Tuesday, August 09, 2011

Fr. Z. in the crucible


Well, I’ve been expecting this.  Frankly, after Fr. Corapi and the attacks on Bishop Finn,  I was wondering who was next. Father has been dropping hints on his blog that something was bugging him for about a month now.  A reporter named Phyllis Zagano is apparently working on an unflattering piece on him.

All priests have targets on their backs and widely known priests are like white stags in the middle of the herd. In Fr. Z’s case, he has been perhaps too open about his life, likes and dislikes for his own good and his donation button may not be the best idea. He has a lot of enemies. Some of them blindly hate Tradition  and any priest who doesn't act as if it's still 1972, is their enemy. Others, have pettier concerns. They're just irked by his dinning choices.

There are  Catholics who are so burnt up about the pedophile scandals that they've turned into miserable, sour witch finder generals who spend thier lives looking for priests to torment.  It's an unlovely thing. However, there are some common sense things that our bishops and superiors of orders should consider for the protection of their priestly sons. It is not a good idea for priests to live alone unless they are hermits or like St. John Vianney surrounded by nosy village folk. Gossip, lies and malice are constant and a lone priest who has to provide financially for himself, (This is also NOT a good idea, bishops and superiors!) is for all intents and purposes naked before his enemies.

Pray for priests. And remember, when you go half cocked and set yourself up as judge, jury and executioner of one, you wound the the Face of Christ.