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USCCB having eschewed audible interest in the salvation of souls, Martin’s has become the most recognizable voice of the Church in America.
A lot of silent shepherds are going to have a lot to answer for someday.
Mike: Martin’s has become the most recognizable voice
That is why I asked questions when Martin was slated to speak at the 100th anniversary of a major seminary. What signal was that going to send, when his name is – right now – instantly connected to ONE ISSUE. HERE
I was amazed at the clarity with which this 25-year-old nailed it, while people twice his age are in a deep delusional fog; not to mention the delusional *Hierarchy* who ought to think as the writer does, yet align themselves instead with the moral turpitude promoted and defended by Father Martin.
Hmmmmm, I wonder if this young man has a vocation to the Priesthood….? We sure could use more like him.
Thank you, Father. This article is well worth reading all the way to the end as you suggested.
The author seems to have nailed it. I’ve had a few people tell me I’m wrong about Fr, Martin, but ever since I’ve heard of him and his theology, my spider-sense has been tingling, full tilt. Sometimes you just have to trust your gut.
That a twenty-three year old man would have the perception, the analytical prowess and the skill to articulate so clearly this particular facet of the fraudulence running rampant in the Church is indeed heartening. The principles and framing of the Martin phenomenon utilized by Mr. Thompson are easily applicable to a broad cohort operative in the Church globally. What would be ever more so heartening would be that this perfectly balanced and pinpoint accurate critique be offered by a member of the hierarchy. Just what about James Martin makes him immune from the correction and punishment he requires?
What is it about James Martin? [You know exactly what it is.]
The Church is gifted to have a courageous and perceptive young layman such as Felix Thompson. God reward him.
Going against the grain a little here, I think the cult description is a little much, and the target to small. I identify with the author, I was there, was that person, prior to discovering Tradition. Martin is just a Modernist and taking that Liberalism to its logical conclusions and consequences. He probably would wear that as a badge of honor. I was one prior to discovering I was one. The danger now is with the explosion of social media and his protection and promotion by those in the hierarchy. [Social media… you just made the writer’s point for him, I think.]
The liberals are well focused and organization. They know that the Church can’t be ignored , it must be defeated or transformed. That’s Fr Martins role. He isn’t the only priest or member of a parish council that joined to advance an agenda. Here in the wacky northeast parishes are full of them. From where I sit, Fr Martin is simply the tip of a very large iceberg.
Prayers for Fr. James Martin, S.J., that the Lord may touch his heart and lead him back to orthodox Catholic Teaching.
Prayers for his Jesuit superiors, that they love him enough to teach him the truth of the Catholic Faith, and take appropriate steps to end his promotion of heresy.
Prayers for Pope Francis, that he witness the fullness of the teachings of Christ at all times and insist that those he is responsible for do the same.
Spot on! I hope many more leave the “cult of Jim” .
I think James Martin is a charlatan spreading errors and creating scandals. [Charlatan? I think he really believes what he says in public.] For what purpose? It can’t be for books sales. The man took a vow of poverty. What does he gain from all of this tomfoolery?
On a side note, I saw those snide comments regarding the Pope’s amendment to the Mass translations. What, may I ask, is wrong with the translation of the Creed?
Everyone, get your rosaries out.
I can relate to this author’s story. Years ago my interest was piqued in Catholicism. At the time I worked for a bookstore, and I picked up Fr. Martin’s “My Life with the Saints” book, and I really enjoyed it. I saw some interviews with him, and enjoyed seeing someone representing Catholicism on mainstream media.
I then learned my lesson, and am greatly saddened now that his true colors are on full display. Someone who helped me convert, turned out to be sadly hurting and misrepresenting Catholicism. I pray that God changes Fr. Martin’s ways.
I think he is deeply convinced that’s he’s right. How he has managed the mental gymnastics to reconcile his views with the church’s teachings is beyond me.
I commend the writer’s cutting through it all to pinpoint Fr. Martin’s main agenda of liberalizing the Church’s teachings in the area of sexual morality.
Pertaining to the writer’s indication of Fr. Martin’s systematic use of catch phrases while refusal to engage in actual debate, I would add that Fr. Martin calls for dialogue and building bridges and the like, yet as soon as Cardinal Sarah wrote a column in the Wall Street Journal which could be seen as just that – an attempt at dialogue – Fr. Martin went on the defense about the Cardinal’s supposed “critique” of his book, when said “critique” really didn’t happen.
There was even an article in America magazine by Mike O’Loughlin, in the vein of Alinsky’s freezing and polarizing of the target, painting Sarah as the big meanie, while Martin was the innocent who out of justice just had to be quoted so heavily in defending his book from Sarah’s “critique”.
Maybe Father, but the “cult” label is a little over the top, and feeds the beast the author himself takes issue with regarding how Martin attacks his critics. [Watch how he is defended.] Example: “…arrogance in behavior; an inflated sense of power, ‘one that allows him to bend rules and break laws’; boastful of accomplishments; and calls anyone who criticizes him an ‘enemy.’” From that results the “cult.” One can come up with other descriptions (sinner like everyone else) than turning to “cult.” Shoot, who doesn’t know people who can fit a lot of these points? Gets the attention for sure, but I think it falls into the trap of doing what he accuses Martin of.
I am coming round to be against the idea of a formal disputation. It is impossible to reason with those who go in for warped thinking.
The curious part is how much farther Fr. Martin is willing to go even beyond Pope Francis. While Francis clearly seems to at least implicitly agree with Kasper on communion for the “remarried,” the Holy Father has not been at all ambiguous about sodomy being recognized as marriage or about the transgender insanity and if anything has spoken pretty firmly against them. Just who could be his protector on these issues to dare contradiction of Pope Francis?
Of course, the Jesuit superiors are themselves greatly suspect… quite sad after remembering the experience of Fr. Fessio. One can only pray these younger Jesuits get promoted sooner rather than later and this trial can end.
Years ago I won a copy of his book, “My Life with the Saints,” which I really enjoyed. I had previously known nothing about St. Bernadette, and I was especially intruiged with her for some reason, so I got the book he recommended in his book. It was the biggest Freudian feminist thing I had looked at in years! There was a crazy part, for instance, that said when she dug in the ground with her hands for the spring, she was connecting the earth and the sky with her feminine body, or some such inane thing. I emailed him a thank you (it had been from a radio show he appeared on) but said in a joking way that he ought to warn his readers about the kind of books he was recommending so they didn’t go into shock. He never responded, but it made me think twice about what he had to say from that time on.
I am glad for this. It shows the lines are being drawn more clearly between Truth and error, and it shows progress toward Pope Benedict’s prophecy:
“She will no longer be able to inhabit many of the edifices she built in prosperity. As the number of her adherents diminishes . . . she will lose many of her social privileges. . . As a small society, [the Church] will make much bigger demands on the initiative of her individual members….”
I just (selfishly) hope the “edifices she built” in Rome survive until my sons and I visit in December.
.
Martin can say his superiors support him. Well, they’re Jesuits! That doesn’t say much, given the general trend of liberalism among them. This thing reminds me of what happened with Jesuit Fr John McNeill in the 70s. He marched in “gay pride” parades with his collar on (pictures available).
But then he left the Jesuits and the priesthood and adopted an active homosexual lifestyle until he died two years ago. McNeill wrote a horrid book that had the support of his Jesuit superiors. With this I’m not saying Martin will end up like him, but we’ve been down this road before.
This isn’t the same ‘Fr. Jim’ that used to haunt the Father ‘Z’ blog is it? [No. Certainly not!]
“Now, don’t get me wrong – I do not, in any way, condone calumny and slander against a priest of Jesus Christ (or any Christian, for that matter). ”
It is an act of charity to cry out against the wolf when he is among the sheep-St. Francis de Sales
First Things has a terrific article today: “The Persecution of Orthodoxy”. It is a great write up on how we got to where we are.
https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2017/10/the-persecution-of-orthodoxy
I think that one reason figures like James Martin have grown in popularity (I’d include you in this, Fr. Z, too.) is that Catholics aren’t being fed in their parishes, and are looking for spiritual nourishment elsewhere. Social media offers lots of it. I’m not sure I’d call either you or Martin cult leaders, but I think many Catholics are looking for a good pastor, and you guys are filling that need.
“but I think many Catholics are looking for a good pastor, and you guys are filling that need.”
Only one in your comment is a true faithful Pastor.
18-“And Jesus said to him, Why callest thou me good? None is good but one, that is God.”
I don’t call someone who is leading folks down the road to perdition a “good” or faithful pastor.
I agree semperficatholic.
Matthew 7 13-15
Enter by the narrow gate, since the road that leads to destruction is wide and spacious, and many take it;
14 but it is a narrow gate and a hard road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
15 ‘Beware of false prophets who come to you disguised as sheep but underneath are ravenous wolves.
Father Z is about pointing us toward that narrow gate instead of that wide and spacious one that is so tempting and so popular.