been deceived. I think it would be best parishes like this are suppressed, with their priests removed to where they can do no more harm, and not give any illusion that this is Catholic teaching. They become scandalous and very dangerous to the souls involved.
    Or put in a very traditional priest who will tear down the hideous screens, switch to ad orientem, ask people to kneel ($100 says they all remain standing after Holy Communion and probably don’t kneel during the consecration) most of the congregation will scatter to other “communities” where they can do less harm in smaller numbers and probably not convert an entire parish.

  6. ChesterFrank says:

    Does this classify as a satanic ritual?

    [Not in a formal sense. But I cannot help but think that demons revel in this. Remember: demons can attach themselves to those who commit certain kinds of sins.]

  7. Amy McSween says:

    A child has a right, in normal circumstances, to his or her mother.

    Jennifer Roeback Morse has devise excellent rhetorical counterpoints to the usual “don’t judge” arguments.

    http://www.ruthinstitute.org/

  8. teomatteo says:

    Child abuse. Pure and Simple. (not the baptism of course).

  9. Arcgap says:

    The Bishop should follow the example of Jesus ins such a situation John 2:15

  10. Hidden One says:

    The pastor’s second six year term expires in July.

  11. Amy McSween says:

    Where is the Cross? Where is our Lord?

  12. Gab says:

    This infection needs to be stopped before it spreads to other parishes. Although I don’t know if it’s even possible to stop the spread in these times. Sounds like the church and the pastor/pastoral team needs an exorcism.

  13. Cafea Fruor says:

    @Amy – Yes, this is so true, and the consequences of not having a mother around run deep. My own mother was effectively out of my childhood from the time I was about 7 or 8 because she’s schizophrenic and was dangerous to my siblings and me. I have just shreds of a relationship with her now, and even now, as I’m pushing 40, having lacked a real, trusting mother-child relationship when I was growing up is something from which I still suffer greatly. Among other things, I struggle with having a relationship with Our Lady simply because I don’t know what having a mom is really like, I don’t know what it’s like to have a mom I can trust, a mom who can actually care for me, etc. I’m actually going through therapy for this right now, and as someone who grieves from a childhood without a mom, I want to shout at these people, “What are you doing?!? Do you not actually care about the child’s needs?!? The kid needs a MOM! You are almost guaranteeing that your kid will be messed up as an adult.” It makes my heart break to see this. My dad had to get my siblings and me away from my mom for our safety, so there was no real choice there, but why would anyone do this by choice?

  14. Henry Edwards says:

    ” Suppress the place and sow the ground with salt?”

    Why not, PrayTell? Seriously, what good reason might a responsible bishop have, for allowing a place like this to continue advertising itself as Catholic?

  15. Sawyer says:

    Not that it matters for the main topic, but the “church” setup with the screens looks temporary, like it’s in a gymnasium or a hall. Is the church building being renovated or did the parish temporarily set up a worship space in a gym to handle large Christmas crowds that the church couldn’t contain?

  16. LarryW2LJ says:

    Why have a child baptized if you KNOW your lifestyle is in direct conflict with the Catholic faith and you know you have no intentions of bringing up said child in adherence with that faith?

    Salvation doesn’t just rub off onto someone. It is freely given, true, but there’s a little thing called obedience, which the Lord demands. He subject Himself to it – why is it so hard for us to see that and follow His lead?

  17. Massachusetts Catholic says:

    If the archdiocese in St Paul and Minneapolis has only one parish like this, consider yourself blessed. There are about five parishes like this in the archdiocese of Boston, and that doesn’t include the hijinks that go on in some of the campus ministries. Think: Dancing Jesuit, Baby Jesus in a cage, same-sex dads posing at the altar for photos…

  18. dbf223 says:

    “No faithful priest deserves this parish.” I concur. There are probably a whole host of other issues the bishop would have to sort through to even begin to address this situation, too. If the bishop wanted to appoint a prudent and orthodox priest there, could he? They probably don’t have an excess of faithful orthodox priests in the diocese, right? Would appointing such a priest here mean removing one from a parish where he is doing good work with his congregation, and then who would end up at that parish? And even then, how much good could one reasonably expect from it?

    Maybe there’s something to be said for letting such a parish continue in existence. Here’s an idea – send the most far-left priest in the diocese to the parish. Then slowly pressure the parish as a whole to adopt some mild reforms. Maybe they totally revolt and break away from the diocese? That’s a troubling idea, but would it be better for the Church as a whole in that region? I don’t know; I couldn’t even begin to suggest how to deal with a situation like this, but there’s might be nothing one could do (including maintaining the status quo) that doesn’t result in some harm to souls. If that’s the case, what would do the least damage?

  19. Komo says:

    Funny, no mention of times available for confession.
    Oh, that’s right – it’s an outdated sacrament.

  20. JuliB says:

    The bulletin is a mixed bag. Perhaps priests should not try to be comedians!
    At least they do ‘Feed My Starving Children’.

  21. MrsMacD says:

    Matthew 18:11-13 Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)

    11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
    12 What think you? If a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them should go astray: doth he not leave the ninety-nine in the mountains, and go to seek that which is gone astray?
    13 And if it so be that he find it: Amen I say to you, he rejoiceth more for that, than for the ninety-nine that went not astray.

    This parish, full of souls purchased with the blood of Christ, is worthy of redemption. I wonder if it would be worthwhile to have a group or groups of people who do prayer/penance storms for a particular parish, if maybe we would start to see positive change, around the world.

    “Put a little manure around it.” Do penance. Offer hours and hours of confession times. Preach on the value of confession. Put stacks of books with the examination of conscience in them on the tables at the back of the church. The devil loses his footing when people start going to confession, with a genuine purpose of amendment of life. Organize youth walking pilgrimages, with confession available. Organize Catechism classes for the children. Organize real retreats.

    Yes, it’s true, they might crucify you after about 3 years, but what do you expect? Your Mastrr was better and they did it to Him.

  22. majuscule says:

    Sawyer—

    It looked like a gym because it is s a gym!

    The bulletin mentions “ gym” Masses as well as Mass in the church. I am not sure why this is.

    Also, check out the contributions for the week and year mentioned in the bulletin. Someone has money. Someone should follow it.

  23. Mightnotbeachristiantou says:

    There were no profanities in the bulletin. None of those yiddish words are considered that. Children hear and say those words. Basically, it was saying stop feeling sorry for yourself. Get up and do something. I think I miss something? [Yes, you missed something. The meaning of those words.]

  24. Kerry says:

    The parish and its parishioners need prayers most urgently!

  25. Fr. Reader says:

    IVF… a lot of waiting and prayer….
    We got the news that we were pregnant… and the news came in good Friday…
    we wrote the name of the surrogate… and we knew you would be praying for us…
    …it’s a struggle to see God in the decay of the world…
    …the same sense of home and acceptance that has been given to us.

    The one who wrote this knew what he wanted, it was studied and prepared in every detail.

  26. Gaetano says:

    I’m a native New Yorker and ours was the only non-Jewish family on our block in an Orthodox neighborhood.
    In New York, even if you’re Catholic you’re Jewish, and I would be embarrassed to hear a priest pander Yiddish like that in New York.
    The case is more egregious for a priest in Minnesota. It’s gimmicky and cringe-inducing, plus several of those words are not for polite company or your grandmother.

    As for the parish, it’s a tough call. There is a benefit to setting aside one place for the ultra liberals, but they can get to a point of no return quickly.
    Typically these are the result of a narcissistic pastor who encourages a personality cult, facilitated by the pastor’s pandering to liberal theology to curry favor with the congregation. Parish staff are then hired (personnel IS policy) to perpetuate the situation.
    I fear there is little to be done.

  27. HezzerK says:

    Fro responded to a comment above saying,”What people who are not from there don’t get is that this parish was EXACTLY what was being prepared via seminary formation. One prof in my day, who wound up quitting, a true heretic and moral slime, said that the Reformation didn’t work but that this would.”
    The bulletin of SJA is dripping with the Marxist/Communist agenda. Beside the liturgical abuses, this stood out in the bulletin….
    “Saving Democracy: Formerly known as the Dark Money Book
    Club, this discussion group will meet this Wednesday,
    Jan. 16 at 1:30pm in the Parish Center to discuss
    How Democracies Die, an engaging look at the charac-
    teristics of countries in which democracies have been
    overturned. All are welcome to join the discussion – our
    democracy needs all of us to participate!”

    Hello to indoctrination! America is a Republic, not a democracy. Saul Alinsky and the Communist Deamons would be proud. Ugh… This is exactly what Bella Dodd helped so before her conversion.

  28. Gab says:

    Very prescient of you, Fr Z. The video is no longer available.

  29. Pingback: Sve?enik pozvao homoseksualne partnere na propovjedaonicu, da posvjedo?e prije nedjeljne mise | Hrvatski Krsni Zavjet

  30. Joe in Canada says:

    Apart from the scandal of the bulletin is the irony that he starts by denouncing those who “read a book” and are then experts in the theory of the book. Then apparently he read a book about Yiddish and is now an expert in it.

    The concept of scandal has changed with the internet. It is no longer limited to the immediate parish, but available to the whole world.

  31. Hidden One says:

    LifeSite News contacted Archbishop Hebda, who gave a truly pastoral reply. This could be the beginning of a new era for that parish.

  32. AlanLins says:

    I have a great deal of sympathy for the Archbishop in this situation. I believe that the text which follows is the oath all bishops take. This indeed is a truly difficult situation.

    OATH OF FIDELITY
    ON ASSUMING AN OFFICE
    TO BE EXERCISED IN THE NAME OF THE CHURCH

    (Formula to be used by the Christian faithful mentioned in canon 833)

    I, N., in assuming the office of ………, promise that in my words and in my actions I shall always preserve communion with the Catholic Church.

    With great care and fidelity I shall carry out the duties incumbent on me toward the Church, both universal and particular, in which, according to the provisions of the law, I have been called to exercise my service.

    In fulfilling the charge entrusted to me in the name of the Church, I shall hold fast to the deposit of faith in its entirety; I shall faithfully hand it on and explain it, and I shall avoid any teachings contrary to it.

    I shall follow and foster the common discipline of the entire Church and I shall maintain the observance of all ecclesiastical laws, especially those contained in the Code of Canon Law.

    With Christian obedience I shall follow what the Bishops, as authentic doctors and teachers of the faith, declare, or what they, as those who govern the Church, establish. I shall also faithfully assist the diocesan Bishops, so that the apostolic activity, exercised in the name and by mandate of the Church, may be carried out in communion with the Church.

    So help me God, and God’s Holy Gospels on which I place my hand.

    (Variations in the fourth and fifth paragraphs of the formulary,
    for use by those members of the Christian faithful indicated in can. 833, n. 8)

    I shall foster the common discipline of the entire Church and I shall insist on the observance of all ecclesiastical laws, especially those contained in the Code of Canon Law.

    With Christian obedience I shall follow what the Bishops, as authentic doctors and teachers of the faith, declare, or what they, as those who govern the Church, establish. I shall also — with due regard for the character and purpose of my institute — faithfully assist the diocesan Bishops, so that the apostolic activity, exercised in the name and by mandate of the Church, may be carried out in communion with the Church.

  33. grumpyoldCatholic says:

    Does George Soros attend? The bulletin makes me want to cry

  34. RCAVictor says:

    This parish rings an old bell. Didn’t Fr. Altier get in trouble years ago for crossing swords with St. Joan of Arc – along with his vocal objections to the “Safe Environment” program?

  35. William says:

    I hate bulletin ads. I especially hate ads that promote divorce.

    I’m surprised there’s no ad from PP or some left-wing political group.

  36. Southern Catholic says:

    Komo,

    It is listed on the parish website after Saturday Masses.

    So they sang Imagine during a mass there? Weird.

  37. WmHesch says:

    Google a picture of their pastor (Errr.. “presider”) Dude’s wearing what I can only describe as an African inspired blouse

  38. fishonthehill says:

    Oy gevalt!
    As a Brooklyn born priest, familiar with Yiddish, I guess the pastor of the parish (macher), is living out the old Yiddish expression:
    “Vaksn zolstu vi a tsibele mitn kop in dr’erd, un di fis farkert.”
    “Growing like an onion, with his head in the ground, and his feet in the air!”
    As for the rest of them… to be kvelling at this mishegoss is bupkes!

    There is a lot more I can say, but I will not violate the sacerdotal dignity!

  39. JR says:

    I don’t think priests should be criticised, so I’ll recount this with sober caution.

    On the Sunday after All Saints I attended the evening Youth Mass at St. Mary’s in North Sydney, Australia (St. Mary MacKillop is interred nearby). This is a Jesuit run church so, to be frank, I go elsewhere. This day, however, I’d spent the afternoon in a nearby cemetery trying to obtain indulgences for lost ones, and St. Mary’s was the closest church.

    In short:

    * During The Apostles Creed I’m pretty sure they omitted the line “He descended into Hell”. I had my head downcast (as I understand to be appropriate during this section) and I noticed at this juncture that I was out of kilter with those around me. By reflex, I assumed we were meant to reciting the Nicene Creed, so I looked up at the screen, but it flicked onto the next page. It was The Credo.

    * During his homily the elderly Fr. said essentially this: ‘In my day we were warned about the horrors of Purgatory, but don’t you worry about that – trust in the Mercy of God. These days leading Jesuit scholars say that there is no Hell; rather, as we go through life we attain a state of altruism which prepares us for Heaven. They indicate that should a soul not attain such a state, it simply snuffs out and ceases to exist… So, my young friends, go out and live your lives to the fullest! Trust always in the Mercy of God!’

    * The rest of the homily dealt with Religious Freedom legislation that is currently being drafted in Australia, and specifically therein, speculation over the rights of religious institutions to discriminate against homosexual staff or students. I don’t think anyone is in favour of such discrimination, though the Fr.’s words on this were, to my ears at least, a (not even thinly veiled) championing of homosexuality; or I suppose more accurately, of the valid right of the individual to pursue their own sexual orientation and lifestyle. The congregation gave a rapturous applause to which Fr. rejoined with ‘Thank you for clapping that.’

    I’m only a 5 yr old Catholic and there’s so much I don’t and never will know about The Church, though I wonder why the Jesuits don’t, to be honest … just leave. Many seem to preach Protestantism dressed up in Church Liturgy.

    None of these remarks or inferences extend to the Holy Father. May the Holy Ghost guide him in all things always †

  40. SuperTrad says:

    Could someone post a link to the video so it’s still accessible from this site and so we can bring it into the open, please?

  41. Supertradmum says:

    I lived in Minneapolis in the 1970s. By then, it was one of the top cities for homosexuals and their lifestyle. This culture is entrenched in the Twin Cities. Sadly, this has infected Catholics. I was actually part of a group which did “homosexual rescue” in the 1970s. We would not be able to do that sort of pastoral care in 2019. However, it was clear to us then that the Church years down the road would be attacked for the Catholic stand on homosexuality. The problem is also the choices for men for the priesthood. Another part of the problem is the large Protestant population which capitulated on these issues first. To be an orthodox Catholic in Minneapolis is a Cross for sure.

  42. Semper Gumby says:

    Deo Volente, this St. Joan of Arc parish will outgrow their enthusiasm for scandal and return to the Faith.

    The parish bulletin is curious: an “EcoSpirit Movie Night” in the Hospitality Hall; a discussion group for the book ”How Democracies Die” at the Parish Center; a screening of the film “Harvest of Empire” at the Welcome Center.

    “How Democracies Die” was written by two Harvard Government professors who felt that an insufficient amount of Leftist bilgewater was sloshing about the planet. Briefly, the authors believe that Donald Trump and the Deplorables are how democracies die. The authors also believe that democracy died in Egypt when Muhammed Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood were overthrown in 2013 (the authors would benefit by taking a closer look at Islam, the Leftist-Islamist alliance, and Egypt during 2011-2013).

    And, of course, the authors believe that Trump is anti-immigrant. As usual, Leftists deliberately distort or fail to understand basic distinctions. Trump is anti-illegal immigration and pro-border security.

    “Harvest of Empire” is a Marxist documentary about Latin America cobbled together by the usual suspects such as Democracy Now!, NPR, and the ACLU. The problematic Rigoberta Menchu appears (her Wikipedia page, as usual in these matters, contains disinformation in favor of Menchu and there are also several omissions). In “Harvest of Empire” both the U.S. and that abstract bugbear of the Left, “Capitalism,” are Bad.

    This troubled Minneapolis parish seems to be a center for socio-political agitation. Parishioners could better occupy their time with the Bible, the Catechism, sacred music, and books that detail the Church’s influence on the arts, science, government, and economics. A helpful discussion group would explore the encyclicals in which numerous Popes deliver a mighty blast of the Papal trumpet against socialism. A helpful lecture would be on the history of the Rosary. Then again, a good St. Joan of Arc movie could be the place to start.

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